2011 NFL Draft: Top 10 RBs and Their NFL Counterparts

This year's group of running backs in the NFL Draft is strong on talent, but lacking in difference makers.

I can look at the collection, and obviously Alabama's Mark Ingram stands out and Illinois' Mikel Leshoure is catching the eye of many, but the rest are all about even and leave me thinking, "They're good, but..." 

I look at some like DeMarco Murray and wonder if he can run upfield through blockers more, if Leshoure will keep progressing and if Noel Devine will be able to acclimate to the pace of the NFL.

When it comes to listing the top 10 and their NFL counterparts, this is a little more challenging than when I gave you a similar list for quarterbacks.

That was pretty straightforward, but here you have a hybrid of skills and abilities for multiple players.

As I said before, I'm not about to sit here and tell you one of these running backs is the next Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson. That's ridiculous.

What I am doing is trying to spot similarities and qualities in the college players that are like those well-known NFL players.

With that in mind, here are the top 10 running backs in this year's NFL Draft: 

10. Derrick Locke, Kentucky

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

LEXINGTON, KY - SEPTEMBER 18: Derrick Locke #20 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball during the game against the Akron Zips at Commonwealth Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

He's not the biggest guy, but Locke (5'8'', 186) gives a team a runner who runs with speed and authority. Locke missed four games in the regular season, but finished the year with 166 carries (5.3 avg.) for 887 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had 132 total yards in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

Expect Locke to be a third-rounder in the draft.

Counterpart: Darren Sproles, San Diego. The Chargers running back (5'6'', 190) is roughly the same size, and has been a great versatile threat for the Chargers' offense and special teams. Locke averaged 27 yards on kickoff returns in 2009.

9. Noel Devine, West Virginia

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 19: Noel Devine #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The speedy and elusive Devine (5'7'', 160) leaves West Virginia as the school's leader in all-purpose yards (5,761) and third in school history in career rushing with 4,315 yards.

Many will probably say he fell short of the monstrous expectations he had coming into college, but I also saw how he torched Oklahoma's defense in the Fiesta Bowl and become a very talented runner.

Throw in his ability as a returner on special teams, and some NFL team would get a solid pick with Devine.

Counterpart: LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia. Shady (5'11'', 208) is taller, but the two have the same kind of shiftiness and ability to make players miss. 

8. Shane Vereen, Cal

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

BERKELEY, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Shane Vereen #34 of the California Golden Bears warms up for their game against the Stanford Cardinal at California Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Vereen (5'10'', 204) gets plenty of praise for his athleticism and playmaking ability in the open field, which will make him a second round pick at worst.

He had 198 yards rushing against Nevada and finished the year with 231 carries for 1,167 yards (5.1 average) and 13 touchdowns. Mel Kiper Jr. has him ranked as the fifth-best back in the draft.

It's hard for me to justify that, since he wasn't even among the nation's top 20 rushers, but I've got to respect him for putting up 112 yards and a touchdown against Oregon.

Counterpart: Jamaal Charles, Kansas City. Jamaal (5'11'', 199) is a little thicker, but like Vereen couldn't be touched if he had room to run. Charles' track speed and burst made him one of a kind at Texas.

7. Jordan Todman, Connecticut

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Zach Frazer #10 of the Connecticut Huskies hands the ball off to Jordan Todman #23 against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (P

Todman (5'9'', 195) was the nation's fourth-leading rusher with 334 carries for 1,695 yards (5.1 average) and 14 touchdowns. I know he's one of the hot names among running backs in the draft, but keep in mind those numbers did come in the dreadful Big East.

You do have to respect a player, though, who can finish the year with nine 100-yard games in the regular season, including 222 yards against Pitt. He also had 121 yards rushing against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

Counterpart: Frank Gore, San Francisco. Gore (5'9'', 217) is about the same size, and both possess similar skills, but Gore may have a little more power to his game. 

6. Daniel Thomas, Kansas State

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

LAWRENCE, KS - OCTOBER 14: Daniel Thomas #8 of the Kansas State Wildcats carries the ball as Olaitan Oguntodu #44 of the Kansas Jayhawks defends during the game on October 14, 2010 at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Im

Thomas (6'2'', 227 pounds) was the nation's seventh-leading rusher this year, with 298 carries for 1,585 yards (5.3 avg) and 19 touchdowns. He had a career-high 269 yards rushing in the Wildcats' season finale at UNT.

Counterpart: Darren McFadden, Oakland. McFadden (6'2'', 210) is the same size roughly, and while I saw him dominate more games and have the ability to be involved more in Arkansas' offense, both he and Thomas run with the same kind of power.

5. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 04: Ryan Williams #34 of the Virginia Tech Hokies against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Williams (5'10'', 220) was a blend of speed, power, athleticism and just natural talent, which was evident throughout his career with the Hokies. What always impressed me was that he could turn corners great, and outmaneuver defenders, but also get hard yards.

Counterpart: Size-wise, he's a lot like Dallas' Felix Jones (5'10'', 220), but Jones and Ronnie Brown of Miami are also the same prototype who can also become additional weapons in the passing game.

4. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

LAWRENCE, KS - NOVEMBER 20: Running back Kendall Hunter #24 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys carries the ball during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on November 20, 2010 at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

You really could flip Hunter and DeMarco Murray from Oklahoma here. Both had record-breaking careers and both gave teams options with the run and pass.

Hunter (5'7'', 199 pounds) was ninth in the nation with 271 carries for 1,548 yards (5.7) and 16 touchdowns. He's a back who wouldn't hesitate going upfield through tackles and bursting to the edges for big gains too.

Counterpart: In terms of being a great runner who could be a great option in the passing game, Hunter is a lot like Baltimore's Ray Rice (5'8'', 212), but his speed and maneuverability reminds me more of Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew (5'7'', 208).

3. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: DeMarco Murray #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs the football to score a touchdown in the first quarter against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in G

I love my friends and family back home, but I had a chuckle every time I heard Murray (6'0'', 214) compared with Adrian Peterson. Yes, both are talented runners, but Peterson was so physical and unstoppable and wasn't afraid to run over defenders.

Whenever I watched Murray, I always noticed how he preferred to bounce outside and hit the corners first. It didn't seem like he ran with the same authority as AD.

Now, like Peterson, Murray was injury prone, but finishes as Oklahoma's career leader in all-purpose yards (6,498) and holds records for career touchdowns (64) and career receiving yards (1,512) by a running back. I like his versatility, and I still think he could develop into a solid starter. 

Counterpart: Murray is about the same size as Peterson (6'1'', 217), but I see him being much like Reggie Bush in terms of giving you options in the running game, passing and special teams.

Bush certainly didn't live up to the hype coming out of USC, but he is a nice complementary back other teams need to account for.

2. Mikel Leshoure, Illinois

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 20: Mikel Leshoure #5 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs on his way to a 339 yard rushing performance against the Northwestern Wildcats during a game played at Wrigley Field on November 20, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. Illinois defeated

Leshoure (6'1'', 230) finished the year as the nation's third-leading rusher, with 281 carries for 1,697 yards (6.0 avg.) and 17 touchdowns.

He had eight 100-yard games during the regular season, including 330 yards against Northwestern, then capped the year off with 184 yards and three touchdowns against Baylor in the Texas Bowl.

Counterpart: Size-wise, Leshoure is built like Cleveland's Peyton Hillis (6'1'', 240), but when I had the chance to watch him run, he reminded me a little more of St. Louis' Steven Jackson, who is a little bigger but with a similar frame.

1. Mark Ingram, Alabama

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes for a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

After winning the Heisman Trophy in 2009, Ingram (5'10'', 215) returned and still had a solid year for the Crimson Tide, leading the team in carries (158), rushing yards (875) and rushing touchdowns (13).

I was always amazed at how Ingram blended power with speed and elusiveness. He could run through tackles, but when it was needed also dart past and around defenders.

Counterpart: Ingram has a similar build to Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall (5'10'', 225). Watch his style enough, and you'll see glimpses of the Steelers' running back at times, along with Tennessee's Chris Johnson.