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Do running backs matter? It has been an ongoing debate for years due to the shelf life of the position.
What is not up for debate is whether or not you can get by without a solid running back. The good news is for teams in need of a running back in the upcoming NFL draft, there are plenty of viable options. It begins with the reigning Doak Walker Award-winning back out of Boise State, Ashton Jeanty. If a team misses out on Jeanty, there are plenty more options coming down the pipe and you don't necessarily need to use a first-round selection on them.
With that being said, Touchdown Wire power ranks the best running backs available in the upcoming NFL draft. These aren't prospect rankings but more based on collegiate accomplishments.
After a productive freshman season with the Broncos, Jeanty exploded onto the scene by rushing for 3,948 yards and 43 touchdowns over his next two seasons. He ran away with the Doak Walker Award and finished second in Heisman voting behind winner Travis Hunter. While he had quite the workload over three seasons, Jeanty is head and shoulders above the pack.
If a team misses out on Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton isn't a bad consolation prize. The ACC's leading rusher over the past two seasons has generated plenty of offseason buzz. Outside of Jeanty, Hampton is the only other back to receive a first-round grade. Hampton rushed for 3,565 yards with 36 touchdowns over three seasons. Hampton is also a capable receiver accounting for 2,033 yards from scrimmage this past season while scoring 17 total touchdowns.
If you blink while watching the Ohio State Buckeyes, you could miss a big play from TreVeyon Henderson. Just ask the Texas Longhorns defense about that. He didn't have a heavy workload with a fellow top-five back on our list in the backfield with him. Henderson still averaged 7.1 yards per carry and 7.6 yards per touch overall. Get the ball in 32's hands and watch him work.
Kaleb Johnson was a pleasant surprise for the Hawkeyes offense after rushing for 1,242 yards combined in his first two seasons with Iowa. In 2024, Johnson obliterated those numbers with a stat line that included 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. He has a lot of tread on the tires and could be a workhorse at the next level and has the frame to withstand the punishment backs have to endure.
Judkins was overlooked coming out of high school but Lane Kiffin was the one who paid attention. He joined the Rebels and proved his worth from the jump. He rushed for 2,725 yards and 31 touchdowns in two seasons before making the move to Ohio State. Overall he accounted for 50 touchdowns and 4,227 yards from scrimmage in his three-year collegiate career.
Texas Tech's all-time leading rusher doesn't look like he has the frame to show off burst and quickness but don't let that fool you. Tahj Brooks can absolutely move and if he can't outrun you, he will run through you. In the last two seasons as the feature back for the Red Raiders, Brooks rushed for 3,038 yards with 27 touchdowns. It is almost Tahj time in the NFL.
Prior to joining the Arizona State Sun Devils, Skattebo was making a name for himself at the Division II level with Sacramento State. He was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year after rushing to 1,382 yards with seven touchdowns. This past season Skattebo set a career high with 1,711 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. He added another 605 yards receiving with three more touchdowns. In all, he accounted for 2,316 yards from scrimmage at a clip of 639 yards per touch. That's a dynamic weapon for any offense.
The former Hurricanes running back earned an opportunity when he arrived in Dallas. The senior back rushed for 1,332 yards with 14 touchdowns in his first season with a full workload. In three seasons with Miami, Smith only accounted for 947 yards from scrimmage. A team will be getting a running back with fresh legs since Smith only had 361 career touches.
The Vols found a weapon in the red zone with Dylan Sampson last season. The SEC Offensive Player of the Year accounted for 17 of his 22 rushing touchdowns when the field was shortened. Sampson wasn't a player that Tennessee used in the passing game with only 40 career receptions. Becoming a weapon at the next level will require him to become more well-rounded.
It was a tale of two different seasons for the 2023 Doak Walker Award winner. Last season Ollie Gordon II was a shell of his former self but not much went right for an Oklahoma State team that finished 3-9 and failed to win a single conference game, not all of that was on the talented back. His unit didn't give up 38 or more points in each of the last eight games. Gordon has a high ceiling in the NFL if he returns to his 2023 form, where he rushed for 1,785 yards and 21 touchdowns. He rushed for 20+ yards 21 different times that year.
This group could provide some valuable role players early in their careers with the opportunity to become more than that. RJ Harvey looks to be a weapon as both a runner and receiver while Jarquez Hunter is more of a between-the-tackles type runner.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: NFL draft power rankings: Top quarterbacks in 2025 class
Continue reading...
What is not up for debate is whether or not you can get by without a solid running back. The good news is for teams in need of a running back in the upcoming NFL draft, there are plenty of viable options. It begins with the reigning Doak Walker Award-winning back out of Boise State, Ashton Jeanty. If a team misses out on Jeanty, there are plenty more options coming down the pipe and you don't necessarily need to use a first-round selection on them.
With that being said, Touchdown Wire power ranks the best running backs available in the upcoming NFL draft. These aren't prospect rankings but more based on collegiate accomplishments.
No. 1: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
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After a productive freshman season with the Broncos, Jeanty exploded onto the scene by rushing for 3,948 yards and 43 touchdowns over his next two seasons. He ran away with the Doak Walker Award and finished second in Heisman voting behind winner Travis Hunter. While he had quite the workload over three seasons, Jeanty is head and shoulders above the pack.
No. 2: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
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If a team misses out on Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton isn't a bad consolation prize. The ACC's leading rusher over the past two seasons has generated plenty of offseason buzz. Outside of Jeanty, Hampton is the only other back to receive a first-round grade. Hampton rushed for 3,565 yards with 36 touchdowns over three seasons. Hampton is also a capable receiver accounting for 2,033 yards from scrimmage this past season while scoring 17 total touchdowns.
No. 3: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
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If you blink while watching the Ohio State Buckeyes, you could miss a big play from TreVeyon Henderson. Just ask the Texas Longhorns defense about that. He didn't have a heavy workload with a fellow top-five back on our list in the backfield with him. Henderson still averaged 7.1 yards per carry and 7.6 yards per touch overall. Get the ball in 32's hands and watch him work.
No. 4: Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
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Kaleb Johnson was a pleasant surprise for the Hawkeyes offense after rushing for 1,242 yards combined in his first two seasons with Iowa. In 2024, Johnson obliterated those numbers with a stat line that included 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. He has a lot of tread on the tires and could be a workhorse at the next level and has the frame to withstand the punishment backs have to endure.
No. 5: Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
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Judkins was overlooked coming out of high school but Lane Kiffin was the one who paid attention. He joined the Rebels and proved his worth from the jump. He rushed for 2,725 yards and 31 touchdowns in two seasons before making the move to Ohio State. Overall he accounted for 50 touchdowns and 4,227 yards from scrimmage in his three-year collegiate career.
No. 6: Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
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Texas Tech's all-time leading rusher doesn't look like he has the frame to show off burst and quickness but don't let that fool you. Tahj Brooks can absolutely move and if he can't outrun you, he will run through you. In the last two seasons as the feature back for the Red Raiders, Brooks rushed for 3,038 yards with 27 touchdowns. It is almost Tahj time in the NFL.
No. 7: Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
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Prior to joining the Arizona State Sun Devils, Skattebo was making a name for himself at the Division II level with Sacramento State. He was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year after rushing to 1,382 yards with seven touchdowns. This past season Skattebo set a career high with 1,711 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. He added another 605 yards receiving with three more touchdowns. In all, he accounted for 2,316 yards from scrimmage at a clip of 639 yards per touch. That's a dynamic weapon for any offense.
No. 8: Brashard Smith, Southern Methodist
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The former Hurricanes running back earned an opportunity when he arrived in Dallas. The senior back rushed for 1,332 yards with 14 touchdowns in his first season with a full workload. In three seasons with Miami, Smith only accounted for 947 yards from scrimmage. A team will be getting a running back with fresh legs since Smith only had 361 career touches.
No. 9: Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
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The Vols found a weapon in the red zone with Dylan Sampson last season. The SEC Offensive Player of the Year accounted for 17 of his 22 rushing touchdowns when the field was shortened. Sampson wasn't a player that Tennessee used in the passing game with only 40 career receptions. Becoming a weapon at the next level will require him to become more well-rounded.
No. 10: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
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It was a tale of two different seasons for the 2023 Doak Walker Award winner. Last season Ollie Gordon II was a shell of his former self but not much went right for an Oklahoma State team that finished 3-9 and failed to win a single conference game, not all of that was on the talented back. His unit didn't give up 38 or more points in each of the last eight games. Gordon has a high ceiling in the NFL if he returns to his 2023 form, where he rushed for 1,785 yards and 21 touchdowns. He rushed for 20+ yards 21 different times that year.
The Best of the Rest
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- No. 11: RJ Harvey, Central Florida
- No. 12: Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
- No. 13: Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
- No. 14: Damien Martinez, Miami (Fl)
- No. 15: DJ Giddens, Kansas State
- No. 16: Corey Kiner, Cincinnati
- No. 17: Kyle Monagai, Rutgers
This group could provide some valuable role players early in their careers with the opportunity to become more than that. RJ Harvey looks to be a weapon as both a runner and receiver while Jarquez Hunter is more of a between-the-tackles type runner.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: NFL draft power rankings: Top quarterbacks in 2025 class
Continue reading...
