College running backs

Get the latest NFL Draft prospect rankings from CBS Sports. Find out where your favorite runningbacks stacks up against the class and view expert mock. college running backs, Michael Penix Jr. Washington, 2, Bo Nix, Oregon, 3, Carson Beck, Georgia, 4, Seth Henigan, Memphis, 5, Jayden Daniels, LSU, 1. Blake Corum, Michigan · 2. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina · 3. Jonathon Brooks, Texas · 4. Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State · 5. Audric Estimé. From USC's MarShawn Lloyd to Michigan's Blake Corum, FOX Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt ranks his top running backs in the.

Ranking college football's top 10 running backs in 2024

Who is the goat of running backs in the NFL? Who had an incredible Prime. And continue to shine long laughter from 1998 to 2001 Smith recorded an impressive 4986 rushing yards and 36 rushing touchdowns. That's an average of almost 1100 yards.

Who is the best ever NFL running back? Top 10 all-time rushing leaders

• 1 / 10. Emmitt Smith. Yards: 18,355 (1990-2004) ...
• 2 / 10. Walter Payton. Yards: 16,726 (1975-1987) ...
• 3 / 10. Barry Sanders. Yards: 15,269 (1989-1998) ...
• 4 / 10. Curtis Martin. Yards: 14,101 (1995-2005) ...
• 5 / 10. LaDainian Tomlinson. ...
• 6 / 10. Jerome Bettis. ...
• 7 / 10. Eric Dickerson. ...
• 8 / 10. Tony Dorsett.

Who has 2500 rushing yards? Chris Johnson

Top 25 RB rankings entering Week 12 of college football

Henderson has it all -- breakaway speed, acceleration through the hole and the ability to make defenders miss. The 5-foot, pound speedster had the fifth-highest grade among Power 5 running backs last season, according to Pro Football Focus. With the Buckeyes' addition of Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins, Henderson won't have to carry too heavy a load in the Ohio State backfield, meaning he should be even fresher and more equipped to rip off big plays in the second half.

If Henderson can stay healthy, he's as dynamic a player as there is in college football. After Judkins' blistering freshman season at Ole Miss in , the idea that he wouldn't be the nation's top running back as a junior seemed laughable. He earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors and was a first-team all-league selection that fall, while finishing as a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award.

Judkins followed with a strong sophomore season, leading the SEC with 15 rushing touchdowns, but several of his other numbers fell off a bit. He now finds himself in a different but fascinating situation entering his junior season. The , pound Judkins entered the transfer portal in early January and landed days later at Ohio State, part of the Buckeyes' incredible winter personnel haul.

The interesting part is that he joins Henderson, one spot higher in our rankings, to form the nation's most accomplished backfield tandem. Judkins has carries in his first two seasons but now must share the ball with Henderson. But after his yards-per-carry average dropped from 5. North Carolina went into last season wanting to place a much bigger emphasis on running the ball.

Mission accomplished behind Hampton, who had a breakout sophomore season en route to becoming a Doak Walker Award finalist, and earning Walter Camp first-team All-America honors. Hampton rushed for 1, yards -- second on the school's single-season list -- with 15 rushing touchdowns, while adding 29 receptions for yards and a touchdown.

Hampton had seven yard games and his total rushing yards ranked fifth in the FBS. This season, the dynamic shifts a bit. With Drake Maye gone and an open quarterback competition set to begin this spring, Hampton is the most known commodity on the North Carolina offense. Conventional wisdom says defenses will stack the box to stop Hampton and force the new starting quarterback -- projected to be transfer Max Johnson or Conner Harrell -- to try to beat them.

Brooks is back for a super-senior year, which is a big win for Texas Tech as the Red Raiders come off a season when Brooks rushed for 1, yards and 10 TDs and was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award despite gaining only a total of yards in the season's first two games. After that, though, the , pound bruiser reeled off 95 or more yards in 11 straight games while becoming the only Power 5 back to force more than 70 missed tackles.

Boyd did this despite a Tech offensive line that struggled and an offense that ranked 64th nationally last season. College running backs There will be wholesale changes up front in , with five O-linemen gone and transfers from Toledo, Memphis and Middle Tennessee joining the mix alongside new offensive line coach Clay McGuire, a Tech alum who worked for Mike Leach and Lincoln Riley.

Boyd will be a focal point of the Red Raiders' offense for a team hoping to jump back into Big 12 contention, and he'll enter this season 1, yards shy of Byron Hanspard's school record for career rushing yards. Breakout bowl performances aren't always a portend of coming greatness. But they sometimes are exactly that. He had served as a capable backup for George Holani that season, but he had designs on something bigger.

In , with Holani injured to start the season, Jeanty took the RB1 job and literally ran with it. Despite missing two games himself with injury, he rushed for 1, yards and 14 touchdowns while also serving as the Broncos' No. He had at least combined rushing and receiving yards in 10 of the 12 games he played.

Perhaps most impressively in the transfer portal era, Jeanty also returned. His return, plus the addition of former blue-chip quarterback Malachi Nelson , could give Boise one of the most dynamic offensive backfields in college football. Edwards' rapid rise to prominence in -- when he rushed for yards or more three times in the last six games of the regular season and nearly 1, total yards on just carries -- slowed a bit as Blake Corum returned from injury in Corum was the Wolverines' reliable No.

Edwards, however, still had his bright moments as he tallied almost yards and five touchdowns, including a yard score in the national championship game. Edwards said afterward that he played most of the season with a partially torn patellar tendon. Now, with Corum off to the NFL and Edwards returning for his junior season, the stage is set for him to become one of the most electric and productive backs in the nation.

In one of the biggest offseason transfer portal moves, Etienne moved on from Florida to rival Georgia, immediately giving the Bulldogs a game-changer at running back as they look to make another run at a national championship. Etienne was highly productive at Florida, but he was never the featured back as he split time with Montrell Johnson Jr. In two seasons with the Gators, Etienne had total carries for 1, yards with 14 touchdowns.

He was used more extensively as a pass-catcher in , with 21 catches for yards and one touchdown. At Georgia, he has the opportunity to be the featured back in a proven system that values running the ball. The Bulldogs lost their top two leading rushers in Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton , creating an opening for Etienne.

Though Georgia shares the ball among its running backs, Etienne explained in a recent interview on teammate Tate Ratledge 's podcast "Real Talk Player Podcast," "I could stay, be running back 2 on a losing team or go somewhere and you know, possibly [be] running back 1 and win a natty.

Perhaps it's because he played for a team that went , but Ott was one of the most underrated running backs in the country last season. After a strong freshman year yards, 8 touchdowns , Ott broke out in his second season at Cal. Ott averaged more than 18 carries per game and totaled 1, yards and 12 touchdowns.

Ott was undoubtedly the Golden Bears' best player; in fact, four of Cal's wins came when Ott had more than rushing yards -- a feat he accomplished five times during the season. Ott's decision to come back to Berkeley for one more year is a boon for the Bears, who should improve on their campaign.

Gavin Sawchuk, Oklahoma: The Colorado native split carries with Tawee Walker last season, but caught fire down the stretch and led the Sooners in rushing yards. Sawchuk rushed for yards and a touchdown at Oklahoma State. The following week he recorded a season-high, yards on the ground against West Virginia.

The next game Sawchuk rumbled for yards and a score in the victory at BYU. The former four-star prospect rushed for yards, and a season-high, three touchdowns in the win over TCU. Sawchuk left a lasting impression, with rushing yards, and a touchdown in the bowl game against Arizona. Not to mention he had a rushing score against Tulsa and UCF. Quinton Cooley, Liberty: The year old was a big reason why the Flames won 13 games in He finished 13th in the FBS in yards per carry.

Cooley rushed for yards against New Mexico State. The five-foot-seven, pounder had yards on the ground at Florida International. The next game he rumbled for yards and a score against Sam Houston. Five days later he rushed for yards and two touchdowns at Jacksonville State. The following week he generated a season-high, three touchdowns against Middle Tennessee, and added three rushing scores in the Conference-USA Championship Game.

Giddens was lightning in a bottle with his explosiveness, and big-play ability. The Kansas native finished 19th in the FBS in rushing yards. Giddens ranked 26th nationally in all-purpose yards per game. He rushed for yards in the opener against Southeast Missouri State. Giddens had 30 carries for yards, and four touchdowns in the victory over UCF, which were all season-highs.

He rushed for yards and, caught a touchdown against Baylor. Edwards finished with yards on the ground, and five scores last season for the National Champs. The six-foot-one, pounder also displayed soft hands, and caught 30 passes out of the backfield. Edwards left a lasting impression, with rushing yards, and two touchdowns in the National Championship Game against Washington.

Martinez averaged He also finished 22nd in the FBS in yards per carry. The former three-star prospect rushed for yards in the opener at San Jose State. Six days later he had yards on the ground, and a score against UC Davis. Martinez eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards against Colorado, Stanford and Washington. Broncos texans spread His rushing yards, and four touchdowns in the victory over the Cardinal were all season-highs.

For his heroics, Martinez capped off the year with first-team, All-Pac honors. Kyle Monangai, Rutgers: The former three-star prospect was a big reason why the Scarlet Knights won seven games for the first time since He also earned second-team, All-Big Ten honors. Monangai rushed for yards and a score against Temple. The following week he generated yards on the ground, and a season-high, three touchdowns against Virginia Tech.

The five-foot-nine, pounder turned it up a notch in Big Ten play, and eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards against Michigan State, Indiana, Ohio State and Maryland. Monangai also tallied rushing yards in bowl win over Miami. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State: Last season he led the Buckeyes in carries, yards on the ground and rushing touchdowns, despite missing three games in Big Ten play.

Henderson capped off his campaign with first-team, All-Big Ten honors. The former five-star prospect rushed for yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota. Henderson also had two rushing touchdowns apiece against Youngstown State and Western Kentucky. He rushed for a season-high, yards, and a score in the win at Wisconsin.

Henderson also went over the century mark in rushing yards in the victory at Rutgers. With Quinshon Judkins joining Henderson in the backfield this fall, prepare to be wowed. Jeanty displayed versatility, and finished second nationally in all-purpose yards per game. Not to mention he was No. The year old caught four passes for yards and scored two total touchdowns at Washington.

Jeanty rushed for yards and two touchdowns at San Diego State. His rushing yards at Colorado State were a season-high. Ott finished sixth nationally in all-purpose yards per game. He even averaged Not to mention Ott earned first-team, All-Pac honors. The six-foot, pounder caught a yard touchdown pass against Utah.

Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech: The former three-star prospect finished fourth nationally in rushing yards per game. Brooks proved he was a true workhorse, with plus carries in four Big 12 games. He ranked 19th in the FBS in all-purpose yards per game. Not to mention he earned first-team, All-Big 12 honors. College running backs Brooks rushed for yards against Tarleton State. The following week he rushed for yards at West Virginia.

The next game Brooks had yards on the ground, and two scores in the win over Houston. The 5-foot, pounder rushed for a season-high, yards in the victory over UCF. Devin Neal, Kansas: The hometown kid rushed for 1, yards last season, despite splitting carries with Daniel Hishaw. Neal tied for 16th in the FBS, with 16 rushing touchdowns, and earned second-team, All-Big 12 honors.

He ranked 15th nationally in yards per carry. Neal rumbled for yards on the ground against Illinois. He generated a season-high, rushing yards against UCF. The former four-star prospect scored three total touchdowns at Nevada, including a yard reception. Neal also recorded three touchdowns, and rushed for yards against Kansas State.

The 5-foot, pounder eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards against Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Cincinnati. Judkins is as explosive as they come, with a nose for the end zone. Last year he tied for 11th nationally in rushing touchdowns, and earned first-team, All-SEC honors. Judkins rushed for yards apiece against Auburn and Vanderbilt. Judkins had rushing yards against rival Mississippi State.

His yards on the ground in the victory over LSU were a season-high. Judkins also had a season-high, 34 carries for yards in the bowl win over Penn State. Harvey ranked 12th in the FBS in all-purpose yards per game, and tied for 16th in rushing scores. Harvey even averaged 6. The former three-star prospect rushed for yards against Kansas, against Oklahoma, against West Virginia, against Cincinnati, against Houston and against Georgia Tech.