Bengals spoke with Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah

The Cincinnati Bengals are showing relative interest in Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah, the prospect wrote in a draft diary via USA TODAY.

"I've talked to more teams than I've worked out for recently," said Abdullah. "I've talked to the San Diego Chargers quite a bit. Talked to the Arizona Cardinals, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Miami Dolphins, the Atlanta Falcons. It's mainly position coaches, or scouts if they want to set up a workout or something."

Over the last two years, Abullah averaged: 
PER SEASON: 1,650 yards rushing
PER GAME: 126.7 yards rushing
PER ATTEMPT: 6.1 yards rushing

...and 28 touchdowns, including 19 during his senior season in 2014.

Abdullah ran a 4.6 40-yard dash during the 2015 National Scouting Combine and vastly improved that number to 4.53 seconds during Nebraska's pro day. A possible second or third round prospect, Abdullah is doing whatever he can to impress scouts and coaches.

"Any time you can get in front of scouts and the professional guys to show what you can do, though, you should take advantage of the opportunity," said Abdullah last month. "I didn't do everything (during his Pro Day), but I feel like I came out and did what I wanted to do and showed it."

As for the Bengals' connection with Abdullah, it would appear mostly exploratory -- or to use that irritating phrase, "due-diligence". Cincinnati used second round picks on Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill in 2013 and 2014 and applying another in 2015 seems virtually improbable. Third round? I don't see it.

If he's around by day three (rounds 4-7), maybe. Why? Aside from Bernard, Hill and Rex Burkhead, the Bengals running back roster is extremely bare. Even Burkhead has had a pedestrian career in Cincinnati, mostly being used as a special teams player, on a path to replace Cedric Peerman, who is currently an unrestricted free agent.