This years running back class is crazy deep. I don’t remember the last time we had one so strong. I have so many backs with day two grades its nuts and it means a number of day two talented running backs will be available on day three. There will probably even be a number of guys that go undrafted that make NFL rosters. So it was hard to pick a top 10, because I had to leave a number of guys off that were deserving, but lets get to it.
Top Five Running Backs
- Ashton Jeanty – Boise State: Could it have been anyone else? At this point he is pretty much the consensus #1 back in the class and a likely first round pick. Jeanty is 5’8 and almost 220 pounds and its all muscle. He’s not stiff though. He actually played wide receiver in high school and it shows on the field, he is very good out of the backfield and can run routes. He has insane contact balance. The first tackler never takes him down. He forced 151 missed tackles on the season, an insane number. Jeanty isn’t a burner, he’s not going to rip off 40+ yard runs, but he will get tons of 20-30 yard runs. He has some Emmit Smith to his game.
- Kaleb Johnson – Iowa: Johnson has the size and physicality to really churn out some yards in the NFL at 6’0 225. He also has good speed for his size (expected to run in the 4.5’s). He has good patience behind the line and will let his blocks develop. While not as developed as Jeanty as a receiver, Johnson does show good soft hands out of the backfield and is not a one trick pony. Another positive as far as the NFL is concerned is he has a lack of wear and tear on his body. He started just one year at Iowa. Not the most elusive guy in the class, but he shows quick feet and good vision.
- TreVeyon Henderson – Ohio State: Henderson it feels like his been a favorite of the draft community for it seems three-years. Henderson is that kind of modern day back. He’s fast, explosive, a threat as both a runner, receiver and a good pass blocker. He has the right size at 5’10 214. He exploded as a freshman with over 1,200 yards and was expected to declare after his junior year, but he sustained a hairline fracture in his leg as a sophomore and the injury seemed to linger into the 2023 season where he seemed to lack some explosiveness. He came back in 2024 and from his film seems he got that explosiveness back. Henderson does lack some power and would prefer to bounce carries to the outside more than you like, but as long as his medicals check out he is a three down back in the NFL.
- Devin Neal – Kansas: Neal has been a guy that has been on my radar since 2022 when he had his first 1,000 yard season. He has quietly had three 1,000 yard seasons in a row. Neal isn’t just a threat as a runner though. He also has three seasons with at least 25 catches each season. He has also shown he can pass block. Neal has quickness and the speed to be a home run hitter. He also has some decent contact balance. At 5’11 215 he has great running back size and build. He has really good vision for cut backs and in the open field as well. The wear and tear on his body though might be a concern.
- Omarion Hampton – North Carolina: Hampton is your traditional power back. He has a lot of power in his lower body because he isn’t huge at 6’0 220. Hampton has power and contact balance and gets a lot of yards after contact. Despite having over 70 career receptions he isn’t much of a threat out of the backfield outside of screens and some dump offs. His lower body, especially his feet/ankles are stiff and his change of direction is slow so you don’t want him making a bunch of cuts. He is explosive in a straight line and ideally you want him being a one cut and go runner. He has been healthy so far, but has over 610 carries over the last two seasons and with him being a power runner that lacks shiftiness, his body may not last long in the NFL, but you are getting a guy who will likely give you at least 3-6 really good years.
The Best Of The Rest: Six Thru Ten
6. Nick Singleton – Penn State*: Singleton has shared the backfield with Kaytron Allen since they both got to Penn State, so that is something NFL teams will like since he doesn’t have the wear and tear on him like other backs. He has speed and explosiveness in a straight line, he may not be the shiftiest though. He does have usage as a receiver out of the backfield and was used like a receiver at times by Penn State so he can run some routes and was used as a gadget player at times as well. He brings a lot of talent and versatility to an NFL offense. His pass blocking needs work and he could be a little more patient at times, but he is ready to come to the NFL and be a starter.
7. R.J. Harvey – UCF: Harvey is another guy that I’ve had my eye on since 2022. Back then he was in a backfield with two other guys and they all shared carries. He stood out the most from a speed and explosiveness stand point. At 5’8 201 he has a low center of gravity and despite being just 200 pounds he has some solid contact balance, probably because of his thick lower half and just naturally being low to the ground. He is not a power runner though. Harvey is not a guy on 3rd and 1 you had it to and tell him to take it up the middle. He is a menace in the open field and can make any defender look silly. He is a homerun hitter and a threat out of the backfield. Harvey has a nose for the end zone as well, he quietly had 22 rushing touchdowns this season. He does need to really improve as a pass blocker, that it his biggest weakness at this point.
8. Kyle Monangai – Rutgers: Monangai is a fun watch. After his breakout 2023 season where he had 1,200 yards for a suprising Rutgers team he followed that up with another 1,200 yard season despite Rutgers not playing as well. Monangai may lack some explosiveness and top end speed, but he has great vision and can get skinny to get through any hole. Monangai won’t hit any 40+ yard runs, but he will get you a bunch of 10-20 yard runs. He also runs with power and contact balance and is always looking to finish runs physically. He wasn’t asked to do much out of the backfield so his ability outside of dump offs and those types of things are a little bit of an unknown. His pass blocking his been a bit hit or miss and he needs to work on cleaning that up. He has shown he can do it though.
9. D.J. Giddens – Kansas State: Giddens despite being a verified 6’0 216 and having a long body moves like a 5’10 guy. When he gets in the open field he can make defensive back miss. He does run a little high and will need to work on that, but shows some decent power. He can also break any arm tackle, he will just run through it. He is a threat to take it to the end zone. As a receiver he has shown flashes, but needs to work on his hands. He has had too many drops.
10. Ollie Gordon III – Oklahoma State: Ollie Gordon took college football by storm in 2023 by rushing for over 1,700 yards and entering the offseason he was seen as probably RB1 for the 2025 draft, but It seems his season was doomed from the offseason when he was arrested for DUI and his season never seemed to get on track. There was some talk that he might have put on too much weight in the offseason and it slowed him down. He is a big long guy at 6’1 215 and has arms and legs for days. Those long arms give him a really good stiff arm and he runs with power. In the open field though he seems to just glide. While his receiving numbers were down this season he also showed he could be a real weapon as a receiver and could even be lined up as one. If he can get everything squared away and get back to the player he was in 2023 he could be a huge weapon in the NFL.
* Nick Singleton is a junior and as of this writing has yet to declare. If he went back players like Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech, Jarquez Hunter, Auburn and Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech could all pop into the top ten.
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