Top 145 Running Backs for the 2025 College Football Season

145. Jordan Lovett - Troy Trojans

The Troy Trojans have a proud program, but they enter Year 2 under Gerard Parker needing to rebound in a significant way after a dreadful start, before closing out 2024 strongly. The 2024 leading rusher, Damien Taylor, is now a backup for the Ole Miss Rebels. That leaves a combination of Jordan Lovett (17 carries for 53 yards) and Tae Meadows (3 carries for 41 yards) to lead the backfield for the Trojans in 2025.

2. Nicholas Singleton - RB - Penn State Nittany Lions

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The Penn State Nittany Lions had one of the best dynamic duos in the country at running back, and both horses are returning for a run at a national title in 2025 and 2026. Nicholas Singleton is the more explosive of the two backs and gets the nod as the No. 2 running back ahead of the 2025 campaign. Singleton averaged 6.39 yards per carry and scored 12 touchdowns in 2024 as the foundational anchor for PSU’s much-improved offense.

Class: Senior

3. Isaac Brown - RB - Louisville Cardinals

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This is probably the highest you will see Louisville’s dynamic sophomore running back on any “best of” lists, and I’m fine with planting my flag on Isaac Brown ahead of the 2025 season. There was a buzz about Brown before last season as Jeff Brohm’s staff was sure they had hit on a star after landing him out of Florida. Brown averaged 7.11 yards per carry as a freshman in the ACC and quickly emerged as Louisville’s best offensive weapon. He had games of 117 yards against SMU, 72 against Notre Dame, 146 against Virginia, 151 in a big win at Clemson, and 178 as the Cardinals blasted rival Kentucky. I believe 1,500 yards is within reach for the explosive emerging star.

Class: Sophomore

4. Kaytron Allen - RB - Penn State Nittany Lions

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The other half of the Penn State duo in the backfield is Kaytron Allen. Allen was PSU’s leading rusher in 2024 but was not quite as explosive or efficient as his backfield mate (Nicholas Singleton). Allen is a physical runner who perfectly complements Singleton. The trio (adding Drew Allar) forms the basis for optimism in State College, creating hope the Nittany Lions can break through and knock off the nation’s elite next season.

Class: Senior

5. Ahmad Hardy - RB - Missouri Tigers

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The Missouri Tigers hope top transfer running back Ahmad Hardy is ready to shine in the SEC after a starring role for the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in 2024. As a freshman, Hardy surprised many by erupting for 1,351 yards on 237 carries with 13 rushing touchdowns. He was the No. 1, 2, and 3 options for the Warhawks, and he emerged down the stretch as a true star in the making. Hardy finished the season with 121 yards against Southern Mississippi, 104 against South Alabama, 206 against Marshall, 105 in a defeat against Texas State, 60 at Auburn, 204 at Arkansas State, and 172 against rival Lafayette. Hardy had the entire defense's attention but now gets to be on a balanced attack with other weapons and should benefit greatly.

Class: Sophomore

6. Makhi Hughes - Oregon Ducks

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Makhi Hughes migrating from Tulane to Oregon is one of the more under-the-radar moves of the transfer portal. Hughes is a workhorse with 265 carries for 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Green Wave. He won’t get quite that workload with the Ducks (who also return Noah Whittington). Still, Oregon will give Hughes a lot of opportunity and potentially large holes, thanks to their explosive weapons in the passing game. Hughes is one of the nation’s best backs and is now part of an offense where he won’t be the center of defensive attention.

Class: Junior

7. Jadarian Price - Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame has what I consider to be the nation’s best running back, but he is not alone. Jadarian Price would be featured on nearly every other team in the country, but he’s getting his respect on this list. Price averaged 6.22 yards per carry as a sophomore and scored seven touchdowns in a 60/40 workload share with Jeremiyah Love. Price and Love are back, and with questions in the passing game, you can bet the Fighting Irish will continue to rely on the two excellent backs and road-grading offensive line.

Class: Senior

8. Dylan Edwards - Kansas State Wildcats

The 2024 season did not go as planned for the Kansas State Wildcats. They hoped to have a dominant rushing attack with quarterback Avery Johnson and a pair of good running backs, but the Cats could not translate the 6.08 yards per carry they achieved to Big 12 title contention. They finished 9-4 after beating Rutgers in a bowl game. One cog in the running game (DJ Giddens) is off to the NFL, which opens an opportunity for the explosive Dylan Edwards to ascend to stardom. Edwards averaged 7.38 yards per carry on 74 attempts after transferring from Colorado. He’s also an outstanding receiving back, and I believe he’ll lead the Big 12 in rushing.

Class: Junior

9. Noah Whittington - Oregon Ducks

It's hard to know what to do with Noah Whittington. The Oregon Ducks leaned heavily on Jordan James, who produced 15 touchdowns and 1,267 yards. Whittington churned away as his backup and put up good numbers. With James off to the NFL, Whittington was slated to move up to RB1, but then Oregon landed Makhi Hughes, and it appears highly likely Whittington will again be in a timeshare in the backfield. Despite his less-than-gaudy yardage totals, Whittington is a talented and physical runner who is effective as a pass-catcher.

Class: Senior

10. Nate Frazier - Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs need more from the running game in 2025, and Nate Frazier flashed the goods to provide it to them. During his freshman season, he surpassed the banged-up Trevor Etienne and ended up with 671 rushing yards, eight touchdowns, and 85 receiving yards. In the season's final four games, Frazier averaged 6.48 yards per carry, 4.55, 7.83, and 9.25 yards per rush as the Bulldogs fell in the College Football Playoff to Notre Dame. He offers an explosive element to the UGA offense and will be leaned on more this coming season.

Class: Sophomore

11. Jonah Coleman - Washington Huskies

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Jonah Coleman is an exceptional player. He should probably be a bit higher on this list, but a lack of weapons around him limits his production. Coleman transferred from Arizona to Washington ahead of the 2024 season, following Jedd Fisch from Tuscon to Seattle. He is only 5’9” but stocky, stout, and difficult for defenders to bring down. If quarterback Demond Williams can progress for the Huskies, they could have a dynamic one-two punch.

12. Darius Taylor - Minnesota Golden Gophers

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Minnesota is known for having strong rushing attacks anchored by good running backs. Darius Taylor is not the physical punisher past Gopher backs have been, but he’s a multipurpose threat who has produced well in his first two seasons in Minneapolis. Taylor was shy of 1,000 rushing yards as a sophomore and added 350 yards as a receiver. Minnesota could do a better job blocking for him, as his efficiency numbers are not what you’d hope for with an elite back.

13. Desmond Reid - Pittsburgh Panthers

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Desmond Reid is a small back at just 5’8” and only 175 pounds, but the former FCS star was a shifty playmaker for the Pitt Panthers in 2024. He excels as a pass-catcher out of the backfield and is the leading returning receiving running back in the country after putting up 540 yards in 2024. He will not line up and handle 25 carries per game up the middle, but Reid will play a vital role in Pitt’s offense in 2025 and will be one of the best backs in the ACC.

14. Jahiem White - West Virginia Mountaineers

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West Virginia lost CJ Donaldson to Ohio State, meaning more of the workload will shift to Jahiem White. As Rich Rodriguez takes over as the new head coach (again) for the Mountaineers, White is in line for a terrific 2024 campaign. White averaged 6.5 yards per carry, an elite number through two seasons. He’s only 5’7”, but Rodriguez knows how to maximize speedy runners in his system, and I cannot think of a better head coach to take White’s game to another level. He’s a dark horse candidate to lead the Big 12 in rushing in 2025.

15. Jamal Haynes - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

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The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets lean heavily on the running game, and quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes are back for more in 2025. Haynes does not benefit from an elite offensive line but had 1,145 yards after contact and 2,005 rushing yards total over the past two seasons. Haynes is a true home-run hitter. He’ll go eight or nine carries without gaining more than a few yards per carry and will hit a seam and beat every defender with his elite speed for a considerable gain.

16. CJ Baxter - Texas Longhorns

CJ Baxter was expected to be the centerpiece of the rushing attack for the Texas Longhorns in 2024 after serving as the true freshman backup to Jonathon Brooks in 2023 and gaining 659 yards. However, Baxter was lost for the season before the campaign even began, and Texas was left with a hole in the backfield they never quite filled. Baxter should be completely healthy by the time the 2025 season begins, and he is the presumed starter next to Arch Manning. Baxter won’t get every carry as there is some good depth behind him, but he'll be expected to flirt with a 1,000-yard season.

17. Jadan Baugh - Florida Gators

The Florida Gators were counting on Montrell Johnson to be the offense's focal point in 2024. They faced a brutal schedule and suffered early losses before turning to DJ Lagway and giving more carries to freshman Jadan Baugh at running back. Lagway looks like a Bonafide star, and Baugh amassed 673 yards and averaged better than five yards per carry with seven touchdowns. Johnson is gone, leaving Baugh as the unquestioned number-one running back in Gainesville. The schedule is very tough once again, but Baugh could be an All-SEC running back, and Lagway might be the best quarterback in the conference.

18. Jaydn Ott - Oklahoma Sooners

Jaydn Ott is back at Cal for his senior season after a disappointing 2024 campaign. A combination of a poor offensive line, an ankle injury, and increased trust in the passing game limited Ott’s production after really good seasons in 2022 and 2023. Ott is an explosive player who can be a good receiver out of the backfield, but he’ll need to be healthy and shoulder a large share of the offense after defections around him.

UPDATE: transferred to Oklahoma Sooners

19. CJ Donaldson - Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State is starting over at running back, but it would be foolish to think that the ground game will suddenly cease productivity. James Peoples was a freshman last season and got spot duty but averaged only 4.02 yards per carry, so Ryan Day got big back CJ Donaldson from West Virginia via the transfer portal. Donaldson will be Ohio State’s biggest running back since Beanie Wells, and his physicality should provide an interesting wrinkle to the offense and serve as a thunder element to the lightning of Jeremiah Smith and the receivers. Donaldson averaged 4.5 yards per carry and had a team-high 11 touchdowns for the Mountaineers in 2024.

20. Jordan Marshall - Michigan Wolverines

Michigan offered fans a glimpse of the future at the season's end as they beat Ohio State and Alabama and offered a larger role to running back Jordan Marshall. The freshman appeared in only five games but was very good against Alabama as the lead back, gaining 100 yards and showcasing a skillset that reminded Michigan coaches of Blake Corum. Marshall will be the starting running back as Michigan tries to invigorate the offense in 2025, and he’ll have plenty of opportunities to shine behind a good offensive line.

21. Hollywood Smothers - North Carolina State Wolfpack

North Carolina State lost Kevin Concepcion, but they return a fantastic weapon in Hollywood Smothers. NC State acquired Jordan Waters from Duke and planned on leaning on him in the backfield, but redshirt freshman Smothers quickly established himself as the better option. He got more work as the season wore on and ended up with 571 yards and 6.4 yards per carry, plus a fantastic performance in the bowl game (139 yards on 15 rushes). Smothers is terrific after contact (4.49 yards per rush) and will be the Wolfpack offense's focal point in 2025.

22. Josh McCray - Georgia Bulldogs

Josh McCray is a perfect Bret Bielema running back. He’s big, physical, and runs with an intensity and intent to punish defenders. He split carries in 2024 but still gained 609 yards and served as the Illini’s finisher in the red zone with ten touchdowns. Aidan Laughery is back, but McCray should continue to be RB1 for the Illini, and they have a schedule that sets them up for a run at the College Football Playoff in Champaign, with McCray getting increased attention as a result.

UPDATE: transferred to Georgia

23. Roman Hemby - Indiana Hoosiers

Speaking of the College Football Playoff, the Indiana Hoosiers lost Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton but added Lee Beebe from UAB and landed a big turtle (err…a big fish) with the addition of Roman Hemby from Maryland. The three-year starter for the Terrapins had a frustrating 2024 campaign behind a miserable Maryland offensive line, but he still managed to rack up 607 yards and six touchdowns (both team highs) after 680 yards in 2023 and 989 yards in 2022 as a freshman. Hemby is also a capable pass-catcher, and he could approximate the role played by Jaydn Ott next to former Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

24. Fluff Bothwell - Mississippi State Bulldogs

Fluff Bothwell: what a fantastic name for a running back. Casual fans might not know this guy yet, but they will be during the 2025 season. He transferred from South Alabama after averaging 7.5 yards per carry as a freshman and scoring 13 touchdowns. He will now lead the backfield at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs desperately need some punch from the running game, and Bothwell is a physical force that should drastically improve Mississippi State on that side of the ball. Jeff Lebby landed an under-the-radar gem here.

25. Demond Claiborne - Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Wake Forest has few positives entering the 2025 season, but running back Demond Claiborne is an exception. He returns after earning third-team All-ACC in 2024, gaining 1,049 yards on 225 carries and scoring 11 touchdowns. Claiborne led the ACC in forced missed tackles for returning players, adding more than 250 receiving yards as a versatile threat. The Demon Deacons’ new offensive coordinator was at South Alabama last season, and the Jaguars had a strong rushing attack that they hope will translate to Winston-Salem.

26. LJ Martin - BYU Cougars

The BYU Cougars will be one of the favorites in the Big 12. A big reason is the return of running back LJ Martin after a successful 2024 campaign. Now a junior, Martin averaged an impressive 5.24 yards per carry on 137 attempts and scored seven touchdowns to lead the Cougars. His best performances came against Oklahoma State (120), UCF (101), and Colorado (88 yards and two touchdowns), and he forms a potent one-two punch with quarterback Jake Retzlaff.

27. Carson Hansen - Iowa State Cyclones

Abu Sama was expected to emerge as the star running back in Ames for Iowa State, but big back Carson Hansen stole the show out of nowhere. Hansen averaged a team-best 4.98 yards on 151 carries and scored 13 touchdowns as the team’s short-yardage finisher. Hansen is difficult to bring down, and he steamrolled over many defenders in helping the Cyclones storm their way to the Big 12 Championship Game. Teams know about him now, but that won’t make him any easier to stop in 2025.

28. Justice Haynes - Michigan Wolverines

Justice Haynes is an interesting and challenging player to evaluate. He arrived in Tuscaloosa as a five-star recruit and was expected to take over the backfield and become the next great Alabama running back. His freshman season was mostly uneventful, but Nick Saban retired, and Haynes fell behind Jam Miller on the depth chart. He was limited to just 79 carries as Miller had 145, but he was far more efficient, averaging 5.67 yards per carry to Miller’s 4.61. Both scored seven touchdowns on the ground, while quarterback Jalen Milroe had 2m. Haynes has now transferred to Michigan and is expected to share the backfield. He may outperform this ranking quite a bit or be a forgotten man in Ann Arbor on an offense that ends up struggling.

29. CJ Campbell Jr. - Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have a gigantic hole to fill in their backfield as Kyle Monangai left for the NFL. Greg Schiano turned to the transfer portal and landed an under-the-radar gem in Florida Atlantic transfer CJ Campbell Jr. Campbell Jr. had 844 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 5.12 yards per carry and had strong games to close the season against Charlotte (150 yards on 7.14 yards per carry) and Tulsa (100 yards on 15 carries).

30. Duke Watson - Louisville Cardinals

The Louisville Cardinals have the nation’s best young backfield. Keyjuan Brown had 243 yards as a freshman, and Isaac Brown exploded for 1,173 yards on 165 carries. They sandwich fellow freshman Duke Watson, who was somehow even more efficient than Brown in 2024. Watson had 597 yards with an average of a remarkable 8.91 yards per carry with seven touchdowns. Watson’s overall ranking is only hindered by having to share a backfield with Brown, which will limit his numbers. Still, the Cardinals are loaded at running back, and Watson is a big piece of that.

31. Le'Veon Moss - Texas A&M Aggies

The Texas A&M Aggies should have an elite running game in 2025 as they return mobile threat Marcel Reed at quarterback, a strong offensive line, and powerful back Le’Veon Moss. The Baton Rouge native averaged 6.3 yards per carry in 2024 and had ten rushing touchdowns. Moss does not have elite breakaway speed, but he’s explosive and has proven his ability to run between the tackles. The senior had only three games with more than 100 yards, and he missed the final four games of the campaign after getting injured against South Carolina.

32. Caden Durham - LSU Tigers

LSU has, quite surprisingly, struggled to run the ball in recent years. The passing offenses have been generally exceptional, but Jayden Daniels, a quarterback, has been the best running threat for the Bayou Bengals since Clyde Edwards-Helaire in 2019. Caden Durham appears to be poised to change that. As a freshman in 2024, Durham beat out Kaleb Jackson and Josh Williams and emerged as the best running back on the team. He only ended up with 140 carries, but averaged 5.38 yards per rush and had terrific games against Oklahoma and Baylor to close the season. Durham did not have a single fumble and had a breakaway rate of 41.8%, near the top mark in the conference. Durham will be the feature back in Baton Rouge in 2025.

33. Gideon Davidson - Clemson Tigers

Phil Mafah has moved on, and the Clemson Tigers have a big hole in the backfield. Some returning candidates could step up, but the most likely future star is a true freshman who appears poised for an immediate role. Gideon Davidson, a star recruit from Virginia who racked up 2,054 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior, has impressed in spring practice, and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley has not been shy about heaping praise on the young back. “The guy’s just natural. I mean, he’s a natural, natural balance, a cutter. He can be a violent runner, I think he’s got natural hands and can do things where you’re spreading him out or things in the passing game.” Dabo Swinney is typically reticent to trust young players with the ball, but he played true freshmen at receiver last season, and if Davidson is the best back, he’ll see the field, and I believe that once he does, he won’t give the starting running back job back.

34. Mark Fletcher - Miami Hurricanes

Damien Martinez was the bell-cow running back for the Miami Hurricanes in 2024, but he is off to the NFL. That means Mark Fletcher Jr. will finally get his chance to be the lead back for the Hurricanes. He had 112 carries last season and averaged 5.4 yards per carry, plus nine touchdowns, and his experience showed he was good enough to excel in that role. The offense likely takes a step back this season with Cam Ward gone, but Fletcher Jr. is a capable back.

35. Jam Miller - Alabama Crimson Tide

It is bizarre to see the first Alabama running back on this list at No. 35 and not in the top ten or twenty, but the numbers do not lie. The Crimson Tide failed to run the ball effectively from the running back position. Of the group, Jam Miller had a team-high 145 carries for 4.61 yards per carry and seven touchdowns on the ground. He’s a capable pass-catcher, but the Tide have to do a better job of blocking for the run, and Miller needs to be more explosive with the ball in his hands.

36. Bryson Washington - Baylor Bears

The first half of the season was miserable for the Baylor Bears. They were just 2-4, head coach Dave Aranda was on the hottest of seats, and running back Bryson Washington only had 186 rushing yards. Washington took over the lead back role for the back half of the season and had 818 yards and 11 touchdowns down the stretch of the season. Aranda is back, and quarterback Sawyer Robertson returns as QB1, so the Bears should be one of the contenders in a crowded Big 12.

37. Eli Sanders - USC Trojans

The USC Trojans are in an exciting spot heading into the 2025 season. Lincoln Riley has failed to live up to expectations thus far, and there were a lot of portal departures from a roster that underperformed in 2024. Still, the Trojans also brought some talent in, and there is hope the program is morphing into a more physical and defensive-minded one to compete in the Big Ten. One of the big pieces that entered ahead of the 2025 season is California native and New Mexico transfer Eli Sanders. Sanders ran for 1063 yards and averaged a whopping 7.2 yards per carry for the Lobos, bringing an exciting element to the rushing attack for USC. “Eli’s explosive,” Lincoln Riley told the media, “I mean you just see his explosion, it just kind of jumps off the tape already, which is what we saw on tape."

38. Rahsul Faison - South Carolina Gamecocks

Rahsul Faison is getting an extra year of eligibility because he spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Snow College in Utah. That’s a junior college, and he only appeared in games during his second season there. Faison was actually a freshman in 2019 at Marshall. He did not appear in any games, attended online classes in 2020 at Lackawanna College, and was out of football. He spent two seasons at Snow College and then was at Utah State in 2023 and 2024. The circuitous route has ended up in South Carolina as a member of Shane Beamer’s squad after he earned second team All-Mountain West Conference honors and ran for 1,109 yards with eight touchdowns. With LaNorris Sellers at quarterback, Faison will have many opportunities to showcase what he can do as a true veteran presence.

39. Quintrevion Wisner - Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns are welcoming CJ Baxter back to the fold, and the return of Quintrevion Wisner gives Texas one of the better backfields in the country, at least on paper. Wisner was a surprising contributor as he was buried on the depth chart when the 2024 season began in Austin. However, injuries mounted, and Wisner was impressive every time he was on the field, becoming the lead back for Texas in the back half of the season. He ended up with 1,060 yards but only averaged 4.7 yards per carry, lacking top-end explosive speed.

40. Davon Booth - Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby would like to air the ball out, but his offensive personnel for the 2025 season in Starkville is very suited to pound the rock. Davon Booth was with Faison in 2023 at Utah State before transferring to Mississippi State ahead of last season. Despite playing from behind in most games and having an overmatched offensive line, Booth ran for 757 yards and five touchdowns. He had several explosive plays and is now paired with Fluff Bothwell to form an underrated duo for the Bulldogs.

41. Rueben Owens - Texas A&M Aggies

The Texas A&M Aggies could have one of the nation’s best rushing attacks. Le’Veon Moss and quarterback Marcel Reed are the one-two punch at quarterback and running back, and the duo will be joined by powerful redshirt sophomore back Rueben Owens. Owens played only two games in 2024 before missing the remainder of the season to injury, but he was a decorated recruit and is very capable of returning to form and providing good rotation in the backfield.

42. Wayshawn Parker - Utah Utes

The Utah Utes were uncharacteristically shaky during the 2024 season, and they only ran for 3.88 yards per carry. Micah Bernard led the offense, amassing 1,009 yards and an average of 5.12 yards per carry. However, the Utes desperately needed to shake up the offense, and they have done so with additions at quarterback, Devon Dampier, and running back, Wayshawn Parker. Parker had 735 for the Washington State Cougars and averaged 5.36 yards per carry. He did this as a freshman and should see improved production with the Utah offensive line paving the way.

43. Quinten Joyner - USC Trojans

The Texas Tech Red Raiders have gone “all in” for the 2025 season, investing in the transfer portal and loading up on quality transfers as they push for a Big 12 Championship. The Red Raiders needed to replace Tahj Brooks at running back, and they turned West and grabbed former USC Trojans back Quinten Joyner. Joyner averaged 7.59 yards per carry as a freshman for USC, and there is a lot of excitement about what he can do with an increased workload.

44. Ousmane Kromah - Florida State Seminoles

Essentially nothing went right for the Florida State Seminoles in 2024. After winning the ACC in 2023, the Seminoles won two games last season. They enter 2025 with questions about head coach Mike Norvell's approach and whether his reworked staff is up to the challenge of producing a consistent winner. Florida State turns to freshman running back Ousmane Kromah, who averaged 8.1 yards per carry at Leesburg in Georgia. There is instant pressure on the four-star recruit to produce right away after Lawrance Toafili exhausted his eligibility.

45. A.J. Turner - Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota has quietly assembled one of the best backfields in the Big Ten. They return Darius Taylor and add outstanding young back A.J. Turner from Marshall. As a sophomore, Turner averaged 8.31 yards per carry and racked up 864 yards with six touchdowns. Marshall was not great last season, but Turner was a bright spot, with 103 yards against Virginia Tech, 124 against Western Michigan, and 4.57 against eventual champion Ohio State. He’s an explosive back who will prosper in Minnesota’s system.

46. Emmett Johnson - Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska’s running game in 2024 left quite a bit to be desired. The Huskers ran for only 3.79 yards per carry, and the lack of a consistent rushing attack and a competent offensive line were key factors in the relative struggles for freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. As Nebraska tries to continue Matt Rhule’s trend of winning big in Year 3 of his coaching stops, they will need to see improved production from the running back position. Dante Dowdell left for Kentucky, leaving junior Emmett Johnson as the unquestioned lead back. As a sophomore, he averaged 5.11 yards per carry and will see a much bigger workload in 2025 than in 2024.

47. Davion Gause - North Carolina Tar Heels

Omarion Hampton was a superstar in Chapel Hill, but he’s off to the NFL after a tremendous junior year (1660 yards and 15 touchdowns). New UNC head coach Bill Belichick will need to rely on Davion Gause's progression to fill the backfield void. Gause ran the ball 67 times for 326 yards (4.87 yards per carry) and scored four touchdowns as a freshman in 2024. He was a coveted four-star recruit landed by Mack Brown’s staff.

48. James Peoples - Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes had an ultra-productive offense anchored by running back duo Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. Both are off to the NFL, leaving a real opportunity. Ryan Day turned to West Virginia and plucked big back CJ Donaldson from the portal and will pair with sophomore James Peoples in what is expected to be a two-man rotation. Peoples was a much-hyped recruit. As a freshman last season, he ran for 197 yards and two scores on 49 rushes. The pair is unlikely to reach the heights achieved by Judkins and Henderson, but OSU will have a productive rushing attack.

49. Elijah Tau-Tolliver - Michigan State Spartans

The Michigan State Spartans lost Nate Carter and Kay’ron Lynch-Adams and only had inexperienced backs Makhi Frazier and Brandon Tullis returning. Jonathan Smith dipped down a level and grabbed Sacramento State back Elijah Tau-Tolliver to become the lead back. Tau-Tolliver is an all-purpose back who accumulated nearly 3,000 yards across rushing, kick returns, and receiving and has six career 100-yard rushing games. It’s a huge step-up to the Big Ten, and the Spartans will have a rotation, but it’s expected that Tau-Tolliver will lead the way.

50. Cameron Seldon - Virginia Tech Hokies

The Tennessee Volunteers lost one of their primary backups when Cameron Seldon left Knoxville for a likely starting role with the Virginia Tech Hokies. VT lost their star running back to the NFL, and this is a critical season for head coach Brent Pry. Seldon averaged 5.13 yards per game in a limited role, and it will be very interesting to see how he does with a bigger usage rate.

51. Kyson Brown - Arizona State Sun Devils

Cam Skattebo is impossible to replace. The running back had 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Arizona State Sun Devils, and those numbers are just beginning to scratch the surface of his impact. Skattebo is off to the NFL, and Kyson Brown is now the lead running back as ASU tries to repeat in the Big 12. Sam Leavitt will lead the offense at quarterback, and Brown averaged 4.81 yards per carry in a limited role. Arizona State did not feel a need to go for a starting running back in the portal, so the coaching staff believes in his ability to get the job done.

52. Gavin Sawchuk - Oklahoma Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners must produce a better offense in 2025. After two disappointing seasons for Brent Venables in Norman, he and his staff are under pressure to break through this campaign. OU revamped the offensive system with a new offensive coordinator and quarterback. They were content at running back and return four guys they believe in. That will limit the production for any single player, but the best of the bunch is probably Gavin Sawchuk. This is lower than most will be on the junior, but he struggled with injuries during the 2024 campaign and only averaged 3.28 yards per carry. He’s in line for a bounce-back season, but the backfield is crowded.

53. Kamari Moulton - Iowa Hawkeyes

The Iowa Hawkeyes have a strong offensive line and, if the past of Kirk Ferentz is any guide, figure to run the ball quite a bit. Kaleb Johnson had an outrageous 2024 season, and he is off to the NFL, so that leaves a hole at starting running back for sophomore Kamari Moulton to fill. Moulton averaged 5.63 yards per carry with three touchdowns and will probably jump from seven carries per game up to 15 or so. That could mean a 1,000-yard season for the explosive running back.

54. LJ Johnson Jr. - SMU Mustangs

The previous success in this offensive system is in place (Brashard Smith had 1,332 yards in 2024). The offensive line is pretty good. The opportunity as a starter is there. Those things add up to a top 20 running back, but we have LJ Johnson Jr. pegged at 54 because his past performance doesn’t scream elite back, even if he does get the increased opportunities in a great system. Johnson Jr. only averaged 4.09 yards per carry in 2024. His production will jump with a lot more carries, but he’ll need to show a lot more to come close to what Smith offered.

55. Jordan Lyle - Miami Hurricanes

The Miami Hurricanes turn to Carson Beck at quarterback, but they will lean on what should be an excellent running game. Jordan Lyle is ready for a breakout performance. Mark Fletcher figures to be the starter, but Lyle had 54 carries as a freshman in 2024, and he averaged a whopping 7.41 yards per rush. With a good offensive line returning and questions about Beck’s health, the running game will be a focal point for the Hurricanes, and Lyle will be a key piece.

56. Aidan Laughery - Illinois Fighting Illini

Josh McCray seemed set to be the lead back for the Illinois Fighting Illini as a physical hammer for Bret Bielema, but McCray surprisingly bolted for Georgia. That leaves a hole at RB1 for the Illini, and the best option to step up is Aidan Laughery. Laughery has a good blend of speed, strength, and vision, and he showcased it after Kaden Feagin was lost for the season to injury in 2024. He flashed elite potential with 172 yards and three touchdowns against Northwestern. Feagin is still not healthy, so Laughery will be the primary back on an excellent team.

57. Darrion Dupree - Wisconsin Badgers

Gone are the days when the Wisconsin Badgers routinely churned out dominant run games and running backs among the nation’s leaders in yardage and rushing touchdowns. The Badgers’ leading rusher in 2024 was Tawee Walker with 864 yards, but he left for the transfer portal. They are counting on a trio of running backs brought in last season to return the potent running attack. Dilin Jones and Gideon Ituka were red-shirted, while Darrion Dupree seems like the likely starter this season. Dupree had 79 carries for 317 yards with one touchdown and was RB2 for the Badgers. He’s a good all-purpose back, and his game should take a step forward as a sophomore.

58. Cam Porter - Northwestern Wildcats

Cam Porter was expected to be one of the better running backs in the Big Ten last season and then head for the NFL. He was a team captain, and the Wildcats were coming off a surprise bowl appearance and had optimism heading into the campaign, but things did not go as planned. Porter struggled with injuries and only ended up with 501 yards and six touchdowns. He decided to return for his final season in Evanston, and Northwestern will need a much better version of him if they are to return to bowl contention in 2025.

59. Kaelon Black - Indiana Hoosiers

Roman Hemby was brought in from Maryland, and Lee Beebe was added from UAB as the Indiana Hoosiers gear up for Year 2 under head coach Curt Cignetti. However, returning running back Kaelon Black continues to draw praise from the coaching staff and cannot be overlooked. Black was the most impressive IU running back in the spring and averaged 5.46 yards per carry last season despite battling injuries. Offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan has a lot of options to play with on offense, but Black is trusted and will be a factor for the Hoosiers.

60. Dante Dowdell - Kentucky Wildcats

Mark Stoops has made it well-known that he wants the Kentucky Wildcats to return to a ball-control offense that dominates time of possession and frustrates opponents with physicality and a strong running attack. That makes sense with Zach Calzada as the quarterback, but do the Wildcats have the running backs to play that style effectively? They hope to have addressed that need with Dante Dowdell from Nebraska, but don’t count out redshirt freshman Jason Patterson. He reportedly impressed during the spring and will carve out a nice role. Dowdell should be the leader, and there will be plenty of carries to go around.

61. Turbo Richard - Boston College Eagles

The Boston College Eagles lost Kye Robichaux and Treshaun Ward to graduation and must find a way to replace the more than 1,100 yards of combined production they take with them. Turbo Richard is a potential breakout candidate and likely starter for BC at running back. Richard has excellent size and showed his physicality as a runner in 2024, bruising for 278 yards and two touchdowns in a minimal role last season. He’s healthy now, and if he can stay that way during the 2025 season, he’s a sleeper for All-ACC honors.

62. Jai'Den Thomas - UNLV Rebels

Dan Mullen is now in charge in Las Vegas, and the UNLV Rebels are almost sure to have a potent offense with the former Mississippi State and Florida Gators head coach on the sidelines. They return a pair of excellent receivers and explosive running back Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas to form the backbone of the attack. Thomas has 1,421 yards and 19 touchdowns through two seasons with the Rebels and was the leading rusher for the team last season with 918 yards. That includes 72 yards to close the season against Cal, 135 against Nevada and San Jose State, and 64 yards on just six carries in a close loss to Syracuse.

63. Ismail Mahdi - Arizona Wildcats

It was a rough first year in charge for head coach Brent Brennan. The Arizona Wildcats have reset the roster again this offseason as they search for a formula to be competitive in the Big 12. That reset includes four scholarship backs moving on and adding three new transfers to compete with Kedrick Reescano. The bet here is that ultra-productive transfer Ismail Mahdi ultimately wins out and becomes the starter for Arizona. Mahdi had 406 rushing attempts for 2,322 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career for Texas State, and he is far more explosive than Reescano.

64. Jaquez Moore - Duke Blue Devils

Jaquez Moore was expected to be a key piece of the Duke Blue Devils’ offense in 2024 for first-year head coach Manny Diaz. Moore was injured early in the season, and Diaz made the difficult choice to redshirt him so that he could return for a full season (they hope) in 2025. “He’s been a tough miss for us this year,” Diaz said in November of 2024. “We think he’s one of the best players on our roster, so we’re excited about the idea that we have a chance to welcome him back next year”. He only gained 86 yards on 32 carries (2.69 yards per carry) in 2024, but averaged 5.81 yards per rush in 2023 and has proven production to pair with new quarterback Darian Mensah.

65. Roydell Williams - Florida State Seminoles

The Florida State Seminoles were an unmitigated disaster in 2024, but there is optimism around the program that 2025 will be much different. The Seminoles are counting on new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn to fix the attack, and with Thomas Castellanos at quarterback, the running game will almost certainly be more dynamic. Freshman Ousmane Kromah is a sleeper to break out at running back, but was not in Tallahassee for spring practices, which puts a damper on his 2025 potential. Roydell Williams is probably the best all-around back on the roster, plus he has experience. He’ll need to do much better than he did in 2024 to hold off Kromah, but the Seminoles should provide him with a better offensive line this time.

66. Devin Mockobee - Purdue Boilermakers

The Purdue Boilermakers were a disaster in 2024. The Boilers were possibly the worst power conference team in the country, and nothing that head coach Ryan Walters tried worked. That makes it incredibly tough to evaluate any individual player, but we at least have some history to lean on with running back Devin Mockobee. Mockobee, nicknamed “Crazy Legs”, returns to West Lafayette for his final season and will lead the backfield for new head coach Barry Odom. Despite the lack of success around him, Mockobee averaged nearly five yards per carry and has led Purdue for three straight seasons.

67. Re'Shaun Sanford - Houston Cougars

Year one did not go as planned for Willie Fritz and the Houston Cougars, but he is an outstanding coach, and the Cougars are strong candidates for a bounce-back season in 2025. One of the deepest positions on the roster is running back, and you can count on Fritz’s team having a strong rushing attack. The running back room returns four solid players, but the best of the bunch is Re’Shaun Sanford. Despite only getting 94 carries as a freshman, Sanford led the team with 444 yards rushing. That’s an average of 4.72 yards per carry. Factor in that he battled injury throughout the campaign, and he’s the favorite to grab the starting job and see a leap in production.

68. Dallan Hayden - Colorado Buffaloes

Isaiah Augustave was the surprising leading rusher for the Colorado Buffaloes in 2024. The team relied heavily on quarterback Shedeur Sanders and a strong group of wide receivers. Deion Sanders often ignored the running game, but Augustave averaged 4.5 yards per carry and beat out OSU transfer Dallan Hayden for the lead role. Augustave is gone (Virginia), but Hayden is back and has had another year of seasoning under Marshall Faulk. Hayden is the best all-around back remaining on the roster, but he will have to split carries with Micah Welch, which puts a ceiling on his potential.

69. Tawee Walker - Cincinnati Bearcats

The Cincinnati Bearcats leaned on running back Corey Kiner as the battering ram for their offense. Kiner had 204 carries for 1,153 yards last season, both numbers were way ahead of anyone else on the roster. The Bearcats hit the transfer portal and brought in former Wisconsin Badgers and Oklahoma Sooners back Tawee Walker to fill the starting role. Walker averaged 4.55 yards per carry on 190 attempts (864 yards total) and led the team with ten touchdowns. Those numbers are decent, but Wisconsin was used to much better, and they made it clear they would be rolling with Darrion Dupree in 2025, prompting the move by Walker.

70. Micah Ford - Stanford Cardinal

Long gone are the days of the Stanford Cardinal being the biggest bully on the block. Quarterback Ashton Daniels led the team with 669 yards, and backup quarterback Justin Lamson had a team-high eight rushing touchdowns. Freshman running back Micah Ford was second on the team with 309 rushing yards. He has competition in the backfield, but Ford is the best of the group, and he should get a chance to start. The Cardinal are attempting to find their footing in the ACC, and there are few reasons to be optimistic about their ability to compete.

71. DeSean Bishop - Tennessee Volunteers

Dylan Sampson was one of the best Tennessee running backs ever. He is now in the NFL and leaves a gigantic hole in the backfield that must be filled by, likely, a combination of players in 2025. The lead back is expected to be sophomore DeSean Bishop. Bishop is a Tennessee native who only got 74 carries last season but managed to average 6.15 yards per rush and broke through for three touchdowns. It is fair to point out that Bishop’s damage was mostly done against Kent State, Chattanooga, and Vanderbilt. Still, he has the tools to be a capable running back in an offense that will likely lean on the running back position again.

72. Jalen Berger - UCLA Bruins

The UCLA Bruins made waves this offseason by landing disgruntled Tennessee transfer Nico Iamaleava. The talented Iamaleava will lead the UCLA offense as they try to find their footing under DeShaun Foster in their second year in the Big Ten. UCLA lost T.J. Harden to the transfer portal and will now rely more on Jalen Berger. Berger only had 48 carries for 178 yards last season as the Bruins struggled to block, but that should be improved this season, and the threat of Iamaleava in the passing game could boost production for Berger.

73. Logan Diggs - Ole Miss Rebels

The Ole Miss Rebels have a fantastic crop of wide receivers, and Austin Simmons is getting a lot of hype as a breakout candidate at quarterback. Head coach Lane Kiffin is trusted to have a potent offense, regardless of personnel. However, if there were one question mark on the offense, it would be at running back. The expected starter is Logan Diggs, and the LSU transfer should now be 100% recovered from a torn ACL he suffered at LSU. Diggs will take over at running back after nearly every player at the position either transferred out or graduated. He only had one carry last season but managed 5.49 yards per carry as the primary running back for LSU while Jayden Daniels ran wild at quarterback.

74. Peyton Lewis - Tennessee Volunteers

The other running back expected to step up after Dylan Sampson moved on is sophomore Peyton Lewis. Lewis only had 64 carries but averaged 5.3 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns. Lewis will not be the bell-cow back, but is explosive and a threat to take the ball to the house every time he touches it. The Tennessee coaches have commented on Lewis’s track speed and ability to make opponents miss in the open field. He will be a valuable change of pace back to the more steady DeSean Bishop.

75. Jeremiah Cobb - Auburn Tigers

The Auburn Tigers have geared up for a breakthrough 2025 season under head coach Hugh Freeze. Jackson Arnold is in at quarterback, the offensive line is improved, and the wide receiver room is expected to be among the best in the SEC after another successful transfer portal. Much like Ole Miss, the one question area on this offense is the running back room. Auburn likes the potential of Damari Alston, Jeremiah Cobb, and Durell Robinson. There is no ingrained starter yet, but I’m betting on the speedy Cobb to end up with the RB1 job. Cobb is an explosive runner, proven by his work as a kick returner, and he averaged 4.9 yards per carry as a sophomore in 2024. He could be a breakout candidate with more help around him and a larger role.

76. Anthony Hankerson - Oregon State Beavers

The Oregon State Beavers did not have many positives to take from 2024. Their head coach bolted for Michigan State, the PAC-12 dissolved and left the Beavers without a conference, and most of their roster fled for other destinations. That left very little proven quality, but they did find a good running back in Anthony Hankerson. Hankerson had 232 carries for 1,082 yards and 15 touchdowns. His standout performances included 155 yards against Idaho State, 113 versus Colorado State, 154 at Nevada, and an impressive 110 yards on just 11 carries in the loss to Boise State. He enters 2025 as the best offensive option for the Beavers and forms an interesting partnership with transfer quarterback Maalik Murphy.

77. Quinten Joyner - Texas Tech Red Raiders

Texas Tech is “all in” on the 2025 season as they ride an NIL influx wave from boosters and went big in the transfer portal, intending to win the Big 12. The defense needed serious fixing, and they hope those problems have been mostly solved, but they also splashed for a running back to replace the departed Tahj Brooks. The man brought in to lead the rushing attack is sophomore Quinten Joyner, a transfer from USC. Woody Marks led the Trojans with 198 carries and 1,133 yards while Joyner had a very productive and efficient 63 carries for 478 yards, an average of 7.59 yards per rush. Is he ready for a full-time load? If so, Joyner could be an All-Big 12 contender.

78. Myles Montgomery - UCF Knights

The UCF Knights were expected to have a great rushing attack in 2024. They had star RJ Harvey, transfer Peny Boone, and mobile tank KJ Jefferson at quarterback playing within Gus Malzahn’s system. Harvey had a fantastic season but was loaded up with 232 rushing attempts. Boone only played in six games and had 34 carries, and Jefferson only appeared in five contests. Malzahn stepped away before he was fired and is now the offensive coordinator for Florida State. So, things did not go according to plan. Scott Frost is back in Orlando as the head coach for UCF and will be leaning on senior Myles Montgomery, who finally gets his chance to be the lead dog in the backfield. Montgomery only got 51 carries last season but had 5.75 yards per carry, which offers promise for the 2025 campaign.

79. Braylen Russell - Arkansas Razorbacks

As a freshman, Braylen Russell checked in at nearly 260 pounds. That size limited him to only 67 carries during the season, and offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino said the big back struggled with fatigue. Petrino had positive things to say about Russell during the spring. “Braylen (Russell) has done a really nice job getting his weight down. He’s faster, he’s quicker, he’s been able to play longer without getting fatigued. I want to see his explosiveness. I’m looking forward to seeing his explosiveness at that weight and how well he can come out of tackles and make yards after contact.” Petrino says Russell dropped 15 pounds, and the Razorbacks hope he can evolve into a lead back after losing Ja’Quinden Jackson to the NFL.

80. George Pettaway - James Madison Dukes

North Texas transfer Ayo Adeyi was expected to lead the rushing attack for the James Madison Dukes after the roster was pillaged as Curt Cignetti left for Indiana University. However, Adeyi was injured after two games and only carried the ball 20 times all season. Sophomore George Pettaway stepped up and surprised with 980 yards and a very impressive 6.05 yards per carry. Pettaway was a North Carolina transfer and enters the 2025 season as the frontrunner to be the best back in the Sun Belt.

81. Al-Jay Henderson - Buffalo Bulls

Most good G5 running backs bolted for the transfer portal and “moved up” to a power conference team. It was a coup for Pete Lembo and the Buffalo Bulls to keep All-MAC running back Al-Jay Henderson for his senior season. Henderson led the team with 1,078 yards last season, averaged 5.28 yards per carry, had nine touchdowns, and added 238 yards receiving with another touchdown. Henderson is a bit undersized, but he’s an excellent all-purpose back, and he’ll be running behind what might be the best offensive line in the MAC for a team that might be able to win the league.

82. Greg Desrosiers - Memphis Tigers

The Memphis Tigers routinely have one of the country's most efficient and dynamic offenses. They lost quarterback Seth Henigan after what seemed like a decade, and the top two running backs, Mario Anderson Jr. and Brandon Thomas, both graduated. That means more work for Greg Desrosiers Jr. He was the third back last season but averaged a remarkable 7.35 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns on just 31 carries. Desrosiers Jr. is a bigger back but can still move pretty well and should be a significant problem for American Athletic Conference defenses.

83. Trent Howland - Oklahoma State Cowboys

What to do with the Oklahoma State Cowboys? The entire roster is a mystery, and we don’t know if Mike Gundy has another run in him. The Big 12 is wide open, but there’s little reason for Oklahoma State fans to be optimistic. The Cowboys have to hope they can lean on a pair of big running backs to carry the attack and wear down opposing defenses. Trent Howland was the second back behind Ollie Gordon in 2024 and averaged an impressive 5.61 yards per carry. Can he keep up that efficiency with a larger workload? Howland is a load and will probably see a 60-40 split with sophomore Sesi Vailahi.

84. Jalen Buckley - Western Michigan Broncos

The Western Michigan Broncos have quietly assembled the deepest backfield in the MAC and one of the best stable of running backs anywhere in the Group of Five. That includes Michigan transfer Cole Cabana, a pair of JUCO standouts that combined for more than 2,400 yards last season, and the best of the bunch, Jalen Buckley. Buckley was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2023 and had 683 yards despite suffering an injury last season. Buckley averaged 5.34 yards per carry, had nine touchdowns, and is back and healthy to lead the Broncos.

85. Nolan Ray - Maryland Terrapins

The Maryland Terrapins lost Roman Hemby to the Indiana Hoosiers. Still, they return sophomore Nolan Ray after he appeared in all 12 games last season and averaged 4.99 yards per carry as a freshman. The Terrapins were a disaster in 2024, and hopes don’t seem high heading into a critical year for Mike Locksley’s future. Ray will get a lot of work with only unproven young players behind him on the depth chart. Whether or not the offensive line can open up any holes or if the opposing defenses will respect the passing game is to be determined.

86. J'Mari Taylor - Virginia Cavaliers

The Virginia Cavaliers suffered a massive blow in the spring when star transfer tackle Monroe Mills tore his ACL. He’ll miss the entire season, and it was an injury that embattled head coach Tony Elliott could have done without. Chandler Morris is in at quarterback after putting up big numbers at North Texas, and he should be an upgrade over Anthony Colandrea. Still, the Cavaliers have the horses at running back to lean on the rushing attack. J’Mari Taylor and Xavier Brown (see a few spots later) will split the carries, and both should be very effective. Taylor put up nearly 1,200 yards with 15 touchdowns at North Carolina Central, and he is a physical rusher who should be able to adjust to the ACC quickly.

87. Vaughn Blue - Liberty Flames

Jamey Chadwell’s offensive system tends to produce outstanding running backs. The Liberty Flames had a pair of good ones last season as seniors Quinton Cooley and Billy Lucas led the attack. They are both gone, and the Flames will lean on sophomore Vaughn Blue to step up and produce. Blue had 35 carries for 207 yards, an average of 5.91 yards per carry, as a freshman, and Chadwell’s system gets the benefit of the doubt.

88. Jay Ducker - Temple Owls

KC Keeler surprisingly left Sam Houston State for the head coaching position in Philadelphia with the Temple Owls. Keeler did not go empty-handed; he took a player who should be one of the better running backs in the American Athletic Conference with him, as Jay Ducker will spend his senior season with the Owls after putting up 745 yards and leading the Bearkats in rushing in 2024. Ducker will be the backbone of the attack as Keeler tries to navigate a tougher league in a new area of the country with veteran quarterback Evan Simon leading the passing game.

89. Xavier Brown - Virginia Cavaliers

Xavier Brown is the other running back in the one-two punch backfield that offers hope for Tony Elliott and Virginia Cavaliers fans. Brown was behind Kobe Pace in 2024, but was way more efficient and effective than Pace. Brown had 488 yards on just 80 carries for an average of 6.1 yards per carry to Pace’s 4.38 yards per carry. Those numbers included 68 yards against Pittsburgh and 52 yards against Notre Dame at the end of the season. He’ll pair with J’Mari Taylor to give the Cavaliers a powerful running back duo.

90. Kendrick Raphael - Virginia Cavaliers

What is going on in Berkeley? The Cal Golden Bears had a good 2024 and the schedule set up for a nice run in 2025, but Justin Wilcox saw his roster fall apart as Fernando Mendoza left for Indiana, the top receivers bolted, the best tight end left, and the top five rushers left the team. The show must go on, and Wilcox did bring in a nice option at running back to lead the rushing attack, as North Carolina State transfer Kendrick Raphael will spend his junior season with Cal. Raphael had 425 rushing yards on 78 carries in 2024. That’s an average of 5.45 yards per carry as a sophomore. That production should translate nicely against a pretty soft schedule in 2025.

91. Noah Short - Army Black Knights

The Army Black Knights had one of the best rushing attacks in the country in 2024. “Captain America” Bryson Daily is gone, and leading running back Kanye Udoh transferred out, but Noah Short is back after a hyper-efficient season. The slotback averaged 7.59 yards per carry, a remarkable number that came on pretty good volume (75 carries). Short is not a big guy, but hits the hole hard and has speed that can hurt opponents in the option attack once a bit of space is created. He’ll be leaned on more this season, with Dewayne Coleman stepping up at quarterback.

92. Ja'Quez Cross - Arkansas State Red Wolves

The Arkansas State Red Wolves broke through in 2024, going 8-5 and doing well enough to keep Butch Jones employed for another season. Jaylen Raynor is an exciting piece at quarterback, and he leads the attack, but the versatile Ja’Quez Cross is one of the best running backs in the Sun Belt. He split carries with powerful hammer Zak Wallace, but Cross was the more efficient rusher, averaging 5.55 yards per carry on 115 rushes. That included 117 yards against Texas State, 127 against Southern Miss, and 76 yards in a key win over Georgia State. He also had 228 yards receiving and had the third-most receptions on the team.

93. Robert Henry - UTSA Roadrunners

The UTSA Roadrunners will be one of the contenders to win the American Athletic Conference. After a slow start in 2024, they closed with a 4-1 stretch that included a win over Memphis. Jeff Traylor is still the head coach and has proven that he knows how to win with an offense that can put up points, and Owen McCown is back at quarterback. The offensive line is a question mark on the edge, but it is suitable for this level on the interior. Leading rusher Robert Henry Jr. is back after averaging 5.43 yards per carry and racking up seven rushing touchdowns on 130 rushes. Henry is a powerful runner who should be near 1,000 yards and the top of the AAC rushing totals.

94. Eli Heidenreich - Navy Midshipmen

The Naval Academy could be in for another special season as quarterback Blake Horvath returns for the Midshipmen and leads an attack that was sixth in the country in rushing. Beyond just Horvath, they get Alex Tecza back after he had 576 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. However, it was Eli Heidenreich who paced the offense. He had 6.83 yards per carry as a slotback and added a team-high 39 receptions for 671 yards with six touchdowns. The trio of Heidenreich, Tecza, and Horvath is back in Annapolis for 2025, and Navy will be among the favorites in the crowded AAC.

95. Kevorian Barnes - TCU Horned Frogs

TCU has one of the worst, or at least unsettled, running back situations of any power conference school. The Horned Frogs only averaged 113.9 yards per game on the ground in 2024, and the lack of balance went a long way towards limiting the ceiling for the team, despite an excellent year from quarterback Josh Hoover. The offensive line has to be better at run blocking, but even if they are, who is running the ball? It might be Kevorian Barnes, a capable transfer formerly of UTSA, it might be redshirt freshman Nate Palmer, it might be veteran Trent Battle. Barnes gets the nod on this list, but Palmer is the unknown commodity that could emerge. The only clear thing is that TCU has to find a better balance to have a chance in the Big 12.

96. Kentrel Bullock - South Alabama Jaguars

South Alabama lost standout freshman Fluff Bothwell (incredible name, outstanding player) to Mississippi State. Still, the rushing attack is not doomed to failure, and quarterback Gio Lopez is likely much more difficult to replace. Junior Kentrel Bullock led the team in rushing attempts with 152 and had only one fewer yard than Bothwell (831 to Bothwell’s 832). He had seven touchdowns and averaged a very respectable 5.47 yards per carry. Bullock also had 15 receptions for 153 yards and will likely have a more prominent role in 2025.

97. Rashad Amos - Georgia State Panthers

Georgia State needs to run the ball more, and the Panthers invested in the transfer portal to acquire personnel. Branson Robinson made the short trek from the University of Georgia, and Rashad Amos, formerly of Ole Miss and Miami of Ohio, was brought in as the presumed lead back. Amos only had nine carries and only played in six games for the Rebels, but if you go back to his Miami of Ohio career, there is a lot to be excited about at the Sun Belt level. Amos had 210 carries for 1,075 yards with 13 touchdowns for the Miami of Ohio RedHawks that season, and Georgia State is hoping he can recapture that magic for the Panthers.

98. Zuberi Mobley - Tulane Green Wave

The Tulane Green Wave were one of the best Group of Five teams in 2024, and there was reason to believe the 2025 team would be much better. As is often the case, though, the roster was raided in the transfer portal (Darian Mensah, Makhi Hughes, Alex Bauman, just to name a few) and the Green Wave were left to rebuild. Thankfully, they kept rising star head coach Jon Sumrall and backfilled pretty well in the portal while maintaining a fairly deep roster. This is probably the best roster in the American Athletic Conference. Running back will probably be led by talented Florida Atlantic University's Zuberi Mobley. Mobley only had 92 carries, so it’s a small load, but he had a very promising 5.29 yards per carry with four touchdowns. He’ll be playing behind an excellent offensive line and should have a chance to produce bigger numbers.

99. Lincoln Pare - Texas State Bobcats

GJ Kinne is a fantastic coach, and it’s a bit of a surprise that he is still leading Texas State in San Marcos. The right opportunity has not yet arrived, which is excellent news for the Bobcats. There is optimism entering 2025 for Texas State. Ismail Mahdi is gone, but backup Lincoln Pare is ready for a bigger role after a successful 2024. Pare is a forceful runner, averaging 5.83 yards per carry, better than what Mahdi produced. Pare also led the team in rushing touchdowns with eight scores.

100. Sam Franklin - South Florida Bulls

The South Florida Bulls were expected to contend for the American Athletic Conference title in 2024, but an injury to Byrum Brown derailed those hopes. Brown is now healthy and expected to lead the offense in 2025, but the rushing attack lost the top three rushers from last season (all seniors), and head coach Alex Golesh turned to the transfer portal to try to find some answers. Charlotte’s Cartevious Norton was one addition. He’s more of a short-yardage power back. The feature back might end up being Sam Franklin, a transfer from Oklahoma. Franklin had 18 carries for the Sooners last season but had 132 yards while averaging 7.33 yards per carry. That’s a small sample size, but the offensive system is set up for success, and Franklin can put up bigger numbers with more usage.

101. Sire Gaines - Boise State Broncos

Full disclosure: Sire Gaines should have been listed well ahead of number 101 on this list. I thought he had been and missed him. To make amends, there are a lot of positive things about Sire Gaines, not the least of which is the situation he inherits as the lead running back in the same offensive system that spawned Ashton Jeanty’s awesome career.

Gaines had only 20 carries as a freshman and showed promise, averaging 7.8 yards per carry with one touchdown. Although there's a very small sample size and no one knows how he will adjust to being the primary back for the Broncos, Gaines has a lot of potential and is a breakout candidate in the Mountain West.

102. Matt Jones - Southern Miss Eagles

Southern Miss hit the reset button and might have hit a home run, landing former Marshall head coach Charles Huff after Huff led the Thundering Herd to a fantastic season in 2024. The new head coach flipped the roster, and he’s bringing quarterback Braylon Braxton with him to lead the attack.

The running back room is full of only transfers. The most promising of the RB transfers is Ole Miss import Matt Jones. As a junior last season, Jones averaged 5.14 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns in a backup role for the Rebels. His best games were against Furman, Wake Forest, and Georgia Southern. He should be able to be an upper-end back in the Sun Belt.

103. Bryson Donelson - Fresno State Bulldogs

Fresno State hired former North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz to lead their program back to prominence. He enters a pretty good situation with some decent talent, and he absolutely needs to lean on sophomore running back Bryson Donelson.

Elijah Gilliam led the Bulldogs in carries with 121 rushes, but he only averaged 3.85 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Bryson Donelson got the ball 77 times and racked up six yards per rush. Donelson is a really good-looking prospect, and he should lead the attack for Entz and Fresno State in their final season in the Mountain West.

104. Devin Roche - Old Dominion Monarchs

Old Dominion is a sleeper in the Sun Belt in 2025, largely thanks to the promise of sophomore quarterback Colton Joseph. Joseph is not alone, though. The leading rusher from 2024 (Aaron Young) is gone, but Bryce Duke (6.2 yards per carry on 46 rushes) and Devin Roche (6.37 yards per carry on 43 rushes) are back to split the load.

Roche was only a freshman, and with some development, he could become the top back for the Monarchs. He is a valuable asset for an offense trying to help ODU break through this season. He’ll have his work cut out for him in the season opener against one of the top rushing defenses in the country when they travel to IU.

105. Chip Trayanum - Toledo Rockets

Toledo should have one of the better offenses in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). That should always be the case, as no team in that league has more resources than Jason Candle’s club. Unfortunately, the 2024 running game was a far cry from where it should be, averaging just 3.45 yards per carry.

Chip Trayanum has been brought in from the transfer portal to try to fix the ground game. Trayanum has had a long journey from Arizona State to Ohio State to Kentucky and now finally to Toledo. He is a physical load for MAC defenders to handle, and he’ll be kept fresh by North Carolina A&T transfer Kenji Christian (if he’s healthy).

106. Elijah Green - Sam Houston Bearkats

Elijah Green was unable to crack the rotation at running back for the Indiana Hoosiers last season. Still, he was very effective in the mop-up duty he received and offers a lot of promise for the Sam Houston Bearkats under new head coach Phil Longo. Green is a good-sized back, but he can move quite well and could be a home run hitter after 29 carries for 201 yards, plus five touchdowns, for the Hoosiers. Green was a really good get for Longo, and I think he can be a breakthrough star in Conference USA.

107. Sieh Bangura - Ohio Bobcats

Boomerang transfer Sieh Bangura is back at Ohio after transferring to Minnesota and languishing. Bangura had 178 carries for 811 yards with seven touchdowns in 2023 as the Bobcats’ leading rusher, and he’s back in 2025 to partner with quarterback Parker Navarro to form what could be the Mid-American Conference’s best rushing attack. Bangura is a proven commodity at that level.

108. Cam Cook - Jacksonville State Gamecocks

If Rich Rodriguez were still at Jacksonville State, I would blindly trust the running backs in that system to put up big numbers. Rodriguez left for West Virginia (again), and the Gamecocks did not promote his offensive coordinator, opting instead for defensive-minded Charles Kelly. I don’t know what his system is going to look like, but I’m sure they won’t run the ball as well as Rodriguez’s teams do. Now, Jacksonville State did snag running back Cam Cook from TCU. He led the Horned Frogs in rushing in 2024 and is a former blue-chip recruit. He averaged only 3.87 yards per carry and needs to increase his efficiency and explosiveness as he steps down a level.

109. Andrew Burnette - Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

Sonny Cumbie needs a big season to stay employed as the head coach at Louisiana Tech. He’s brought back Tony Franklin as offensive coordinator, and they added a very intriguing running back in former NAIA player Andrew Burnette. At Keiser University, Burnette was an All-American, racking up 1,345 yards with 17 touchdowns while averaging more than 6.0 yards per carry. He’s 6’2” and 225 pounds, but will his numbers and style translate to the FBS level?  

110. Telly Johnson Jr. - Northern Illinois Huskies

The Northern Illinois Huskies rely on the running attack, with three backs accumulating at least 103 carries in 2024. Gavin Williams and Antario Brown are both gone, while sophomore Telly Johnson Jr. returns after taking the mantle at the end of the season. He averaged 4.66 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns as a freshman and will now be tasked with handling a larger workload as the leading running back.

111. Sedrick Alexander - Vanderbilt Commodores

The Vanderbilt offense will be centered around quarterback Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers. We know that much for sure. Beyond those two, though, there are only question marks for the Commodores. The offensive line has been restructured with four new starters expected, and the wide receiver room doesn’t look up to SEC standards.

The leading running back is expected to be Sedrick Alexander. Alexander had 586 yards as a sophomore in 2024, and he was second on the team with six rushing touchdowns, but he only averaged 3.57 yards per carry.

112. Angel Johnson - Washington State Cougars

The Washington State Cougars have to start over after losing their star quarterback and offensive coordinator to Oklahoma and their head coach to Wake Forest. The new coaching staff comes in from South Dakota State and the Jackrabbits ran for more 3,500 yards so there is reason for optimism for the Cougars running backs.

Angel Johnson was very effective as the backup last season for South Dakota State, and he is familiar with the offensive system, which should pair well with quarterback Zevi Eckhaus.

113. Malachi Hosley - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have the one-two punch of Jamal Haynes and Haynes King to power the offense and a strong group of receivers available for King to throw to. Head coach Brent Key did well to grab some help in the transfer portal, with Penn transfer Malachi Hosley brought in to add depth and a powerful punch to the attack.

Hosley ran for 1,192 yards and 6.2 yards per carry with nine touchdowns. This will be a change in role for him, but he’s a great number two back and provides another option for a dangerous GT offense.

114. Kanye Roberts - Appalachian State Mountaineers

Appalachian State had a down year in 2024, at least by their standards. That being said, the offense still led the Sun Belt in scoring, and they now have running back Kanye Roberts back and healthy. Roberts had 696 yards and averaged 5.66 yards per carry in 2023 and is now paired with Arkansas transfer Rashod Dubinion to give App State a good one-two punch they’ll need to lean on after losing Joey Aguilar to Tennessee.

115. Yasin Willis - Syracuse Orange

The Syracuse Orange had an awesome offense in 2024. However, most of the damage was done through the air with quarterback Kyle McCord and a great group of pass catchers. That group included talented running back LeQuint Allen. Allen, as good as he was, only managed to average 4.48 yards per carry, and he’s gone now.

The Orange will need much more from their running game, given the numerous losses on offense and the significant inexperience. They’ll need Yasin Willis, a sophomore, to take a big step forward after he only averaged 3.61 yards per carry in 11 games. Willis was only a freshman, so there’s hope he has more to give.

116. Kaden Feagin - Illinois Fighting Illini

Josh McCray bolted for Georgia, leaving Illinois in the spring. The Illini are not without good options at the position, though. Aidan Laughery figures to be the top back after averaging 6.07 yards per carry as a sophomore.

Kaden Feagin is the perfect “thunder” complement to Laughery’s “lightning”, if he can stay healthy. Feagin has had three separate season-ending injuries during his football career (high school and college), but if he can stay on the field as a second back, he offers a powerful punch to Illinois’ backfield.

117. Richard Young - Alabama Crimson Tide

Jam Miller figures to be the number one running back for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and Justice Haynes transferred to Michigan. That means sophomore Richard Young is in line to take over the number two running back role after carrying the ball 27 times for 146 yards with two scores in 2024.

Young struggled with pass blocking but has worked on his game a lot in the offseason. “Rich is a guy that has played some ball here,” Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said this summer. Grubb continued to say, Young, “...showed some more consistency, a physical runner. Pass protection was an issue last year, schematically, and he put in a lot of time and really improved himself as a pass protector.”

118. Jerrick Gibson - Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns have one of the most talented and deepest running back rooms in the country. CJ Baxter is back from injury, and Quintrevion Wisner has got a whole lot of work as a sophomore in 2024. With Jaydon Blue gone, there will be carries available for a third back as well, and that should be sophomore Jerrick Gibson.

The former five-star prospect had 78 carries for an average of 4.83 yards per carry and four touchdowns. He’s incredibly talented, and while the major talent around him will limit his numbers, Gibson will play an essential role on an outstanding team.

119. Alex Tecza - Navy Midshipmen

The Navy Midshipmen, as everyone knows, do not play a traditional single-back attack, and they do not go five-wide and operate out of the shotgun. Navy runs the option, and they don’t play conventional running backs. Players are categorized as slot backs or fullbacks. Quarterback Blake Horvath was the team’s leading rusher, and the dynamic leader is back in 2025.

The top “running back” on the team was fullback Alex Tecza. He had 576 yards with eight touchdowns, and added 229 yards receiving. Additionally, Tecza is a physical force and a plus blocker. Navy’s offense should be clicking again in 2025.

120. Al-Jay Henderson - Buffalo Bulls

The Buffalo Bulls are on the rise under head coach Pete Lembo. They were a surprising 9-4 last season and finished with five straight wins, including a shellacking of Liberty 26-7 in their bowl game. Quarterback CJ Ogbonna is gone, but top rusher Al-Jay Henderson is back after racking up 1078 yards while averaging 5.28 yards per carry and scoring a team-high nine touchdowns.

Henderson is one of the better running backs in the MAC, and Buffalo is a sleeper to win that league.

121. Adam Randall - Clemson Tigers

The Clemson Tigers suffered an injury crisis at running back during the 2024 season and transitioned physical wide receiver Adam Randall to running back to help absorb some carries. Randall impressed during his limited work there, and the coaching staff moved him to running back permanently heading into this campaign. Randall is expected to be the number two option behind freshman Gideon Davidson, and the Tigers will have one of the top offenses in the country.

122. Ja'Kobi Jackson - Florida Gators

Jadan Baugh is back in Gainesville after earning Freshman All-SEC honors in 2024. He’ll lead the Florida rushing attack with star quarterback DJ Lagway joining him in the backfield. The Gators won’t have to ride him exclusively, though, as senior Ja’Kobi Jackson is back to provide veteran depth and quality. Jackson was second on the team in 2024 with 509 yards on 95 carries, and he tied Baugh with seven rushing scores.

123. Jamal Roberts - Missouri Tigers

The Missouri Tigers are likely going to lean on the running game quite a bit this season with transfer quarterback Beau Pribula a more proven commodity as a runner than a passer. Meanwhile, transfer Ahmad Hardy is expected to lead the rushing attack.

Sophomore Jamal Roberts offers promise as a backup after gaining 214 yards and scoring three touchdowns as a freshman in 2024. Roberts only averaged 4.12 yards per rush, but the offensive line certainly played a role in that, and Eli Drinkwitz is counting on that unit performing better in 2025.

124. Abu Sama - Iowa State Cyclones

Matt Campbell would certainly prefer to have his running game set the tone and hammer the opposition in the trenches. Despite making the Big 12 Championship Game, it didn’t play out that way last season for the Cyclones. They only averaged 4.35 yards per carry and surrendered 5.35 per rush to opponents.

Fixing the rushing attack was a priority in the offseason, and Iowa State returns Carson Hansen to lead things with Abu Sama back and hoping for a bigger role. Sama is a big-play back; he had five runs of more than 20 yards in 2024, and he’s a good complement to Hansen’s power game.

125. Cam Edwards - UConn Huskies

UConn’s 2024 offense was actually really effective, scoring 415 points (the school’s most since joining the FBS ranks) and helping the Huskies to a bowl game. The running game was a significant part of the success, as they averaged more than five yards per carry. Leading rusher Cam Edwards returns after gaining 830 yards and scoring eight touchdowns, both of which led the team.

126. Jamarion Wilcox - Kentucky Wildcats

Dante Dowdell was brought in from Nebraska to lead the rushing attack for the Kentucky Wildcats, and you know that Mark Stoops wants to lean on the ground game. That means there will be more than enough carries for a larger role for sophomore Jamarion Wilcox.

As a freshman, Wilcox actually led the Wildcats with 590 yards, and he accomplished that while averaging 6.41 yards per carry. Those are fantastic numbers for a freshman in the SEC. He had games of 102 yards against Tennessee, 50 yards against Texas, and 66 against Louisville last season.

Week 1: Toledo at Kentucky (-9.5)

127. OJ Arnold - Georgia Southern Eagles

The Georgia Southern Eagles were led on the ground by senior Jalen White, but the most efficient running back for Clay Helton’s squad was OJ Arnold. He averaged a very solid 5.02 yards per rush and scored four rushing touchdowns. 

White is now gone, and Helton chose not to grab any running backs in the transfer portal. That leads me to believe the coaching staff has a great deal of confidence in Arnold’s ability to lead the ground game in 2025.

128. Daniel Hishaw Jr. - Kansas Jayhawks

The Kansas Jayhawks desperately need quarterback Jalon Daniels to stay healthy to have a bounce-back season under head coach Lance Leipold.

Devin Neal was the leading rusher, and he’ll be sorely missed, but Kansas can turn to a player who actually averaged the same yards per carry as Neal did last season, as Daniel Hishaw joined his former teammate at 5.78 yards per carry. Granted, Hinshaw's was a smaller sample size, but the promise is there for him to partner with sophomore Johnny Thompson Jr. and form an adequate backfield.

Week 0: Fresno State at Kansas (-13.5)

129. Trey Cornist - Central Michigan Chippewas

Trey Cornist had only 22 carries in 2024 for the Tulane Green Wave, but he was sitting behind some really talented running backs. He absolutely made the most of his opportunities when given the chance, racking up 6.7 yards per carry in his small sample size. 

Cornist is now stepping down a league and he’s expected to lead the Central Michigan Chippewas' ground game. The Chippewas have a new head coach, and they are expected to run the ball a whole lot this season.

Cornist has a chance for a sizeable role.

Week One: Central Michigan (+11.5) at San Jose State

130. Jordan Gant - Akron Zips

The Akron Zips have not had much to cheer about on the football field in recent seasons, but Joe Moorhead is slowly building a competent program in the MAC. They are still far from being a contender of any kind, but Tennessee State transfer Jordan Gant offers a reason for optimism at running back.

Gant scored ten touchdowns and was a Freshman All-American in 2023 before taking a step back last season. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to shine in the run-heavy Akron offense.

Week One: Wyoming at Akron (+7.5)

131. Dylan Carson - Air Force Falcons

The Air Force Falcons will rely heavily on the ground game, as is always the case for service academies. Their top running back option is actually more of a fullback with the return of senior Dylan Carson. Carson is often the inside back on option plays, and he led the Falcons in 2024 with 600 yards despite playing in only ten games. There are questions at quarterback, but Air Force actually has some good options to dial up the rushing attack.

132. Quinton Jackson - Rice Owls

The Rice Owls turn to new head coach Scott Abell to try to jumpstart a program that has been treading water for the past twenty seasons. Abell comes from Davidson after operating a potent spread option-style rushing attack that led the FCS in ground yards.

The Owls don’t have a quick mobile quarterback to lead the offense this season, and that will limit their effectiveness, but they do have a couple of good running backs that could put up big numbers in this system. The best of the group is undersized back Quinton Jackson. The veteran back is only 160 pounds, but he can hit “home runs” each time he touches the ball.

133. Kewan Lacy - Ole Miss Rebels

The Ole Miss Rebels are hoping to make the College Football Playoff after disappointingly missing the cut in 2024 thanks to some truly inexplicable losses to poor teams. Austin Simmons is the new quarterback, and hopes are high for the talented young player; however, the running back room remains largely uncertain. 

Logan Diggs is probably RB1, but he has not played since 2023 (minus one snap in last season’s Gator Bowl) when he was at LSU. There is a big opportunity for carries, and Missouri transfer Kewan Lacy is the man most likely to grab them. Lacy had only 23 carries last season, but he averaged 4.52 yards as a freshman.

134. J'Koby Williams - Texas Tech Red Raiders

Quinten Joyner is going to lead the Texas Tech backfield as they push for what they hope will be a Big 12 Championship season. He’s not the only running back in Lubbock worth being excited about, though.

J’Koby Williams has a good combination of burst and power, and he went off for 125 yards in the Liberty Bowl after appearing in nine previous games. Williams could be a good weapon as a pass catcher as well, and he gives the Red Raiders a good one-two punch.

135. Kejon Owens - FIU Panthers

It was a mild surprise that both quarterback Keyone Jenkins and running back Kejon Owens decided to return to FIU for another season, rather than entering the transfer portal. Owens had only 92 carries in 2024, as the FIU offense struggled to find an identity, but he still managed five rushing touchdowns and averaged 4.26 yards per carry. He’s now a senior and joins Georgia Tech transfer Anthony Carrie to form what should be a duo the offense leans on in 2025.

136. Adam Mohammed - Washington Huskies

The Washington Huskies are one of the more intriguing teams in the Big Ten as Jedd Fisch enters his second season in Seattle. The Huskies have a potential star at quarterback in Demond Williams and an established feature back in Jonah Coleman, but Fisch is reportedly very comfortable with the depth he now has in the backfield to spell Coleman. 

Sophomore Adam Mohammed had 42 carries for 193 yards with an average of 4.6 yards per rush a season ago as a freshman, and he’s expected to be the primary backup in 2025.

Week 1: Colorado State at Washington (-20.5)

137. Kaleb Jackson - LSU Tigers

Kaleb Jackson has potential to greatly outperform this ranking. Look at his 2023 season: he was very impressive in limited action and emerged as a major piece for the future with 165 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 5.32 yards per carry as a freshman. 2024 was supposed to be a breakout campaign but it was anything but. Maybe he added too much bulk, maybe the offensive line’s blocking scheme didn’t work for his running style, maybe the emergence of Kaden Durham shook his confidence. Whatever the case, Kaleb Jackson chose to return to LSU for his junior season with a hunger to prove that he’s a player worth paying attention to. He is the primary backup for Durham and should fit that role well as a bruising sledgehammer behind the big-play Durham.

Week 1: LSU (+3.5) at Clemson

138. Oscar Adaway III - South Carolina Gamecocks

All of the attention around the South Carolina Gamecocks football program is understandably centered around quarterback LaNorris Sellers. However, the star quarterback really needs some help from the skill position groups surrounding him, as there are questions about whether or not the receivers and running backs are good enough for the Gamecocks to reach their goals.

Raheim Sanders is gone, and the status of transfer Rahsul Faison is still up in the air. That leaves Oscar Adaway III as the only known commodity at running back. Adaway had 77 carries for 295 yards plus 15 catches for 145 yards in 2024, and it looks like he’ll need to shoulder a heavier load this season.

139. Micah Welch - Colorado Buffaloes

Dallan Hayden was ranked earlier on this list, but new Colorado running backs coach Marshall Faulk sounded recently like Hayden was not in the top two for the Buffaloes at running back. The first two players he mentioned were the speedy DeKalon Taylor and battering ram sophomore Micah Welch.

Welch appeared in nine games last season as a freshman, and he tied for the team lead with four rushing touchdowns while averaging 4.33 yards per rush. For a team that struggled to run the ball, those are encouraging numbers, and he has impressed Faulk so far ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Week 1: Georgia Tech at Colorado (+3.5)

140. Javen Jacobs - Utah State Aggies

I have blind faith in Bronco Mendenhall and his ability to create a competent football team from nearly any situation. Mendenhall transformed New Mexico into a 5-7 team that almost surpassed .500 in the Mountain West last season. After one season in Albuquerque, Mendenhall is back in the state of Utah as the head coach for the Utah State Aggies.

He brought 2024 New Mexico running back Javen Jacobs with him, and the former three-star recruit is expected to lead the rushing attack for the Aggies after putting up 277 yards on just 40 carries in seven games last season for the Lobos. He’s a decent pass catcher as well, and Mendenhall will make the most out of his talents.

141. London Montgomery - East Carolina Pirates

Rahjai Harris is a big piece of the East Carolina offense to replace, but they have confidence in London Montgomery after he put up excellent numbers as a redshirt freshman. Montgomery averaged 5.1 yards per run and had 359 yards with two touchdowns. The offensive line is a work in progress, but he’s a home run hitter with an explosive run in seven of the ten games he played in during the 2024 season.

Week One: East Carolina at NC State (-11.5)

142. Justin Marshall - Colorado State Rams

Colorado State wants to air it out on offense, but the Rams had a 1,000-yard rusher in 2024 with Avery Morrow putting together a nice season. Morrow is gone, and they will now turn to Justin Marshall, a quicker back who racked up an impressive 746 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman last season. He will probably get nearly 200 carries and will be a threat for 1,000 yards in the Rams’ final Mountain West season.

143. Jaziun Patterson - Iowa Hawkeyes

Kamari Moulton will be the new lead back for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and they hope to turn up the juice on offense with Mark Gronowski at quarterback. Moulton is not likely to monopolize the carries, and backup running back Jaziun Patterson was good as a sophomore. He made the most of his 63 carries, racking up 309 yards and averaging nearly five yards per carry. Patterson is now a junior and will serve as a nice backup for the Black and Gold.

Week One: Albany at Iowa (-37.5)

144. Joe Jackson - Kansas State Wildcats

An injury in Dublin on a punt return for starting running back Dylan Edwards opened the door for backup Joe Jackson to get some work for the Kansas State Wildcats. Jackson had 12 carries for 51 yards with a long rush of 17 yards. That’s unspectacular, but it qualifies as pretty good against the Iowa State Cyclones in the season-opener. Edwards’ status moving forward is unknown.

145. Jordan Lovett - Troy Trojans

The Troy Trojans have a proud program, but they enter Year 2 under Gerard Parker needing to rebound in a significant way after a dreadful start, before closing out 2024 strongly. The 2024 leading rusher, Damien Taylor, is now a backup for the Ole Miss Rebels. That leaves a combination of Jordan Lovett (17 carries for 53 yards) and Tae Meadows (3 carries for 41 yards) to lead the backfield for the Trojans in 2025.