Green Bay Packers Pre-combine Players to Watch: Frank Gore Jr.

The Green Bay Packers had one of their best drafts in several years in 2023. Can they follow it up with another outstanding class? Let’s take a look at some players to watch heading into the NFL combine.

Frank Gore Jr.

Dec 17, 2022; Mobile, AL, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles running back Frank Gore Jr. (3) carries the ball during the Lending Tree Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert McDuffie-USA TODAY Sports

Frank Gore Jr’s Background

As his name might suggest, Frank Gore Jr. is the son of former NFL star running back Frank Gore. Gore Jr. played his high school football at Miami Killian Senior High. Despite being the son of an NFL legend, Gore Jr. was only a 3-star recruit and committed to the Golden Eagles his freshman year. Gore Jr. played all four years at Southern Miss.

Gore Jr., much like his father, doesn’t possess elite size and speed. He thrives at hitting small creases and holes and rarely looks to avoid contact.  Instead, he looks to dole out punishment. Who does that remind you of?

Frank Gore, Jr.

Smart runner with determination vs contact and knowledge of pursuit angles. #NFLDraft2024 pic.twitter.com/DrzcuHGey8

— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) February 14, 2024

College Production

2023-

• Yards per Attempt – 4.9
• Rushing Attempts – 229
• Rushing yards – 1,119
• Touchdowns- 10
• Fumbles – 3
• Receiving Yards- 224
• Receiving Touchdowns- 3
• PFF grade – 88.0

2022-

• Yards per Attempt – 6.0
• Rushing Attempts – 227
• Rushing yards – 1,378
• Touchdowns- 9
• Fumbles – 3
• Receiving Yards- 219
• Receiving Touchdowns- 0
• PFF grade – 91.9

2021-

• Yards per Attempt – 4.3
• Rushing Attempts – 179
• Rushing yards – 781
• Touchdowns- 5
• Fumbles – 1
• Receiving Yards- 155
• Receiving Touchdowns – 0
• PFF grade – 77.4

2020-

• Yards per Attempt – 5.8
• Rushing Attempts – 122
• Rushing yards – 707
• Touchdowns- 2
• Fumbles – 1
• Receiving Yards – 97
• Receiving Touchdowns – 1
• PFF grade – 86.6

College Totals

• Yards per Attempt – 5.2
• Rushing Attempts – 757
• Rushing yards – 3985
• Touchdowns- 26
• Fumbles – 8
• Receiving Yards – 695
• Receiving Touchdowns – 4

Frank Gore Jr set an NCAA bowl record with 329 yards rushing in the 2022 Lending Tree Bowl, with only 21 carries. He also threw a #Touchdown pass! #SMTTT @stn_2lit @frankgore @grantcohn pic.twitter.com/QmKBnYpY1l

— USMVoice (@USMVoice) February 8, 2024

How Frank Gore Jr. Would Fit With the Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers can take a page from the Detroit Lions run philosophy book.  They were able to pair the one-cut punishing style of David Montgomery and the electric big-play ability of Jaymyr Gibbs quite well in the 2023 season. Green Bay already has Aaron Jones, one of the league’s fastest and most explosive players. The Packers could greatly benefit from a player with Frank Gore Jr’s skill set.

Gore Jr. has excellent balance and vision, which helps him navigate in tight areas. Like Aaron Jones, he can take nothing and create running lanes with a low center of mass, pad level, and creativity.

He also excels in the screen game, which is something Green Bay loves to run. To round it all off, he is an excellent blocker. According to PFF, Gore Jr. was the 10th best-rated pass-blocking running back in the nation last season among players with more than 68 pass-block attempts. He was also the 3rd best in true pass-blocking sets. This excludes plays with less than four rushers, play action, screens, short dropbacks, and time-to-throws under two seconds. Overall, it is a handy skill set that any team would be happy to have.

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