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LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire wants to be a model for RBs to come

LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire sat down with Yahoo Sports’ Tank Williams at the NFL combine in Indianapolis to discuss who he looks to for guidance as a running back and what an NFL will be getting if they draft him.

Video Transcript

TANK WILLIAMS: Tank Williams here at the 2020 NFL Combine with LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE: Yes, sir.

TANK WILLIAMS: So tell me, dog, first off, has the national championship sunk in yet?

CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE: Oh yeah. Oh yeah, no doubt, especially being this far along. It's sunk in. I think it's gonna hit again once we get our rings and everything else and all the banners and all that stuff is being put up.

TANK WILLIAMS: OK.

CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE: No doubt.

TANK WILLIAMS: That's what's up. Now tell me, is there one player that's currently in the NFL right now that you've modeled your game after?

CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE: I wouldn't say necessarily one player. It's always kind of picks and just around. The tenacity that Zeke runs with is always something, especially for a running back. Everybody wants to be able to get in between the tackles and do the things that he does.

A person that I was actually in a room with, Darrel Williams. Being able to watch him before he got hurt. His patience and everything to the hole is something that's very special. Josh Jacobs being that versatile guy, catching the ball out of the backfield, doing the things that he needed to do.

So for the most part, I feel like I have a little something from each dynamic. But for the most part, man, ultimately I want to make my own category. So I want to be in this situation and you'll be asking the same guy next year who do you model your game after, and I want somebody to say my name. So that's pretty much what I pride myself on.

TANK WILLIAMS: I appreciate that. And also, I'm a Stanford guy, so I followed Christian McCaffrey coming out. And it's one of those things where a lot of people questioned if he could be an every-down back. Like me, following Stanford, I knew he could be.

CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE: Yeah.

TANK WILLIAMS: But the thing is when people see running backs of y'all's stature, they try to question your durability and stuff like that. Is that one other thing, whether it's during the talks with the coaches or out there on the field, trying to prove to them that you can be that guy that they could depend on first through third down?

CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE: Yeah, no doubt. They know that I can do first through third down. Durability was never a question. Never sat out for a game for an injury. Played in every single game since I was at LSU.

No serious injuries. Never had a surgery. Knock on wood. So for the most part, completely healthy.

TANK WILLIAMS: Hey, it was a pleasure watching you In the national championship. Congrats on your success. Good luck throughout this draft process, and I look forward to seeing you ball out on Sundays.

CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE: Yes, sir. Thank you. I appreciate it.