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The Giants signed Rashad Jennings this offseason to a four-year, $14 million deal, expecting him to take over as the team's starting running back in 2014.

Jennings, a rare product of Liberty University (Lynchburg, Va.), made his NFL debut in 2009 as a Jacksonville Jaguar and seventh-round draft selection (250 overall). In North Florida, he backed up Maurice Jones-Drew, who was a handoff-hogging Pro Bowler between 2009 and 2011. In 2013, his lone season with the Oakland Raiders, Jennings flashed just enough potential as a part-time starter for the Giants to offer him a full-time opportunity.

The 29-year-old running back has started only 17 games in his five-year career. Most backs Jennings' age are winding down their careers; New York hopes that it has located a late bloomer in this former reserve.

Fresh legs make up for a lack of experience. Jennings has registered less than 400 professional carries, a light workload that will serve him well in his first season as a featured back.

The best-case scenario: Jennings combines a veteran's mentality and work ethic with the vigor of a young runner, making him a prime candidate to spearhead New York's rushing attack.

The worst-case scenario: Jennings is not cut out for the starter's spotlight, and New York pays dearly for placing its trust in a former Raiders castoff.

Nothing Jennings has done previously suggests he cannot handle a heavier workload. He is a well-rounded back, one the Giants should feel comfortable fielding in any down and distance. At 231 pounds, Jennings is often described as a power runner. While he does run with a thunderous thump, this description is only partial—Jennings can break away from the pack in the open field.

The true test will be Jennings' ability as both a pass-catcher and pass-blocker. If he catches the ball well when he releases out of the backfield, and keeps the quarterback upright when he does not, Jennings will develop into a very serviceable running back for the Giants.