Fans looking to get ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft cycle with summer research will often turn to consensus boards, a useful resource for getting a general idea of where things stand before the chaos of college football unfolds.
They'll find a cluster of quarterbacks with Round 1 grades, an exciting trio of offensive tackle prospects, and a group of defenders vying for top-10 draft capital. Further down, a lack of elite receiving prospects might dampen optimism about the class, but the depth in the trenches helps to compensate.
On most boards, though, one won't find Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne. That shouldn't be the case for long.
Claiborne has an NFL future
There are reasons to doubt Claiborne, largely due to his unimposing frame and a lack of pedigree that lands other prospects speculative hype early in the process. But Claiborne offers a high-level assortment of traits fundamental for finding success in the NFL.
At 5'8", 200 pounds, Claiborne needs to win with his burst and long speed, and he does both well, playing faster than his projected 4.50-second 40-yard dash (Draftscout).
He's more than just a speedster, though. Claiborne's vision and footwork stand out, even with slow-mesh reads making life easier for him. He processes and anticipates holes well and is patient when necessary in inside zone. He does an excellent job of hiding behind his linemen, too, buying himself time while remaining in position to accelerate. Likewise, his feet are quick and efficient, keeping his options open and the big play viable more often than most.
Claiborne has enough wiggle to make defenders miss in the open field and does a good job of manipulating back-seven tacklers to create lanes for himself. His small frame helps him get skinny in short-yardage situations, and on his longest runs, he's able to string cuts together without losing much acceleration.
While he wasn't asked to be much of a receiving option for Wake Forest, he was effective on those touches, sporting the third-highest yards per route run (1.54) among backs with at least 188 carries in 2024. His blend of nuance and explosiveness deserves consideration as he embarks on his senior season.
Fixable flaws or serious limitations?
It's worth noting that Claiborne's upside as a prospect is capped by his size. Being a Day 2 running back demands credible every-down work or the potential to be a full-time starter, and that may never be his game.
Claiborne is visibly skinny, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he measured less than his listed weight. His contact balance while going downhill is acceptable, but without momentum on his side, he has the power of a typical undersized back. This hurts him in the red zone and when he's trying to finish runs, where the play strength simply isn't there.
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That also shows up in his pass protection, which graded out better than anticipated (per Pro Football Focus). It's not a competitive toughness issue, but he'll need to add mass to see the field as a blocker. There are some technical woes in his blocking, too, perhaps as a result of him compensating for his stature.
His limited upside will put more of an onus on his abilities as a receiver, which look the part but haven't been tested in all that large of a sample size.
Claiborne's projection ahead of the 2025 season
Claiborne's strengths render him an early-to-mid-Day 3 talent who can be a meaningful contributor to a strong committee, especially one with a more powerful back leading the charge. He's done enough damage in both zone and gap runs to be a scheme-diverse prospect, increasing his potential suitors, although he does his best work with the former.
His high-level vision and footwork help him hit the occasional home run because his athletic profile is strong enough (even with its limitations) to take advantage of the opportunities he creates.
It's also worth noting that Claiborne is an experienced kick returner, adding to his versatility.
With the consensus yet to view him as a legitimate prospect, Claiborne's work is cut out for him. Posting a more efficient season on the ground, adding more weight, and hitting key benchmarks during the pre-draft process could all stand to increase his stock closer to where his talent currently resides.
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