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Monday, April 21, 2025

2025 NFL Draft - Running Backs

 

A much better top of the draft, along with a varied and robust tier right after. I’m not as high as the consensus a few of that 2nd tier but they should all have a role they can fulfill it just matters on how you value the position. I also came to the realization that I might be a little too tough on running backs as I do think this is one of the stronger groups since 2017 and I don’t feel like I ended that high once grading was done. Time will tell, so without further ado…

 

Previously Posted Positions - QB

 

Player (Class (as listed by the college)) | Team (Conference) | Height, Weight |

Touches (Adj. Yards per Att | Adj. Yards per Target)

40 | 10 | Shuttle | 3-Cone | Vert | Broad | Production | Role (Gr)

 

Ashston Jeanty (Jr) | Boise State (MWC) | 5’ 8 1/8”, 211 lbs. | 397 (8.38 | 4.25)

N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 14.99 | S (7.6)


Omarion Hampton (Jr) | North Carolina (ACC) | 5’ 11 3/4”, 221 lbs. | 319 (6.89 | 6.75)

4.46 | 1.53 | 4.40 | N/a | 38 in. | 130 in. | 11.91 | S (7.2)

We start with the two players most mocked in the first round… Jeanty is a fantastic all around back, he’s explosive both in the short area and long speed, he presses the hole well to set up defenders and blocks, he catches the ball well, and most importantly has fantastic contact balance, always seems to finish moving forward, and rarely goes down on first contact (1970 yards after contact). I won’t ever completely agree with taking a running back as early as he’s going to go but he’s the type of back where I understand the why. Hampton is bigger both physically and weight-wise but has impressive long speed for 221, has quick feet and does well to get skinny and minimize contact area when working in-line, with the burst to exploit small holes. Showed good hands and the ability to make guys miss in the open field.

 

Dylan Sampson (Jr) | Tennessee (B1G) | 5’ 8 1/8”, 201 lbs. | 278 (7.35 | 4.47)

4.46 | 1.58 | N/a | N/a | 35 in. | 124 in. | 10.46 | ES (6.5)

Quinshon Judkins (Jr) | Ohio State (B1G) | 5’ 11 5/8”, 221 lbs. | 216 (6.79 | 5.70)

4.37 | 1.52 | N/a | N/a | 38.5 in. | 132 in. | 8.72 | ES (6.5)

Jordan James (Jr) | Oregon (B1G) | 5’ 9 1/2”, 205 lbs. | 242 (6.70 | 5.05)

4.51 | 1.56 | N/a | N/a | 32 in. | 117 in. | 9.05 | ES (6.4)

Kaleb Johnson (Jr) | Iowa (B1G) | 6’ 1”, 224 lbs. | 262 (8.01 | 6.47)

4.56 | 1.57 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 11.57 | ES (6.3)

TreVeyon Henderson (Sr) | Ohio State (B1G) | 5’ 10 1/8”, 202 lbs. | 171 (8.33 | 7.05)

4.37 | 1.51 | N/a | N/a | 38.5 in. | 128 in. | 9.32 | ES (6.3)

 

 

Bhayshul Tuten (Sr) | Virginia Tech (ACC) | 5’ 6 1/4”, 206 lbs. | 206 (7.84 | 3.23)

4.28 | 1.43 | 4.15 | N/a | 40.5 in. | 130 in. | 8.69 | ES (6.2)

Tahj Brooks (6th) | Texas Tech (BXII) | 5’ 9 1/4”, 214 lbs. | 314 (6.36 | 4.85)

4.52 | 1.56 | 4.06 | 6.90 | 35 in. | 120 in. | 10.28 | ES (6.1)

Cam Skattebo (Sr) | Arizona State (BXII) | 5’ 9 1/2”, 216 lbs. | 338 (7.16 | 9.21)

4.66 | 1.58 | N/a | N/a | 39.5 in. | 123 in. | 13.89 | ES (6.1)

The rest of the running backs fall into a very similar range in the expected starters, they all have their strengths but weaknesses that made me hesitant to elevate them closer to my top two backs. Sampson is a bit of a smaller back but while he popped off the screen with his burst he wasn’t shy about contact, runs violently, and does well to set up his blocks and decisively hit holes well running between the tackles. Judkins was the Ohio State guy I thought was better suited to a larger workload, and at 221 lbs his 40 was a pleasant surprise and that athleticism shows up when you watch him. All that’s to say I’m worried about him trying to get to the corner too often, instead of planting and taking the modest gains the defense gives him including a number of times on 3rd down when a couple of yards would have moved the chains. The size and speed is intriguing and worth the risk but some tendencies need to be worked on. James doesn’t have that size/speed combo but he does show good urgency to press advantages, good short area balance and quickness and enough speed to break solid chunk plays but with some limitations on his long speed. Johnson was extremely productive at Iowa this season and he’s a great example of a zone RB, and while he’s fantastic at that it certainly limits the teams that will be able to maximize his talents at the next level. Henderson is a fascinating study in me remembering that this is about football all around and not fantasy football. Henderson is a wonderful combination of size and  he was productive in both aspects and a joy to watch but Ohio State clearly didn’t think he could handle a large workload as they brough in Judkins to pair with him, and his biggest rush total of the year was 11, and 14 targets+rushes, while averaging 9 & 10.7 rushes and touches respectively. I think his ceiling is probably Jahmyr Gibbs’ usage in Detroit, but even assuming he can get to 80% of Gibbs he’d have to up his usage from his 4th year in Columbus and he’d have to hit 10.6 carries a game, 2.8 targets or 13.4 rushes+targets a game. Making my biggest concern being him out producing his senior year on a nationally championship team. I liked Tuten more than I thought I would as I wasn’t completely familiar with him and knew he tested well. You see the burst on tape in short and long areas and although he looks a bit stiff at times, but he does a good job getting downhill and playing with power and explosiveness. Brooks was a fun watch at Texas Tech as you absolutely see the wiggle those agility drills promise, he runs hard and is always gaining extra ground as he moves and plays well in space in both the run and pass game. Lastly, is Skattebo watching him reminded me of David Montgomery. The 40-time is absolutely worrisome, it just limits his upside and his ability hit home run runs but he’s constantly gaining yards, his 10-yard split is well within the acceptable range, he was great out of the backfield in the passing game and he has great feet and feel for space and making guys miss. To be hones his biggest concern for me is his unwillingness to minimize the hits he takes. It’s incredibly fun to watch and gets the blood pumping but I just wish he would, at times, understand that bouncing or making people miss is just as effective a tool as pummeling a defender into the ground.

 

The Rest

Player

Cl

Tm

Ht

Wt

Tou

AY/R

AY/T

Prod

40

10

SS

3C

VJ

BJ

Role

Gr

Damien Martinez

Jr

MiFL

72

232

176

7.46

7.56

8.85

4.51

1.58

4.49

7.16

35

124

PS

6.0

Trevor Etienne

Jr

UGA

68.75

198

154

6.35

3.80

6.27

4.37

1.5

4.34

7.2

35

124

PS

6.0

RJ Harvey

5th

UCF

68

205

252

8.54

10.15

13.22

4.37

1.5

4.34

x

38

127

PS

6.0

Jarquez Hunter

Sr

AUB

69.375

204

208

7.21

5.28

8.79

4.44

1.51

4.47

x

33.5

120

PS

5.8

Devin Neal

Sr

KAN

71.125

213

243

7.13

7.19

10.30

4.58

1.63

4.53

r

37.5

124

PS

5.5

DJ Giddens

Jr

KSU

72.25

212

226

7.18

8.40

10.31

4.43

1.49

4.33

7.19

39.5

130

PS

5.3

Woody Marks

USC

70.125

207

245

6.56

4.28

8.69

4.45

1.5

4.24

x

35

119

PS

5.2

Amar Johnson

Sr

SDSU

69.75

205

223

7.67

5.26

9.64

4.39

1.51

4.28

7.07

33.5

124

PS

5.2

Ollie Gordon II

Jr

OKSt

73.375

226

219

5.89

4.31

7.42

4.61

1.62

r

r

34.5

120

PS

5.1

Mario Anderson Jr

Sr

MEM

68

202

288

7.17

4.46

10.51

4.58

1.58

4.28

7.29

35.5

120

PS

5.1

Kyle Monangai

Sr

RUTG

68.25

211

270

5.93

4.29

8.54

4.56

1.56

4.4

x

34.5

117

PS

5.1

Sone Ntoh

Grad

Monm

71

220

112

8.69

6.46

7.60

4.5

1.51

4.4

7.31

38.5

121

PS

5.0

Jarod Epperson

Sr

Augus

70.75

202

201

7.11

6.34

8.85

4.46

1.52

4.12

6.84

39.5

121

PS

5.0

Elijah Young

Sr

WKU

69.25

197

248

4.67

5.63

7.18

4.41

1.51

4.25

7.14

34

131

PS

5.0

Nate Carter

RSJr

MSU

69.25

200

134

5.09

7.30

5.76

4.4

1.58

4.2

7.15

40

128

PS

5.0

Quinton Cooley

Sr

LIB

67.5

209

206

7.28

4.50

8.56

4.71

1.5

4.42

7.34

32.5

r

PS

4.9

Rushawn Baker

Sr

ELON

70.875

218

191

5.60

3.69

6.36

4.52

1.52

4.51

7.07

38.5

120

PS

4.9

Keyon Mozee

Sr

MiOH

66.875

180

179

6.58

1.00

6.20

4.52

1.51

4.1

6.82

34.5

126

PS

4.8

Christian Grubb

Sr

PORT

69.25

194

21

6.62

3.00

-

4.5

1.58

4.25

6.94

42

129

PS

4.8

Shane Watts

Sr

FtHS

68.5

191

264

6.92

8.10

10.99

4.5

1.56

4.19

7.37

39

122

PS

4.7

Josh Williams

Grad

LSU

68.375

196

148

5.06

5.37

5.52

4.53

1.57

4.26

7.03

42

122

PS

4.6

Jordan Waters

Grad

NCSU

72

221

110

5.72

7.76

5.78

4.57

1.48

4.33

7.06

33.5

120

PS

4.5

Montrell Johnson Jr

Sr

UF

71.375

212

113

7.03

3.05

5.67

4.41

1.53

4.29

x

35.5

123

PS

4.5

Brashard Smith

Sr

SMU

69.875

194

274

6.76

6.52

10.48

4.39

1.54

4.28

r

32.5

117

PS

4.4

Donovan Edwards

Sr

MICH

71.375

205

146

5.18

3.53

5.08

4.37

1.51

x

x

38.5

x

PS

4.3

Marion Lukes

Sr

CMU

69.375

205

177

5.47

7.17

6.99

4.64

1.55

4.4

7.14

35.5

121

PS

4.3

LeQuint Allen

Jr

SYR

72.125

204

292

5.77

5.86

9.46

x

x

x

x

x

x

PS

4.3

Sidiki Kone

Sr

AmIn

71.75

215

139

6.06

2.96

5.49

4.54

1.57

4.3

7.11

37.5

122

PS

4.3

Marcus Yarns

Grad

DELA

70.875

193

150

7.18

14.57

9.77

4.45

1.54

c

c

37.2

122

PS

4.2

Raheim Sanders

Sr

SoCa

72

217

210

5.92

8.25

8.55

4.43

1.57

4.49

7.39

36.5

120

PS

4.2

Corey Kiner

Sr

CIN

68.625

209

220

6.01

4.44

7.61

4.57

1.62

4.44

r

r

r

PS

4.2

Aaron Young

Sr

ODU

69.5

202

181

6.01

5.07

6.95

4.65

1.58

4.41

6.97

35

125

PS

4.2

Jaydon Blue

Jr

UT

69

196

176

6.55

7.22

7.94

4.38

1.58

r

r

29.5

123

PS

4.2

Nay'Quan Wright

Grad

USF

68.75

193

131

6.03

4.26

5.63

4.41

1.55

4.27

6.92

33

113

PS

4.2

DeCarlos Brooks

RSSr

ASU

69.375

209

38

4.50

3.50

2.75

4.64

1.58

4.47

7.22

40

130

PS

4.2

Myles Bailey

Sr

CMU

68.75

227

62

6.81

3.44

4.42

4.8

1.56

4.47

7.37

28.5

111

PS

4.1

Antario Brown

Sr

NIU

70.125

214

123

5.57

17.18

8.28

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

PS

4.1

Gerald Green

Sr

TROY

68

198

120

5.41

10.95

6.56

r

r

r

r

34.5

125

PS

4.1

Anthony Tyus III

Grad

OHIO

72.875

220

253

5.83

7.02

9.08

4.59

1.58

4.44

7.23

33.5

125

PS

4.1

Ty Son Lawton

RSSr+

IND

68.875

208

153

6.30

6.53

6.95

4.55

1.53

4.58

7.69

38

117

PS

4.1

Deion Hankins

RSSr

TXSt

70.625

222

62

4.98

0.00

2.77

4.53

1.56

4.48

7.48

35.5

122

PS

4.1

Jordan Houston

RSSr

MARS

69.125

195

124

5.66

9.16

6.41

4.65

1.51

4.3

7.01

32.5

122

B

4.0

Kelley Joiner

Grad

USF

67.5

192

129

8.43

6.89

8.05

4.56

1.59

4.56

7.17

34

122

B

4.0

Phil Mafah

Sr

CLEM

72.625

234

237

5.84

3.12

7.33

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

INJ

B

4.0

Kalel Mullings

Grad

MICH

73.625

226

191

6.32

3.50

6.97

x

x

x

x

x

x

B

4.0

Juju McDowell

Sr

SoCa

67.25

182

24

4.14

11.10

-

4.5

1.46

4.23

7.08

37

116

B

3.9

Nick Ostmo

RSSr

MONT

71.375

223

144

6.65

5.10

6.63

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.9

Ta'Ron Keith

Sr

USF

70

195

91

7.26

7.48

6.24

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.9

Nate Noel

Grad

MIZZ

67.875

194

178

5.36

1.83

5.33

4.55

1.59

4.38

7.21

r

r

B

3.9

Michel Dukes

Grad

GASt

69.625

205

106

6.38

5.97

5.72

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.8

Hinckley Ropati

RSSr

BYU

68.75

220

73

5.56

11.91

5.60

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.8

Brandon Thomas

RSSr

MEM

70

210

63

8.78

3.00

5.46

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.8

Justice Ellison

Sr+

IND

69.25

210

159

6.49

0.00

5.44

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.8

Delbert Mimms III

Sr

EMU

70.625

219

203

5.28

5.48

6.86

4.75

1.61

4.37

7.13

30

112

B

3.8

Jamal Johnson

Sr

BGSU

69.75

200

57

7.94

5.11

5.21

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.8

Kobe Pace

Grad

UVA

70

215

135

4.86

5.73

5.20

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.8

Jaison Patterson

Sr

BGSU

71.625

220

111

5.23

6.54

5.17

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.8

Marcus Major

1

MINN

71.625

213

98

5.22

5.10

4.57

4.61

1.57

4.45

7.08

37.5

120

B

3.8

Braedon Sloan

Sr

BALL

71

207

179

4.47

7.57

6.27

4.53

1.58

4.31

7.19

33.5

116

B

3.8

Ja'Quinden Jackson

RSSr

ARK

73.5

236

162

7.15

6.62

7.92

4.76

1.64

4.48

x

33.5

120

B

3.8

Jam Griffin

RSSr

ORSt

69.125

208

78

7.17

3.25

4.97

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.8

Kye Robichaux

Sr

BC

71.375

209

184

5.30

4.52

6.20

4.64

1.55

4.44

7.33

39

122

B

3.8

Treshaun Ward

Grad

BC

69

191

92

5.75

14.38

6.78

4.62

1.57

4.2

6.95

29.5

119

B

3.8

Tre Stewart

Sr

JVST

69.375

192

296

7.55

8.73

12.93

4.5

1.64

4.45

7.33

33

114

B

3.8

Quali Conley

Sr

ARI

70.5

197

150

5.95

0.00

4.83

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.7

Kylin James

Sr

UNLV

71.125

226

90

8.37

0.50

5.44

4.45

1.61

4.76

7.7

36

119

B

3.7

Michael Benefield

RSSr

KENN

67

205

143

4.59

1.88

4.13

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.7

Patrick Garwo III

6th

NEV

69

212

66

6.15

2.67

3.99

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.7

Daniyel Ngata

Sr

WASH

68.125

198

4

2.25

0.00

-

4.7

1.59

4.22

7.11

34

117

B

3.6

Micah Bernard

Sr

UTAH

69.875

199

227

5.50

3.93

7.05

4.58

1.66

4.37

7.39

38.5

126

B

3.6

Kevin Davis

Sr

MiOH

67.5

164

79

8.09

5.93

6.09

4.41

1.58

4.2

6.82

37.5

125

B

3.6

Tyler Purdy

RSSr

JMU

71

208

42

5.49

4.40

3.46

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.6

Chez Mellusi

6th

WIS

70.75

212

62

5.13

1.70

3.16

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.6

Johnny Richardson

5th

UCF

66.625

175

38

4.76

5.25

3.16

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.6

Peny Boone

RSSr

UCF

71.625

226

35

7.20

4.50

-

4.7

1.62

4.36

6.93

30

110

B

3.5

Andrew Henry

RSSr

UNM

69.8

198

0

-

0.00

-

4.57

1.51

4.3

7.5

37.5

125

B

3.5

Lee Witherspoon

RSSr

UAB

71

225

39

4.74

2.00

2.64

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.5

Jalen White

5th

GASo

72

205

183

6.03

2.16

6.13

4.6

1.56

4.44

7.14

36

122

B

3.5

Dylan Downing

Sr

MiOH

71.25

228

50

3.87

2.40

2.43

u

u

u

u

u

u

B

3.5

Avery Morrow

Grad

CSU

71.625

202

200

6.37

4.08

7.40

4.55

1.56

4.39

7.28

34.5

117

B

3.4

Ahmani Marshall

Sr+

APP

73.125

225

160

5.65

3.94

5.85

4.6

1.59

4.51

7.43

32

120

B

3.4

Keegan Jones

RSSr

UCLA

68.25

181

66

4.20

7.34

3.77

4.51

1.64

4.33

6.87

36.5

124

B

3.4

Jaylon Jackson

Sr

IASt

66.25

180

100

4.57

5.48

4.26

4.57

1.57

4.39

7.1

31

111

B

3.3

Rahmir Johnson

Sr

NEB

69.625

201

75

5.17

6.01

4.26

4.55

1.67

4.28

7.22

32

115

B

3.2

Rahjai Harris

Grad

ECU

69.5

207

221

6.64

3.79

8.05

4.77

1.62

4.51

7.35

28

115

B

3.2

Kay'ron Lynch-Adams

6th

MSU

69.25

205

148

5.16

3.54

5.11

4.61

1.61

4.55

7.43

32

113

B

3.2

Ulysses Bentley IV

Sr

MISS

69.875

201

97

6.08

4.71

5.03

4.62

1.62

4.38

7.32

32.5

117

B

3.2

Darwin Barlow

Grad

UNC

71.375

223

12

6.89

6.20

-

4.58

1.6

4.54

7.39

30.5

110

B

3.1

Lexington Joseph

Grad

FIU

68.125

214

92

4.43

2.56

3.40

4.77

1.65

4.58

7.34

30

103

B

3.1

Jacquez Stuart

Sr

TOL

68

182

84

4.50

7.20

4.27

4.53

1.59

4.48

7.31

35.5

125

B

3.1

Zak Wallace

RSSr

ARSt

71.375

219

168

6.00

4.36

6.44

4.68

1.61

4.7

7.38

28.5

117

B

3.1

Demie Sumo-Karngbaye

RSSr

UK

70.875

207

149

5.26

4.81

5.55

4.75

1.62

4.35

7.2

29

118

UDFA

3.0

Reggie Love III

Sr

PUR

70

209

90

4.93

1.91

3.54

4.77

1.63

4.53

7.28

35

116

UDFA

3.0

Demarcus Jones II

RSSr

NCSU

69.5

214

7

8.57

7.00

-

4.87

1.6

4.51

7.22

31

109

UDFA

2.9

Billy Lucas

Sr

LIB

70.375

207

128

6.60

6.38

6.52

4.89

1.65

r

r

30.5

118

UDFA

2.9

Marcus Carroll

Sr

MIZZ

68.75

213

149

5.83

4.71

5.98

4.81

1.64

4.76

7.65

32.5

110

UDFA

2.8

Gavin Williams

RSSr

NIU

71.125

216

164

5.92

3.98

6.17

4.81

1.66

4.55

7.28

32

111

UDFA

2.8

Rodrigues "Dreke" Clark

Grad

SoMi

70.375

208

137

5.02

2.43

4.51

4.7

1.65

4.59

7.51

34.5

113

UDFA

2.6

Marquez Cooper

Sr

SDSU

66.25

193

312

5.12

5.49

8.91

4.97

1.71

4.58

7.34

28

104

UDFA

2.6

Lawrance Toafili

RSSr

FSU

71.875

194

134

4.69

5.38

4.96

4.68

1.63

4.47

7.01

36

120

UDFA

2.4

Zahir Abdus-Salaam

Sr

WMU

68.25

195

144

5.80

5.50

6.06

4.82

1.7

4.57

7.25

32

110

UDFA

2.4

B.J. Harris

Sr

CMU

69

191

102

5.20

5.17

4.65

4.72

1.59

4.65

7.31

29.5

109

UDFA

2.2

Henry Parrish Jr

Sr

MISS

70.25

182

145

6.63

3.42

6.19

4.69

1.65

4.39

r

29.5

114

UDFA

2.2

Anthony Adkins

RSSr

UCLA

74.5

259

0

-

0.00

-

4.91

1.83

4.56

7.81

32

110

UDFA

2.1

Anthony Watkins

6th

TULS

69.875

197

100

5.47

7.68

5.35

5.22

1.51

4.47

7.48

31

119

UDFA

2.1

Ethan Payne

Sr

MARS

72.375

222

73

6.95

1.92

4.46

4.87

1.63

4.68

7.51

30

107

UDFA

2.1

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