College Football Recruiting 2012: Ranking the Top 10 Running Backs

Again, continuing our early and initial looks at the top players at various positions in the 2012 class, we move to the running backs. Right now there seems to be a deep pool of rock toters, but there are three elite runners in the class.

The group features various types of backs, from speedsters to power runners, as this 2012 crop looks to be very talented across the board.

Here are the top 10 running backs for the 2012 class.

10. Byron Marshall

Marshall is a 5'10", 195 pound running back from the San Jose area in Northern California. He won the California State Sophomore of the Year award and tore it up as a junior.

Marshall can pick and slide to holes behind the line, skate through alleys to jump linebackers, and get upfield with a burst to allow him to score. A playmaker with the ball, Marshall is a solid factor out of the backfield as a receiver and is stronger than he's given credit for.

Stanford, BYU, Cal, Kansas State and Oregon State are just some schools to name who have offered.

9. Cyrus Jones

Jones has been clocked at 4.4 in the 40 many times, but he plays faster than that if you see him on film. He shows a great burst out of his stance and start, elusiveness in the open field, and speed to split the safeties deep on long runs.

The 5'10", 185 pounder can cut at full speed with great agility, yet is also athletic enough to stop and start very quickly. He's also a very good cornerback who some say could be great on an island in college.

Alabama, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Boston College are just a few schools to name he holds an offer from.

8. Barry Sanders, Jr.

A 5'9", 185 pounder, Sanders has the trait that made his father such a dominant player. Not speed. Not quickness. But balance. Balance is very important for a running back to have and Sanders has the best balance of any back in the 2012 crop.

Oh right, he's also very quick too. Sanders is extremely elusiveness and hard to tackle one on one. He's dangerous in space and a threat to score from anywhere on the field.

Auburn, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Tennessee and Notre Dame have all offered.

7. Trey Williams

Yes, Williams is undersized at only 5'8", 175 pounds, but he makes up for it with great speed, a burst, agility and toughness. He is impossible to get a clean shot on and makes defenders miss routinely with ease.

He shows a great getty-up to and through holes on film with speed to split the safeties deep on long runs. Williams is small, but tough enough to go in between the bookends and will give a defender a pop every now and then to finish.

Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Baylor, Texas A&M and Arkansas are among schools who have offered.

6. Matt Jones

Jones is a running back who fits in the Eddie George and Eric Dickerson mold, as he is a taller back at 6'3", 210 pounds.

Even though Jones is tall, he does a great job of lowering his pad level in alleys, and has great strength to push piles. He's strong enough to break tackles yet has solid speed to take it the distance. Jones also has the size and strength to hold his own in blitz pickup.

Florida, Alabama, Miami, Georgia, Notre Dame and USC have offered with more coming as we speak.

5. Brionte Dunn

Dunn is a big, physical back from Ohio who will remind some of Beanie Wells. 6'1", 215 pounds, Dunn runs very hard and well behind his pads.

He has very good run instincts and delivers a blow to finish would be tacklers. He may be the best running back in the country in getting yards after contact, as it usually takes several defenders to bring him down.

Notre Dame and Ohio State have already offered, along with Pittsburgh among others.

4. Drew Harris

Harris will be an every down back in college. You mark it down. He's 6'1", 200 pounds and has 4.4 to 4.5 speed. He reminds me of Branden Williams, who signed with Oklahoma last week.

He can power through traffic with strength and drive, yet can get to the perimeter and square his shoulders and get upfield with speed. He's a pure, natural runner who was productive in high school.

South Carolina and Rutgers have offered with Florida, Miami, and Notre Dame after him as well.

3. Rushel Shell

Shell is like a tank with the football but also has jet like speed. He can turn the corner on the defense en route to the goal line, challenge the line of scrimmage with power and strength, and also can finish runs runs with a pop.

He's 5'11", 215 pounds with legit 4.4 speed. He's elusive with some wiggle and has good vision and feel for his blocks.

Florida, Auburn and Ohio State are just the tip of the iceberg of offers along with Tennessee, Penn State and Oregon.

2. Johnathan Gray

Already listed as a five-star recruit in the early looks for 2012, Gray is an elite runner on our board as well. 5'11", 195 pounds, Gray has tremendous instincts and vision. He's fast enough to run by defenders and strong enough to break tackles.

He has great patience and lateral quickness to pick and slide to holes behind the line and can factor as a receiver as well.

Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas A&M and Texas Tech have already offered.

1. Keith Marshall

5'11", 180 pounds with 4.3 speed, Marshall will open our rankings as the top back. He remind me a bit of Carnell "Cadillac" Williams when he was coming out of high school and headed to Tennessee, then Auburn.

Everyone wants to talk about Marshall's speed, but it's his quickness that's amazing. Marshall is good in both open space and tight space, showing equal elusiveness in both quarters. He has vision, sees blocks develop before they happen, and has a great burst.

As far as offers, let's see who has NOT offered Marshall. Michigan, Oregon and Tennessee are the only big programs who have not offered, but surely will soon. Other than that, Marshall is welcome on any campus in the country.