Way Too Early 2025 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings
The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books which means we don’t have anything football related to be excited about for a few months. As we gear up for next football season, I’m going to be releasing my way too early 2025 NFL Draft rankings to get you up to speed on the prospects you need to know. Next up on the list is the running back rankings. Enjoy them and feel free to comment on any disagreements you have.
Just a little FYI… this class is WAY better than the 2024 class.
25: Montrell Johnson Jr. (Florida)
Remember when people got hot and bothered over Dameon Pierce for no reason? Everyone that tried to tell me about how wrong I was about Pierce are nowhere to be found now. Funny how that works every single time. Johnson is a better version of that except he actually has collegiate production (Pierce didn’t). Johnson has been over 800 yards three years in a row and got way better as a pass catcher this past year. He’s got a shot as in inside runner while being part of a committee.
24: DJ Giddens (Kansas State)
When you think of K State, you think of guys like Deuce Vaughn. That seems the type of back that school usually produces. Darren Sproles is another K State has produced in that mold. Giddens checks in at 6-foot-1, 212, but kinda plays like those other two guys. He can catch and rushed for over 1,200 yards as a sophomore. Now we’re really going to find out how good he is. He is good enough to hold Dylan Edwards off (who just transferred in from Colorado)?
23: Devin Neal (Kansas)
The Kansas football program has actually moved in the right direction with Lance Leipold. Now all those good players he has are going to start actually making their way into the league. One of those guys is Devin Neal. He’s not a world beater and probably will be a nice scat back in the league. Still, the raw numbers shouldn’t totally be ignored. He’s been over six yards per carry the last two years in a row. That’s while rushing for over 1,000 yards. He’s going to struggle running inside at the NFL level but he’s decently fast with a burst. Could have declared this past year if he wanted to and has been the starter since his freshman year. Some positives here without the highest upside in the world.
22: LJ Johnson Jr. (SMU)
Former big time recruit at Texas A&M. Never really got going there. This year we saw a little something at SMU but he never took the bull by the horns there. He’s good enough to do it and this is his last chance. Checks in at 5-foot-10, 211. I’m not even convinced he’s good but there are times he flashes in the open field. This is a make it or break it year for him.
21: Roman Hemby (Maryland)
Had some moments at Maryland. Tall back at 6-foot-2, 202. Has some wiggle with plus pass catching production. I’m not sure quite how athletic he is and it remains to be seen if he can be the bell cow now that Taulia Tagovailoa is gone.
20: Jarquez Hunter (Auburn)
He’s got some bowling ball vibes. Bounces off defenders and creates yards on his own. Played second fiddle behind Tank Bigsby for a while but last year it was his job. He played well for the most part but the offense was so brutal in the year one of Hugh Freeze’s takeover. Curious to see how it looks now in year two. My guess is more functional. This guy can play.
19: EJ Smith (Texas A&M)
Emmitt Smith’s son cracks the list. This is what’s crazy. I get leaving Stanford for a better football opportunity. Texas A&M has some good backs there with Le’Veon Moss and Rueben Owens. We’re going to find out a lot about Smith if he can take over this backfield alone. He has such a small sample size but he can definitely catch. Like his dad, not overly fast but I think he gets the running back stuff. Good vision and knows what to do. Going to be interesting to see how that backfield plays out.
18: Dylan Sampson (Tennessee)
I don’t know who needs to hear this but I’m just going to tell you anyway. Jaylen Wright probably wasn’t the back running back on Tennessee’s roster last year. Dylan Sampson probably is. They’re similar sort of players. Sampson will need to prove he can handle the load and hit the same home run balls that Wright hit last year. Still, Sampson enters his junior season as an efficient runner when given previously opportunities and a track background. I don’t think Tennessee will miss Wright. Sampson being better remains TBD.
17: Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)
Remember that write up I did on George Holani? Yeah, this guy is just way better. He’s Boise’s best back since Jay Ajayi, except he might even be better than that. He rushed for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore. They’re not playing the best of the best but it’s something. Kicked ass in the receiving game too. Former four star guy too so it’s not like they found this guy out of nowhere. Might have something real here.
16: Dallan Hayden (Colorado)
Former Ohio State guy and he sort of looked like a mini Ezekiel Elliott clone. Never came close to doing Zeke stuff but in the limited attempts at Ohio State, he looked really good. Hayden rushed for 663 yards on 130 attempts at Ohio State. Former four star guy coming out of high school playing in the Memphis area. Will now be the top back at Colorado. Wouldn’t be surprised at all if he thrives there.
15: CJ Donaldson Jr. (West Virginia)
I don’t totally love the vibes at West Virginia right now but Donaldson is an intriguing back. Listed at 6-foot-1, 238, and shifty. Has a tight end background too. Feels like the better running back version of Dillon Bell at Georgia. I don’t think he’s a bad athlete. 40 time will be important for him but don’t see him being Audric Estime level slow. Scored 19 touchdowns in two years there so far. Should be in line for a large workload this year and we’ll find out everything we need to this year.
14: Kaytron Allen (Penn State)
Yes, the Penn State backup is better than what 95% of teams are going to trot out there this year. It is what it is. I just hope you accept it. There are times he looks better than the number one guy on the list. It’s just not all the time. Former four star guy coming out of high school. IMG Academy doesn’t take bums. Listed at 5-foot-11, 221, and has a power element to his game. He’s been at 5.2 yards per carry as a freshman and sophomore. Should receive another 160-170 carries again as the secondary back for the Nittany Lions.
13: Jordan James (Oregon)
I was a Bucky Irving fan. Jordan James might be better. He probably has more straight line juice than Bucky does. There were times last year that this dude just shot right out of a cannon. Averaged 7.1 yards per carry in limited reps last year. Can he be the guy as the guy? That’s the question. Recruited highly out of high school. Has good instincts but needs to prove he can be a workhorse back.
12: Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)
UNC has been bleeding talent. Mack Brown is a walking Alzheimer case. It is what it is. BUT Omarion Hampton is about the last gem they have left. Last year there were many times that he was the offense, not Drake Maye. Hampton, a four star guy coming out of high school, checks in at 6-foot, 220, and rushed for over 1,500 yards last year to go with 15 touchdowns. What’s going to happen when defenses only focus on him? We’re about to find out.
11: Ollie Gordon (Oklahoma State)
Guy came out of nowhere last year stealing everybody’s lunch money. On 285 carries, Gordon rushed for 1,732 yards and 17 touchdowns. That’s while playing for Oklahoma State. He was legitimately a Heisman contender last year.
He’s not higher on the list for two reasons.
A: I want to see him do it again.
B: I’m not sure how fast he is. Right now he looks like a spitting image of Melvin Gordon. Are we sure he’s THAT good or a product of playing Big 12 football?
10: Branson Robinson (Georgia)
We were robbed of seeing Robinson last year after he had a lower body injury. Not saying he’s the next Nick Chubb but athletically he has that same build. Muscular as hell checking in at 5-foot-10, 220. Guy runs hard with real juice. Just have to see more of it now. My guess he’s in the 2026 NFL Draft when it’s him and Rod Robinson splitting next year’s load.
9: Jaydn Ott (Cal)
Former four star guy out of the Chino Hills area. Cal actually has good football players once in a while. Ott doesn’t run like Marshawn Lynch but he’s got some good size on him at 6-foot, 200. Has been their starter since his freshman year averaging 5.3 yards per carry in each season. He’s a real back. Bigger than a Justin Forsett type but can catch.
8: Kyle Monangai (Rutgers)
I love this guy. He reminds me of Rampage of the video game. Everything in his path turns to mush. Runs hard and gets it. Former three star guy but played at powerhouse Don Bosco Prep in high school. He might be Ray Rice with more power. Has become more efficient over the years. Rushed for 1,262 yards last year. Needs to be more of a force in the passing game but he’s a little wrecking ball.
7: Trevor Etienne (Georgia)
Yes, this is Travis Etienne’s brother. He’s a worse receiver than his brother but a better overall running back. Has more thickness on him too. Good vision and can run between the tackles. Will be at Georgia this year after spending two years at Florida. I anticipate him being the lead dog this year. We’ll find out more this year.
6: Raheim Sanders (South Carolina)
Rocket Sanders. That’s a big boy who can really run. He’s at South Carolina this year after an injury plagued final season at Arkansas. 6-foot-2, 225, and he can run. His 2022 year was ridiculously good. We’re going to find out if we see him show up again at South Carolina.
5: Donovan Edwards (Michigan)
I said it all year last year. Donovan Edwards was Michigan’s best running back last year. If not, he is for sure their most explosive running back. This guy just has a different level of juice to him.
4: Damien Martinez (Miami)
Will be at Miami this year. Serious Steven Jackson vibes. First team All Pac 12 as a freshman and sophomore. I absolutely love this guy. 6.1 yards per carry in both years. Checks in at 6-foot, 232. Total hammer. He’s going to be an instant upgrade with the Canes.
3: Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State)
We’ve known Judkins was going to be in this spot since his freshman year. He was already being asked about the NFL back then. Former three star guy but popped right away at Ole Miss. He’s at Ohio State now and will be the backup. Except that’s probably part of the plan because of how high his usage was at Ole Miss. He’s been north of 270 carries two years in a row. Big time production too. I’m not totally sure what his comp is yet but no denying that this guy is a lightning rod.
2: TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
When we talk about NFL backs, it’s guys like this that peep your interest. If you built one in a lab to play at the NFL level, it would be TreVeyon Henderson. Averaged 6.8 yards per carry as a freshman. Has struggled with injuries and hasn’t quite been the same since. When on the field, he’s damn good. Monster recruit coming out of high school and just has a burst that can’t be defined. Has all the makings to be a special back at the NFL level.
1: Nick Singleton (Penn State)
This is the dude right here. I think he’s better than Saquon Barkley. Yeah, I said it. 6-foot, 227, but has a real lower body power than Barkley didn’t have. I should say Barkley has power but he’s a dancing mushroom back there half the time. Singleton doesn’t mess around. 6.8 yards per carry as a freshman. Took a bit of a step back last year but the offense at Penn State was so brutal. 20 touchdowns over the last two years. I expect a step forward this year to establish himself as the dude of the class.
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