2025 Running Back Prospects

1. OLLIE GORDON (OKLAHOMA STATE) – 6’1” 211 LBS.

Gordon got off to a slow start with ninety-nine rushing yards in the first three games. In the last ten games of the season, he had 1,633 rushing yards and 285 yards receiving. Gordon has excellent vision with quickness and bursts to explode through running lanes. He has quick feet and does a good job changing directions without losing speed. Good contact balance finishing 2nd best in the FBS in yards after contact.

2023 STATS: 285 ATT – 1,732 RUSH YDS – 22 TTD

2. DAMIEN MARTINEZ (MIAMI) – 6’0” 232 LBS.

Martinez came in as a true freshman and led the Beavers with 970 rushing yards in 2022. He followed that up with a strong sophomore season. Martinez is a big instinctive back with good short-area quickness. On over 20 percent of his carries, Martinez got you 10-plus yards. He is tough to bring down with 744 yards rushing after contact. He has not been used much in the passing game with 15 receptions in two years.

2023 STATS: 194 ATT – 1,185 RUSH YDS – 9 TTD

3. OMARION HAMPTON (NORTH CAROLINA) – 6’0” 220 LBS.

Hampton was a four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. He had two 100-yard games in his freshman season but broke out as a sophomore with seven. Hampton has a good combination of size and speed. He was number one in the nation with 1,072 rushing yards after contact. 

2023 STATS: 253 ATT – 1,504 RUSH YDS – 16 TTD

4. TREYVEON HENDERSON (OHIO STATE) - 5’10” 212 LBS. 

Henderson was a five-star running back and #1 running back recruit in the 2021 draft class. As a true freshman, he showed why with 1,248 rushing yards. In ten games a season ago, he fell just short of 1,000 yards rushing. Henderson has a knack for breaking at least one big play a game. He has good speed and elusiveness to make defenders miss. Displays good contact balance with 3.68 yards after contact and has only had two fumbles in three years with zero of them being losses. I would like to see him used as a receiver even more he had 19 receptions with a 12.1 avg yard per catch. 

2023 STATS: 156 ATT – 926 RUSH YDS – 11 TTD

5. QUINSHON JUDKINS (OHIO STATE) – 5’11” 210 LBS.

Judkins led the SEC in rushing and touchdowns as a true freshman in 2022. He has been a workhorse his first two seasons with 545 rushing attempts. Transferring to Ohio State and being able to split carries should be a good thing for Judkins. I like his burst and does a great job making defenders miss. His yards per carry dropped from 5.7 to 4.3 a season ago.

2023 STATS: 271 ATT – 1,158 RUSH YDS – 17 TTD 

6. ASHTON JEANTY (BOISE STATE) – 5’9” 210 LBS. 

Jeanty had a breakout season for the Broncos a season ago and stood out as a receiver with 43 REC- 569 REC YDS – 5 REC TD. Jeanty has a stocky build to him and is a tough player to bring down with an impressive 4.26 yards after contact. He did an excellent job in short-yardage situations.  One thing that worries you about him is his ball security with five fumbles a season ago.

2023 STATS: 220 ATT – 1,347 RUSH YDS – 19 TTD

7. JAYDEN OTT (CALIFORNIA) – 6’0” 200 LBS. 

Ott is one of our favorite backs to watch on film. Started as a true freshman falling short of 1,000 yards rushing but posted 46 receptions. He put together an even better sophomore season averaging over 100 yards a game. Ott has good vision and shows a particularly good burst to get up to top speed quickly. Despite not being the biggest back, he did an excellent job getting yards after contact with 833. 

2023 STATS: 245 ATT – 1,305 RUSH YDS – 14 TTD

8. NICHOLAS SINGELTON (PENN STATE) – 6’0” 224 LBS. 

Singleton was a 1,000-yard rusher as a true freshman for the Nittany Lions in 2022. Last year he showed off his pass-catching skills by catching 26 balls with an 11.8 average. He has ideal size and speed so getting him the ball in space to break explosive plays is what he does best. Was expecting a better 2023 but had only one 100-yard rushing performance.  

2023 STATS: 171 ATT – 752 RUSH YDS – 10 TTD

9. TREVOR ETIENNE (GEORGIA) 5’9” 205 LBS. 

Etienne spent his first 2 seasons at the University of Florida where he rushed for over 700 yards both seasons while splitting time with Montrell Johnson. Etienne can find a small crease and use his acceleration quickly to get up to top speed and take it the distance. He's a big play running back but does a good job running through contact. He transferred this off-season to Georgia where he should get more touches. 

2023 STATS: 131 ATT – 753 RUSH YDS – 9 TTD

10. KAYTRON ALLEN (PENN STATE) – 5’11” 221 LBS. 

Allen came in with Singelton as a true freshman and helped form the best duo of freshman running backs in 2022. He posted similar numbers to what he did as a freshman. While he doesn’t have the breakaway speed of Singelton, I thought he was a more physical and decisive runner with better contact balance. 

2023 STATS: 172 CAR – 972 RUSH YDS – 7 TTD

11. DJ GIDDENS (KANSAS STATE) – 6’1” 212 LBS. 

Giddens as a redshirt freshman put up 518 rush yards and 6 TDs in 2022. In 2023 he became the lead back and did not disappoint. He has good patience, and vision, with a knack for finding the right holes. Possesses good size and speed with the room to add bulk. Showed a knack for sneaking out of the backfield and taking some big receptions to the house. 

2023 STATS: 223 ATT - 1,226 RUSH YDS - 13 TTD

12. DONOVAN EDWARDS (MICHIGAN) – 6’1” 210 LBS. 

Edwards was a top recruit in the 2021 class. His best season came in 2022 when Corum suffered a torn meniscus. In the final three games of the season, he put up 520 rushing yards. Last year he did not have the same success on the ground but showed off his ability as a receiver with 30 receptions.

2023 STATS: 119 ATT – 497 RUSH YDS – 5 TTD

13. MONTRELL JOHNSON (FLORIDA) 5’11” 213 LBS. 

Johnson was the Sun Belt freshman of the year back in 2021. He followed Billy Napier to Florida following his freshman season and has led the Gators in rushing the past two seasons. I would describe him as a well-rounded back but does not get you excited. He has 1 fumble in three seasons and was used much more in the passing game with his receptions jumping 12 in 2022 to 30 in 2023. 

2023 STATS: 152 ATT – 817 RUSH YDS – 6 TTD

14. TAHJ BROOKS (TEXAS TECH) 5’10” 230 LBS. 

Brooks will be entering his fifth season at Texas Tech. He is coming off his best season in 2023 finishing fourth in the NCAA in rushing yards. A workhorse as a back that you can keep on the field all three downs. Has good contact balance, was able to pick up blitzes, and catch it out of the backfield with 56 receptions the past two seasons. 

2023 STATS: 290 ATT – 1,541 REC YDS – 10 TTD

15. RJ HARVEY (UCF) 5’8” 195 LBS.

Harvey red-shirted at West Virginia in 2019. He transferred to UCF in 2020 but missed the 2021 season due to an ankle injury. Harvey did well in 2022 with 796 rushing yards on 118 attempts. With Bowser moving on and UCF moving into the Big 12 Harvey had a great season finishing third in the Big 12 in rushing. He shows good patience, makes that first defender miss, and shows good contact balance. Also shows sneaky speed and was fourth in the country with 43 runs of 10-plus yards. Kimani Vidal led the nation with 47 but also had 70 more attempts than Harvey. He will pair with 2022 MAC-leading rusher Perry Boone.

2023 STATS: 226 ATT – 1,416 RUSH YDS – 17TTD

SLEEPERS: 

JAM MILLER (ALABAMA) has 74 carries in his first two seasons at Alabama. He made the most of his touches and started getting more as the season went along. A compact back with home run speed. He should step in as Alabama’s started running back this season and have a breakout season.

DALLAN HAYDEN – Is a surprise on this list but stood out when he had to step in for injured Ohio State running backs in 2022. In the Maryland game in 2022 Ohio State’s rushing attack was shut down in the first half. In the second half Hayden took over and rushed for three TD’s and 146 yards. His father was a running back at Tennessee and was a fourth-round pick for the Chargers in 1995. An instinctive back with good burst and acceleration. A decisive runner that makes defenders miss and can run through contact. Limited reps as a receiver, thought he had some good reps as a pass protector. Hayden transferred to Colorado and should be the lead back for the Buffaloes. 

SMALL SCHOOL PROSPECTS

MAKHI HUGHES (TULANE)

HARRISON WAYLEE (WYOMING)

ANTARIO BROWN (NORTHERN ILLINOIS)

ISHMAIL MAHDI (TEXAS STATE)

QUINTON COOLEY (LIBERTY)

JALEN WHITE (GEORGIA SOUTHERN)

DEAN CONNORS (RICE)

SENIOR RUNNING BACKS

DEVIN NEAL (KANSAS) 

BHAYSHUL TUTEN (VIRGINIA TECH)

WOODY MARKS (USC)

JAQUINDEN JACKSON (UTAH)

KYLE MONANGAI (RUTGERS)

NATE CARTER (MICHIGAN STATE)

RAHEIM SANDERS (SOUTH CAROLINA)

JARQUEZ HUNTER (AUBURN)

MARCUS CARROLL (MISSOURI)

PHIL MAFAH (CLEMSON)

ULYSSES BENTLEY & LOGAN DIGGS (OLE MISS)

JORDAN WATERS (NC STATE)

UNDERCLASSMAN

JORDAN JAMES (OREGON)

DYLAN SAMPSON (TENNESSEE)

DEVON MOCKABEE (PURDUE)

JONAH COLEMAN (WASHINGTON) 

GAVIN SAWCHUK (OKLAHOMA)

JAYDON BLUE (TEXAS)

LAQUINT ALLEN (SYRACUSE)

T.J. HARDEN (UCLA)