The Demonic Speed of Trenton Cannon

Unless you are a Jets or Virginia State Trojans fan, this is likely the first time you’ve read the name of Trenton Cannon. If he can continue the buzz he has generated throughout training camp, this won’t be the last. Cannon has electrified throughout camp and into the Jets’ recent Green & White Scrimmage, and will look to find a spot in a crowded running back room throughout the preseason.

As you’ve already seen, the Jets have quite a few viable names in the backfield, but if Cannon continues to turn heads, the Jets would love to have the problem of figuring out ways to get him the football.

Cannon is tiny, but an athletic beast who dominated at the Division II level. He is only 5’11, 185 pounds, but posted crazy numbers of a 38.5-inch vertical leap, 10-foot-9 broad jump, 4.40-second 40-yard dash, and a magnificent 1.49 10-yard split.

In his final season at Virginia State, he racked up 1,638 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on a ridiculous 7.7 yards per carry, adding in three receiving scores and two kick return scores. To boot, he threw in robust averages of 10.7 yards per reception and 32.8 yards per kick return. If Cannon can translate his tremendous explosiveness up two notches from D2 to the NFL, he could be a threatening weapon.

While devoid of a Le’Veon Bell or Ezekiel Elliot-esque bellcow, the Jets have two proven NFL running backs who have already produced at high levels of efficiency at the professional level, in addition to a pair of very promising young prospects who are bursting with athletic tools and have the potential to contribute in a variety of ways. All of these players compliment each other very well, and give offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates a variety of ways to create favorable matchups.

You might not select a Jets running back in the first round of your fantasy draft, but hidden away from the limelight of fantasy talk shows, this crew could be helping the Jets win quite a few games this year.