By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
A few weeks ago, Isaac Guerendo was hoping he would be invited to the National Football League’s Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He certainly wasn’t sure if he would be drafted by an NFL team.
Today, he is one of the standouts of the combine, someone whom numerous observers are writing and talking about after the event in Indianapolis last week. And his draft hopes have soared!
The former Louisville running back with ties to the South Adams/Geneva area – and onetime Indiana high school star – has been closely watched by numerous Adams County residents over the years, especially since his outstanding senior season at Louisville.
His mother, Jennifer Smitley Guerendo, is a South Adams High School graduate. His grandmother, Jana, lives just outside Geneva; she and husband Bob Shaffer have attended many of Isaac’s games over the years.
Guerendo graduated from a suburban Indianapolis high school, Avon, where was a candidate for the Mr. Football award and was a state track champion.
Guerendo was a surprise at the combine because he was mostly an unknown, having spent much of his four years at Wisconsin battling various injuries. While at Wisconsin, though, he did earn his degree.
Having transferred to the U. of Louisville, Guerendo finally enjoyed an injury-free season and began flashing his enormous talents last season. That earned him the invitation to return to his home area and the scouting combine, where he stood out among a group of some of the country’s talented running backs.
“Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo is turning heads at the NFL Scouting Combine …,” said a writer for Athlon Sports.
“According to Next Gen Stats, he is just the fifth running back to earn a 99 athleticism score since 2003 and ran the fastest 40-yard dash for any 220-plus pound back since 2003. His broad jump and vertical jump also rank in the top five among 220-plus pound backs over the last two decades.
“During his blazing 4.33-second 40-yard dash, Guerendo joined De’Von Achane and Keaton Mitchell as the only running backs to reach 24 MPH over the last two years of the combine.
Another writer said: “Guerendo’s dazzling performance continued in the vertical jump, placing first among all running backs with 41 and 1/2 inches and second in the broad jump with 10 feet, nine inches. His vertical was the best by a running back since David Johnson in 2015.”
Talking about the Kansas Chiefs, AZ Sports wrote: “Chiefs have shown interest in NFL Combine star Isaac Guerendo (headline): No player at the running back position turned more heads in Indianapolis this week than Louisville RB Isaac Guerendo.
“Listed at 6-foot and 221 pounds, Guerendo jumped out of the building with a 41.5-inch vertical (first among RBs). His 4.33s 40-yard dash at his height and weight was legendary (also first among RBs). He posted a 99th-percentile speed score and a 98th-percentile burst score, making him one of the rarest athletes the NFL has ever seen at the RB position.”
Card Chronicle, a publication connected to the U. of Louisville, under a headline that said Guerendo “lights up the NFL Draft scouting combine,” wrote: “I don’t care how pleasantly surprised you were by Sunday’s weather, if you think you had a better weekend than Isaac Guerendo, you’re probably mistaken.
“The former Cardinal RB was one of the brightest stars at the weekend’s NFL Draft scouting combine, shining so brightly that it’s hard not to assume that he may have made himself a significant amount of money with his performance.
“A handful of scouts have been saying for the last couple of months now that Guerendo fits the profile of a guy who could wind up having a much better professional career than college career. It’s safe to say the early returns on that prediction are pretty positive.”
Writing for Colts Wire, Kory Woods listed the Indianapolis team’s needs in the draft, adding: “Early projections for the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit have Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo slotted as a fourth- or fifth-round selection. But after a dazzling performance on Saturday at the NFL scouting combine, it’s possible the big back could find his draft stock rise. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Guerendo had an impressive showing across the board…”
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