The Triple Take crew of Dale Lolley, Matt Williamson and Mike Prisuta take a look at the top prospects in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, which will be held in April. Today, they delve into the running back position.
The opinions expressed here are their own and not those of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dale's Take
We might be able to call the 2024 season the year of the running back. A number of big-name running backs changed teams in the offseason, including the Eagles adding Saquon Barkley and the Ravens signing Derrick Henry.
There were others who also changed teams with success, as NFL teams made the most of free agency because the NFL Draft wasn't deep with running backs.
This year, however, things look a little different. In fact, ESPN's Mel Kiper is on record as saying he has more than 30 running backs with draftable grades available this year.
Boise State's Ashton Jenty leads the way, but is hardly the only high-quality runner available. And they come in all shapes and sizes.
Dale's Rankings
1. Ashton Jenty, Boise State, 5-8 1/2, 211 lbs. - An elite talent at the college level, Jenty quite literally carried Boise State into the college playoffs. He's an explosive, high-volume runner. Some might be scared away by his heavy workload, but Jenty was injury-free in college. He's tough and physical with breakaway ability.
2. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State, 5-10 1/8, 202 lbs. - Teams looking for the next Jamhyr Gibbs might look to Henderson earlier than we might think in this draft. He's a home-run hitter with good hands. While Henderson isn't the biggest back, he's outstanding in pass protection, a key ingredient to early playing time.
3. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina, 5-11 3/4, 221 lbs. - Hampton has good speed and runs with an aggressive nature. He runs extremely hard, sometimes to his own detriment. He could slow things down a bit to pick his holes better, but he has enough speed to outrun defenders and barrel over those he doesn't.
4. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State, 5-11 5/8, 221 lbs. - A hard-nosed runner who catches the ball well out of the backfield, Judkins has the power to run inside and the patience to get outside on zone runs. The sub-4.5 40 speed he showed off at the NFL Scouting Combine doesn't hurt, either.
5. Cam Skattebo, Arizona State, 5-9 1/2, 219 lbs. - For a player without home-run speed, Skattebo breaks off a lot of long runs because of his excellent contact balance. He's impossible to get on the ground. But that running style also leads to Skattebo taking a lot of punishment. He's very good in the passing game, as well.
Sleeper: Damien Martinez, Miami (Fla.), 5-11 5/8, 217 lbs – Martinez was the Pac-12 Offensive Rookie of the Year at Oregon State and a 1,000-yard season as a true sophomore before transferring to Miami, where he posted another 1,000-yard season. With his size, he's the bruising runner you'd expect. But he also averaged more than 6 yards per carry in each of his three college seasons, has good contact balance and is a solid pass protector. He looks NFL ready to be the thunder portion of an NFL committee, with the potential to be an every-down back.
Matt's Take
This is a truly exceptional running back class and could be the strongest position group in this entire draft class. This group of running backs has a true superstar at the top of the list, plenty of projectable starters at the next level, great depth all through the entire draft, and a very wide variety of players at this position. The 2025 running back group has someone for everyone, but as the draft goes along, it might also provide excellent value on the third day of the draft. In fact, don't be surprised if several undrafted players at this position go on to have very successful NFL careers.
Matt's Rankings
1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, 5-8 1/2, 211 lbs. - Jeanty is a rare and elite running back prospect-two terms that get thrown around way too much when evaluating draft prospects. There is a case that this is the best player in the 2025 NFL Draft. He's the total package with gaudy production, particularly after first contact.* 2. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina,* 5-11 3/4, 221 lbs. - Hampton is a big back with great bit play abilities as both a runner and receiver who runs away from defenders in the open field. This is a very physical downhill runner that delivers an awful lot of contact. His pass protection skills could use more work and Hampton isn't the shiftiest guy in this class, but he projects as a feature back at the next level.
3. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State, 5-10 1/8, 202 lbs. - Henderson was fantastic in the college playoffs this season and is a big play waiting to happen every time he touches the football. While he probably doesn't project to a high-carry workhorse role in the league, Henderson will give his new team an immediate jolt. Henderson has good size for a back with his dynamism while also excelling in pass protection.
4. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa, 6-1, 224 lbs. - Johnson is coming off a big season for the Hawkeyes. He is extremely well built but can run a little bit high at times. Johnson has very good vision and patience and is best suited for a predominantly zone scheme. He is somewhat of a linear athlete, but Johnson has very good long speed for a back his size.
5. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State, 5-11 5/8, 221 lbs. - Judkins and Henderson made for an outstanding one two punch in the National Champions backfield this season with their complementary styles. Judkins is much more of a banger than Henderson with great aggression but isn't in Henderson's realm in terms of breakaway speed.
Sleeper: Jordan James, Oregon, 5-9 1/2, 205 lbs. - Oregon is a major college football program so it isn't like their top running back is a true sleeper that would fall through the cracks. But James backed up Bucky Irving (who went on to have an exceptional rookie season) a year ago, making James just a one-year starter and therefore, doesn't have as many carries at the college level as many of these prospects. James has excellent vision and contact balance but is somewhat limited thus far as a receiver. James has a low center of gravity and runs with aggression without compromising big play ability. He is best in a gap scheme, but also shows excellent potential as a zone runner.
Mike's Take
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah's expectation is the upcoming NFL Draft will include a "Day 2 bonanza" of selections at running back.
And for teams that perceive themselves to be a running back away, it may not be necessary to wait.
"Once you have the building blocks in place, Detroit's the great example," Jeremiah said during coverage of the NFL Scouting Combine, recalling the Lions' bold stroke at 12th overall in 2023. "You didn't take Jahmyr Gibbs too high at that position, he's ready to come in and have an impact.
"You're seeing investment in the free-agency side but you're now gonna see it with draft capital, as well."
Running backs may, indeed, be back in style.
High-impact free-agent additions last season such as Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, to name two, may have reminded teams what the right back in the right place at the right time is capable of in terms of inflicting damage.
Barkley's 60-yard touchdown run on the first offensive snap in the Eagles' postseason blowout of the Commanders was cited by NFL Network analyst Charles Davis as one such example.
"These types of plays, they're like bolts of lightning and they go throughout teams and I'm glad we're starting to get the running back back in the game."
More are most definitely on the way.
This year's class is deep and talented, and it's the fastest bunch of running backs in the 40-yard dash (4.48) since position group averages were first tracked at a Combine in 2003.
There's tape and production and measurables aplenty.
It might come down to personal preference in terms of how they're stacked from team to team.
Even at the top in the wake of the performance North Carolina's Omarion Hampton put on at the Combine, one that may have significantly narrowed the perceived gap between Boise State's Ashton Jeanty and everyone else at the position.
"Everyone's assuming that Jeanty's going to be the first one," the NFL Network's Peter Schrager said. "But I've been around this draft, I saw Edgerrin James (fourth overall in 1999) go before Ricky Williams (fifth overall in 1999). We've seen Jahmyr Gibbs go just (about) as high as Bijan Robinson (eighth overall in 2023)
"I wonder if Hampton helped his stock enough, for now, to debate who's the first running back off the board."
Mike's Rankings
1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (5-8 1/2, 211 lbs.) - His 2024 numbers were absurd (374 carries, 2,601 rushing yards, a 7.0 average and 29 touchdowns) but the way Jeanty went about collecting them was just as impressive. On one run in particular, Jeanty broke six tackles on what became a 10-yard gain against Penn State in the College Football Playoff. When he wasn't doing that type of stuff, he was hitting home runs.
2. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina (5-11 3/4, 221 lbs.) - Hampton is one of three backs in this Top 5 list that tips the scales at over 220 pounds. He's rushed for 15 touchdowns in each of the last two seasons and gained a combined 3,164 yards on the ground. And his attention-getting performance in Indianapolis included a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash.
3. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa (6-1, 224 lbs.) - Johnson checks in ahead of both members of Ohio State's dynamic duo on this list, it part because it had to be harder to run for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Hawkeyes, who were otherwise offensively challenged, than it was to put up numbers for the Buckeyes, who parlayed their array of offensive riches into a national championship.
4. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State (5-11 5/8, 221 lbs.) - Judkins is the bigger Buckeye. But his 121 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on 13 touches, including a 70-yard run, in National Championship Game against Notre Dame emphasized how explosive Judkins can become.
5. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (5-10 1/8, 202 lbs.) - Henderson is a complete package, albeit a little bit of a smaller one than his OSU teammate. One of Henderson's most significant contributions against the Irish for all the marbles was a blitz pick-up on the deep ball that helped seal the deal.
Sleeper: Woody Marks, USC (5-101/8, 207 lbs.) - Marks lacks the size and speed available throughout the class, but he caught 83 passes in 2021 at Mississippi State, where he was once described by his former coach Mike Leach as "tougher than boot leather." Marks registered 261 career receptions in four years at Mississippi State and one at USC, many of the highlight-reel variety. He also rushed for 1,133 yards last season at USC. He might prove to be a late-round keeper as a third-down/complementary back.
