The 2025 NFL Draft class might not appear as strong as recent classes, but there certainly is talent at running back. In fact, I watched more running backs for this project than I did wide receivers for the top 15! It was impossible to ignore the insane amount of talent and production at the position.
The RB position feels like a dime a dozen at the NFL level, and the same goes for this class. While the elite talents exist and shine, RB production is something that typically doesn’t completely tank if that high-end starter goes down for a spell. We’ve consistently seen this phenomenon in the league.
However, a truly special talent can elevate an offensive attack to new heights. One runner in this class has that potential.
The position, and the game as a whole, is different than it was 20 years ago. Explosive plays are paramount for offensive success in the NFL. It’s incredibly difficult to sustain drives with a “three yards and a cloud of dust” mentality.
10) Jordan James, Oregon
The Oregon runner is probably the least-recognized name on the list. Jordan James, a former four-star recruit from the Nashville area, was backing up a decent NFL talent for the Ducks a season ago in current Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving.
James has a more traditional NFL frame, although, like Irving, he’s also a bit undersized. James possesses outrageous hip fluidity that lets him instantly open up and explode through creases at the second level and capture the edge when bouncing duo runs.
He possesses the innate “get skinny” ability to slide through minor cracks in a defense’s foundation. While James also shows impressive burst, somehow the Oregon back has struggled to produce a large chunk of big plays.
Given his natural physical abilities and the talent on Oregon’s offense, that is a bit peculiar. However, it’s also important to note that two of James’ exterior blockers weigh 170 pounds soaking wet, which probably plays into that peculiar lack of explosive production.
As a three-year player he certainly doesn’t have to declare. Oregon certainly isn’t hurting for cash flow, so the difference between what he could earn playing another season in Eugene vs. the guarantees in a later Day 2 rookie deal are likely similar.
9) Raheim Sanders, South Carolina
The Arkansas transfer has been in the NFL Draft spotlight now going on three years. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Raheim Sanders, nicknamed “Rocket,” once lived up to the billing.
Earlier in his career, Sanders looked even bigger, and he had as much juice as backs 20 pounds lighter.
Unfortunately, an injury seems to have zapped some of his burst. However, it hasn’t deleted Sanders’ ability to consistently create explosive plays, which isn’t some silly feat playing against SEC defenses.
Sanders remains shifty when he’s able to remain square and tempered, and his initial explosiveness allows him to capture the edge well for an RB with his frame. He runs low and picks up tough yards well, but he could stand to implement some micro-adjustments late to take more glancing blows and fall forward more consistently rather than trying to bowl over defenders.
8) Phil Mafah, Clemson
Other large-framed running backs like Damien Martinez and Tahj Brooks get more buzz than the Tigers’ 6-foot, 233-pound RB. However, Phil Mafah felt like the best player of the bunch, although Miami’s rushing attack doesn’t fit Martinez’s strengths as a runner, admittedly.
The biggest difference between the three is Mafah’s superior first step, wiggle, and big-play ability compared to his larger contemporaries. He might not have the long speed to finish with six points and run away from defensive backs, but he possesses enough juice to bite off chunks.
Mafah displays more stiffness than Sanders in the open field, but his overall burst and superior ability to keep his legs churning and pick up dirty yards allowed him to eke out a slightly higher grade than Sanders.
7) DJ Giddens, Kansas State
The Wildcats have been one of the more impressive Big 12 teams in the conference. And DJ Giddens is one of the most dangerous big-play threats at the position.
Some runners toy with second and third-level defenders, and Giddens falls directly into that category. He manipulates would-be tacklers by lying not only with his eyes but with his hips.
Basketball players are taught to defend the belly button. A player’s midsection cannot lie. That must be their direction of travel. However, Giddens has the fluidity to swivel and explode into neck-breaking, face-crossing cuts to make defenders look silly.
Giddens likely would have found himself higher on the list, but his shortcomings as a pass catcher (consistency) and as a pass protector (effort, technique, and physicality) anchor his ranking.
But the fact Giddens graded so well despite struggling in those areas further cements his pure rushing ability. His shortcomings are also, theoretically, coachable.
6) Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
It’s hard to give enough attention to just how horrific Bhayshul Tuten‘s ball security has been over his past two seasons at Virginia Tech. Through Week 11 of the college football season, Tuten has fumbled four times. He fumbled five times a season ago.
On average, Tuten will put the ball on the ground once every 40 times he carries or catches the ball. But like pass protection (and probably even more so), ball security is something that can be coached into a running back. What can’t be coached as easily is a player’s vision and processing ability.
The Hokies’ offense is particularly zone heavy, and Tuten excels as a processor on zone runs. Tuten is quick-footed laterally, but he also possesses legitimate long speed to keep his distance against ACC opponents when he finds a crease.
5) TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
TreVeyon Henderson might end up being the steal of the entire 2025 NFL Draft. The former five-star recruit earned that rating by possessing an NFL-ready frame with track-star burst and long speed.
Henderson exploded onto the scene as a freshman, but a foot injury derailed his 2022 campaign. That foot injury could be what makes him a steal in the draft if one of the most talented backs in the class slips into Day 3 range.
Unsurprisingly, considering Tony Alford has coached him for four seasons now, Henderson is a complete back in every sense of the word. He’s arguably the best pass protector in the class.
Henderson is a naturally gifted receiver possessing fine details in his route running from the backfield. His consistent vision has helped make him the clear front-runner in that Ohio State backfield, even though Quinshon Judkins is also talented and came into Columbus with a ton of buzz.
Henderson’s one shortcoming as a rusher is that he struggles to maintain balance when contacted. Neither OSU back is particularly sturdy in that respect, despite both being densely built backs.
4) Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Many in the NFL Draft world believe Omarion Hampton is arguably the second-best running back in the class. The fact that he ended up grading similarly to Nicholas Singleton and Kaleb Johnson is evidence enough that it’s perfectly fine to feel that way.
Hampton might have better contact balance than both. He might be a bit more explosive, and he certainly is the best pure tackle-breaker of the trio. He’s a physical pass protector with ever-improving consistency in that area, and there’s no shortage of big-play ability to Hampton’s game.
But like his North Carolina predecessor Javonte Williams, Hampton has a somewhat “fatal” flaw…he might need glasses.
Hampton wants to get downhill ASAP, and this, too, consistently leads to fading into the rear ends of his own blockers when North Carolina runs duo. He also struggles with the freedom afforded to him as a zone runner.
Hampton’s discipline on gap and power runs is perfectly fine, but struggling with zone makes him a bit one-dimensional at the NFL level, which leans more zone-heavy with downhill concepts built in more as a tendency breaker for most rushing attacks.
It’s beautiful when North Carolina blocks wide zone correctly and lets Hampton attack off the tackle’s outside shoulder, but that’s not a viable option on most reps.
3) Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
Nicholas Singleton doesn’t get enough work at the college level to match the production of these other running backs in the class, but that could actually be enticing for NFL franchises that want RBs to have as much tread left on their tires as possible. Additionally, Singleton is a former five-star recruit with a prototypical frame and outrageous athletic ability (Penn State athlete).
Singleton bends hard at high speeds to outrun space defenders but also possesses the physicality to shake their tackles when they get hands on him.
Like Hampton, Singleton’s vision on downhill runs shines. He also possesses even more creativity and natural wiggle than Hampton, while lacking a bit more in natural contact balance.
But where Singleton separates himself is his pass-catching and pass-protecting prowess. He battles Henderson as the best pass protector in the class and consistently shines as a receiver, making leaping catches in the flat while having the creativity to make defenders miss and pay when trying to tackle him in space.
While he’s not as naturally gifted with his eyes as the next two RBs on the list, Singleton is no slouch as a zone runner, either.
2) Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
Art. The only way to adequately describe the beauty of Kaleb Johnson‘s feet (as a runner with cleats on) is that they’re brush strokes on a canvas done by an unbelievably experienced painter. The artist doesn’t think as he brushes. The action is second nature to them.
Johnson’s feet maneuver at speeds and with the precision of running ladder drills, but on the field, bodies fly everywhere trying to tackle him. However, as outstanding as his feet are, that step frequency, fluidity, and direction wouldn’t do him much good if he were blind.
Johnson’s vision, creativity, and ability to find creases and cracks to slip through while maintaining his balance at the first level is truly special. There hasn’t been a more naturally gifted zone runner in quite some time. He possesses the ability to manipulate second-level defenders while pressing the line of scrimmage and processing information to make his next move.
Then, on top of it all, Johnson is first in college football in 15+ yard designed rushes, and only RJ Harvey and Ashton Jeanty have rattled off more runs of 10 or more yards. He does all of this at 6 feet tall and 225 pounds.
The only things keeping Johnson from earning a first-round grade are consistency in pass protection, slightly underwhelming pop in his pads upon contact, and practically nonexistent production as a pass catcher. But as we’ve seen before, that could be an opportunity issue rather than a skill issue.
1) Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
There are no skill issues with Ashton Jeanty aside from his measurables. The only thing keeping him from being talked about amongst the very best prospects we’ve seen at the position is the fact that he’s 5-foot-8.
The other thing keeping Jeanty’s narrative from reaching Saquon Barkley levels is the fact that he plays for Boise State in the Mountain West and not for a Power Four school.
Jeanty’s only “flaw” could be considered his ball security. On average, he puts the ball on the ground once every 96 touches. That’s still right around average over the past few years I’ve been keeping track of fumbles — that’s the only thing that’s average about his game.
Jeanty’s 192-yard performance against Oregon should be the stuff of legend. He almost single-handedly kept his Broncos in the game against college football’s best team.
Although Jeanty’s receiving production has nose-dived in 2024, he led college football in receiving yards, yards-after-the-catch average, and yards per route run. He’s dynamic no matter how the ball gets to his hands.
Despite his smaller frame, Jeanty has conspicuous long speed to outrun Mountain West competition in the open field while making life incredibly difficult for Oregon defensive backs who were trying to run him down as well.
Jeanty’s natural leverage, contact balance, and horizontal explosiveness allow him to string together broken and whiffed tackles like he’s Marshawn Lynch. To top it all off, his vision and lower body explosiveness allow him to maximize nearly every single rep he takes. He ekes every inch out that he can when there are no foundational issues in the defensive front seven.