Not only was the running back position shut out of the first round in April, but also the 2024 NFL Draft marked only the second time in draft history that no backs were taken among the first 45 picks.

However, I feel confident that multiple running backs will be drafted within the top 45 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft. Based on early scouting, running back should be one of the stronger positions among the early rounds of the upcoming draft and could include several first-round-caliber prospects.

(Note: An asterisk represents a draft-eligible underclassman. Heights and weights are what NFL teams currently have on file for each player, with  “v” representing verified measurements and “e” for estimates.)

What he does best: Escapes tackle attempts

If football were two-hand touch, Jeanty wouldn’t be No. 1 on this list. What separates him is how difficult it is for defenders to finish him to the ground. And Jeanty does it in different ways. Built low to the ground, he is short, but not small, with natural balance and body strength to keep his feet through contact. The burst in his movements, laterally and downhill, jumps off the screen and leaves defenders in awkward positions.

Last season, Jeanty averaged an FBS-best 4.52 yards after contact, and this play versus San Diego State illustrates how hard it is to tackle him. What should be a 4-yard loss, Jeanty somehow turns into a first down using burst, power and balance in harmony.

Must improve: Resume against top opponents

Jeanty needs to improve his ball security (five fumbles in 2023) and pass blocking, but above all, scouts want to see him show out versus the top opponents on Boise State’s schedule. Though Jeanty did a nice job against Washington and UCLA last season, most of his highlights came against lesser defenses in the Mountain West. Boise State’s big showdown this season is a trip to Eugene on Sept. 7 to face an Oregon run defense that ranked top 10 nationally last season.

2024 season/2025 NFL Draft outlook

After a promising freshman campaign, Jeanty announced himself as one of the nation’s top runners last season as a sophomore. Despite battling a midseason injury, he rushed for 1,347 yards on 220 carries (6.1 average) and 14 touchdowns. With his natural receiving skills, Jeanty also was outstanding catching the ball out of the backfield, posting 43 receptions for 569 yards (13.2 average) and zero drops. In the new age of name, image and likeness, numerous schools pursued Jeanty, who had an FBS-best 1,916 yards from scrimmage in 2023, but the star runner mentioned his “legacy” and “love” for Boise State as reasons to stay for what presumably will be his final college season.

I have watched tape on almost 1,000 draft-eligible prospects so far this summer, but I can comfortably say Jeanty has been one of my favorites because of the frequent magic acts he pulls with the football in his hands. The man hates to be tackled, and it is fun to watch all the different ways he can stymie pursuit and get the most out of his skills. Factor in his impressive receiving skills, and Jeanty has separated himself as my RB1 entering the 2024 season.

What he does best: Juiced-up legs

Elroy Hirsch might not be a household name, but the Hall of Fame receiver was one of the NFL’s best players in the ’40s and ’50s and earned the nickname “Crazylegs” because of his unique running style. Although Gordon plays a different position, in a different era, that moniker immediately came to mind when studying his film. A taller back with long, springy legs, Gordon has outstanding cut-and-accelerate skills to string together moves and confound pursuit angles.

Most taller backs find it tough to navigate short areas and prefer space where they can stretch out their longer legs — but not Gordon. Along with his breakaway speed in the open field, he also has unique stride control with burst in his steps to pick his way through each level of the defense.

Must improve: Pad-level finish at contact

Given the life in his lower body, Gordon is always looking to sidestep or spin through contact. And though that often works, other times he is out-leveraged by tacklers and doesn’t have north-south momentum to square up. It won’t be as easy to give pursuit the slip in the NFL, and scouts would like to see more consistent pad level and forward drive from Gordon this upcoming season.

Gordon was also in the news this summer for the wrong reasons. He was arrested June 30 on suspicion of DUI after he was pulled over and found to have open bottles of tequila and vodka in his car. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said during Big 12 media days that Gordon would not be suspended for the incident but would face internal punishment.

2024 season/2025 NFL Draft outlook

As a true sophomore last season, Gordon (who signed with Oklahoma State over offers from Michigan, Texas and others) emerged as one of the best backs in the country. He finished 2023 with an FBS-best 1,732 rushing yards and was one of only two players to reach 20-plus rushing touchdowns. With Oklahoma State returning all five starters on the offensive line, Gordon should be the favorite for the FBS rushing crown again in 2024.

Oklahoma State has a rich history at running back, but it hasn’t produced a top-40 pick at the position since Barry Sanders 35 years ago. Gordon has a chance to change that in April. The Fort Worth, Texas, native lacks refinement in a few areas, but he is a wild horse with the ball in his hands and has the tools to be a dynamic pro.

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3. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina (5-11 3/4v, 219v)

What he does best: Determined balance and speed

Surpassing 1,000 yards rushing in a season is a benchmark goal among running backs. Hampton was able to reach that number after contact alone last season, ranking No. 1 in the nation with 1,072 yards after catch. Built like a tank, the North Carolina native attacks the line of scrimmage with speed, power and the determined balance to bounce off contact.

The play below was shown repeatedly during this past draft process because it showcases former Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins’ 4.2 speed, which allowed him to chase down the play and create a turnover. Though the result wasn’t positive for the Tar Heels, the first 90 percent of this play is an example of what makes Hampton dangerous as a runner. Not only does he barrel through the tackle attempt of Barrett Carter (No. 0), whom some NFL scouts believe will be a first-round draft pick, but he also shows off acceleration to eliminate the pursuit angle of the safety and race within an inch of the goal line.

Must improve: Change-of-direction skills

Using his vision, Hampton follows his blocks well with the lateral footwork for quick lane-change decisions at the line of scrimmage. However, he often has to collect himself for sharp turns, lacking the fluidity in his hips for sudden cuts. Although that is not easily correctable, Hampton can do a better job compensating for the tightness in his directional changes.

2024 season/2025 NFL Draft outlook

In September, North Carolina eked out a double-overtime win against Appalachian State — Hampton’s breakout performance (234 rushing yards, three touchdowns). He finished the 2023 season with an ACC-best 1,504 rushing yards and joined Gordon as the only FBS players to surpass 1,500 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns last year.

Studying Hampton serves as a reminder of just how gifted Drake Maye is at quarterback, but Hampton was also a major factor last season in the Tar Heels’ averaging 35 points per game. Although Maye is now in the NFL, Hampton will have a chance to compete for RB1 status in the 2025 NFL Draft. He is one of the better pass-protecting backs in college football, which will appeal to NFL teams.

What he does best: Reactionary reads

Aside from his run anger and athleticism, Judkins has a unique ability to stay on his feet because of his body balance to absorb contact and his quick eyes to react to the pursuit geometry. Although his sophomore stats weren’t as eye-popping as his freshman numbers, Judkins still finished top-five in the country last season in forced missed tackles (78) and led the SEC with 75.2 percent of his rushing yardage coming after contact (up from 59.3 percent in 2022).

Good backs can attack defenses on designed runs. Great backs make reactionary reads to adjust on the fly when pursuit shuts down the intended path.

Must improve: Third-down consistency

Most college backs are below average in pass protection, so it is important to have realistic expectations when scouting the position. Considering his size and ability, however, I had higher hopes for Judkins as a blocker. Based on last year’s tape, he had a few bright moments in pass pro, but he’s very green and struggles to stay square to rushers due to mistimed hand strikes and confused footwork. Judkins didn’t see a lot of targets as a pass catcher last season, but he was adequate catching the football as a screen/dump-off option.

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2024 season/2025 NFL Draft outlook

Just a three-star recruit out of high school, Judkins made an immediate splash as a freshman at Ole Miss with 1,567 rushing yards (falling just short of Herschel Walker’s SEC freshman record). He rushed for 1,158 yards last season as a sophomore, although his yards per carry dropped from 5.7 to 4.3. This offseason, he entered the transfer portal and signed with Ohio State, joining TreVeyon Henderson to form the best running back duo in college football in 2024.

I don’t think Judkins will blow anyone away with his athletic testing, but he has a natural feel for the position and runs with patience, balance and quickness through the hole. Though he needs to show continued development as a blocker and receiver, he doesn’t fumble the football and competes with necessary finishing toughness. Judkins starts the season as a projected Day 2 draft pick.

What he does best: Open-field run skills

Henderson is a home-run threat any time he gets the ball with any type of space. He can stack cuts on cuts on cuts (usually to the outside) without stopping his feet before smashing the accelerator to outrace pursuit to pay dirt.

After posting a 61-yard touchdown run against Notre Dame, Henderson broke off this 75-yard scamper against Minnesota.

Must improve: Patience on inside runs

Henderson is built low to the ground and can grind through contact with low pad level. But he also tends to make too much contact inside and isn’t as effective working through tight spaces. Instead, Henderson eagerly looks to bounce runs outside, where he can get out in space, instead of committing himself inside. His fit in Ohio State play caller Chip Kelly’s scheme, specifically same-side inside zone, will be studied closely by evaluators.

2024 season/2025 NFL Draft outlook

The top-ranked running back in the 2021 recruiting class, Henderson looked like a future first-round pick as a freshman (6.8 yards per carry in 2021). He missed time the past two seasons due to injury, but the Buckeyes offense was noticeably more dangerous when he was back on the field.

Numerous Ohio State projected top-100 draft picks bypassed the 2024 NFL Draft for one more season in Columbus. Because of the nature of his position, Henderson was the most surprising of the group. His production likely will take a hit in 2024 as he shares the offensive workload with Judkins, but the backfield timeshare should help Henderson stay healthy for his senior year in Columbus.

Preseason top 30 senior RBs

(Note: Heights and weights for senior RBs listed below are NFL verified.) 

1. Henderson
2. Kyle Monangai, Rutgers (5-9, 210)
3. Donovan Edwards, Michigan (5-11, 210)
4. Phil Mafah, Clemson (6-0, 3/8, 233)
5. Montrell Johnson Jr., Florida (5-11 1/4, 219)
6. Devin Neal, Kansas (5-11 5/8, 220)
7. Jo’Quavious Marks, USC (5-10, 208)
8. RJ Harvey, UCF (5-8 1/8, 204)
9. Ulysses Bentley IV, Ole Miss (5-9 1/2, 195)
10. Nathan Carter, Michigan State (5-9 3/8, 198)
11. Raheim Sanders, South Carolina (6-0 1/2, 241)
12. Josh Williams, LSU (5-7 7/8, 199)
13. Jarquez Hunter, Auburn (5-9 3/8, 209)
14. Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech (5-8 3/4, 208)
15. Noah Whittington, Oregon (5-8, 201)
16. Jaquez Moore, Duke (5-9, 201)
17. Jalen White, Georgia Southern (5-11 1/2, 217)
18. Roydell Williams, Florida State (5-9, 215)
19. Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech (5-9 1/4, 231)
20. Chip Trayanum, Kentucky (5-10 7/8, 223)
21. Nate Noel, Missouri (5-10, 184)
22. Logan Diggs, Ole Miss (6-0, 211)
23. Peny Boone, UCF (5-11 5/8, 235)
24. Antario Brown, Northern Illinois (5-9 3/4, 221)
25. Corey Kiner, Cincinnati (5-8 1/2, 212)
26. Marcus Carroll, Missouri (5-8 5/8, 212)
27. Marion Lukes, Central Michigan (5-9 1/8, 194)
28. Marcus Yarns, Delaware (5-10 1/4, 185)
29. Ja’Quinden Jackson, Arkansas (6-1 7/8, 234)
30. Isaiah Jacobs, UAB (5-9 1/4, 211)

Donovan Edwards takes over as Michigan’s lead back after running behind Blake Corum. (Rick Osentoski / USA Today)

Preseason top 10 draft-eligible underclassmen

(Note: All measurements for underclassman RBs listed below are estimates.) 

1. Jeanty
2. Gordon
3. Hampton
4. Judkins
5. Damien Martinez, Miami (Fla.) (6-0, 240)
6. Jaydn Ott, California (5-11, 210)
7. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State (6-0, 225)
8. DJ Giddens, Kansas State (6-0, 215)
9. Kaytron Allen, Penn State (5-11, 225)
10. Trevor Etienne, Georgia (5-9, 205)

(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photo of Ashton Jeanty: Ian Maule / Getty Images)