Breaking down the top running backs on the big board
The Appeal’s wire service, Tribune News Service, breaks down by position the top NFL Draft prospects over the next couple days. Today we feature running backs. On Saturday it will be tight ends.
Welcome to draft season. This is the second of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-April 30). Here are my top 10 running backs:
— 1. Breece Hall (Jr.,
Iowa State, 5-foot-11, 217 pounds)
The two-time consensus All-american has the size and skills — Hall is very capable in pass protection — to be a three-down back. He set a FBS record by scoring a rushing touchdown in 24 straight games. His 800 collegiate touches will concern some scouts. Projected: Rounds 1-2
— 2. Kenneth Walker III (Jr., Michigan State, 5-9, 211)
The Walter Camp National Player of the Year and Doak Walker Award winner features legit home run speed, but doesn’t shy away from contact either. He led all of college football with 89 broken tackles this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. Walker will need to develop as a pass protector to maximize his potential. Projected: Rounds 1-2
— 3. Isaiah Spiller (Jr., Texas A&M, 6-0, 217)
Spiller has prototypical size for a workhorse and sure-hands out of the backfield (74 receptions in three seasons). He has excellent vision and showcases solid elusiveness, despite lacking true breakaway speed.
He’s hit-or-miss in pass protection and there is ball security concerns (six fumbles in three seasons). Projected: Rounds 2-3
— 4. Dameon Pierce (Sr., Florida, 5-9, 218)
The powerful runner helped his cause in a major way by showcasing some solid hands out of the backfield and dominating in pass protection during Senior Bowl practices. Pierce contributed 11 career special teams tackles, mostly on kickoff coverage. He received 15-plus touches in a game only twice in 50 career games for the Gators. I envision Pierce becoming a better pro than college player. Projected: Rounds 3-5
— 5. Pierre Strong (Sr., South Dakota State, 5-11, 207)
Strong was a four-year starter and two-time team captain. He’s a big-play threat with 10 career rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards and also went 9 for 9 for 208 yards and six touchdowns as a passer in college. Most of Strong’s production came vs. Fcs-level competition, but he did rush for 138 yards and two scores in 13 carries at Colorado State last September. Projected: Rounds 3-5
— 6. Rachaad White (Sr., Arizona State, 6-0, 214)
White was a no-star recruit, who worked his way from Division
II to junior college to the Pac-12. He has exceptional body control, pass-catching ability
(he’s ran routes from the slot and out wide) and a nose for the end zone — 22 touchdowns in 15 games for the Sun Devils. Projected: Rounds 3-5
— 7. James Cook (Sr., Georgia, 5-11, 199)
Cook lacks ideal size and was a part-time starter for the Bulldogs, but Dalvin’s brother is a modern passcatching back — one drop in 74 career targets — who is a home-run hitter once he gets into the open field. Projected: Rounds 4-7
— 8. Brian Robinson Jr. (Sr., Alabama, 6-1, 225)
Robinson isn’t a bigplay threat (only three of his 545 career carries resulted in a play longer than 25 yards), but he is a physical runner who is an asset in pass protection and is a dependable pass catcher. He’s also a solid contributor on special teams. Projected: Rounds 3-5
— 9. Zamir White (Jr., Georgia, 5-11, 214)
White was the No. 1 running back in the 2018 recruiting class and he’s led the Bulldogs in rushing the past two seasons. He wasn’t really utilized much on passing downs, though, and durability is a concern after he tore both ACLS in 2017 (right) and 2018 (left). Projected: Rounds 2-4
— 10. Abram Smith (Sr., Baylor, 5-11, 213)
After a prolific prep career as a ball carrier, Smith played primarily on special teams and at linebacker over his first four seasons in Waco, before the coaches asked him to return to running back as a senior. He was one of only five FBS players to reach 1,600 rushing yards in 2021. He’s a northsouth runner with plenty of tread left on the tires. Projected: Rounds 3-5
— BONUS. Kyren Williams (So., Notre
Dame, 5-9, 194)
Williams is a tough runner despite his smaller frame and a very good route-runner with good hands. He’s also excellent in pass protection and was voted team captain as a sophomore. Ball security is an issue (eight fumbles the last two seasons) and a disappointing performance at the NFL Combine has muted his draft expectations. Projected: Rounds 4-7
— BONUS. Jerome Ford (Jr., Cincinnati, 5-10, 210)
The Alabama transfer possesses NFL size and athletic ability with soft hands and the speed to create explosive plays as a pass catcher. Ford’s pass protection technique needs work and his ball security is an issue (six fumbles in 316 total touches at Cincinnati). Projected: Rounds 4-7
— BONUS. Hassan Haskins (Jr., Michigan, 6-1, 228)
Haskins will likely end up as the “thunder” in a thunder-and-lightning pairing. He was one of only four FBS running backs with 1,300-plus rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns in 2021. He also didn’t fumble in college (476 total touches). Projected: Rounds 4-7
— BONUS. Tyler Allgeier (Jr., BYU, 5-10, 224)
Allgeier is a decisive, patient runner who has been very productive the past two seasons despite not being very elusive — almost 114 rushing yards per game and 36 touchdowns in his last 24 games. He has average speed, but he’s a reliable screen/check-down option out of the backfield. Projected: Rounds 3-6
— BONUS. Tyler Badie (Sr., Missouri, 5-8, 197)
Badie is undersized, but he’s an all-purpose dynamo who averaged 161.6 yards per game in 2021 (second in FBS). He also produced five 200-yard rushing performances (the most in the SEC since 2000). However, the size limits him in pass protection. Projected: Rounds 5-7