From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne.<\/p>\n
No. 1 DEMOND CLAIBORNE\/RUNNING BACK, WAKE FOREST (SENIOR) \u2013 5096, 188 pounds
\nMeasurements<\/p>\n
Player
\nHt\/Wt
\nHand Size
\nArm Length
\nWingspan<\/p>\n
Demond Claiborne
\n5096\/188
\n9
\n30 1\/8
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
40-Yard Dash
\n10-Yard Dash
\nShort Shuttle
\n3-Cone<\/p>\n
4.37
\n1.59
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
Broad Jump
\nVertical
\nBench Press<\/p>\n
10\u20192\u2033
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
THE GOOD<\/p>\n
\u2013 Explosive athletic ability
\u2013 Great short area change of direction
\u2013 Quick burst
\u2013 Good long speed
\u2013 Has speed to win the edge
\u2013 Gets skinny through small holes
\u2013 Wants to bounce outside
\u2013 High effort pass protection
\u2013 Decent route runner
\u2013 Secure hands
\u2013 Decent vision in the open field<\/p>\n
THE BAD<\/p>\n
\u2013 Undersized
\u2013 Average play strength
\u2013 Average contact balance
\u2013 Bad technique in pass protection
\u2013 Inconsistently takes advantage of his speed
\u2013 Out of control running style
\u2013 Can lose balance in space
\u2013 Struggles to break tackles
\u2013 Average vision near the line of scrimmage<\/p>\n
STATS<\/p>\n
\u2013 Started 25 games across 4 seasons at Wake Forest
\u2013 2025: 179 rushes, 907 yards, 10 touchdowns, 4 fumbles, with 23 receptions
\u2013 Career: 558 rushes, 2599 yards, 26 touchdowns, plus 55 receptions<\/p>\n
INJURY HISTORY<\/p>\n
\u2013 2025: Exited season opener vs Kennesaw State with a rib injury. Reinjured his ribs against Georgia Tech
\u2013 2024: Left the game vs Miami and was seen throwing up on the sideline before exiting to the locker room<\/p>\n
BACKGROUND<\/p>\n
\u2013 Turning 23 in October of 2026
\u2013 Participated in the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl
\u2013 Named Second Team All-ACC in 2025
\u2013 In 2024, he was named All-ACC Third Team
\u2013 Four-star recruit out of King William High School in Virginia
\u2013 Ranked the No. 38 running back in the country
\u2013 Led his team to a state championship in 2021
\u2013 Named the Virginia Region 2A Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-State in 2019
\u2013 Was a sprinter on the track team
\u2013 Claiborne grew up with a single mother who worked three jobs to provide for four children, and he promised to get her into a better situation<\/p>\n
TAPE BREAKDOWN<\/p>\n
Demond Claiborne had a very successful career at Wake Forest, ranking fourth all-time in rushing yards. On tape, you can see why this is the case. His speed jumps off tape, leading to explosive plays and turning small gains into big ones. He wins in the open field with vision, and if a second-level defender takes the wrong angle, they\u2019ll struggle to catch up to him.<\/p>\n
He will ensure that every defensive back is involved in the run game because of how quickly he gets past the defensive line. On this overtime play, he breaks an arm tackle and takes off, giving Wake Forest a chance to win the game.<\/p>\n
His change of direction is useful near the line of scrimmage, and he can turn potential TFLs into explosive plays by making the bigger defensive lineman miss. He sets up blocks well and makes defenders crash into the offensive linemen. Then he bounces outside to create a bigger gain.<\/p>\n
On this play, his outside bounce results in a touchdown.<\/p>\n
Claiborne\u2019s game has some problems. Speed and change of direction are a great base to start with, but breaking tackles is what puts running backs over the top. Claiborne has a clear issue breaking tackles, and it can limit what he can do if he does not win with speed. Arm tackles can bring him down, a red flag that suggests his weight is a problem.<\/p>\n
His upper-body strength is fine, but it\u2019s problematic when a running back consistently gets tackled by diving defenders. On this play, he has some room to operate, but gets tackled by the ankles.<\/p>\n
Claiborne\u2019s contact balance is just average, and in space, he will fall and stop his run early by his own doing. Once again, he has room to operate, but he falls on his own and stops the run.<\/p>\n
Claiborne can win with his athleticism, but he needs to utilize his burst more. It seems like, as the season progressed, he wanted to bounce runs outside more instead of taking open gaps. I wish he would realize that he has an elite burst to get to the second level. He will play hesitantly at times when he needs to burst and will run out of control at times when he needs to be patient.<\/p>\n
On this play, he picks the wrong gap and hesitates, leading to a fumble. This shows up consistently in his film.<\/p>\n
Claiborne blocks willingly in pass protection, but lacks the play strength and technique to consistently win. He was proficient in college, but he will only be on the field on third down to catch passes, a strength of his game. On this play, he does his job, but you can see the out-of-control technique and the way he lunges.<\/p>\n
CONCLUSION<\/p>\n
While Demond Claiborne has great athletic ability and speed, he lacks elite vision and cannot break tackles consistently. I would trust him in a committee to get a few carries a game, but he needs to gain weight and develop in pass protection to secure his job as a rotational back.<\/p>\n