Former Georgia running back Sony Michel had been one of the most electrifying players in college football last season. As a result, the New England Patriots decided to take him with the 31st overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Michel's dynamic skill set makes him an exciting addition to the Patriots' backfield. However, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss, running backs coach Ivan Fears feels his physicality is what really caught the team's attention:

Fears, the Patriots running backs coach, said one of the things that stood out to him scouting first-round pick Sony Michel was how when Georgia wanted to do something with a back at the end of the game, Michel usually got the ball. Fears referred to Michel as a “playmaker,” before noting his size (5-foot-10 5/8, 214 pounds) and ability to gain yards in different ways: “He’s a very physical guy for a guy that’s very good in the open field. Most of those guys are scat-back guys [but] he has some stout to him. He’s not a little guy. He’s broad-shouldered. He’s a size player that can pound it away and can make things happen in the open space.”

Despite his playmaking prowess, Michel largely served as a complementary back to Nick Chubb, who was seen as the more physical runner. As a result, Michel was forced to do most of his work on third-down passing situations. Furthermore, it also created a stigma that he nothing more than a scatback. However, Fears' comments indicate that he could be primed for a different role at the pro level.

Michel has shown that he has the ability to run in between tackles as well as being able to avoid them. This could be why New England was willing to expend a first-round pick on a running back.

The move came as a bit of a surprise considering the Patriots have fortified their backfield with a number of solid options. New England has kept around past contributors like Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead while adding a former workhorse back in Jeremy Hill to the mix. That said, Michel will need to make some serious waves in training camp if he is going secure a legitimate role in the offense next season.