This group may be highlighted by the Boise State Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty, but this running back class is a deep and diverse set of talents. There'll surely be some teams that stumble into a real weapon in the later rounds without having to sacrifice much value in terms of draft capital, just a matter of finding the right guy for the right situation.
Here's our top ten favorites:
Ashton Jeanty:
Boise State 5' 9" 215 lbs. 4.42 40-Time
Effortless mix of speed and power, violently plowing through running lanes. Great field vision paired with solid lateral quickness and impressive ability to accelerate back to full speed after cuts. A proven workhorse, coming off a 397-touch season. Lives for contact with incredible balance through hits-- really difficult for single defenders to drag down. Brings home run potential every time he touches the ball.
Could improve his pass blocking, especially against NFL caliber pass rushers. Not ideally sized, only weighing in at 5' 9", 215. Good, not great receiver out of the backfield. Ability to handle a full workload is seen by some as a double-edged sword, with some scouts wondering if his busy year at Boise State will wear him down in the long-term.
Summary: Most of Jeanty's negatives are more or less nit-picking. This kid's got absolute star potential at the position and should be off the board before the teens. His 750 career carries for the Broncos are certainly worth noting for any team considering this workhorse, but he could be a real menace for a decade-plus with proper utilization.
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| Photo: Joe Rondone/ USA Today |
TreyVeyon Henderson:
Ohio State 5' 10" 208 lbs. 4.39 40-Time
Incredibly fast and explosive. If he gets around the edge, you can book it for a house call. Underrated strength, punishing arm tacklers for their miscues. Strong in pass protection, more than capable as a three-down back. Split carries at Ohio State for much of his career which could boost his longevity. Skilled pass catcher with experience working out wide.
Tendencies to bounce it outside rather than letting the play develop in front of him, which he may have issues doing that against faster, more disciplined pro defenses. Could improve his patience in the backfield, preferring to quickly get up to full speed and take it as far as he can. Injuries in 2022 and 2023 forced him to miss some time.
Summary: Quietly one of college football's most exciting players, whoever drafts Henderson is going to get an experienced stud at running back with plenty of tread on the tires. While he's more than capable of being a featured, three-down back, his 7.6 yards per touch last season while sharing time with Quinshon Judkins suggest that he's best in split duty. Could easily be the lightning to a preexisting thunder.
Omarion Hampton:
North Carolina 6' 0" 220 lbs. 4.46 40-Time
Runs with a low center of gravity, bouncing off would be tacklers and always picking up an extra yard or two on the way down. Smooth moving through the hole, able to make defenders miss in one on one situations. An absolute force at the goal line, as evidenced by his 36 trips to the end zone in three years at UNC.
Top end speed leaves something to be desired, regularly getting caught from behind on would-be breakaway scores. Runs with more power than finesse, occasionally missing out on cutbacks for bigger plays. Room for improvement in the pass game if he wants to really shine as a three-down back-- as a receiver and blocker.
Summary: There's a lot of hype surrounding Hampton, but his tape didn't really jump off as anything extraordinary. The Tar Heel runs hard and fluid with a ton of pop, but the 4.46 40-time is seemingly deceptive. While the three-down potential is there, it's not a guaranteed skill set to translate upward. Should end up being an above average but don't expect to hear his name in any All-Pro discussions.
Kaleb Johnson:
Iowa 6' 0" 225 lbs. 4.50 40-Time
Runs smooth, with patience and a nose for the end zone, rushing for 21 touchdowns last season. Good vision at point of attack, seemingly always falls forward for extra yardage. Not a ton of usage in his three years at Iowa, suggesting fresher legs for a longer period of his pro career.
Really lacks true breakaway speed. Limited work in the receiving game, could improve as a pass blocker to really emerge as a three-down back. Good, but not great balance. Able to break tackles but rarely explodes through them to return to top gear.
Summary: Johnson projects as a surefire two-down back with potential to develop into a guy you don't take off the field. He'll never be a burner but should absolutely thrive in short-yardage and goal line situations. Not a sexy pick by any stretch but plenty capable of contributing early on in his career. Similar profile to Washington's Brian Robinson Jr.
Quinshon Judkins:
Ohio State 6' 0" 219 lbs. 4.49 40-Time
Speaking of touchdown machines...this man scored 45 in three years at Ohio State. Split duty with TreVeyon Henderson, minimizing wear and tear. Keeps the pads low and absolutely bowling-balls through contact. Underrated speed, probably due to the power he runs with. Only fumbled thrice in collegiate career.
Will need to be more decisive hitting holes on the NFL level or risks producing too many negative plays. Lacks that fourth gear to really separate from defenses downfield on big plays. Hands are good but his pass blocking leaves something to be desired, limiting his three-down potential out of the gate.
Summary: Judkins' is an undervalued talent in general, possibly due to his teammate Henderson stealing a lot of the shine. While he's not an every down player just yet, the kid runs with ferocity, won't turn the ball over and will get you the short yardage you need on 3rd and 1 or at the goal line. One of the higher floors of any player you'll get in the late second or third round.
Cam Skattebo:
Arizona State 5' 11" 215 lbs. 4.62 40-Time
Bona fide leader, almost single-handedly willing Arizona State to victory over Texas in the Peach Bowl. Supremely versatile in the run and short passing game, with soft hands and a penchant for finding space. Will not be arm tackled, thriving on contact-- one of the hardest runners you'll catch on tape. Patient but decisive, blasting through gaps once he identifies them.
Agility and acceleration aren't top notch, needing extra steps to reach maximum speed after cuts. Not particularly fast, will be best suited early on as a short yardage aficionado. Big issues with ball security, with double digit fumbles in his career. Willing, but too-often overaggressive in pass blocking situations.
Summary: As pure a bruiser as you'll come across in the game these days, Cam Skattebo looks more like a fullback than a tailback with the ball in his hands. Not a threat to take it to the house from the other side of the 50, but as reliable as it gets if you just need a yard or two. Combine that with his heavy collegiate usage and the ASU product likely projects as no more than a change-of-pace back wherever he ends up.
Dylan Sampson:
Tennessee 5' 11" 190 lbs. 4.35 40-Time
Extremely fast, able to accelerate to full speed at an eye-popping rate. A decisive runner who hits the hole quickly, but still has the agility and vision to bounce it outside or hit available cut back lanes. Only was the bell-cow one year at Tennessee-- meaning those legs are fresh.
Better at breaking tackles then you'd think given his smaller stature. His lighter frame does raise some concerns on the pro level, regarding how consistently he could be leaned on as a true RB1. Not a ton of experience in the passing game, as a receiver or blocker. Lost four fumbles last season, which'll be a key area to clean up moving forward.
Summary: Unlikely to ever evolve into a true three-down workhorse, Dylan Sampson still has plenty of assets to boost the offense of whichever team drafts him. His sub 4.4 speed transfers to the field, making him a true weapon with the ball in his hands. Wherever he goes, they'll need to manage his touches and work on the ball security-- but if a coaching staff can appropriately manage that, look out.
Devin Neal:
Kansas 5' 11" 215 lbs. 4.50 40-Time
A patient yet decisive runner, willing to wait for the holes to open before accelerating through them. Very shifty, more than able to make guys miss in the open field. Good vision with the rock, making him dangerous in space. Some of the softer hands in this running back class and solid in pass protection.
Lacks true breakaway speed, often getting caught from behind on would-be home runs. Pretty heavy usage at Kansas, with 760 carries over four years, which could reduce his timeline of effectiveness in the pros. Runs a little high at times and doesn't break many tackles.
Summary: Devin Neal's a guy who does a bunch things really well, yet doesn't excel in any particular area. He's a good receiver out of the backfield and boasts above average agility but isn't likely to ever lock in a job as a team's workhorse. Projects to be a respectable 1B in any platoon he finds himself in.
Jordan James:
Oregon 5' 10" 210 lbs. 4.45 40-Time
Hard to bring down at the point of contact, almost always falling forward. Good hands, capable receiver that could evolve into a three-down back at the next level. Patient runner who hits the hole hard and fast. A nose for the end zone, punching in multiple short yardage scores. One year starter at Oregon, reducing wear and tear.
Smaller frame, not guaranteed to be able to handle a full NFL workload. Not a ton of tape on him, raising questions about why he didn't push for more playing time in 2022-2023. Will need to improve blitz pickups and pass blocking to achieve the aforementioned three-down potential.
Summary: A classic double-edged conundrum regarding James' playing time: was it a result of superior talent in front of him or is he a late bloomer? A raw talent with room to grow, or a one hit wonder that was able to mask his deficiencies in a high-powered Oregon offense? Questions many scouts will be asking when crunching the numbers over the next few weeks. James likely projects as a quality third down back that could spot start in a pinch. For what it's worth, former teammate Bucky Irving fell to round four and the consensus seemed to be much higher on him.
Brashard Smith:
SMU 5' 10" 196 lbs. 4.41 40-Time
Incredibly shifty, good field vision, extreme speed. Really strong hands-- former receiver at Miami. He's not all finesse though, with a willingness to lower the shoulder and deliver a blow to would-be tacklers. Top notch acceleration, capable of beating defenders to the edge with relative ease.
Really small frame for an NFL bell-cow. Still raw at the position, with only one collegiate season at running back. Gets a little loose with the ball when he finds himself in space. Occasionally relies too much on his speed and athleticism by trying to bounce it outside rather than taking interior running lanes.
Summary: Smith's pretty raw overall but still was able to shine in his first season at a new position, which is certainly worth commending. Definitely a project for whoever takes him, and probably a little too small to ever truly be a workhorse back, but his acceleration and 4.4 speed are the real deal. Could become an absolute game changer with the right usage in the proper system.
Honorable Mention:
Khalel Mullings, Tahj Brooks, Rahiem Sanders, Bhayshul Tuten, Damien Martinez
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@Choppinglines
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