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Friday, April 21, 2023

2023 NFL Draft - Position Rankings - Running Backs

 Running back has a couple wonderful options, and a lot of intriguing but flawed backs that can certainly fill roles. Much like receivers to come there is a peculiar abundance of undersized backs. Headlined by a very good prospect in Bijan Robinson there’s a choose your own adventure flair to this year’s class.

 

Player | Team (Conference) | Height, Weight

Touches | Adjusted Yards per Rush | Adjusted Yards per Target | Production

40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Split | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | Vertical | Broad Jump | Role (Grade)

Explainer – Player, Team, Height, Weight are exactly what you’d think. Conference will be the conference for FBS teams and FCS/DII/DIII/NAIA outside of that. Adjusted Yards per Rush (AY/R) & Adjusted Yards per Target (AY/T) is yards per rush/target where rushing TDs adds 18.4 yards and receiving TDs19.3 yards. It allows us to make adjustments to the typical stats and get a fuller picture than yards per attempt provides. Production is just my attempt at creating one number that generally sums up a player’s production on the field. As for testing times 40-yard dash (40) denotes long (breakaway) speed, 10-yard split (10) helps to explain acceleration and burst, Short Shuttle (SS) is a change of direction drill, 3-Cone (3C) speaks to ability to cut and accelerate out of breaks, and the Vertical (VJ) & Broad Jump (BJ) help quantify explosiveness. Role & Grade go hand in hand, and there are 5 roles:

Starter (S) - 8.0 – 7.1 – Someone who I think has the ability to make an impact early, or who I think has the ability to be a long-term starter.

Expected Starter (ES) – 7.0 – 6.1 – Someone I expect to be a starter and long-term option but who has some concerns.

Potential Starter (PS) – 6 – 4.1 – Flawed prospect, and where most fall, varied levels of, oof that could sink his career.

Backup (B) – 4 – 3.1 – Potential to make the fringes of a roster, or at least expanded squads, much work to do

UDFA (UDFA) – 3 – 2.1 – The bottom level both in athleticism and production.


Top 15 Running Backs


Bijan Robinson | Texas (BXII) | 5’11”, 215 lbs

277 | 7.41 AY/R | 11.75 AY/T | 8.89

40: 4.46 | 10: 1.54 | SS: x.xx | 3C: x.xx | Vert: 37 in | BJ: 124 in | S (7.4)

Jahmyr Gibbs | Alabama (SEC) | 5’9 1/8”, 199 lbs

195 | 6.99 AY/R | 7.17 AY/T | 5.96

40: 4.36 | 10: 1.51 | SS: x.xx | 3C: x.xx | Vert: 33.5 in | BJ: x in | S (7.1)

Robinson is really good but some of the upside comps for this man are a bit ridiculous. He’s very good and maybe just a step off elite. That said he’s well rounded in both phases of the game, with good balance and vision. Gibbs is explosive, he had an up and down year for an up and down offense but when watching him the thing you notice is his ability to get north-south and destroy intermediate pursuit angles.

 

Zach Charbonnet | UCLA (P12) | 6’0 3/8”, 222 lbs

232 | 8.29 AY/R | 5.44 AY/T | 7.10

40: 4.53 | 10: 1.53 | SS: 4.46 | 3C: 7.16 | Vert: 37 in | BJ: 122 in | ES (6.8)

Charbonnet is one of my favorites in this draft (outside of having him RB3), he’s not a blazer but much like Gibbs he gets up to speed quickly, he’s a bigger back, and has fantastic feet, balance, and body control


Israel Abanikanda | Pitt (ACC) | 5’10 1/8”, 216 lbs

251 | 7.53 AY/R | 8.70 AY/T | 7.69

40: 4.45 | 10: 1.50 | SS: 4.32 | 3C: 7.14 | Vert: 41 in | BJ: 128 in | ES (6.6)

Zach Evans | Ole Miss (SEC) | 5’11 1/8”, 208 lbs

156 | 7.65 AY/R | 7.28 AY/T | 5.69

40: 4.51 | 10: 1.57 | SS: 4.25 | 3C: 6.89 | Vert: 33.5 in | BJ: 121 in | ES (6.2)

I put these two together because they’re very similar backs. They’re both one cut, north-south players with fantastic power and burst. Abanikanda tested slightly worse but I thought he showed better wiggle than Evans on the field.


Chase Brown | Illinois (B1G) | 5’9 5/8”, 209 lbs

355 | 5.57 AY/R | 6.93 AY/T | 7.30

40: 4.43 | 10: 1.50 | SS: x.xx | 3C: x.xx | Vert: 40 in | BJ: 127 in | ES (6.1)

Kendre Miller | TCU (BXII) | 5’11 1/8”, 215 lbs

240 | 7.64 AY/R | 4.64 AY/T | 6.59

40: INJ | 10: INJ | SS: INJ | 3C: INJ | Vert: INJ | BJ: INJ | ES (6.1)

Tyjae Spears | Tulane (AAC) | 5’9 5/8”, 201 lbs

251 | 8.43 AY/R | 8.42 AY/T | 8.29

40: 4.54 | 10: 1.57 | SS: 4.32 | 3C: 7.27 | Vert: 39 in | BJ: 125 in | PS (6.0)

Brown and Miller were pleasant surprises during the process, while Spears was a bit of a letdown considering the regard he’s held in by the draft community. Brown popped against Michigan showing burst, wiggle, and balance. He does need to get better at patience and pressing the hole in zone but he’s got tremendous skills. Miller is one of the bigger backs in the draft, unfortunately he wasn’t able to tes but he showed good pop and acceleration, and patience when pressing the hole and making decisions. Spears lacked a little something for me, but for a back that’s barely pushing 200 lbs he was always finishing forward, he showed off adequate speed, but the ability to shake defenders in the hole and the open field.

 

Devon Achane | Texas A&M (SEC) | 5’8 1/2", 188 lbs

232 | 6.37 AY/R | 4.45 AY/T | 5.53

40: 4.32 | 10: 1.49 | SS: 4.36 | 3C: 7.05 | Vert: 33 in | BJ: 111 in | PS (5.8)

Sean Tucker | Syracuse (ACC) | 5’10”, 205 lbs

242 | 6.13 AY/R | 5.13 AY/T | 5.65

40: INJ | 10: INJ | SS: INJ | 3C: INJ | Vert: INJ | BJ: INJ | PS (5.8)

Deuce Vaughn | Kansas State (BXII) | 5’5”, 179 lbs

335 | 5.88 AY/R | 6.51 AY/T | 7.17

40: 4.56 | 10: 1.59 | SS: 4.22 | 3C: 7.10 | Vert: 35.5 in | BJ: 116 in | PS (5.8)

DeWayne McBride | UAB (CUSA) | 5’10 3/8”, 215 lbs

235 | 8.85 AY/R | 3.33 AY/T | 7.06

40: INJ | 10: INJ | SS: INJ | 3C: INJ | Vert: INJ | BJ: INJ | PS (5.7)

Evan Hull | Northwestern (B1G) | 5’10 1/8”, 209 lbs

276 | 4.55 AY/R | 6.64 AY/T | 5.30

40: 4.47 | 10: 1.53 | SS: 4.22 | 3C: 6.90 | Vert: 37 in | BJ: 123 in | PS (5.6)

Deneric Prince | Tulsa (AAC) | 5’11 3/4", 216 lbs

135 | 6.52 AY/R | 7.38 AY/T | 4.73

40: 4.41 | 10: 1.53 | SS: 4.33 | 3C: 6.97 | Vert: 35.5 in | BJ: 124 in | PS (5.5)

Roschon Johnson | Texas (BXII) | 6’0 3/8”, 225 lbs

107 | 6.95 AY/R | 6.70 AY/T | 4.37

40: 4.58 | 10: 1.54 | SS: x.xx | 3C: x.xx | Vert: 31.5 in | BJ: 122 in | S (5.5)

Quick hits for RBs  9-15…

Achane, small back, less twitchy than but more stout than expected. Tucker, had a better 2021 than ’22 due to injury, good athleticism bit down on power. Vaughn, tiny but not fragile had 293 carries and 42 catches, didn’t miss a game and has same BMI as Robinson and Charbonnet; Sproles-esque. McBride, throwback power back, did very little in the pass game, but has great body control. Hull, very athletic, wonderful testing, see and hit it style back. Prince, just shy of 6 ft, athletic and fast, show flashes of power and patience but another back with next to no production in the pass game. Johnson, stuck behind Bijan but he has enough speed but not a lot, solid back and a fav or draft twitter but I was left a bit wanting.

 

The Rest

Player

Tm

Conf

Ht

Wt

Prod

40

10

SS

3C

VJ

BJ

Role

Gr

Jaleel McLaughlin

YSU

FCS

67.75

187

6.45

4.46

1.60

4.30

7.43

31.0

115

PS

5.3

Keaton Mitchell

ECU

AAC

67.875

186

5.50

4.37

1.50

4.36

7.40

38.0

126

PS

5.3

Tavion Thomas

UTAH

PAC

72.375

237

3.95

4.74

1.57

4.69

x

31.5

118

PS

5.2

Eric Gray

OKLA

BXII

69.5

205

6.41

4.62

1.55

4.10

7.17

37.5

118

PS

5.1

Xazavian Valladay

ASU

PAC

71.25

204

6.21

4.46

1.56

4.32

7.00

40.0

123

PS

5.1

Khalan Laborn

MARS

CUSA

68.625

204

6.47

4.52

1.56

4.40

7.08

38.5

125

PS

5.1

Mohamed Ibrahim

MINN

B1G

67.75

203

6.89

x

x

x

x

x

x

PS

5.0

Travis Dye

USC

PAC

70

210

5.41

4.82

1.71

INJ

INJ

27.0

107

PS

4.9

Lew Nichols III

CMU

MAC

69.75

222

3.47

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

PS

4.9

Isaiah Bowser

UCF

AAC

71.875

217

5.53

4.61

1.59

4.28

6.99

35.5

119

PS

4.8

Brad Roberts

AFA

MWC

70.875

210

6.75

4.63

1.65

4.48

7.31

36.0

120

PS

4.6

Jordan Mims

FRES

MWC

70.5

206

6.34

4.66

1.65

4.50

7.50

30.0

113

PS

4.3

Wayne Taulapapa

WASH

PAC

69.875

205

5.75

4.69

1.58

4.19

6.84

34.0

120

PS

4.8

Aidan Borguet

HARV

FCS

68.25

205

4.91

4.58

1.52

4.37

7.29

36.0

117

PS

4.6

Emari Demercado

TCU

BXII

69.375

213

4.14

4.44

1.58

4.15

7.00

32.0

119

PS

4.6

Christopher Brooks

BYU

IND

72.75

219

4.92

4.63

1.62

4.35

7.13

37.0

122

PS

4.4

Deonta McMahon

MCNE

FCS

67.625

185

5.46

-

-

-

-

-

-

PS

4.4

Tank Bigsby

AUB

SEC

71.625

215

5.09

4.56

1.56

c

c

32.5

119

PS

4.3

Emanuel Wilson

FVSU

DII

70.5

226

3.70

4.57

1.58

4.39

7.23

34.5

120

PS

4.3

Chadarius Townsend

TTU

BXII

70.875

202

-

4.45

1.56

4.47

7.26

36.0

129

PS

4.3

Titus Swen

WYO

MWC

71

206

5.03

-

-

-

-

-

-

PS

4.2

Ronnie Brown

SHEP

DII

70.875

192

4.95

4.44

1.50

4.00

6.89

37.0

123

PS

4.2

Jacob Saylors

ETSU

FCS

71

195

4.85

-

-

-

-

-

-

PS

4.2

Nasir Smith

CCSU

FCS

70

212

4.66

5.00

1.75

4.53

7.59

28.5

113

PS

4.1

Chris Smith

ULL

SBC

68.625

194

3.94

4.49

1.40

4.44

7.20

36.0

118

PS

4.1

Brenden Brady

UTSA

CUSA

71

215

4.62

-

-

-

-

-

-

PS

4.1

Kenny McIntosh

UGA

SEC

72.25

216

5.93

4.62

1.51

4.69

7.69

32.5

113

PS

4.1

Percy Agyei-Obese

JMU

SBC

71.125

214

4.51

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

PS

4.1

Dedrick Parson

HAW

MWC

68

203

4.62

4.68

1.62

4.40

7.08

31.5

108

B

4.0

Toa Taua

NEV

MWC

68.5

204

5.05

4.69

1.63

4.44

7.40

32.5

108

B

4.0

Ronald Awatt

UTEP

CUSA

70.75

205

4.27

4.56

1.58

4.36

7.22

35.0

118

B

4.0

Andrew Clair

NW

B1G

68.75

201

2.30

4.56

1.56

4.31

7.01

42.0

128

B

4.0

Tiyon Evans

LOU

ACC

69.5

225

3.58

4.52

1.55

x

x

30.5

113

B

4.0

Maurice Washington

GRAM

FCS

71.5

168

4.08

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

B

3.9

Alfonzo Graham

MORG

FCS

68

182

4.08

4.57

1.59

4.47

x

30.0

117

B

3.9

Shaun Shivers

IND

B1G

65.125

187

3.67

4.51

1.62

4.45

7.12

31.5

110

B

3.9

Reynaldo Flores

UTEP

CUSA

71.125

203

5.29

4.81

1.69

4.45

7.21

34.0

114

B

3.8

Javon Williams Jr.

SoIL

FCS

72.375

238

2.74

4.81

1.51

4.50

6.87

31.0

126

B

3.8

Camerun Peoples

APP

SBC

73.375

217

3.91

4.61

1.56

4.56

7.57

37.0

121

B

3.7

Ta'Zhawn Henry

HOU

AAC

66

171

3.54

4.54

1.51

4.28

6.64

31.0

116

B

3.7

EJ Burgess

FrPi

DII

70

215

3.60

4.78

1.62

4.44

7.31

33.0

118

B

3.7

Carlos Washington Jr.

SELA

FCS

71.125

220

3.57

-

-

-

-

-

-

B

3.7

DK Billingsley

TROY

SBC

68.375

217

3.75

4.87

1.70

4.51

7.66

30.5

117

B

3.7

Johnnie Lang

ArSt

SBC

68

196

3.56

4.77

1.54

4.40

7.18

36.0

112

B

3.6

SaRodorick Thompson

TTU

BXII

71.5

207

4.08

4.65

1.57

4.64

7.25

32.5

120

B

3.6

T.J. Green

LIB

IND

71

205

2.51

4.49

1.53

4.44

7.00

36.0

120

B

3.5

Alex Fontenot

COLO

P12

72

200

2.99

-

-

-

-

-

-

B

3.5

Darius Bracy

MTSU

CUSA

69.25

214

2.97

-

-

-

-

-

-

B

3.5

Lopini Katoa

BYU

IND

72.25

210

2.87

-

-

-

-

-

-

B

3.5

Sy Alli IV

WHE

DII

73

185

2.85

-

-

-

-

-

-

B

3.5

Vance McShane

UNI

FCS

65.5

188

2.64

4.65

1.61

4.35

7.33

34.0

116

B

3.5

Devonte Lee

NEV

MWC

69

230

2.75

-

-

-

-

-

-

B

3.4

Jarek Broussard

MSU

B1G

68.375

192

3.33

4.66

1.60

4.47

7.32

32.5

117

B

3.4

Uriah West

RICE

CUSA

71.25

240

1.79

4.73

1.58

4.62

7.58

33.5

117

B

3.3

Christian Beal-Smith

SoCa

SEC

69.125

201

2.69

4.64

1.59

4.59

7.10

32.0

117

B

3.2

Chance Bell

SDSU

MWC

70

200

2.21

-

-

-

-

-

-

B

3.2

Jamyest Williams

GaSt

SBC

68

188

3.19

4.73

1.61

4.46

7.51

36.0

115

B

3.2

Jalen Holston

VT

ACC

71

218

2.76

4.72

1.59

4.68

7.23

34.0

111

B

3.2

Braheam Murphy

ARMY

IND

70

182

3.58

4.74

1.69

4.41

7.19

34.5

121

B

3.1

Calvin Camp

CHAR

CUSA

68.25

188

4.23

4.81

1.66

4.63

7.44

33.0

107

B

3.1

Kevin Harris

TxSo

FCS

68.75

178

1.81

4.77

1.71

4.51

7.58

31.5

116

B

3.1

Elijah Barnwell

ME

FCS

70.125

219

2.87

x

x

4.53

7.26

20.0

111

UDFA

3.0

Jordan Byrd

SDSU

MWC

67.125

166

2.92

4.52

1.61

4.47

7.04

34.0

117

UDFA

3.0

La'Darius Jefferson

WMU

MAC

72.875

236

3.19

4.99

1.64

4.52

7.42

27.5

110

UDFA

3.0

Chase Hayden

ILL

B1G

70.5

202

1.72

4.73

1.57

4.43

7.00

33.0

121

UDFA

2.9

RaShawn Allen

DUKE

ACC

67.25

206

0.86

4.67

1.74

4.40

7.33

31.0

117

UDFA

2.9

Lucious Stanley

MiFL

ACC

71.375

214

1.56

4.76

1.60

4.26

7.33

31.5

113

UDFA

2.8

Trelon Smith

UTSA

CUSA

68.625

180

2.72

4.64

1.65

4.47

7.12

29.0

116

UDFA

2.8

Taurean Taylor

TUSK

DII

64.875

187

2.35

4.70

1.62

4.56

8.00

30.0

105

UDFA

2.8

Daetrich Harrington

APP

SBC

71.875

198

3.53

4.65

1.70

4.69

7.82

31.0

120

UDFA

2.8

Alec Sinkfield

BC

ACC

69

193

0.77

-

-

-

-

-

-

UDFA

2.7

Omni Wells

SALA

SBC

68.125

195

2.20

4.79

1.65

4.48

7.80

30.5

112

UDFA

2.6

Devon Perry

MiFL

ACC

72

199

1.80

4.76

1.60

4.26

7.33

31.5

113

UDFA

2.5

Maurice Bellan

ARMY

IND

70

185

2.19

4.80

1.70

4.53

7.57

33.5

107

UDFA

2.1

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