2012 NFL Mock Draft: Breaking Down the Draft's Top Running Backs

Ryan PhillipsJun 7, 2018

The 2012 NFL draft class features one sure-fire future stud at running back and a bunch of guys battling to be the second back off the board.

That said, three of the guys in the second tier could end up being first-round picks, and that is a lot when you consider how devalued the running back position has become in the NFL.

Here is a breakdown of the top running backs on my board right now.

Trent Richardson, Alabama

1 of 5

Trent Richardson was far and away the best running back in college football during the 2011 season. He finished the year with 283 carries for 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns for the BCS champion Crimson Tide.

At 5'11" and 224 pounds, Richardson has prototypical size for an every-down back. For a guy of his size, he also has excellent straight-line speed, and he's almost impossible to take down on the first hit.

He runs the ball with determination and doesn't shy away from contact; in fact, he seems to relish it. Richardson is patient and has outstanding vision and instincts. His balance is impeccable, allowing him absorb contact and keep going.

Richardson is easily the best running back in the 2012 NFL draft, and I expect him to come off the board in the top five. I currently have him landing with the Cleveland Browns and No. 4.

While most people talk about franchise quarterbacks, I see Richardson as a franchise running back, someone any team could build around.

Chris Polk, Washington

2 of 5

There is a fierce battle going on to be the second running back taken in the 2012 NFL draft between Washington's Chris Polk and Miami's Lamar Miller, and right now I have given Polk the edge.

At 5'10" and 224 pounds, Polk has great size and he can be an every-down back that can take a pounding. His numbers improved every season at Washington, and he finished his red-shirt junior year with 293 carries for 1,488 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added 31 catches for 332 yards and four more scores.

He is an incredibly well-rounded back who can run through between the tackles, but can also get to the edge and make plays in one-on-one situations. He is strong and balanced, and while he isn't a burner, he has enough speed to get to the next level and make things happen. He also has excellent vision and sets up his blocks well.

Polk is also an outstanding receiver out of the backfield who can be counted on in the passing game. As far as intangibles go, he graduated early and is said to be a passionate player and an extremely hard worker.

I think Polk will be the second back to come off the board, somewhere late in the first round. Good workouts could solidify his position and guarantee first-round status.

Lamar Miller, Miami

3 of 5

Miller is a home run hitter who is a threat to take the ball to the house on every touch. He finished the 2011 season with 227 carries for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns. While those stats may not wow you, scouts are in love with his combination of size and speed.

The red-shirt sophomore checks in at 5'11" and 214 pounds, which is average, but the combination of that size with his outstanding top-end speed is what makes him special. Miller is a team player who did everything he was asked and his coaches have lauded his character.

His lateral quickness and acceleration are as good as it gets, but he also has phenomenal burst and quickness getting out of the backfield and up to the second level. He's not a power runner and does shy away from contact a bit, but that may just be a result of his relative youth.

He is average out of the backfield as a receiver, but his vision and patience with the ball make him dangerous if he gets it in one-on-one situations.

Miller has much higher upside than Polk, but he also carries some risk, thanks to his aversion to contact. Regardless, he will be a first-round pick, and he could fit in perfectly with the Cincinnati Bengals.

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David Wilson, Virginia Tech

4 of 5

David Wilson took advantage of his firs year as a starter, earning ACC Player of the Year honors after rushing for 1,709 yards and nine touchdowns on 290 carries, while catching 22 passes for 129 yards and another score.

At 5'10" and 205 pounds he has adequate size for an NFL running back but could use a little more bulk to take the pounding that will be dished out at the next level. That said, he has a muscular frame and has very good top-end speed.

Wilson is an excellent student who worked hard both on and off the field, and was also a great track athlete, as he finished fourth in the triple jump at both the ACC Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2009.

His vision and instincts are still developing, and that's to be expected considering he only had 462 college carries. Some of those innate things like setting up blocks and reading defenders take time to come, and Wilson will likely improve quickly with more use.

While he isn't overpowering, Wilson is a very strong runner, who is competitive and hates going down.

Wilson is another guy with a lot of upside. Right now he profiles as a high second-round pick, but with some good workouts he could move in to the back of the first round.