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The running back position is one of the strongest groups in the 2025 NFL Draft. The highlight of this group is Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty from Boise State, who recorded the second-most rushing yards in a single season in FBS history.
North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson are also projected to be selected within the top 40 picks of the draft. Additionally, several other running backs closely follow them in many mock drafts.
Last year, 20 running backs were drafted, and it is expected that even more will be selected in next week’s draft.
USA TODAY Sports lists some of the top running back prospects in tiers ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Who will be a workhorse or a backup at the next level?
Jeanty’s quickness, speed and vision make him the consensus top running back in this year’s draft. The 5-foot-8, 211-pound running back possesses the skills to be an All-Pro type of player at the next level.
Jeanty’s 2,601 rushing yards last year were the second most ever in FBS history, trailing only Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders (2,628). The Boise State product compiled 2,739 yards from scrimmage, an NCAA best and third-most all time. Jeanty had 55 runs of 10 yards or more.
Hampton is a tough downhill runner who is difficult to tackle. The 6-foot, 221-pound back is explosive at the line of scrimmage and has the build to handle a large workload.
The North Carolina product runs best between the tackles. He compiled 1,660 rushing yards in 2024, including 1,222 yards after contact, per Pro Football Focus. A total of 733 of his yards were on runs up the middle, including 18 runs that went for 10-plus yards.
Henderson’s floor is a change-of-pace back who can come in on third down, be a good pass blocker or catch passes out of the backfield. His ceiling is an explosive running back who can get 20-25 touches a game, similar to Lions standout running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
Henderson has good acceleration and is shifty enough to be a valuable running back and receiving weapon. His 3,761 career rushing yards rank in the top five in Ohio State history. He ranks third all-time in the program in touchdowns from scrimmage (48) and all-purpose yards (4,614).
Ohio State boasted college football’s best one-two punch in the backfield with Judkins and the aforementioned Henderson.
Judkins tallied 1,060 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground to lead the Buckeyes. He was more of Ohio State’s between-the-tackles runner as he runs with more physicality than Henderson. He lacks speed and explosiveness but gains tough yards.
Johnson boasts good size and athleticism. He’s more of a downhill bruising ball carrier but he doesn’t have the explosiveness or lateral quickness of some prospects rated above him.
Johnson produced 2,779 career rushing yards, good enough for sixth in program history. His 1,537 rushing yards ranked seventh in college football last year, with 1,060 coming after contact, per Pro Football Focus. His performance during his final season earned him Big Ten RB of the Year honors.
Sampson gained 1,491 rushing yards last season, which ranked ninth in college football. He earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year accolades in 2024. The Tennessee running back has good feel for finding the hole and nice run after the catch ability.
Ball security and pass protection are two areas Sampson will need to improve to become a starting-caliber running back in the NFL.
Skattebo is a battering ram of a running back. He lacks speed and elusiveness but runs behind his pads and is difficult to tackle upon first contact.
His 1,711 rushing yards last year ranked second in FBS behind only Ashton Jeanty. His 22 total touchdowns were an Arizona State single-season record. A total of 969 yards he gained were after contact, per Pro Football Focus.
Etienne has the ability to be a three-down running back but might be best utilized as a third-down back, at least to begin his NFL career. He doesn’t have the speed and explosiveness of his older brother, Travis Etienne, but could develop into a similar running back in the pros.
Etienne had a team-high nine rushing touchdowns for the Bulldogs in 2024.
Neal is Kansas’ all-time leading rusher with 4,343 rushing yards. To go along with it, he owns school records in rushing touchdowns, touchdowns from scrimmage and 100+ yard rushing contests.
The 5-foot-11 prospect can be a three-down running back who can handle a heavy workload. He diagnoses running lanes well and is decisive. However, he doesn’t have much home run ability and sometimes waits too long for a play to develop.
Tuten’s draft stock got a tremendous boost when he ran a running back-best 4.32 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He’s an explosive back with impressive linear speed. His vision and ball security will need improvement to be an every-down RB at the next level.
Tuten produced 1,159 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns to lead Virginia Tech this past season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NFL Draft RB tiers: Ranking Ashton Jeanty, Cam Skattebo, others
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North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson are also projected to be selected within the top 40 picks of the draft. Additionally, several other running backs closely follow them in many mock drafts.
Last year, 20 running backs were drafted, and it is expected that even more will be selected in next week’s draft.
USA TODAY Sports lists some of the top running back prospects in tiers ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Who will be a workhorse or a backup at the next level?
2025 NFL Draft: RB Tiers
1. All-Pro running back
- Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Jeanty’s quickness, speed and vision make him the consensus top running back in this year’s draft. The 5-foot-8, 211-pound running back possesses the skills to be an All-Pro type of player at the next level.
Jeanty’s 2,601 rushing yards last year were the second most ever in FBS history, trailing only Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders (2,628). The Boise State product compiled 2,739 yards from scrimmage, an NCAA best and third-most all time. Jeanty had 55 runs of 10 yards or more.
Workhorse running back
- Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Hampton is a tough downhill runner who is difficult to tackle. The 6-foot, 221-pound back is explosive at the line of scrimmage and has the build to handle a large workload.
The North Carolina product runs best between the tackles. He compiled 1,660 rushing yards in 2024, including 1,222 yards after contact, per Pro Football Focus. A total of 733 of his yards were on runs up the middle, including 18 runs that went for 10-plus yards.
Explosive play-making running back
- TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Henderson’s floor is a change-of-pace back who can come in on third down, be a good pass blocker or catch passes out of the backfield. His ceiling is an explosive running back who can get 20-25 touches a game, similar to Lions standout running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
Henderson has good acceleration and is shifty enough to be a valuable running back and receiving weapon. His 3,761 career rushing yards rank in the top five in Ohio State history. He ranks third all-time in the program in touchdowns from scrimmage (48) and all-purpose yards (4,614).
TREVEYON HENDERSON 75 YARDS TO THE HOUSE, WOW
Ohio State immediately answers after Texas' TD. pic.twitter.com/a0OdS0eORK
— ESPN (@espn) January 11, 2025
Potential three-down back
- Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
Ohio State boasted college football’s best one-two punch in the backfield with Judkins and the aforementioned Henderson.
Judkins tallied 1,060 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground to lead the Buckeyes. He was more of Ohio State’s between-the-tackles runner as he runs with more physicality than Henderson. He lacks speed and explosiveness but gains tough yards.
QUINSHON JUDKINS GOES BEAST MODE
14-7 OHIO STATE
Odds via @BetMGM
Anytime touchdown (-115)
pic.twitter.com/7zQEZCyPdK
— BetFTW (@Bet_ForTheWin) January 21, 2025
- Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
Johnson boasts good size and athleticism. He’s more of a downhill bruising ball carrier but he doesn’t have the explosiveness or lateral quickness of some prospects rated above him.
Johnson produced 2,779 career rushing yards, good enough for sixth in program history. His 1,537 rushing yards ranked seventh in college football last year, with 1,060 coming after contact, per Pro Football Focus. His performance during his final season earned him Big Ten RB of the Year honors.
- Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
Sampson gained 1,491 rushing yards last season, which ranked ninth in college football. He earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year accolades in 2024. The Tennessee running back has good feel for finding the hole and nice run after the catch ability.
Ball security and pass protection are two areas Sampson will need to improve to become a starting-caliber running back in the NFL.
System running backs
- Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Skattebo is a battering ram of a running back. He lacks speed and elusiveness but runs behind his pads and is difficult to tackle upon first contact.
His 1,711 rushing yards last year ranked second in FBS behind only Ashton Jeanty. His 22 total touchdowns were an Arizona State single-season record. A total of 969 yards he gained were after contact, per Pro Football Focus.
- Trevor Etienne, Georgia
Etienne has the ability to be a three-down running back but might be best utilized as a third-down back, at least to begin his NFL career. He doesn’t have the speed and explosiveness of his older brother, Travis Etienne, but could develop into a similar running back in the pros.
Etienne had a team-high nine rushing touchdowns for the Bulldogs in 2024.
- Devin Neal, Kansas
Neal is Kansas’ all-time leading rusher with 4,343 rushing yards. To go along with it, he owns school records in rushing touchdowns, touchdowns from scrimmage and 100+ yard rushing contests.
The 5-foot-11 prospect can be a three-down running back who can handle a heavy workload. He diagnoses running lanes well and is decisive. However, he doesn’t have much home run ability and sometimes waits too long for a play to develop.
- Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
Tuten’s draft stock got a tremendous boost when he ran a running back-best 4.32 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He’s an explosive back with impressive linear speed. His vision and ball security will need improvement to be an every-down RB at the next level.
Tuten produced 1,159 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns to lead Virginia Tech this past season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NFL Draft RB tiers: Ranking Ashton Jeanty, Cam Skattebo, others
Continue reading...
