2011 NFL Draft: Ranking the Top 15 Running Backs
This year’s draft has a lot of depth at the running-back position, but there isn’t a whole lot of top-round talent available.
There are a lot of mid-round backs who would make for good situational runners, but they can’t carry the full workload. A lot of these runners would fit best with a team that uses two different running backs.
I have seen a lot of rankings of this year’s running-back class over the past few months, and I can’t recall seeing two top 10 lists that looked the same.
A lot of the discrepancy in this year’s class is because of how similar some of the runners are to each other. This was a difficult list for me to put together, as I went back and forth on where to rank a lot of the players.
So here is my list of the top 15 running backs available for the 2011 NFL Draft:
15. Delone Carter, Syracuse
1 of 15
Height
5’9"
Weight
225 pounds
Overview
Delone Carter is a player who isn’t talked about a whole lot, but he could surprise a lot of people in the NFL.
The thing that I really like about him is that his legs never quit. He’s a player who gives full effort on every play. He will pick up the tough yards, and he could find a niche as a short-yardage type running back in the pros.
Carter doesn’t have great speed for a running back, and he isn’t really much of a threat as a receiver out of the backfield. He has some durability and character concerns that need to be looked at closely by team personnel.
2010 Stats
1,233 rushing yards, nine TDs, 5.3 yards per carry
Projection
Round 4-Round 6
14. Stevan Ridley, LSU
2 of 15
Height
6’0"
Weight
223 pounds
Overview
I was somewhat surprised that Ridley decided to declare for the 2011 NFL Draft. He’s someone who could’ve benefitted from another year in school.
Ridley has very good size, and he’s a very tough runner who isn’t easy to take down. He has good vision when running the football, and he does a nice job in pass protection as a blocker.
Ridley lacks elite speed, which is really going to hinder him from being anything other than a short-yardage type of running back. He wasn’t overly effective as a receiver out of the backfield.
Ridley was very effective against top competition, but I think he could’ve went much higher in next year’s draft had he decided to return to LSU.
2010 Stats
1,147 rushing yards, 15 TDs, 4.6 yards per carry
Projection
Round 4-Round 6
13. Roy Helu, Nebraska
3 of 15
Height
5’11"
Weight
216 pounds
Overview
Roy Helu is a runner who is really starting to grow on me.
He has pretty solid size for a running back, and he does a nice job of breaking tackles in the open field. He was a guy who always seemed to come up with a long run for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He has good patience, as he will wait for his blockers to create a hole for him to run through.
He’s another guy who just doesn’t have the best speed. One thing that might hurt his stock is that he’s someone who might not be a good fit on passing downs, as he has struggled with pass protection and he’s nothing special as a receiver.
Helu could surprise some people and he should make a solid 1st- and 2nd-down running back in the NFL, but his lack of speed may hurt him.
2010 Stats
1,245 rushing yards, 11 TDs, 6.6 yards per carry
Projection
Round 4-Round 6
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12. Darren Evans, Virginia Tech
4 of 15
Height
6’0"
Weight
220 pounds
Overview
Darren Evans is another underclassman who I was surprised to see declare for the 2011 NFL Draft.
He has a nice frame which allows him to be a good runner between the tackles. He has shown to be effective in pass protection, and he is a very high-character player.
Evans doesn’t have overwhelming speed, and it doesn’t look like he will be used much as a receiver out of the backfield. He is a bit of an injury concern, as he missed the entire 2009 season with a torn ACL.
Evans’ production wasn’t as high as some other backs on this list, but he had to share the load with teammate Ryan Williams. He doesn’t have as much upside as Williams does, but he should be able to be a solid runner in the NFL.
2010 Stats
854 rushing yards, 11 TDs, 5.7 yards per carry
Projection
Round 4-Round 6
11. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma St.
5 of 15
Height
5’8"
Weight
199 pounds
Overview
Kendall Hunter is a sleeper in my eyes who may continue to rise up draft boards leading up to the 2011 NFL Draft.
Hunter has a good frame despite less than ideal height. He’s tough to bring down, and he’s very elusive in the open field. He has nice hands catching the ball, so he would make a good receiver. He can find the open holes, and he knows when to be patient and wait for a hole to open up.
His height is a concern for him despite the fact that he has a solid frame. He’s not a power runner, and he’d rather run around the defender than through him. He struggles in pass protection, and he needs to add more strength to be more effective protecting the quarterback.
Hunter is an intriguing prospect, who I could see going before some of the guys that are ahead of him on this list if he has solid workouts.
2010 Stats
1,548 rushing yards, 16 TDs, 5.7 yards per carry
Projection
Round 3-Round 5
10. Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon St.
6 of 15
Height
5’7"
Weight
191 pounds
Overview
Jacquizz Rodgers decided to turn pro after three very successful seasons at Oregon State.
Rodgers has a solid frame despite his small stature, and he always keeps his legs moving. He is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, evidenced by his 78 receptions in the 2009 season. He is very elusive and he has the ability to return kicks and punts in the NFL.
He’s very short and he doesn’t do a great job of breaking tackles. He doesn’t have great speed, which will hurt his draft stock. His smaller-than-ideal size also contributes to him being a poor pass-blocker, as bigger defenders can run right through him.
Rodgers will never be a full-time running back, but he will make a nice change-of-pace back. He can also contribute as a slot receiver and a return specialist if needed.
2010 Stats
1,184 rushing yards, 14 TDs, 4.6 yards per carry
Projection
Round 3-Round 5
9. Shane Vereen, California
7 of 15
Height
5’10"
Weight
204 pounds
Overview
Shane Vereen was overshadowed by Jahvid Best in 2009, but Vereen showed that he is a good prospect in his own right with a very solid season.
He has great speed to go along with very good strength for his size. He is a north-south type runner who doesn’t go down easily. He has great hands out of the backfield, and he has had experience in the slot.
Vereen hasn’t had too much experience in pass protection, and he didn’t look overly impressive. He has some injury concerns, although he played through the pain in 2009.
Vereen is a prospect who can bring a lot of things to the team, but he isn’t overly spectacular at any one thing. He probably won’t ever be a full-time running back, but he offers a lot of versatility to the team that drafts him.
2010 Stats
1,167 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 5.1 yards per carry
Projection
Round 3-Round 5
8. Jordan Todman, Connecticut
8 of 15
Height
5’9"
Weight
193 pounds
Overview
Jordan Todman had a very successful junior campaign that really put him on the map as a serious prospect.
Todman has great speed and quickness, allowing him to routinely elude defenders. He’s got good vision and he’s patient in waiting for a hole to open up. He’s very versatile, as he’s a good pass catcher and he’s also got the ability to return kicks.
He doesn’t have great size, and he doesn’t really like running in between the tackles. His size also limits him in pass protection. He needs to add some more bulk to be more than a part-time player.
Todman is another rushing prospect who fits best as a situational player, someone who can do a lot of different things for a team.
2010 Stats
1,695 rushing yards, 14 TDs, 5.1 yards per carry
Projection
Round 3-Round 4
7. Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh
9 of 15
Height
5’8"
Weight
195 pounds
Overview
Dion Lewis didn’t have as good of a campaign in 2010 as he did in 2009, but he still put up solid numbers.
Lewis has great vision and is very patient. He allows the hole to open up and he has great burst to get through the hole quickly. He has good strength despite his small stature, and he plays with a low center of gravity. He has experience catching passes and he is a solid receiver.
Lewis doesn’t have great speed. He is also very small, and despite his strength, he doesn’t really appear to have a lot of bulk. He’s another prospect who struggles as a pass blocker due to his size.
Lewis is a prospect who could become an every-down back if he works on his pass blocking, and he should be very productive between the tackles in the NFL.
2010 Stats
1,061 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 4.8 yards per carry
Projection
Round 3-Round 4
6. Derrick Locke, Kentucky
10 of 15
Height
5’9"
Weight
190 pounds
Overview
Derrick Locke is a prospect who is really starting to rise on 2011 NFL Draft boards.
Locke has excellent speed to go along with great quickness, making him a very dangerous runner when out in the open field. He is tough to tackle and he runs surprisingly well in between the tackles. He’s a good receiver out of the backfield, and he can be a dangerous return man due to his speed.
Locke is yet another prospect who lacks great size, and it doesn’t look like he’ll ever be a full-time running back. He has some injury concerns, which have caused him to miss some games in the past.
Locke never put up great numbers at Kentucky, but he has the skill set to become a very dangerous weapon at the next level.
2010 Stats
887 rushing yards, 10 TDs, 5.3 yards per carry
Projection
Round 3-Round 4
5. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
11 of 15
Height
6’0"
Weight
214 pounds
Overview
DeMarco Murray had an excellent senior season for the Oklahoma Sooners, and he put himself in the second-round discussion.
Murray has prototypical size and he is a great athlete. He has good balance and vision, allowing him to find the open running lane. He is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, as he ended up with 71 receptions in 2010.
He has an upright style of running, which has led to him missing some games due to injury in the past. His durability is a huge question mark moving forward.
Murray is a prospect who has the potential to be a full-time running back, but that all hinges on whether or not he can stay healthy.
2010 Stats
1,214 rushing yards, 15 TDs, 4.3 yards per carry
ProjectionRound 2-Round 3
4. Daniel Thomas, Kansas St.
12 of 15
Height
6’2"
Weight
228 pounds
Overview
Daniel Thomas looked very impressive in 2010, and he has a lot of things to like when looking at running-back prospects.
Thomas has excellent size, and a very strong upper-body. He is a between-the-tackles type of runner who does a good job of breaking tackles. He’s a patient runner who does a very good job of protecting the football. He only played two seasons at the FBS level, but he was extremely productive in those two years.
Thomas’s style of running could lead to him taking a lot of big hits, which could cause him to have a lot of injuries. He doesn’t seem to have great speed and lacks an explosive burst.
Thomas is another player who could be a full-time running back, but he has to protect himself more to avoid some of those injury-causing hits that he will take from NFL defenders.
2010 Stats
1,585 rushing yards, 19 TDs, 5.3 yards per carry
Projection
Round 2-Round 3
3. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
13 of 15
Height
5’10"
Weight
202 pounds
Overview
Ryan Williams didn’t have a great redshirt sophomore campaign, as he was hurt by injuries and having to share the load with teammate Darren Evans.
Williams has a nice build, and he’s a solid athlete. He always gives great effort, and his legs never stop moving. He’s a powerful runner who runs well in between the tackles. He also has the ability to break a run to the outside with his speed. He is a solid receiver and he has experience in the return game.
He does have some injury concerns, as he missed four games last season due to injury. He isn’t solid in pass protection, and if he’s going to be an every-down back, he’ll need to improve in that area.
Williams didn’t have a very productive sophomore season, but he still could end up in the first round with good offseason workouts.
2010 Stats
477 rushing yards, Nine TDs, 4.3 yards per carry
Projection
Round 1-Round 2
2. Mikel Leshoure, Illinois
14 of 15
Height: 6’0"
Weight: 230 pounds
Overview: Mikel Leshoure came out of nowhere in 2010 to become one of the top running-back prospects in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Leshoure has a very good combination of size, speed, and strength. He runs well between the tackles and his legs never quit moving. He has good vision and great hands as a receiver out of the backfield. He is a running back who is capable of carrying the full load for a team.
Leshoure may have some character concerns after a fight with a teammate in his freshman season. He doesn’t have a lot of experience, as he was only a one-year starter at Illinois.
Leshoure was really impressive this last season, and he could challenge Mark Ingram to be the first running back taken in the 2011 NFL Draft.
2010 Stats: 1,697 rushing yards, 17 TDs, 6.0 yards per carry
Projection: Round 1-Round 2
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama
15 of 15
Height: 5’10"
Weight: 215 pounds
Overview: The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner didn’t have as dominating of a junior performance as many expected him to have, but he is still the top running-back prospect available for the 2011 NFL Draft, in my opinion.
He has very nice size to go along with enough bulk to handle the hits he’ll take from NFL defenders. He runs with great balance and pad level. His legs never quit, and he’ll fight for every last yard he can get. He is a good receiver out of the backfield, displaying soft hands.
Ingram doesn’t have elite speed and he isn’t overly quick. He needs to work on his pass-protection abilities. He takes a lot of big hits, and he has missed some games due to injuries in the past.
Ingram most likely will be the top running back taken after a very productive career for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
2010 Stats: 875 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 5.5 yards per carry
Projection: Round 1
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