College Recruiting: Where Will Top Unsigned High School Running Backs End Up?

For many high school football players, it comes down to the wire. The recruits have completed their campus visits, and the coaches have finalized their pitches, but we still don't know where everyone is going. National Signing Day is February 6, just over a week away, but there are still some top recruits that have yet to make their decisions.  

This is a look at the top running backs still available from this year's class and speculation on what hats they will be wearing when they announce their decisions.

4. Jordan Wilkins

At 6'2" and 205 pounds, Jordan Wilkins is the best available power running back in this recruiting class. While he is a very strong runner, he has been timed running a 4.41-second 40-yard dash and has a 35-inch vertical leap.  

His biggest weakness is lateral quickness. 

Wilkins, from Cordova, Tenn., has made recruiting visits to Ole Miss and Vanderbilt and has offers from 13 other schools.

Verdict: Ole Miss

On January 21 Wilkins decommitted from Auburn, and it appears to be a two-team race.  Ole Miss is the better fit schematically.   

3. Cornelius Elder

Cornelius Elder from Nashville, Tenn., is both a football and basketball prospect. The third-best available running back has visited UCLA, Ohio State and Georgia Tech.  

ESPN's 17th-ranked running back weighs only 170 pounds, but he is extremely quick and runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash.  

Elder needs to put on a lot of muscle before he can become an every-down back at any school, but his athleticism will allow him to make plays out of the backfield or as a returner.

Verdict: Ohio State

Urban Meyer is an excellent recruiter, and Elder could play a role similar to the one Percy Harvin filled at Florida.

2. Alex Collins

The No. 2 available running back has received 10 scholarship offers and made five college visits.

Alex Collins of South Plantation, Fla., is a compact, speedy running back that measures 5'11" and 207 pounds.  The Miami Herald was told that Collins ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash last summer.

He is the No. 7 running back according to ESPN and 13 according to Rivals.com.

Collins made visits to Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Miami and Wisconsin.

Verdict: Florida State

Collins had previously committed to Miami, but with potential sanctions looming for the program, he will be looking elsewhere.  The Miami Herald reported that Collins has been seen wearing FSU shirts to school.

1. Alvin Kamara

The two schools that battled in the SEC Championship Game are also the final two teams in contention for top remaining running back Alvin Kamara, according to Al.com. 

Kamara, who is the No. 32 overall prospect according to ESPN and number 45 according to Rivals.com, made official visits to both schools in the last two weeks.

The 5'10" back runs a 4.55-second 40-yard dash and has a 39-inch vertical leap.  He is on the small side, weighing only 192 pounds, but he has all of the athletic tools necessary to succeed in the SEC.

Verdict: Georgia

Kamara is a Georgia native, and Nick Saban has already signed three running backs.  The Bulldogs are a better fit for Kamara.