2012 NFL Mock Draft: Ranking the 6 Best Pro Running Back Prospects in the Draft

The 2012 NFL draft features some of the most explosive offensive talent at the running back position in recent memory, with star-studded running backs like Trent Richards and LaMichael James, who lit up the college football world in 2011. 

It takes more than college success and highlight-reel runs, however, to become a legitimate running back in the NFL.  It takes strength, speed, intelligence, field vision, toughness and, most of all, durability to succeed on Sundays, and this draft has a few running backs more than capable of developing into that kind of a player.

Ahead is a ranking of whom I believe are the six best pro prospects in the 2012 NFL draft, and the projected spots of where I think they each should be drafted.

Read on. 

6. Terrance Ganaway, Baylor

Career Rushing Stats: 2,057 yards, 28 touchdowns, 5.3 YPC
Career Receiving Stats: 133 yards, 1 touchdown, 12.7 YPR

I know a lot of people will be upset that Terrance Ganaway made this list over players like Va. Tech's David Wilson, Boise State's Doug Martin and even Ohio State's Dan Herron, but the one thing Ganaway has that those players don't is elite size that you can't teach, at 6'0'' and 240 pounds of solid muscle.  

No matter how you look at it, Ganaway is an absolute beast between the tackles.  Sure, he lacks elite, high-end speed, with a 4.62 unofficial 40-time, but there's no doubting he might be the most physical runner in the entire 2012 NFL draft.

In 2011, his only year featured as the starting running back at Baylor, Ganaway rushed for 1,547 yards and 21 touchdowns with an average of 6.2 yards per carry.  In addition to his season stats, he also put on quite a show in the 2011 Alamo Bowl against the Washington Huskies by rushing for 200 yards and five touchdowns, outperforming fellow 2012 draft hopeful Chris Polk.

I expect Ganaway to increase his draft stock with solid performances in the 2012 Senior Bowl and at the 2012 NFL combine, pushing him into the late fourth to early fifth round area in the draft.  Whichever team pulls the trigger on him will get one of the most physical, down-hill runners in the entire draft.

Draft Projection: Chicago Bears, 142nd Pick (Fifth Round)

Even if the Chicago Bears are able to re-sign Matt Forte, they need to have another running back on the roster that can help carry the load—without fumbling the ball like Marion Barber—and that guy could very well be Terrance Ganaway.  The Bears would be wise to draft Ganaway, especially if they can get him this late, because of his mix of pass-blocking ability and physical style of rushing the ball. 

5. Bernard Pierce, Temple

Career Rushing Stats: 3,570 yards, 53 touchdowns, 5.3 YPC
Career Receiving Stats: 178 yards, 1 touchdown, 11.1 YPR

Aside from Temple fans, Bernard Pierce has been one of the best-kept secrets in all of college football over the span of the last two season.  This past year Pierce rushed for 1,481 yards and 27 touchdowns, leading Temple to its first bowl victory in 32 years, which is more than impressive based on the fact that aside from Pierce, Temple had little to no true talent on the offensive side of the ball.

Sure, Pierce rushed for all of those yards against weaker MAC defenses, but no matter how you look at his production, it's undoubtedly impressive.  What is one of the most attractive features of Bernard Pierce is his physical frame, coming in at 6'1'' and 220 pounds.  Pierce's size and running style mirrors current NFL star Adrian Peterson, and that is something teams will surely see when Pierce laces up his cleats at the 2012 NFL combine.

Pierce isn't projected to go higher than the fourth round, mainly because he played in the MAC and because of a few nagging injuries that slowed him down this past year, but whichever team is willing to take a risk on him will get a tough, athletic and physical runner that knows how to pound the ball between the tackles.

Draft Projection: Pittsburgh Steelers, 119th Pick (Fourth Round)

With the Steelers' starting running back, Rashard Mendenhall, going down with an ACL tear in their regular-season finale, they would be smart to take a chance on Pierce, who absolutely fits their gritty style of rushing attack.  Pierce would also bring some much-needed ball security to Pittsburgh, something Mendenhall hasn't been able to do yet in his NFL career.

4. Lamar Miller, Miami

Career Rushing Stats: 1,918 yards, 15 touchdowns, 5.8 YPC
Career Receiving Stats: 181 yards, 1 touchdown, 6.85 YPR  

I'm not as high on University of Miami running back Lamar Miller as most are, with him being projected above Oregon's LaMichael James and Washington's Chris Polk. Miller only has two seasons under his belt out of Miami, and he did go for an impressive 1,272 yards on the ground, but when he hit the heart of ACC competition (which isn't that great anyway) his production severely declined, which brings about questions surround his ability to produce throughout an entire NFL season. 

Miller very well could be the second running back selected in the 2012 NFL draft, and if he is it will be mainly based on his potential, even though he had a solid season this past year in Miami, being the Hurricane's main offensive weapon.  Miller has great speed, size and field vision, but he lacks an ability to block in the passing game and he runs extremely upright, which leaves him vulnerable to big hits. 

Miller has the potential to be a solid running back in the NFL, with his 5'11'' and 212-pound frame and an elite mix of speed and size, but I think he's entering the NFL draft one year too early, and if a team is looking for a running back to make an instant impact it needs to look elsewhere.

Projected Pick: Kansas City Chiefs, 44th Pick (Second Round)

With uncertainty surrounding how well running back Jamal Charles will recover in 2012 from a torn ACL suffered in the first week of the 2011 season, the Chiefs would be smart to solidify their rushing attack with Miller, which would also take some of the pressure off Charles this upcoming season.

3. Chris Polk, Washington

Career Rushing Stats: 4,049 yards, 26 touchdowns, 5.1 YPC
Career Receiving Stats: 683 yards, 4 touchdowns, 8.6 YPR

Chris Polk has been one of college football's most productive running backs over the past three years, accounting for 1,100-plus yards in each of the past three season at Washington.  What's most impressive about Polk's production, especially in 2011, is the fact that he's produced at such a high level with a subpar offensive line at Washington. Polk has the ability, at 5'11" and 222 pounds, to run between the tackles, yet he is elusive enough to be utilized out in the flat.

The one main thing that is keeping Polk from being a guaranteed first-round selection is the fact that he suffered a season-ending knee injury in his freshman year, and in the fall of 2011 he suffered a knee injury that had to be corrected with arthroscopic surgery.  The questions surround Polk's durability will be enough to keep him out of the first round, but whoever grabs him in the second round will be getting a running back ready to make an immediate impact, especially if he finds his way onto a team with an established offensive line. 

Draft Projection: Seattle Seahawks, 43rd Pick (Second Round)

The Seattle Seahawks have a solid running back with Marshawn Lynch, but aside from him there's no real depth on the roster at the running back position.  The Seahawks would be smart to grab Chris Polk, if he's still available mid-second round, to help solidify their running game and to finally have a solid replacement if Lynch were ever to get injured.   

2. LaMichael James, Oregon

Career Rushing Stats: 5,082 yards, 53 touchdowns, 6.6 YPC
Career Receiving Stats: 586 yards, 4 touchdowns, 11.5 YPR

I'm always amazed when I see LaMichael James' projected draft position being in the late second round or early third round.  Sure, he's undersized at 5'8'' and 185 pounds and he suffered a gross dislocated elbow this past season, but NFL teams should be thinking of NFL players like Darren Sproles or Chris Johnson when they think of James.

James has incredible quickness and high-end speed that will make him a serious threat coming out into the flat from any NFL team's backfield.  The one major knock against James is his durability, which I think is a huge overreaction to an elbow injury that was more a freak accident than a display of his toughness.

Wherever James goes, he will make an instant impact because of his speed that even in the NFL will leave defenders in amazement.  If James goes in the second or third round, he will undoubtedly be one of the great steals of the NFL draft, bringing his versatility that was put on display at the University of Oregon immediately into the ranks of the NFL. 

Projected Pick: Cincinnati Bengals, 21st Pick (First Round)

A lot of mock drafts have the Bengals picking up Lamar Miller from Miami, which wouldn't be a bad move, but I think the Bengals will re-sign Benson this offseason and add LaMichael James to add some playmaking ability to their depth chart at the running back position.  If James can have a solid draft combine performance, improving his strength, there's a high likelihood he could sneak into the first round.  

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama

Career Rushing Stats: 3,130 yards, 35 touchdowns, 5.8 YPC
Career Receiving Stats: 730 yards, 7 touchdowns, 10.4 YPR

Trent Richardson had quite an impressive career at the University of Alabama.  His career ended with a BCS title, the 2011 Doak Walker Trophy, being named a Heisman finalist and being named the 2011 Offensive Player of the Year in the SEC.

What makes Richardson so dangerous is his rare mix of speed, strength and agility.  At 5'11' some teams may feel that he is undersized, but Richardson packs a serious punch, weighing it at a solid 224 pounds.

Richardson has a physical rushing style, but he has the ability to make defenders miss in open field because of his strength and agility, much like NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew.  One of the most appealing aspects of Richardson's game is his ability to catch passes out of the backfield, which helps set him apart from other running backs in the 2012 NFL draft.

Draft Projection: Cleveland Browns, Fourth Pick (First Round)

With all the uncertainty surrounding Browns' running back Peyton Hills, I expect Cleveland to let him go in free agency, especially if they can draft an elite talent like Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick. If the Browns let Hillis go and draft Richardson, they will also be able to make moves at free agent QBs this offseason like Matt Flynn and Kyle Orton.