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3 Takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Taking Tennessee Vols RB Alvin Kamara in the 2017 NFL Draft

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Alvin Kamara (6) in action during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeat the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Alvin Kamara (6) in action during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeat the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Orleans took Tennessee Volunteers running back Alvin Kamara in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Here are three takeaways from that selection.

Related Story: Ranking Every Vol in the 2017 NFL Draft

Alvin Kamara was the second former Vols player taken in the 2017 NFL Draft, going to the New Orleans Saints in the third round.

Kamara spent two years with Tennessee but didn’t become their feature back until midway through his second year, after Jalen Hurd left the program. He was also a captain that year and made a strong name for himself down the stretch.

With his speed, he was a threat to make big plays and was a weapon on special teams. Here are three takeaways from Kamara going to the New Orleans Saints in the NFL Draft.

1. The third round was surprisingly low.

Alvin Kamara was one of the fastest guys coming out, and he had a great NFL Combine overall. On top of that, his Wonderlic score was the highest of any running back in the NFL Draft, suggesting that he brings a rare combination of elite speed and intelligence. And when you add in the fact that the team voted him captain last year, he clearly has intangibles.

So what held him back? Likely, it was the fact that the Vols coaches didn’t make him the feature back until Hurd left the program. Scouts were probably hesitant to wonder why, and it was a major overreaction. Still, the guy’s stock improved to a potential first round pick. So this was weird.

2. Alvin Kamara could be the Saints’ new Darren Sproles.

Remember the 2011 season, when Drew Brees broke the passing yardage record before Peyton Manning eclipsed it in 2013? That was Darren Sproles’s most productive year of his career. The guy ran for 609 yards, averaging seven yards a carry, and he added 710 receiving yards for nine total touchdowns. Oh, he also returned 29 punts for 294 yards and a touchdown and 40 kickoffs for 1,089 yards.

Given his versatility, there’s no doubt the Saints are going to use Kamara in the same ways to make their offense more dynamic. And that could be huge for Brees and Sean Payton. As a result, Kamara has a chance to be a star early.

3. The Saints don’t want Kamara as a feature back.

New Orleans signed Adrian Peterson and has Mark Ingram to make up a by-committee backfield. With two power backs, Kamara is the perfect all-purpose weapon for them to use. And they clearly want Kamara since they traded up to get him.

However, this personnel also makes it clear that they don’t want to use Kamara as a feature back. And it probably makes sense. After all, Kamara doesn’t always hit the hole perfectly, and the Saints have some work to do on that offensive line. Knowing that but still wanting him shows the Saints were looking for an all-purpose weapon in Kamara, not a feature back.

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