Will Ashton Jeanty Be The Best Running Back In This Draft?
The running back position in college football has come a long way since last season.
In 2024, there were 19 running backs selected in the Draft. Of those 19 halfbacks, only two finished with over 450 rushing yards in their first NFL season.
Much more is anticipated with the 2025 Draft Class ahead of Thursday's first round, with multiple names being discussed as potential first-round options.
From the Heisman runner-up, to two National Champions, and even the younger brother of an NFL running back, the 2025 NFL Draft could be one of the deepest drafts for the skill position in some time.
Ahead of decision day, which running back has a chance to be the best professional amid the group?
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty enters the Draft as the presumed top option at running back after a historic season for the Broncos.
Jeanty finished the 2024 season with 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns in 14 games, which is the second-most in NCAA history, behind Barry Sanders.
With a Mountain West-leading 374 touches on the season, Jeanty averaged 7.0 yards per attempt, and was the primary reason for Boise State making the inaugural College Football playoff, after being expanded to twelve teams.
While the initial knock on Jeanty would be the quality of opponent Boise State played in 2024, Jeanty rose to the occasion in their two ranked opponents.
In Week 2 of the season, the Broncos lost by just three points to Oregon, with Jeanty posting a statline of 25 attempts, 192 yards and three touchdowns.
After winning the Conference Championship, Boise State had a date with Penn State in the first round of the playoff, where Jeanty still compiled over 100 yards despite the game script forcing the ball out of their running back's hands.
At 5'9' and 211 lbs, Jeanty has the frame of an NFL running back, and possesses the patience and tackle-breaking abilities of a team's top option, making him the clear decision to go first amongst the position group. The only question is if Jeanty is so sought after that a team will sacrifice a first-round pick on him.
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 27: Omarion Hampton #28 of the North Carolina Tar Heels scores ... More against Lovie Jenkins #1 of the Florida A&M Rattlers during the fourth quarter of their game at Kenan Memorial Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 56-24. (Photo by)
Omarion Hampton found his way on the top of NFL Mock rankings after back-to-back seasons surpassing 1,500 rushing yards for North Carolina.
In fact, Hampton finished third in college football in 2024 with 1,660 rushing yards, alongside 15 rushing touchdowns and 373 receiving yards.
While North Carolina may not have an extensive track record of developing NFL running backs, with Michael Carter and Giovanni Bernard being the only two alumni currently on an active roster, Hampton features the athleticism of a player coaches will love. Especially if Hampton falls on day three of the Draft.
Standing 6'0' and 220 lbs, with the ability to run a 4.46 second 40-yard dash, it is easy to envision Hampton in an NFL backfield soon.
New England Patriot fans may be able to envision Hampton in their backfield, potentially rejoining his former quarterback Drake Maye.
Whether it is the Patriots or another team in need of a running back in the middle rounds of the draft, Hampton is an NFL-ready prospect who had the third-most rushing yards after contact in college football.
While he may not have as many eye-popping collegiate numbers as some of the running backs behind him, Hampton has one of the highest floors of the backfield options in this year's draft, making him a safe choice in the third or fourth round.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 01: Cam Skattebo #4 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts after throwing ... More a pass for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Texas Longhorns in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by)
One running back that could have an argument to be selected before Hampton is Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo.
Skattebo entered the National limelight as the Sun Devils made a last minute push to the College Football Playoff, winning the conference by going on a 6-0 run to end the regular season.
In that stretch, Skattebo compiled 720 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 223 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns to earn a date with Texas in the first round.
In that first round thriller that took two overtimes to determine a winner, Skattebo ran for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground, while reeling in eight catches and 99 yards in the backfield.
The two-way threat trailed just Jeanty for the most scrimmage yards in college football with 2,316. For a player that takes a healthy dosage of both rushing attempts and targets, Skattebo is the first player since Christian McCaffrey in 2015 to record over 1,500 rushing and 500 receiving yards.
At 5'10', 219 lbs, the task of tackling the physical running back will continue to be a challenge at the NFL level. The question remains if his speed can translate to be an effective running back in space.
However, with the abilities to transition to either a fullback or to be utilized as a third-down back and put in a spread offense, the flexibility alone may be worth a selection in this year's draft.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 10: TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball ... More in the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by)
If it were not for TreVeyon Henderson sharing a backfield with another 2025 Draft Prospect, Henderson may have more of an argument for being the top running back available.
Henderson finished his collegiate career by hoisting the National Championship for the Ohio State Buckeyes after starting as a true freshman.
In his freshman season, Henderson led the Big Ten in yards per attempt with 6.8 on 183 total attempts.
After two seasons that Henderson failed to produce at as efficient of a level as he did in 2021, he returned to Ohio State for his senior year.
In 16 games, Henderson returned to the top of the Big Ten in terms of yards per attempt with 7.1, which was also eighth-best in the FBS.
The 5'10', 202 lb athlete has years of experience in Ryan Day's pro-style offense, with relatively low mileage for a running back that played in 47 collegiate games (590 career carries).
The only issue that may hurt Henderson's case to rise in the draft is the fact that he was never the 'bellcow' running back that the rest of these top options were for their respective programs.
In a single season, Henderson has never surpassed 1,250 rushing yards, barely surpassing 1,000 in his senior year.
Plus, with the embarrassment of riches seen in Ohio State, especially on the offensive line, teams may be hesitant to commit to Henderson as the RB1.
Instead, it may be best for Henderson's career to join an NFL team in contention, where he can grow in prominence in a 'running back by committee' offense.
For teams that do not need the running back they draft to be the top option by Week One, but are instead looking for a potential day-three steal, there will be a multitude of options still available.
Whether teams are interested in Henderson's partner in the backfield at Ohio State, Quinshon Judkins, whose athletic abilities jumped off the screen at the NFL Combine.
The 6'1', 224 lbs frame of Iowa's Kaleb Johnson may have gotten himself drafted, even if he did not rush for 1,537 yards and 21 scores in 2024.
Or, for any teams that were unable to select Travis Etienne in the past, Trevor Etienne from Georgia has the potential to be a player worth taking a flyer on.
However the 2025 NFL Draft unfolds, more teams than not will be taking a look into the loaded running back class for this year. Only time will tell which team was able to find the standout, or if the standout was the student athlete who nearly broke a 30-year record.
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