Gavin Sawchuk RB Northwestern |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #27 ROLE: Work-Horse Back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/28/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.24 seconds (100%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.2 DOB: 07/28/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #27 | |
| ROLE: Work-Horse Back | |
| Last Updated: 09/28/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.24 seconds (100%*) | |
| Age: 23.2 DOB: 07/28/2003 | |
| Overall Rating: |
70.2 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Rushing: |
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71% |
| Break Tackles: |
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52% |
| Receiving/Hands: |
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48% |
| Pass Blocking: |
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40% |
| Run Blocking: |
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56% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#565
Position rank:
#25 (RB)
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| College Games: 38 College Snaps: 1074 | ||
ESPN RATING: 86/100
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247 RATING: 94/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cam'Ron Harris - Miami |
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81% |
| Micah Bernard - Utah |
|
63% |
| Rahsul Faison - South Carolina |
|
60% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A four-star recruit, Sawchuk flashed at Oklahoma before injuries and depth-chart issues limited him, then served as Florida State's lead back in 2025 with 606 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns.He transferred to Northwestern for 2026 to play in Chip Kelly's offense, opening the year with a burst of efficient early-season carries while splitting a committee backfield and contributing on special teams.
At 5-11 and 202 pounds he is an explosive, versatile back whose burst and receiving are the draw and whose durability and workload history are the questions.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Explosive burst with high yards-per-carry games
- Balanced, decisive runner who stacks cuts without losing speed
- Special-teams value to go with the offensive role
- Former blue-chip recruit with a scheme-friendly fit
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Never a durable, high-volume bell-cow
- Injury and depth-chart issues limited his Oklahoma tenure
- In a committee at Northwestern rather than a featured role
- Receiving and pass protection both lag, capping the third-down role
- Workload questions cloud the every-down projection
Scouting Report: Summary
Sawchuk is an explosive, versatile back with real burst and receiving value who led Florida State in scrimmage yards in 2025 and fits Chip Kelly's Northwestern offense. However, he has never been a durable bell-cow, injuries and depth charts limited his Oklahoma years, and he is in a committee rather than a featured role.Overall, Sawchuk is a change-of-pace and receiving back whose explosiveness is the draw, with the workload history the concern. He projects as a developmental change-of-pace back, with the ceiling of a rotational contributor if he stays healthy and productive and the floor of a receiving-role and special-teams piece.
How other scouting services rate Gavin Sawchuk (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
325.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
26.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.