2025: Running Backs

Ashton Jeanty – RB – Boise State – 95

I have to be honest, I didn’t want Jeanty to break Barry Sanders rushing record. I never want that to be broken, especially since they play more games now. This kid is outstanding. Jeanty is a small target, tough to find, and tougher to bring down. He has exceptional balance and wiggle in the hole. Tacklers can’t get squared on him because of the short area burst and his feel for angles. I get the LaDanian Tomlinson comparisons but he was more squat and lateral. Jeanty can accomplish the same results on the field but runs more angular, like Alvin Kamara. If you’re looking for knocks on this kid, he’s 210 pounds which fits his frame, but limits the momentum he can carry into hits. Also, he doesn’t have true Saquon Barkley runaway speed, but he’s got a higher top gear than most starting NFL running backs. And, I would love to see more tape on top programs and not Nevada and Wyoming. That’s splitting hairs. Take him as early as you want and enjoy watching this kid.

Omarion Hampton – RB – UNC – 92

I saw a comparison to Rhamondre Stevenson, but I see a faster Matt Forte. Hampton has terrific size and great speed at that size. If he continues to develop the receiving ability that Forte possessed, you’re looking at a perennial pro bowl running back. This kid belongs in the first round no doubt, with tremendous measureables, tape, and production.

Quinshon Judkins – RB – Ohio State – 88

This is the dude safeties do not want to meet in the hole. Judkins has no reservations when it comes to meeting a defender head on. I was surprised to see him run a 4.48 forty, he doesn’t always play to that speed on the field, which might be a result of the car crashes he endures nearly every time he touches the ball. I love him. He lit the world on fire as a true freshman at Ole Miss. Who knows why he transferred to Ohio State to timeshare in the backfield, but he seemed the better player at RB for the Buckeyes. Joe Mixon is such a great comparison, they’re both upright runners with short legs that love contact. Mixon was more polished in the pass game coming out, we’ll see if Judkins develops more in that sense. Quinshon will bring an attitude to an offense, play right away, and make the lineman want to block for him, I’ll take him on my team any day.

Cam Skattebo – RB – Arizona State – 81

I had heard the name before the college football playoffs but hadn’t seen the kid play. And holy shit did Skattebo not disappoint. Let’s set the stage. Skattebo rushes for 3500 yards and 40 TDs as a high school junior leading his team to a California state championship. Still no big time college offers. He goes to Sacramento State and 2 years in, he wins conference offensive player of the year. Then transfers to Arizona State where he is a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award and Heisman in back to back years. Then he brings the Sun Devils to the college football playoff and single handedly brings them to OT against Texas as the best runner and receiver, plus tossing a TD pass. Skattebo was exhausted during the game and kept coming back to lift his team. I was exhausted watching him. Look, he’s not going to wow you with a workout or with his shirt off. But this kid is pure football to his bones. Wes Welker said, who cares about my 40 time, did you ever see someone catch me from behind? I have the same feeling here, I didn’t care what testing numbers Cam was going to put up, he is a menace on the football field. He’s powerful, balanced, has vision, more wiggle than you’d expect, is tenacious, has receiving ability, and looks like a leader of men. I know this could be a great story of a guy that topped out in college, but don’t you want to see if he can keep overcoming the odds at the next level? I’ll put my money on this kid and pray to the draft gods that he winds up on the Patriots.

Kaleb Johnson – RB – Iowa – 79

Put him in San Francisco or on the Rams. Anywhere that runs the purest version of the Mike Shanahan one cut scheme from Denver that made Terrell Davis my favorite player as a kid. Kaleb Johnson is a dream fit in that scheme and you can get him on day 2 in the draft. He’s 6’1”, 225 pounds, with enough speed at the top to create gash gains. There’s not much happening laterally here, but let him run straight and make one cut and you’ll be happy with the results. Perfect example of why scheme fit matters for prospects success.

TreVeyon Henderson – RB - Ohio State – 79

Echoes of Doug Martin here. Henderson will have a few games of 200+ yards but he doesn’t display the consistency to be a multi-year answer at running back which pushes him to round 3 for me. Great athleticism and speed, not an every down player. I see the Aaron Jones comparisons with the longer legs in a compact frame, but Jones has much better feel. I think TreVeyon will struggle to make guys miss on the second and third levels, but if there’s a gap he’s going to hit it.

Dylan Sampson – RB – Tennessee – 75

This kid’s hard to get a read on. One year starter for the Vols, Sampson looks like James Cook without the same top gear. Short and slighter build may limit the number of between the tackles touches he gets. I think he’ll be in a backfield rotation with the ability to play starter level snaps for periods of time. Something about him looks like he belongs in Seattle.

Jordan James – RB – Oregon – 73

I was watching Oregon and thought, who is this kid that looks like a smaller version of MarShawn Lynch? That’s basically where the comparison stops, but it’s funny how some people are built. James has a wide base that helps with balance and long strides that allow him churn up yards. His frame is restricting because that body type is great over 220 pounds, but I don’t think he can carry that much weight. Not a lot of pop through contact, but I’ll be watching to see if he can have some MarShawn like magic in the pros.