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The 2025 NFL Draft is just over two weeks away. Most of the pre-draft focus has been on the top two quarterbacks, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter. However, running back is one of the deepest and most intriguing position groups this year.
There’s a clear-cut number one guy, but beyond that, there are plenty of talented ball carriers who will likely produce early in their careers. Let’s look at the top eight.
What hasn’t already been said about Jeanty? This dude is as elite of a prospect as it gets. He’s an explosive ball carrier with excellent contact balance, speed, and vision. He led FBS in carries (374) and rushing yards (2,601) last season, adding 29 rushing touchdowns and one through the air.
One knock is his average size, but he makes up for it with exceptional athletic ability. His pass-catching numbers weren’t spectacular in 2024, but this is a dual-threat, three-down back who will instantly upgrade whatever offense he ends up on.
Hampton settled into the RB2 spot after a strong showing at the Combine. He also saw a lot of work in his college career, carrying the rock over 250 times each of the last two seasons. He led the ACC with 1,660 yards in 2024 and found the endzone 15 times.
He lacks wiggle in the hole but has good size to dish out punishment. You’d like to see better vision out of a guy who’s carried the ball so much, but he has good straight-line speed to burst through the line. Hampton won’t impress with his receiving ability, but this is a well-built, hammering ball carrier who can be an early-down producer at the next level.
Hendeson’s college career started strong as he rushed for over 1,200 yards as a freshman. Injuries shortened his next two seasons, and he finished with 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024. He led the Big 10 with 7.1 yards per attempt last season, splitting carries with the next guy on the list.
Henderson is average-sized, but his next-level athletic tools can be dangerous on all three downs in the NFL. He has above-average wiggle and suddenness both inside and on the edge and can run away from defenders when he’s in the clear. Henderson’s receiving ability is good, and he’s arguably the best pass-protecting back in the class. He’s higher than Judkins because he has multiple ways to produce as a three-down back.
Judkins has better size and strength than Henderson, but produces with a different style. They were a great thunder and lightning pair, with Judkins as the thumper. He led the SEC in carries (274), yards (1,567), and touchdowns (16) as a freshman at Ole Miss and added grit to Ohio State’s offense last season.
This is a prototypical three-down thumping back with the body to absorb a heavy workload and the talent to produce. He’s not a burner who’s a consistent big-play threat, but he’ll move the chains with toughness. Like Henderson, Judkins is also strong in protection. If you want speed and finesse, go with Henderson; if you want to win with power, go with Judkins. Either way, both guys will be solid pros.
Sampson went out with a bang in his final college season, leading the SEC with 258 carries, 1,491 yards, and 22 touchdowns. He’s still only 20 years old and won’t turn 21 until the regular season begins, so he hasn’t taken the normal pounding a featured back would in college.
His size could make him fall in the draft, but his tools are similar to the guys above him on this list. Sampson’s vision and wiggle put him a step above most of the backs in this class. He’ll stay on the designed path but can get creative when necessary. Would have expected more as a receiver, but there’s a lot to like with his game and age.
Johnson also saved his best for last, ripping off 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns en route to All-American honors in 2024. He’s a bigger back with a sturdy frame and good athleticism, vision, and contact balance.
Johnson is more of a weaver than a slasher, so he’ll need some room to operate, but he has good zone-scheme awareness for when to make his cuts. His top speed is slightly above-average, so he won’t be a consistent big-play guy; however, he has bell cow potential. Johnson won’t add much as a receiver, but he has the body to be a workhorse running back.
Neal is a hard-nosed runner with slightly above-average athletic tools. He won’t wow you with big runs and wild athleticism, but he’ll get the job done. Neal rushed for 1,266 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, including 207 yards on 37 carries against Colorado.
He has a lot of slightly above-average athletic tools but utilizes good contact balance to gain extra yards. His feet aren’t the quickest, so he’ll struggle to create against early disruption, but he has good awareness and enough wiggle to be productive inside. Neal isn’t a home run hitter, and you wish he was more elusive, but he has the tools to be a solid contributor who can carry the load when needed.
This guy is flat-out fun to watch. Skattebo’s on the older side, which will likely make him fall in the draft, but his contact balance and running style will earn him a spot on an NFL roster. He finished his college career with 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns, putting Arizona State on his back in the College Football Playoff.
Skattebo isn’t the fastest or twitchiest running back in the class, but he’s up there with Jeanty in terms of contact balance. He was one of the hardest running backs to bring down last year and will need to rely on that in the NFL. His patience and vision are typically good running inside, but there will be frustrating moments. He won’t run away from NFL edge defenders, but he’s smart when setting up blocks on the edge. Love his play style, and he has the mentality to soak up NFL coaching and keep improving.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Top 8 Running Backs in 2025 Draft Class
Continue reading...
There’s a clear-cut number one guy, but beyond that, there are plenty of talented ball carriers who will likely produce early in their careers. Let’s look at the top eight.
- Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
What hasn’t already been said about Jeanty? This dude is as elite of a prospect as it gets. He’s an explosive ball carrier with excellent contact balance, speed, and vision. He led FBS in carries (374) and rushing yards (2,601) last season, adding 29 rushing touchdowns and one through the air.
One knock is his average size, but he makes up for it with exceptional athletic ability. His pass-catching numbers weren’t spectacular in 2024, but this is a dual-threat, three-down back who will instantly upgrade whatever offense he ends up on.
- Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Hampton settled into the RB2 spot after a strong showing at the Combine. He also saw a lot of work in his college career, carrying the rock over 250 times each of the last two seasons. He led the ACC with 1,660 yards in 2024 and found the endzone 15 times.
He lacks wiggle in the hole but has good size to dish out punishment. You’d like to see better vision out of a guy who’s carried the ball so much, but he has good straight-line speed to burst through the line. Hampton won’t impress with his receiving ability, but this is a well-built, hammering ball carrier who can be an early-down producer at the next level.
- TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Hendeson’s college career started strong as he rushed for over 1,200 yards as a freshman. Injuries shortened his next two seasons, and he finished with 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024. He led the Big 10 with 7.1 yards per attempt last season, splitting carries with the next guy on the list.
Henderson is average-sized, but his next-level athletic tools can be dangerous on all three downs in the NFL. He has above-average wiggle and suddenness both inside and on the edge and can run away from defenders when he’s in the clear. Henderson’s receiving ability is good, and he’s arguably the best pass-protecting back in the class. He’s higher than Judkins because he has multiple ways to produce as a three-down back.
- Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
Judkins has better size and strength than Henderson, but produces with a different style. They were a great thunder and lightning pair, with Judkins as the thumper. He led the SEC in carries (274), yards (1,567), and touchdowns (16) as a freshman at Ole Miss and added grit to Ohio State’s offense last season.
This is a prototypical three-down thumping back with the body to absorb a heavy workload and the talent to produce. He’s not a burner who’s a consistent big-play threat, but he’ll move the chains with toughness. Like Henderson, Judkins is also strong in protection. If you want speed and finesse, go with Henderson; if you want to win with power, go with Judkins. Either way, both guys will be solid pros.
- Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
Sampson went out with a bang in his final college season, leading the SEC with 258 carries, 1,491 yards, and 22 touchdowns. He’s still only 20 years old and won’t turn 21 until the regular season begins, so he hasn’t taken the normal pounding a featured back would in college.
His size could make him fall in the draft, but his tools are similar to the guys above him on this list. Sampson’s vision and wiggle put him a step above most of the backs in this class. He’ll stay on the designed path but can get creative when necessary. Would have expected more as a receiver, but there’s a lot to like with his game and age.
- Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
Johnson also saved his best for last, ripping off 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns en route to All-American honors in 2024. He’s a bigger back with a sturdy frame and good athleticism, vision, and contact balance.
Johnson is more of a weaver than a slasher, so he’ll need some room to operate, but he has good zone-scheme awareness for when to make his cuts. His top speed is slightly above-average, so he won’t be a consistent big-play guy; however, he has bell cow potential. Johnson won’t add much as a receiver, but he has the body to be a workhorse running back.
- Devin Neal, Kansas
Neal is a hard-nosed runner with slightly above-average athletic tools. He won’t wow you with big runs and wild athleticism, but he’ll get the job done. Neal rushed for 1,266 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, including 207 yards on 37 carries against Colorado.
He has a lot of slightly above-average athletic tools but utilizes good contact balance to gain extra yards. His feet aren’t the quickest, so he’ll struggle to create against early disruption, but he has good awareness and enough wiggle to be productive inside. Neal isn’t a home run hitter, and you wish he was more elusive, but he has the tools to be a solid contributor who can carry the load when needed.
- Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
This guy is flat-out fun to watch. Skattebo’s on the older side, which will likely make him fall in the draft, but his contact balance and running style will earn him a spot on an NFL roster. He finished his college career with 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns, putting Arizona State on his back in the College Football Playoff.
Skattebo isn’t the fastest or twitchiest running back in the class, but he’s up there with Jeanty in terms of contact balance. He was one of the hardest running backs to bring down last year and will need to rely on that in the NFL. His patience and vision are typically good running inside, but there will be frustrating moments. He won’t run away from NFL edge defenders, but he’s smart when setting up blocks on the edge. Love his play style, and he has the mentality to soak up NFL coaching and keep improving.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Top 8 Running Backs in 2025 Draft Class
Continue reading...
