B/R CFB Recruiting 200: Top 10 Running Backs
After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analysts Damon Sayles, Sanjay Kirpalani andTyler Donohue have graded the top 200 players in the 247Sports composite rankings and provided in-depth analysis on each young athlete. Bleacher Report will run a position-by-position breakdown series of the best college football recruits in the class of 2016. Here we present the Top Running Backs.
With national signing day a couple of weeks away, the nation’s top recruits in the 2016 class will be signed, sealed and delivered to programs around the country.
The running back class features only 10 players rated among the nation’s top 200 prospects overall. However, four of those backs rate among the top 50 prospects in the 2016 cycle.
The latest edition of the CFB Recruiting 200 series will dig deep into the 2016 class of rushing standouts.
Bleacher Report scored the running back class on traits such as ball security (15 points), power (20 points), vision (20 points), hands (15 points), speed (20 points) and agility (15 points). The cumulative figures from those traits resulted in our overall grade of each prospect.
How do the nation’s top running backs measure up to one another?
All analysis provided by B/R National Recruiting Analyst Sanjay Kirpalani. APB denotes all-purpose back, and RB denotes running back.
10. 4-Star Antonio Williams
1 of 10Height/Weight: 5’11”, 210 lbs
High School: North Stanly High, New London, North Carolina
247Sports Ranking: No. 7 RB, No. 171 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Committed to Ohio State on Oct. 18, 2015
Back in December 2014, 4-star running back Antonio Williams committed to Wisconsin. However, he backed off that pledge nearly 10 months later and subsequently committed to fellow Big Ten titan Ohio State.
Williams chose the Buckeyes over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida and Notre Dame.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Williams shows great patience in setting up his blocks and then sticking his foot in the ground and getting upfield in a hurry. He runs with great balance, and he always seems to break free from first contact.
He’s not a burner, but he is a load to bring down when he gets a head of steam going.
9. 4-Star Elijah Holyfield
2 of 10Height/Weight: 5’10”, 204 lbs
High School: Woodward Academy High, Atlanta, Georgia
247Sports Ranking: No. 6 RB, No. 168 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to Georgia on Sept. 4, 2015
With more than 30 offers to his credit, 4-star running back Elijah Holyfield had a long list of suitors who were aggressively recruiting him.
As a junior, Holyfield rushed for 1,735 yards and 25 touchdowns. He added another 289 yards receiving and three scores through the air.
In the end, he committed to the Georgia Bulldogs over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Notre Dame, among others.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Holyfield has a nice mix of power and speed. He also impressed me at the Atlanta Nike Opening Regional in the spring with his receiving skills out of the backfield.
He does a good job of absorbing contact while keeping his legs churning.
While he has the size to run between the tackles, most of his chunk plays come when he bounces runs outside. The main challenge for Holyfield will be running inside at the next level. To be effective doing so, he may have to adjust his running style to suit the rigors of the SEC.
8. 4-Star Damian Alloway
3 of 10Height/Weight: 5’8.5”, 170 lbs
High School: Summit High, Fontana, California
247Sports Ranking: No. 3 APB, No. 158 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Uncommitted: Considering Arizona, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Oregon and UCLA
One of the nation’s top uncommitted playmakers is 4-star all-purpose back Damian Alloway.
He’s already taken official visits to Arizona State, Notre Dame and UCLA, which appear to be the three schools with the best shot to land him.
While the Irish are the Crystal Ball favorites, Alloway said distance could be a factor that keeps him in-state with the Bruins, as Tom Loy of 247Sports details.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Alloway is a player you can line up at a number of different positions on offense, defense or special teams. But wherever he is on the field, he’s a threat to make a game-changing play.
His vision and instincts make him a dynamic return man, and his hands are good enough for him to be a slot receiver at the next level. He’s a special talent with the ball in his hands.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. 4-Star Devin White
4 of 10Height/Weight: 6’ 1/2”, 258 lbs
High School: North Webster High (Springhill, Louisiana)
247Sports Ranking: No. 5 RB, No. 135 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 93/100
Committed to LSU on Jan. 8, 2016
Similar to current Alabama star and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, 4-star athlete Devin White is a jumbo athlete who has the ability to play running back or linebacker at the next level.
White rushed for 2,287 yards and 30 touchdowns while racking up 93 tackles as a junior.
According to Shea Dixon of 247Sports, the Tigers recruited him to play on offense as a bruising rusher.
He selected the Tigers over programs such as Alabama, Arkansas, Florida State and Ole Miss.
Bleacher Report Analysis
White is a freakish athlete who plays both running back and linebacker at a high level. He’s spoken about his desire to play running back in college, and at 258 pounds, he moves like a back who weighs 215. He’s a load to bring down and is faster than one would expect a back his size to be. Wherever he ends up, White has the tools and size to be a dominant force on either side of the ball.
6. 4-Star Kareem Walker
5 of 10Height/Weight: 6’1”, 210 lbs
High School: De Paul Catholic High, Wayne, New Jersey
247Sports Ranking: No. 4 RB, No. 100 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 92/100
Committed to Michigan on Dec. 17, 2015
While Ohio State was busy defeating Oregon in last year’s inaugural College Football Playoff title game, the Buckeyes scored a huge win on the recruiting trail in netting a commitment from 4-star running back Kareem Walker during halftime of the game.
However, Walker would back away from that pledge in November. He ultimately selected Michigan over schools such as Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn and Florida State.
Walker totaled more than 4,500 yards rushing and 55 touchdowns on the ground during his prep career.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Walker is a complete back who is equally adept at running between the tackles or getting to the edge. He has great vision, balance and patience in setting up blocks.
He’s also shown the ability to be a competent receiver and pass-blocker in passing situations. That versatility should serve him well in Jim Harbaugh’s pro-style attack.
5. 4-Star Devwah Whaley
6 of 10Height/Weight: 6’0”, 209 lbs
High School: Beaumont Central High, Beaumont, Texas
247Sports Ranking: No. 3 RB, No. 95 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Committed to Arkansas on Jan. 2, 2016
Four-star running back Devwah Whaley was one of the recruits who backed off a commitment to Georgia in the aftermath of head coach Mark Richt’s departure.
In January, he committed to Arkansas and head coach Bret Bielema. Over the last three years, Whaley has rushed for 3,392 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Bleacher Report Analysis
One thing that jumps out to me about Whaley is there are no false steps when he gets the ball. He finds a crease and then accelerates in an instant.
I’d like to see more from him as a receiver, and he’s not a speed merchant at the next level. However, he is shifty enough to run around tacklers but physical enough to run through them when tough yards inside are needed.
4. 4-Star Demario McCall
7 of 10Height/Weight: 5’9.5”, 171 lbs
High School: North Ridgeville High, North Ridgeville, Ohio
247Sports Ranking: No. 2 APB, No. 44 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Committed to Ohio State on March 28, 2015
Demario McCall burst onto the recruiting scene after rushing for 1,562 yards and 25 scores as a sophomore. According to MaxPreps, he followed that up with 1,366 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground as a junior.
Despite offers from programs such as Georgia, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State and Tennessee, McCall elected to stay in-state and commit to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The U.S. Army All-American is one of the elite skill-position talents in the 2016 cycle.
Bleacher Report Analysis
McCall is a well-rounded athlete who is a threat to take it to the house any time he touches the ball. He has great vision in the open field, and he can maintain his acceleration after he’s making a cut.
He’s a perfect weapon for Urban Meyer’s offense because of his ability to make plays out of the backfield whether as a runner or receiver.
3. 4-Star B.J. Emmons
8 of 10Height/Weight: 5’10”, 232 lbs
High School: Freedom High, Morganton, North Carolina
247Sports Ranking: No. 2 RB, No. 35 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to Alabama on July 20, 2015
After decommitting from an early pledge to Georgia in June, 4-star rusher B.J. Emmons cast his lot with fellow SEC power Alabama a month later.
The Under Armour All-American enjoyed a monster 2015 season, rushing for 2,417 yards and 36 touchdowns. Emmons fits the mold of power backs Tide head coach Nick Saban has managed to sign since his arrival in Tuscaloosa.
Bleacher Report Analysis
From a physical standpoint, there aren’t many backs as impressive as Emmons. At 232 pounds, he has the speed to run away from defensive backs.
He’s a load to bring down in the open field when he gets a head of steam, and he’s adept at getting bunches of yards after contact.
There may be an adjustment for Emmons in developing as a receiver at the next level, but he has a package of skills that are an intriguing fit with the Tide’s power ground attack.
2. 4-Star Tavien Feaster
9 of 10Height/Weight: 5'11”, 196 lbs
High School: Spartanburg High, Spartanburg, South Carolina
247Sports Ranking: No. 1 APB, No. 30 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Committed to Clemson on Feb. 4, 2015
Clemson’s 2016 class received a major boost on signing day when 5-star all-purpose back Tavien Feaster pledged to the Tigers.
While Feaster made a summer visit to Tennessee, he’s seemingly shut down his process and seems locked in with the Tigers.
Feaster rushed for 2,582 yards and 30 touchdowns over the course of his sophomore and junior seasons.
Bleacher Report Analysis
What makes Feaster special is how fluid and natural he looks as a receiver in the passing game. He’s elusive in the open field and is the perfect back to employ in a spread offense.
However, he’s tough and physical enough to get yards inside and rarely goes down on first contact. Overall, Feaster is a complete back who has the potential to do damage early in his career at Clemson.
1. 5-Star Miles Sanders
10 of 10Height/Weight: 5’11”, 199 lbs
High School: Woodland Hills High, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
247Sports Ranking: No. 1 RB, No. 20 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 92/100
Committed to Penn State on July 19, 2014
The very first pledge in Penn State’s 2016 class came from 4-star running back Miles Sanders back in July 2014.
The No. 2 prospect from the Keystone State selected the Nittany Lions over offers from Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State, among others.
Schools such as Pittsburgh and Michigan State have continued to recruit Sanders, but as Spartan Tailgate noted, Sanders appears to be firm in his pledge.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Sanders is a multipurpose threat who can hurt defenses as a receiver or runner. He possesses great vision and the speed to break long runs any time he touches the ball.
What makes him special is the burst he displays when he finds a crease in the defense. Sanders figures to be a great complement to current Lions star rusher Saquon Barkley in Happy Valley.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
