Post by Deleted on May 16, 2018 3:17:49 GMT -6
Bears UDFA Ryan Nall hoping to play running back, willing to line up anywhere
By: Lorin Cox | 7 hours ago
To stick around in the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent, you can’t just be good at one position.
Ryan Nall embraced this when he joined the Chicago Bears. It was something he even had to deal with in college at Oregon State.
“I wanted to ultimately play running back,” Nall told 670 The Score. “Chicago was one of the main places that told me I’d be able to fit in at that spot, as well as move around here and there. When it came down to it, I thought this was the best position for me to be able to play.”
He initially came to the Beavers as a tight end and H-back before finding a home at running back and ultimately averaging 5.8 yards-per-carry over his college career.
At 6-foot-2, 232 pounds, he might find a niche for himself back at his old position, especially with a Bears depth chart crowded at the running back position.
“If they want to line me up outside or in the slot position to get some routes, I would like that a lot actually to be able to show my versatility,” Nall said. “But able to improve myself as a back and show that I can compete with some of the top backs in the league.”
No matter where Nall lines up on offense, he’ll have to make his mark on special teams to stick on the 53-man roster. That’s where his focus is from Day 1.
“I’m going to work my butt off and try to maintain that starting spot at some different positions on special teams,” Nall said. “Hopefully that will be my ticket onto the field, eventually work my way up. I’m just going to keep grinding.”
The grind is tough for an undrafted free agent like Nall. He has a lot to prove, even beyond his abilities as a ball-carrier.
