Dedrick Mills will sign a free agent deal with the Detroit Lions.
Mills was Nebraska’s lead running back over the 2019 and 2020 season. As a junior, he amassed 745 yards on 143 rushes, averaging 5.2 yards per rush. He was limited by injuries as a senior, but managed to finish the 2020 season strong. He played in six games and started in five. He had 84 carries, 396 rushing yards and three touchdowns, averaging 66.0 rushing yards per game. He also had 13 receptions for 86 yards.
It feels a little like the situation Devine Ozigbo found himself in following the 2018 season. Big guy, bruising guy, started catching it out of the backfield at the tail end of his career, and upon declaring for the draft, teams wanted to see him on the clock. Mills focused a lot of his training on quickness drills and catching the football, working on sideline catches and toe drags. Mills worked on his patience while at Nebraska, but admitted he’s a one-cut kind of guy and “sometimes I can get kinda anxious and just go.” Still, he’s made strides to become an attractive NFL tailback.
Now he will have a chance with the Lions to show off that speed and hopefully earn a spot on the roster.
Mills was Nebraska’s lead running back over the 2019 and 2020 season. As a junior, he amassed 745 yards on 143 rushes, averaging 5.2 yards per rush. He was limited by injuries as a senior, but managed to finish the 2020 season strong. He played in six games and started in five. He had 84 carries, 396 rushing yards and three touchdowns, averaging 66.0 rushing yards per game. He also had 13 receptions for 86 yards.
It feels a little like the situation Devine Ozigbo found himself in following the 2018 season. Big guy, bruising guy, started catching it out of the backfield at the tail end of his career, and upon declaring for the draft, teams wanted to see him on the clock. Mills focused a lot of his training on quickness drills and catching the football, working on sideline catches and toe drags. Mills worked on his patience while at Nebraska, but admitted he’s a one-cut kind of guy and “sometimes I can get kinda anxious and just go.” Still, he’s made strides to become an attractive NFL tailback.
Now he will have a chance with the Lions to show off that speed and hopefully earn a spot on the roster.