Editor’s note: The U-T’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL Draft (April 25-27). Here are his top 10 running backs, plus “bonus” players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:
1. Jonathon Brooks (So., Texas, 6-foot, 216 pounds)
Brooks is a former four-star recruit currently recovering from a torn ACL suffered back in November, but is expected to be ready for his first NFL training camp. Prior to the injury, I had Brooks as my top running back prospect in this draft class, but expected him to return to school after he hurt his knee. He still looks like the best option in a weaker running back class because of his dynamic, all-purpose skill-set. Plus, his tires are full of tread, given he has just 238 collegiate carries, averaging north of 6.0 yards per carry in each of his three seasons in Austin. Projected: Rounds 2-3
2. Blake Corum (Sr., Michigan, 5-7, 205)
The former four-star recruit became a two-time All-American (unanimous his junior season) and team captain for the Wolverines. Corum makes up for his smaller frame with excellent footwork, and his low center of gravity makes him hard to target directly. He’s been highly productive for the National Champions (58 career rushing touchdowns) and has natural hands as a receiver. He isn’t going to outrun everybody, but his vision, patience, toughness and decision-making balance the scales. Projected: Rounds 2-3
3. Trey Benson (Jr., Florida St., 6-0, 216)
This former three-star recruit transferred from Oregon after two seasons (and a major knee injury). Benson is a chiseled, relentless runner with track speed, but he’s a work-in-progress on ing downs. Although, his big-play ability is omnipresent. He scored three touchdowns of 80-plus yards (in three different ways) for the Seminoles. Benson had just two seasons of collegiate wear and tear, and he only hit the 20-carry mark in one game. Projected: Rounds 2-3
4. Jaylen Wright (Jr., Tennessee, 5-10, 210)
Wright didn’t start a single game for the Volunteers his sophomore season, but led the team in rushing nonetheless with 875 yards and 10 TDs. He did it again as a full-time starter his junior season, gaining more yards (1,013) despite fewer carries, leading all FBS running backs in yards per carry (7.4). Wright is an explosive back with good size and breakaway speed, a quarter of his runs went for 10-plus yards (tops in the FBS). Mastering -protection and securing the football will determine whether he reaches his full potential in the pros. Projected: Rounds 2-3
5. Braelon Allen (Jr., Wisconsin, 6-1, 235)
A wrestler since the age of four and national champion on the mat as a freshman in high school, this former four-star recruit at linebacker switched to running back because of depth issues for the Badgers. Allen is super-sized, but features an impressive burst and hitting him high is just a waste of time. Almost 70 percent of his yardage came after last season. He’s also one of the better -protectors available in this draft at the position. Ball security is an issue (nine fumbles in three season), he doesn’t have much experience as a receiver and his feel for open space is inconsistent, but he’ll only be 20 years old for the entirety of his rookie season so there’s still plenty of time to develop. Allen is the youngest player in this draft class. Projected: Rounds 3-4
6. MarShawn Lloyd (Jr., USC, 5-8, 220)
Lloyd was the No. 5 running back in the 2020 recruiting class and spent three seasons at South Carolina before transferring to the west coast. He features enough shake-and-bake to torment open-field tacklers and is a creative playmaker with the ball in his hands. Lloyd was one of only five FBS running backs to average more than 7.0 yards per carry last season. There’s untapped potential as a -catcher, but he’s unproven in -protection. There are also ball-security issues and durability concerns. Lloyd tore his ACL in 2020 and also missed time during his sophomore and junior seasons. Projected: Rounds 3-4
7. Audric Estime (Jr., Notre Dame, 5-11, 222)
Estime wins with power, agility and balance. He has an average burst through the line of scrimmage, and ran poorly at the combine, but he has enough speed to threaten explosive gains at the second and third level. Estime ranked third in the FBS with 14 carries of 20-plus yards last season. He doesn’t have a lot of experience as a receiver, but he utilizes his size and bulk well in protection. Estime led the Irish in rushing as a sophomore and junior (6.2 yards per carry) and set the single-season school record with 18 rushing TDs last season. Projected: Rounds 3-4
8. Ray Davis (Sr., Kentucky, 5-8, 211)
Davis was the first college football player to ever rush for 1,000-plus yards at three different FBS programs (Temple, Vanderbilt, Kentucky). He should give a TED Talk on his performance against Florida last season, where he ran for 280 yards and four total TDs. There are bigger and faster running backs than Davis, but his vision, one-cut ability and shiftiness in space makes him a solid prospect for the middle rounds of this draft. He turns 25 in November. Projected: Rounds 4-5
9. Will Shipley (Jr., Clemson, 5-11, 206)
The former five-star recruit was also a standout lacrosse player in high school, who won the indoor state championship in the 55-meter dash the only year he ran track. Shipley is a versatile running back with talent as a runner, receiver and kick returner. The two-time All-ACC honoree is the only player in the conference with 2,700-plus rushing yards the last three seasons. Shipley was banged-up throughout college, but he consistently played through injuries. Projected: Round 4
10. Isaiah Davis (Sr., South Dakota St., 6-0, 218)
Davis is a power back with nimble feet. The senior team captain led the FCS in rushing last season (1,578) and was instrumental in the Jackrabbits’ back-to-back national championships. Half of Davis’ 24 career 100-yard rushing performances came in the playoffs. He doesn’t appear to get tired towards the end of games or as a season progresses. Davis missed eight games as a sophomore with a left shoulder injury. Projected: Rounds 6-7
BONUS: Bucky Irving (Jr., Oregon, 5-9, 192)
A former four-star recruit who wanted more playing time, Irving transferred from Minnesota after one season. He’s shifty and punches above his weight-class. Irving sured 1,000 yards rushing in each of his two seasons in Eugene and led all FBS running backs in receptions (56) last season. He also protects the football (one fumble on 570 offensive touches). Irving showed a concerning lack of explosiveness at the combine considering his size, but his floor is probably as a complementary back who can make an impact as a third-down specialist. Projected: Rounds 4-5
BONUS: Isaac Guerendo (Sr., Louisville, 6-0, 221)
The former three-star recruit at wide receiver was an accomplished track athlete in high school, winning a state championship as a senior in Indiana in the 100 meters (10.51 seconds). Guerendo spent five seasons at Wisconsin before transferring to Louisville. He’s an impressive blend of size, agility and toughness, but he only started a single game in college, rushing for 161 yards and three TDs against USC in the Holiday Bowl last season. Guerendo is one of just two 220-plus-pound prospects in the last two decades to run a 4.33-second or better 40-yard dash at the combine, ing DK Metcalf. He missed 23 games combined due to multiple hamstring and foot injuries during his time in Madison. Projected: Rounds 4-5
BONUS: Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Jr., Purdue, 5-11, 209)
The former three-star recruit at running back played wide receiver at Iowa for four seasons and was a team captain in 2021 before transferring to West Lafayette. Tracy switched back to running back as a super senior, leading the Big Ten in rushing yards per carry (6.3) and scoring nine total TDs, including a 98-yard kick return. His versatility, elusiveness and natural instincts with the ball in his hands are enticing, but overall production was lacking in college, and he will turn 25 in November. Projected: Rounds 4-7
BONUS: Rasheen Ali (Sr., Marshall, 5-11, 206)
Ali hits homers with his patience, explosiveness and agility. He was first in the FBS with seven plays of 50-plus yards (six rushes, one reception) last season. However, his durability is a question mark. Ali ruptured his left bicep at the Senior Bowl, which sidelined him for most of the draft process, and he missed the first 10 games of his junior season after suffering an MCL injury. His touchdown production (40 total during his two healthy seasons) and third-down ability should earn him an opportunity at the next level. Projected: Rounds 5-7
BONUS: Cody Schrader (Sr., Missouri, 5-8, 202)
The zero-star recruit spent four seasons at Division II Truman State — leading the NCAA in rushing yards with 2,074 in 2021 — before walking on at Missouri, where he went from seventh on the depth chart when he arrived to leading the SEC in rushing (1,627 yards) last season. Schrader lacks explosiveness, but he balances the ledger with elite vision and fearlessness, plus he’s a capable -protector with three-down ability. Schrader will turn 25 in September. Projected: Rounds 6-7
BONUS: Dylan Laube (Sr., New Hampshire, 5-9, 206)
Laube is a versatile small-school prospect with impressive production (7,197 all-purpose yards in his collegiate career). He’s a capable -catcher with the ability to run a variety of routes out of the backfield or from the slot, and he’s scored four career TDs as kick and punt returner. Almost all of Laube’s production came against FCS competition. Projected: Rounds 6-7
BONUS: Kendall Milton (Sr., Georgia, 6-1, 225)
Milton was the No. 7 running back in the 2020 recruiting class. Everything screams traditional workhorse, but Milton was rarely asked to handle a workhorse load for the talent-rich powerhouse program. He produced nine rushing TDs and 7.9 yards per carry his final five games for the Bulldogs. He’s a bruiser with a nose for the end zone, but he’s an unproven receiver (only 13 career targets). Milton battled numerous injuries (knee, shoulder and groin) during his time in Athens. Projected: Round 7-PFA
BONUS: Kimani Vidal (Sr., Troy, 5-7, 213)
Vidal is a workhorse, and his production improved every season at Troy, including a school-record 1,661 rushing yards his senior season, which was second in the FBS. He doesn’t feature much burst or elusiveness, but he’s a load to bring down. He was also second in the FBS with 94 forced missed tackles last season. There’s a lot of mileage on the these tires (almost 800 career carries). Projected: Round 7-PFA
BONUS: Blake Watson (Sr., Memphis, 5-9, 200)
The Old Dominion transfer is undersized, but the former wide receiver features reliable hands (only four drops out of 105 targets the last two seasons). He led the Tigers in rushing (1,152 yards) last season, but his receiving acumen is what will give him a shot in the pros. He and Bucky Irving were the only two FBS running backs with 50-plus receptions last season. Watson turns 25 in October. Projected: Round 7-PFA
BONUS: Jawhar Jordan (Sr., Louisville, 5-9, 193)
The Syracuse transfer lacks size, but runs with good vision and great processing. He’ll compete for third-down reps and is a talented kick returner. Jordan set a school-record for career kick-return average (28.5) and had two TD returns for 100 and 98 yards at Louisville. He required a had a knee procedure after the 2023 season, which sidelined him for the Senior Bowl. Jordan turns 25 in August. Projected: Round 7-PFA
BONUS: Miyan Williams (Jr., Ohio St., 5-8, 229)
Williams stepped into a featured role in a pinch and averaged 6.4 yards per carry while leading the Buckeyes in rushing (825 yards) and scoring 14 TDs his sophomore season, but he battled several injuries over his college career, including a season-ending knee injury last season. Projected: Round 7-PFA
BONUS: Keilan Robinson (Sr., Texas, 5-8, 191)
This former four-star recruit followed coach Steve Sarkisian from Alabama to Austin. Robinson ended up stuck behind multiple NFL backs (Bijan Robinson, Roschon Johnson and Jonathon Brooks) and spent more time on special teams than offense. He’s undersized, but he features dynamic speed and he’s good at what he does, which is eluding tacklers in space and creating opportunities as a receiver out of the backfield and kick returner (he had a 95-yard TD last season). Projected: PFA
BONUS: Frank Gore Jr. (Jr., Southern Miss, 5-7, 198)
The former three-star recruit is compact, but he’s his father’s son. Meaning Gore uses his natural leverage, toughness and vision to consistently fall foward, gaining whatever yards are available to him. He’s not a top-tier athlete, but he can handle work on all three downs and he was highly productive in his four seasons with the Golden Eagles. Gore was just the third player in school history to sur 4,000 career rushing yards. Gore’s father, Frank Sr., ranks third all-time in the NFL in career rushing attempts (3,735) and rushing yards (16,000). Projected: PFA
BONUS: Michael Wiley (Sr., Arizona, 5-10, 210)
Wiley was a senior captain and three-year starter for the Wildcats. He had good size, quickness and has a nose for the end zone, scoring every 16.3 touches. He finished with 28 career TDs (16 rushing and 12 receiving). Wiley set school-records for receptions (123) and receiving yards (1,150) by a running back and is a weapon in the screen game. Durability could be what keeps him from landing on a roster. Wiley dealt with several injuries through his time in school, including an ankle sprain, an injured oblique, a hamstring injury and a back injury. Projected: PFA
