At the end of the month, NFL teams will select college football stars to join their rosters, hoping that who they pick can evolve into the next face of the franchise. As the big day nears, teams will look ever so closely at their draft boards and decide which players would be the optimum fit for the vision that they have for their respective teams. When it comes to the running back position, it could be considered one of the more deeper ones in this entire draft.
While there are plenty of running backs that could end up being impact players, there are certainly a few that are more likely to be more highly touted than others, given the performances that they put together in 2024. Let’s take a look at the top three ranked running backs ahead of the draft.
Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
In 2024, Jeanty put together one of the most dominant seasons for a running back in college football history. While helping Boise State go 12-2 on the season, en route to winning the Mountain West and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff, Jeanty carried the ball 374 times for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns.
He led Division I in carries and rushing yards. His strong season helped him be a Heisman Finalist, where he came in as the runner-up to Travis Hunter. Expected to be the first running back taken, and a possible top-10 pick, teams that have been linked to Jeanty include the Raiders, Cowboys, and Bears.
Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Arizona State took the college football world by storm last season, and a major reason for that was because of Skattebo’s play. Initially expected to finish near the bottom of the Big 12, the Sun Devils instead not only won the conference, their first conference title since 2007, and went 10-2 in the regular season, but they also earned a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time.
For the season, Skattebo carried the ball 293 times for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns, while also catching 45 passes for 605 yards and 3 touchdowns. While some may not view Skattebo as a first-round pick, it is hard to deny how talented he is and for a running back needy team, taking a chance on Skattebo could pay off.
Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
Ohio State was able to claim the national title game for a variety of reasons, but one of the more glaring reasons for their success could be attributed to their running game. Forming a dynamic duo with TreVeyon Henderson, Judkins was known for his physicality when finding run lanes. Henderson recorded over 1,000 yards but so did Judkins, who led the Buckeyes with 1,060 yards while scoring 14 rushing touchdowns.
In the national title game against Notre Dame, he had 121 yards from scrimmage and found the end zone three times. This further exemplified just how explosive Ohio State’s run game was throughout the season. Judkins could be a fit for any team that needs a running back, and wherever he ends up, expect him to be in the mix for a day one starting job.
Final Thoughts
The running back class in this year’s draft could very well end up being one of the strongest in recent history. The three players on this list are just the tip of the iceberg, with many other players such as Omarion Hampton, Henderson, and others worthy of being the top running back taken. But after what Jeanty, Judkins, and Skattebo showed for their respective programs last season, it is hard to deny that they are the headliners of that position group.
