Measurables
- 5‘10 Height
- 208 lb. Weight
2025 Stats
- 186 Carries
- 1,034 Rushing Yards
- 5.6 Yards Per Carry
- 10 Rushing TDs
- 646 Yards After Contact (3.47 YAC per Carry)
- 30 Missed Tackles Forced
- 26 Explosive Runs (10+ Yards)
- 7 Targets
- 5 Catches
- 42 Receiving Yards
- 8.4 Yards Per Reception
- 0 TDs
- 32 Yards After Catch (6.4 YAC per Reception)
- 0 Drops
- 0 Contested Catches (2 Contested Targets)
- 2 Receiving Missed Tackles Forced
- 2 Fumbles (0 Lost)
- 86.6 Passer Rating When Targeted
- 2 Pressures Allowed (4.2% Pressure Rate Allowed
- 0 QB Hits Allowed
- 0 Sacks Allowed
Awards/Accolades
- National Champion (2025)
- November Scholar-Athlete of the Month (2025)
- VaSID Offensive Rookie of the Year (2022)
- Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll (2022)
Strengths
- Low center of gravity combined with quick agility, explosion, and feet create strong cuts and tough tackle attempts for defenders. Low man wins in football, and Black wins a lot.
- Makes decisive cuts with strong vision to read where second level defenders are coming from in pursuit or to find weaknesses in gap integrity.
- Knows how to “get skinny” to get through smaller holes quickly.
- Strong power at the point of Contact, whether as a runner or as a blocker. Keeps his legs constantly churning and has a strong anchor. Nice stiff arm too, thickly built. Reportedly can bench 415 lbs. easily per teammate Mikail Kamara.
- Smart player who knows how to blitz ID and is very reactive in getting to help the line with chip blocks or flow to the blitzer and pick them up to keep his QB clean.
Weaknesses
- Not the fastest long speed to breakaway, more quicker than fast.
- Limited Receiving experience. Not targeted much beyond simple checkdowns. Needs to show an expanded route tree.
- Never been a bell cow back, more of a complimentary change of pace player. Could split workload with another back instead, unknown if he can handle a larger workload.
Draft Projection
Round 4-5 Grade
Black was one of Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks this past offseason, and it’s clear to see why on tape. The rapid acceleration to hit the hole and the power to displace tacklers is clear from the jump. Kaelon has clearly been a Cignetti disciple, learning how to read defenses well to know where blitzers are coming from and developing a strong feel and vision in finding creative and efficient lanes to rush through. He is also one of the better Pass Blocking backs in the class, consistently stifling pass rushers of all sizes from getting to the QB with a strong anchor and natural leverage.
His speed is good but not great, he can be caught from behind by faster Defensive Backs and he needs to develop a route tree beyond simple flats and checkdowns to become a more versatile threat.
For the Colts, Kaelon Black might not be the perfect complement to Jonathan Taylor with his limited Receiving experience; but his 3rd Down ability as blocker is a superb compliment. The Colts could use a change of pace back with Ameer Abdullah a Free Agent and DJ Giddens getting limited run as a rookie in 2025. The Colts could use an extra runner to keep Taylor fresh, and Black certainly profiles as a player who could fit the mold.
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