With the NFL draft less than a month away, members of the Cincinnati Bengals organization are gearing up to play Santa making their list of potential prospects and checking it twice. After all, draft day is Christmas for NFL teams and their fans.

There is at least one gift that the team is hoping to find when making their selections on draft day, Tulane University RB Matt Forte.

The Cincinnati Bengals will be looking to upgrade their running back corp during the April 26-27 draft and have their sights set on one of the most productive backs in college football this season.

Bengals running backs coach Jim Anderson will be on campus today to conduct a private workout session with the nation’s second leading rusher. Forte rushed for 2,127 yards this season and finished second on the team in receiving yards with 282.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Forte has shot up team’s draft boards like a rocket since ripping it up at the Senior Bowl. Forte rushed for 59 yards on eight carries and had 38 yards receiving. He was named the game’s MVP.

Up until the game, Forte was a virtual unknown with some more well-publicized running backs receiving most of the media’s attention. Forte came to Mobile with something to prove after being overlooked.

“I took that as motivation,” he said. “Guys were overlooking me just because I went to Tulane so I went to the Senior Bowl with that in mind. I went out there and practiced the way I know how to play. I wanted to show scouts that I could play with the bigger conferences and guys who are supposed to be really good players in college football.”

I think Forte proved his point. He looked phenomenal during the week of practice at the Senior Bowl. If that wasn’t enough his performance at the Combine ranked among the top of the class.

Ironically, Forte could be headed down the same path as Colts RB Joseph Addai with the performance he gave in Mobile and the Combine. Addai, who rushed for 911 yards and 9 touchdowns his senior season, wasn’t on many team’s radar until he impressed scouts in Mobile. The rest is history. Indianapolis snagged Addai with the 30th pick in the first-round of the 2006 draft.

Forte is a quality every-down back without a doubt. When opponents looked at their schedule and saw Tulane they knew who they had to stop. Forte saw a lot of eight-and-nine man fronts, but teams couldn’t stop him. They just went along for the ride as he steamrolled his way down the field and more often than not, the end zone.

“That’s mostly what I saw the entire season,” he said. “After a few games when I broke 300 or 200 yards we saw a lot of eight and nine men in the box. They knew I was going to get the ball but it really didn’t matter. I just broke some tackles and became the runner that I knew how to be.”

Electrifying!

If the Bengals are to secure a realistic shot at landing Forte they better be ready to pull the trigger with their second-round pick 46th overall because he is not expected to be around long after that, if then.

Forte is in high demand with a number of teams that included Detroit, Atlanta, San Diego, Cleveland, Arizona, Indianapolis and Chicago all expressing interest.

Bengal fans will be eagerly waiting to see what gifts Santa will bring this year and Forte would be a nice present to receive on draft day. So Bengal fans, have you been naughty or nice?

Big C's Scouting Report:

Forte is a big, strong, physical back with powerful leg drive to move the pile and quick feet. He is very nimble for a guy his size. He has 4.4/40 speed and good peripheral vision to make cutback runs. He's a very decisive runner who doesn't shy away from contact and is a good receiver out of the backfield. Forte played in a pro-style West-Coast offense making him a very versatile running back.

To see Forte in action click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bbaIF22NGQ