Complete 2024 NFL Draft RB Rankings:
You are currently viewing our running back rankings for the 2024 NFL Draft. The 2024 RB class hasn’t gotten much attention throughout the draft class, but how does the current declining value of RBs factor in?
Our top running back prospects are selected after thousands of hours carefully scouting the most talented ball carriers in college football. Even though only about 20 will get selected in an average draft, dozens more are signed as free agents, and many more receive a training camp invite.
We’ll provide you with inside information to help you know who will be a star, who will be a bust, and which sleepers will shock the world.
BNB Football is the best place for in-depth analysis of 2024 NFL draft running back prospects at all levels of college football. To view other positions, follow the links below.
(Last Updated: April 24, 2024)
1. Trey Benson, Florida State
RB | 6’0″ | 216 lbs | 4th Year
Unlike the other guys on this list, Benson wasn’t a highly touted recruit or freshman superstar. He transferred from Oregon to Florida State for playing time prior to 2022, and it absolutely worked out. Benson is extremely shifty and phenomenal at breaking tackles, with impressive underneath quickness for someone of his size and a powerful initial burst. He accelerates well and has the top end speed to break off long runs. He has a strong lower body but the potential to add on more healthy weight to his frame to improve his power.
He’ll also need to work on his patience when running between the tackles.
Trey Benson 2023 Stats
13 games: 906 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 5.8 yards per carry, 20 receptions, 227 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
2. Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
RB | 5’11” | 210 lbs | 3rd Year
Jaylen Wright is the most underrated running back in the 2024 NFL Draft, and it isn’t even close at the time of writing this. Wright has a strong, chiseled build and can win with speed, quickness, or power. He has explosive athleticism and can be evasive in the open field, while showing a low center of gravity and the ability to break off huge runs. His biggest problem in 2022 was his lack of receptions, but he looked a lot better as a receiver in 2023.
He could still clean up his game, but there might not be a better pure runner in the class.
Jaylen Wright 2023 Stats
12 games: 1013 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 7.4 yards per carry, 22 receptions, 141 receiving yards, 0 receiving touchdowns
3. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
RB | 6’1″ | 235 lbs | 3rd Year
Braelon Allen is a massive old school running back who dominated as a 17 year old true freshman in 2021. He is an explosive athlete with 1.5 second 10 yard split, and is a monster in the weight room. He’s capable of fighting for extra yardage, and has shown good patience waiting for holes to open. He’s not particularly shifty in the open field or as a route runner, but he has solid hands and the surprising speed to force bad pursuit angles from defenders. He knows how to set up blockers and shows an advanced football IQ for his age. Braelon Allen continues Wisconsin’s tradition of elite running backs.
The production wasn’t massive this year after the addition of Luke Fickell, but the increase in passing rate might actually prove beneficial once Allen gets to the NFL where he won’t be the focal point of the offense.
Braelon Allen 2023 Stats
11 games: 984 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 5.4 yards per carry, 28 receptions, 132 receiving yards, 0 receiving touchdowns
4. Jonathon Brooks, Texas
RB | 6’1″ | 216 lbs | 3rd Year
Jonathon Brooks was quickly rising up draft boards during the season, up until a torn ACL ended his year in November. The injury might keep him from being drafted early, but that doesn’t mean it’ll affect his long term success.
The Longhorn backfield was left with a massive void entering 2023 with the loss of Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, but Brooks filled that void quite well. In his first year of significant action, Brooks averaged over 100 rush yards per game on 6.1 yards per carry. On film you’ll see impressive acceleration, vicious cuts, and good hands as a receiver.
Outside of the injury concern, Brooks will need to add some muscle to run inside the tackles at the NFL level and continue to improve as a blocker.
Jonathon Brooks 2023 Stats
11 games: 1139 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, 6.1 yards per carry, 25 receptions, 286 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdowns
5. Blake Corum, Michigan
RB | 5’8″ | 205 lbs | 4th Year
Blake Corum would have been drafted last year, but decided to return for a 4th season which is rare for a top tier running back. Corum has a lot of open field speed in a short yet stalky 5’8″ frame, but he’s not a change-of-pace speed back. Corum runs hard, and is extremely capable of playing between the tackles and waiting for his blocks to set up. He’s going to be one of the faster running backs in the class, with good elusiveness to break tackles in the open field. Returning for a 4th season helped Corum continue to clean up his pass blocking, but he didn’t show much improvement as a receiver.
While the yards per carry went down this year, he still looked plenty explosive and had an absolute nose for the end zone, leading the nation with 27 rushing touchdowns.
Blake Corum 2023 Stats
15 games: 1245 rushing yards, 27 rushing touchdowns, 4.8 yards per carry, 16 receptions, 117 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Complete 2024 RB Draft Rankings
RANK | NAME | SCHOOL | AGE | HT | WT | 40 TIME |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Trey Benson | Florida State | 4th | 6'0" | 216 | 4.39 |
2 | Jaylen Wright | Tennessee | 3rd | 5'11" | 210 | 4.38 |
3 | Braelon Allen | Wisconsin | 3rd | 6'1" | 235 | |
4 | Jonathon Brooks | Texas | 3rd | 6'1" | 216 | |
5 | Blake Corum | Michigan | 4th | 5'8" | 205 | 4.53 |
6 | MarShawn Lloyd | USC | 4th | 5'9" | 220 | 4.46 |
7 | Will Shipley | Clemson | 3rd | 5'11" | 206 | 4.45 |
8 | Ray Davis | Kentucky | 5th | 5'9" | 211 | 4.52 |
9 | Bucky Irving | Oregon | 3rd | 5'9" | 192 | 4.55 |
10 | Isaac Guerendo | Louisville | 5th | 6'0" | 221 | 4.33 |
11 | Tyrone Tracy Jr. | Purdue | 6th | 5'11" | 209 | 4.48 |
12 | Blake Watson | Memphis | 6th | 5'10" | 200 | 4.40 |
13 | Audric Estime | Notre Dame | 4th | 6'0" | 221 | 4.71 |
14 | Rasheen Ali | Marshall | 4th | 5'11" | 206 | |
15 | Jase McClellan | Alabama | 4th | 5'11" | 221 | |
16 | Isaiah Davis | South Dakota State | 4th | 6'0" | 218 | 4.57 |
17 | Dylan Laube | New Hampshire | 6th | 5'10" | 206 | 4.54 |
18 | Kendall Milton | Georgia | 4th | 6'2" | 225 | 4.62 |
19 | Kimani Vidal | Troy | 4th | 5'8" | 213 | 4.46 |
20 | Cody Schrader | Missouri | 6th | 5'9" | 202 | 4.61 |
21 | Michael Wiley | Arizona | 5th | 5'11" | 210 | 4.51 |
22 | Jawhar Jordan | Louisville | 5th | 5'10" | 193 | 4.56 |
23 | Daijun Edwards | Georgia | 4th | 5'10" | 207 | 4.70 |
24 | Frank Gore Jr. | Southern Miss | 4th | 5'8" | 201 | 4.69 |
25 | Jabari Small | Tennessee | 4th | 5'9" | 198 | 4.59 |
26 | George Holani | Boise State | 5th | 5'11" | 208 | 4.52 |
27 | Emani Bailey | TCU | 4th | 5'8" | 202 | 4.61 |
28 | Dillon Johnson | Washington | 4th | 6'0" | 217 | 4.68 |
29 | Miyan Williams | Ohio State | 4th | 5'9" | 229 | |
30 | Carson Steele | UCLA | 3rd | 6'1" | 228 | 4.75 |
31 | Jaden Shirden | Monmouth | 4th | 5'8" | 187 | 4.45 |
32 | Isaiah Ifanse | California | 6th | 5'9" | 205 | 4.60 |
33 | Keilan Robinson | Texas | 5th | 5'9" | 191 | 4.42 |
34 | British Brooks | North Carolina | 6th | 5'10" | 219 | 4.58 |
35 | Deshaun Fenwick | Oregon State | 6th | 6'1" | 223 | 4.75 |
36 | Dakereon Joyner | South Carolina | 6th | 6'0" | 226 | 4.76 |
37 | Austin Jones | USC | 5th | 5'10" | 200 | 4.57 |
38 | Anthony Grant | Nebraska | 6th | 5'11" | 221 | 4.71 |
39 | Nathaniel Peat | Missouri | 5th | 5'8" | 196 | 4.51 |
40 | La'Damian Webb | South Alabama | 4th | 5'7" | 211 | 4.66 |
41 | Noah Cain | LSU | 5th | 5'10" | 222 | 4.70 |
42 | Aidan Robbins | BYU | 5th | 6'2" | 237 | 4.60 |
43 | Jacob Kibodi | UL-Lafayette | 7th | 6'1" | 218 | 4.64 |
44 | Geno Hess | SE Missouri State | 6th | 5'8" | 218 | 4.62 |
45 | Jarveon Howard | Alcorn State | 6th | 5'10" | 219 | 4.52 |
46 | Kairee Robinson | San Jose State | 5th | 5'7" | 195 | 4.64 |
47 | TaMerik Williams | North Dakota State | 6th | 6'0" | 218 | 4.63 |
48 | Lorenzo Lingard | Akron | 6th | 6'0" | 202 | 4.47 |
49 | Jermaine Brown Jr. | UAB | 5th | 5'8" | 184 | 4.50 |
50 | Sean Tyler | Minnesota | 5th | 5'9" | 182 | 4.57 |
51 | John Lee Eldridge III | Air Force | 4th | 5'8" | 197 | 4.52 |
52 | John Emery Jr. | LSU | 5th | 5'11" | 220 | |
53 | Chris Collier | Lock Haven | 6th | 5'11" | 203 | 4.50 |
54 | Dontae Smith | Georgia Tech | 6th | 5'9" | 199 | 4.50 |
55 | DJ Williams | Arizona | 5th | 5'10" | 225 | 4.58 |
56 | Jordan Terrell | Barton | 5th | 5'8" | 213 | 4.60 |
57 | Ramon Jefferson | Kentucky | 7th | 5'9" | 202 | 4.53 |
58 | Donavyn Lester | UNLV | 5th | 6'1" | 214 | 4.75 |
59 | Jarod Epperson | Augustana | 5th | 5'11" | 199 | 4.55 |
60 | Vincent Davis Jr. | UNLV | 5th | 5'8" | 174 | 4.58 |
61 | Elijah Collins | Oklahoma State | 6th | 6'0" | 212 | 4.51 |
62 | Ian Wheeler | Howard | 5th | 5'10" | 203 | 4.58 |
63 | Malik Jackson | Jacksonville State | 6th | 5'8" | 176 | 4.57 |
64 | Jared Chisari | Queen's | 6th | 5'10" | 208 | 4.71 |
65 | Trey Potts | Penn State | 5th | 5'9" | 209 | 4.59 |
66 | Samson Evans | Eastern Michigan | 6th | 6'0" | 215 | 4.77 |
67 | Jalen Jackson | Villanova | 6th | 5'9" | 216 | 4.60 |
68 | Nakia Watson | Washington State | 6th | 5'11" | 216 | 4.94 |
69 | Jyran Mitchell | Butler | 6th | 6'0" | 196 | 4.56 |
70 | Larry McCammon III | Florida Atlantic | 5th | 5'10" | 207 | 4.90 |
71 | LaDarius Owens | Texas Southern | 5th | 5'9" | 193 | 4.60 |
72 | Luke Skokna | North Dakota | 5th | 5'9" | 170 | 4.44 |
73 | Kobe Lewis | Florida Atlantic | 6th | 5'9" | 208 | 4.55 |
74 | Justin Strong | Southern Illinois | 6th | 6'0" | 206 | 4.46 |
75 | Kavosiey Smoke | Colorado | 6th | 5'10" | 202 | 4.58 |
76 | Ron Cook Jr. | Buffalo | 5th | 5'9" | 190 | |
77 | Terrell Jennings | Florida A&M | 5th | 6'0" | 217 | 4.65 |
78 | DeeWil Barlee | Villanova | 5th | 5'8" | 205 | |
79 | Narii Gaither | Gardner-Webb | 5th | 5'8" | 179 | 4.62 |
80 | C'Bo Flemister | Pittsburgh | 6th | 5'11" | 205 | 4.54 |
81 | Devin Briscoe | Louisiana Christian | 6th | 5'8" | 206 | 4.60 |
82 | Josh Henderson | Indiana | 5th | 5'11" | 215 | 4.67 |
83 | Ailym Ford | Chattanooga | 5th | 5'9" | 215 | |
84 | Marcus Knight | Tennessee Tech | 6th | 5'11" | 205 | 4.69 |
85 | Wynton Ruth | Ottawa (KS) | 6th | 5'8" | 201 | 4.69 |
86 | Michael Herzog | Hillsdale | 5th | 5'8" | 201 | 4.65 |
87 | Austin Bacher | Western Oregon | 5th | 5'11" | 224 | 4.84 |
88 | Ryan Montgomery | Cincinnati | 5th | 5'10" | 201 | 4.65 |
89 | Marcus Fulcher | Sacramento State | 5th | 5'8" | 214 | 4.75 |
90 | Tyre Shelton | Louisiana Tech | 5th | 5'10" | 184 | 4.51 |
91 | Darryl Davis-McNeil | Kutztown | 6th | 5'10" | 202 | 4.64 |
92 | Dante Miller | South Carolina | 6th | 5'9" | 190 | 4.38 |
93 | Nolan Susel | Black Hills State | 6th | 5'10" | 214 | 4.59 |
94 | Thurlow Wilkins | Concord | 6th | 6'0" | 205 | |
95 | Ronnie Walker Jr. | Utah Tech | 6th | 5'10" | 210 | |
96 | Kimo Clarke | Virginia State | 5th | 5'9" | 209 | 4.69 |
97 | Wesley Kennedy III | West Georgia | 7th | 5'9" | 178 | 4.65 |
98 | Emmanuel Michel | Air Force | 5th | 5'10" | 215 | |
99 | Tyshon King | Youngstown State | 5th | 5'11" | 210 | |
100 | Dylan McDuffie | Kansas | 6th | 5'10" | 218 | 4.75 |
101 | Lexington Joseph | Florida International | 5th | 5'9" | 205 | |
102 | Jay Stanton | Samford | 5th | 6'0" | 195 | |
103 | Jaylen Coleman | Duke | 5th | 6'1" | 200 | 4.61 |
104 | Tyler Lavine | SMU | 5th | 5'10" | 218 | 4.78 |
105 | Shedro Louis | Tulane | 5th | 5'7" | 166 | 4.51 |
106 | TD Ayo-Durojaiye | Villanova | 5th | 6'0" | 205 | 4.69 |
107 | Markese Stepp | Western Kentucky | 6th | 6'0" | 229 | 4.62 |
108 | Savon Smith | Richmond | 5th | 5'9" | 200 | |
109 | Eddie Battle | Florida | 6th | 6'0" | 206 | 4.69 |
110 | Richard Newton | Washington | 6th | 6'0" | 215 | |
111 | Michael Chris-Ike | Delaware State | 6th | 6'1" | 225 | 4.51 |
112 | Deyvon Butler | Western Colorado | 6th | 5'10" | 186 | 4.58 |
113 | Irv Mulligan | Jackson State | 5th | 5'10" | 205 | |
114 | Isaiah Woullard | UL-Monroe | 6th | 5'9" | 213 | 4.58 |
115 | Christian Turner | Indiana | 6th | 5'10" | 208 | 4.77 |
116 | Konner McQuillan | Northwestern (IA) | 5th | 6'0" | 210 | |
117 | Matthew Peterson | Alberta | 5th | 5'9" | 203 | 4.64 |
118 | Blake Delacruz | Harding | 5th | 5'8" | 195 | |
119 | Paul Garrett | Greenville | 5th | 5'9" | 195 | |
120 | Latrele Palmer | James Madison | 5th | 5'11" | 218 | 4.72 |
121 | Ja'Won Howell | Alabama State | 6th | 6'1" | 220 | |
122 | Kris Jackson | Weber State | 6th | 5'10" | 210 | |
123 | Gino Appleberry | Chattanooga | 6th | 5'8" | 199 | 4.69 |
124 | Romeir Elliott | Southern Illinois | 5th | 5'5" | 189 | 4.53 |
125 | Justin Dinka | Indiana State | 5th | 5'11" | 195 | |
126 | Corey Watkins | North Greenville | 6th | 5'8" | 189 | 4.56 |
127 | Bryce Agnew | Marietta | 5th | 5'9" | 215 | |
128 | DJ Twitty | South Carolina | 6th | 5'11" | 222 | 4.83 |
129 | Nick Romano | Idaho | 5th | 5'10" | 200 | |
130 | Perris Jones | Virginia | 6th | 5'7" | 180 | |
131 | Deion Smith | BYU | 6th | 5'11" | 194 | 4.57 |
132 | Mark-Antony Richards | UCF | 5th | 6'1" | 219 | 4.71 |
133 | Dexter Brown | SW Oklahoma State | 6th | 6'0" | 205 | |
134 | Khalid Dorsey | Slippery Rock | 6th | 5'11" | 170 | |
135 | Antwan Squire | Pittsburg State | 6th | 5'7" | 202 | 4.79 |
136 | Joshua Stakely | Georgetown | 5th | 6'0" | 225 | |
137 | Giovanni Weeks | Wheaton | 5th | 6'0" | 205 | |
138 | David Bailey | Texas A&M | 6th | 6'0" | 225 | 4.93 |
139 | Juma Otoviano | Rice | 6th | 5'10" | 205 | |
140 | Ahmad Antoine | Prairie View A&M | 5th | 5'10" | 185 | |
141 | Alex Brink | Charleston | 7th | 6'1" | 220 | |
142 | Latrell Collier | NC Central | 6th | 5'9" | 197 | 4.77 |
143 | Tariq Reid | Grand Valley State | 6th | 6'0" | 205 | |
144 | Isaiah Williams | San Diego | 6th | 6'1" | 206 | 4.86 |
145 | Devon Brewer | Stetson | 6th | 5'9" | 192 | 4.77 |
146 | Dominic Gonnella | South Florida | 4th | 5'11" | 208 | 4.59 |
147 | Dra Rushton | Youngstown State | 6th | 5'10" | 190 | |
148 | Hunter Clasen | Wartburg | 5th | 5'9" | 190 | |
149 | Jaylen Thomas | Kent State | 5th | 5'10" | 215 | |
150 | Ari Broussard | Rice | 6th | 5'11" | 222 | 4.78 |
151 | Reese White | Coastal Carolina | 5th | 5'9" | 201 | 4.85 |
152 | Ali Mohamed | Bemidji State | 5th | 5'8" | 209 | 4.76 |
153 | Jacorey Howard | Texas Southern | 5th | 6'1" | 225 | |
154 | Davion Ervin-Poindexter | Western Kentucky | 6th | 5'11" | 195 | |
155 | Sidney Gibbs | Shaw | 5th | 5'8" | 193 | 4.77 |
156 | D'Ago Hunter | Towson | 6th | 5'4" | 161 | 4.59 |
157 | Noah Roper | Colorado-Mines | 5th | 6'0" | 210 | |
158 | Mike Hollins | Virginia | 5th | 5'9" | 205 | |
159 | Joey Giorgi | Columbia | 4th | 5'10" | 205 | |
160 | Jared Wilson | Mississippi Valley | 6th | 5'10" | 221 | 4.86 |
161 | Jimmie Robinson III | Bethune-Cookman | 5th | 5'7" | 195 | |
162 | Tyquan Cox | Northern Michigan | 5th | 5'7" | 161 | 4.63 |
163 | CJ Wilson | West Florida | 6th | 5'9" | 194 | 4.63 |
164 | Alex Sanders | Pikeville | 6th | 5'8" | 170 | |
165 | Tony Williams Jr. | Redlands | 5th | 5'10" | 200 | |
166 | Juwon Farri | Eastern Illinois | 6th | 5'9" | 197 | 4.69 |
167 | Jared Scott | Missouri Western | 6th | 6'0" | 220 | |
168 | Sage Booker | Bemidji State | 6th | 5'11" | 180 | |
169 | John Gay | Maine | 5th | 5'10" | 195 | 4.56 |
170 | Shawn Thompson | Widener | 5th | 5'11" | 215 | |
171 | Quino Mauricette | Florida Memorial | 6th | 5'9" | 190 | |
172 | Christian Malloy | Delta State | 6th | 5'9" | 189 | 4.72 |
173 | Asa Martin | Troy | 6th | 5'11" | 199 | 4.89 |
174 | Casey Filkins | Stanford | 4th | 5'11" | 205 | |
175 | Thomas Little | Illinois College | 6th | 5'10" | 185 | 4.91 |
176 | Anthodius Ashley | Missouri Southern | 6th | 5'10" | 205 | |
177 | Dre' Williams | North Greenville | 5th | 5'9" | 195 | |
178 | Larry Martin | Ashland | 5th | 5'8" | 209 | 4.90 |
179 | Gary Quarles | Southern | 6th | 5'8" | 180 | |
180 | Kendall Williams | Wayne State (MI) | 5th | 5'8" | 165 | |
181 | Michael Neel | Dayton | 5th | 5'11" | 190 | |
182 | Ja'Veon Marlow | Missouri Southern | 6th | 5'11" | 195 | |
183 | Darran Butts | Hampton | 5th | 5'6" | 160 | 4.73 |
184 | Miles Davis | East Central | 5th | 5'9" | 170 | |
185 | Brian Benson | Findlay | 7th | 5'8" | 195 | |
186 | Omar Sinclair | Harding | 6th | 5'8" | 185 | |
187 | Faysal Aden | Albany | 5th | 5'7" | 215 | |
188 | Gei'vonni Washington | Ashland | 5th | 5'8" | 163 | 4.71 |
189 | Parker Driggers | North Alabama | 5th | 6'0" | 200 | |
190 | Jalen Bussey | West Florida | 5th | 5'5" | 167 | 4.61 |
191 | Justin Williams | Lindenwood | 5th | 5'10" | 190 | |
192 | Jalen Frye | South Dakota Mines | 6th | 5'7" | 175 | |
193 | Elijah Young | Wheeling | 5th | 5'11" | 190 | |
194 | Drake Anderson | Akron | 6th | 5'9" | 200 | |
195 | Soujah Gasu | Idaho State | 5th | 5'8" | 197 | 4.74 |
196 | Cooper Wallace | Citadel | 5th | 5'10" | 195 | |
197 | Christian Anderson | A&M-Kingsville | 6th | 5'11" | 205 | |
198 | Simi Bakare | Bryant | 6th | 5'11" | 205 | |
199 | Rayshawn Boswell | Hobart | 5th | 5'9" | 207 | 4.72 |
200 | Tevita Moimoi | Dartmouth | 4th | 6'0" | 215 | |
201 | Hunter Cobb | New Haven | 5th | 5'10" | 210 | |
202 | Weston Bridges | Central Missouri | 7th | 5'11" | 205 | |
203 | Antavious Willis | Southern Miss | 5th | 5'9" | 170 | 4.64 |
204 | CJ Odom | A&M-Kingsville | 6th | 6'1" | 225 | |
205 | William Marano | Michigan Tech | 6th | 5'9" | 190 | |
206 | Taylon Peters | Washburn | 5th | 5'10" | 200 | |
207 | CJ Davidson | Lawrence Tech | 5th | 5'11" | 180 | |
208 | Berrell Neal | Assumption | 5th | 5'8" | 225 | |
209 | Tre Lee | Augsburg | 5th | 5'11" | 213 | 4.70 |
210 | Angel Ramirez | Southern Nazarene | 6th | 5'10" | 210 | |
211 | Jordan Davis | Kutztown | 5th | 5'8" | 185 | |
212 | DJ Griffus | Baldwin Wallace | 5th | 5'9" | 206 | 4.71 |
213 | Jashon Butler | Valparaiso | 5th | 5'10" | 200 | |
214 | Dante Black | Richmond | 6th | 5'10" | 200 | |
215 | Drew Powell | Cornell | 4th | 6'0" | 215 | |
216 | Ra'veion Hargrove | A&M-Commerce | 6th | 5'4" | 173 | 4.75 |
217 | K'Vonte Jackson | Midwestern State | 6th | 5'10" | 180 | |
218 | Kaa'von Parker | Erskine | 6th | 5'10" | 190 | |
219 | Ja'Quan Tillis | Fort Hays State | 6th | 6'0" | 200 | |
220 | Walter Lewis | Wilkes | 8th | 5'9" | 200 | |
221 | JaiQuawn McGriff | Seton Hill | 5th | 5'11" | 205 | |
222 | Noah Holland | Shorter | 7th | 5'11" | 203 | 4.88 |
223 | Frederick Quigley | West Virginia State | 6th | 5'5" | 175 |
MORE NFL DRAFT RANKINGS
Traits That Make a RB Prospect Great
Running backs are relatively easy to scout, as nearly everything they do can be seen on a standard TV broadcast. Contact balance, quickness, and vision are among some of the most important factors of scouting the top running back prospects.
Some of the factors we consider when scouting are included below.
Contact Balance
Nothing is more important for a running back prospect than contact balance. The ability to maintain a low center of gravity and stay on your feet when hit. It is somewhat teachable, but if they don’t run with good contact balance by the time they’re entering the NFL draft, it might be tough to add to their game.
Quickness
Quickness is more important than straight line speed for a running back. The ability to move side to side in a flash, scoot through a small opening, and juke out defenders is what will turn a 3 yard gain into a 6 yard gain, and that’s ultimately what running backs need to do.
Vision
Many running back draft prospects struggle with their vision and patience. If your offensive line doesn’t open a hole, it’s rarely a good idea to just ram into the back of the line. Having field vision to recognize cut back lanes and know when to hit the line of scrimmage is a game changer.
Ball Security
If a running back struggles with fumbles, it’s a one way path to the bench. Ball security is a problem that has plagued the career of many running back draft prospects, and being a natural mover with the ball in your hands is important to consider.
Overall Opinion of the 2024 RB Class
After having a very small running back draft class last year, the 2024 class returns with a lot more big bodies at the top. Unfortunately it doesn’t have a Bijan Robinson level superstar at the top, or frankly anything close to it. The mid round depth doesn’t currently seem too strong either. The big bodies offer some potential as an old school bully back, but that’s not the direction the NFL is currently headed. It just feels like a lackluster class.