NFL Draft 2011: Power Ranking the Top 10 Running Backs in the Class (with Video)
The days of the “workhorse” running backs are coming to a close in the NFL. Most teams use a committee with their running back position to keep backs healthy. This is causing teams to bypass running backs early in drafts and wait for them later.
This year, only one running back is projected to be taken in the first round—Alabama’s Mark Ingram. As the draft approaches, he is being dissected from every angle by NFL teams, which could cause him to fall to the end of the first round or even into the second round.
Although not the best draft class for running backs, there are a lot of quality running backs that are going to be drafted at a discount rate. Ingram is a potential steal at the tail end of the first round because he is NFL-ready right now.
Illinois’ Mikel Leshoure will be selected in the second round but has the ability to start immediately and become that coveted workhorse. Other talented backs like Kansas State’s Daniel Thomas, Virginia Tech’s Ryan Williams and Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter are falling deeper in the draft as teams eye defenders, quarterbacks and offensive linemen this year.
Ingram, Leshoure, Williams, Thomas and Hunter and five of the best runners in the class—who rounds out the class and where do they all rank in the top 10?
Honorable Mention: Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State
1 of 11Height: 5’6”
Weight: 196 lbs
Career Stats: 788 attempts, 3,877 yards, 46 touchdowns
40-yard Dash – 4.64
Bench Press – N/A
Vertical Jump – 33.0
Broad Jump – 113.0
3-Cone Drill – 7.31
20-yard Shuttle – 4.26
60-yard Shuttle – N/A
Durability will be a major concern with Jacquizz, but he has the explosive talent to be a highlight reel superstar. He is a determined runner who never backs down despite his size, which I always like to see. He doesn’t have the best speed, but he has great acceleration and will use his receiving skills to his advantage. Underrated heading into the draft.
10. Shane Vereen, California
2 of 11Height: 5’10”
Weight: 210 lbs
Career Stats: 556 attempts, 2,834 yards, 29 touchdowns
40-yard Dash – 4.5
Bench Press – 31.0
Vertical Jump – 34.0
Broad Jump – 115.0
3-Cone Drill – 6.95
20-yard Shuttle – 4.28
60-yard Shuttle – 11.58
Vereen should emerge in the NFL as a capable third-down back and could serve well as part of a committee. He has good vision and is one of the better pass-catching backs in the class. I like his patience and ability to hit holes as he waits for his offensive linemen to create lanes. He is a determined runner who fights for everything he gets.
Emerging from Jahvid Best’s shadows, he gained 1,167 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior in 2010.
9. John Clay, Wisconsin
3 of 11Height: 6’1”
Weight: 230 lbs
Career Stats: 629 attempts, 3,413 yards, 41 touchdowns
40-yard Dash – 4.87
Bench Press – N/A
Vertical Jump – 29.0
Broad Jump – 111.0
3-Cone Drill – N/A
20-yard Shuttle – N/A
60-yard Shuttle – N/A
Clay is underrated heading into the NFL as he was part of a three-man committee. Still, I really like his abilities and believe he can emerge as a threat as a power runner in the NFL.
He is a rather nasty back who will not go down easily and has fantastic size. He is one of the more difficult backs to take down in this class and may just emerge as next year’s LeGarrette Blount if a running back-needy team like the Miami Dolphins give him an opportunity.
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8. Jordan Todman, Connecticut
4 of 11Height: 5’9”
Weight: 203 lbs
Career Stats: 616 attempts, 3,179 yards, 31 touchdowns
40-yard Dash – 4.4
Bench Press – 25.0
Vertical Jump – 38.0
Broad Jump – 126.0
3-Cone Drill – 7.24
20-yard Shuttle – 4.18
60-yard Shuttle – 11.25
Todman was a star for the Connecticut Huskies and proved to be a workhorse runner as he carried the rock 334 times in 2010. For two straight years, he recorded 14 touchdowns and a 5.1 average yards per carry. He failed to score a touchdown in all but one game—the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma.
He was not used as a receiver out of the backfield, which could hurt his stock heading into the draft. Still, he could prove to be a mid-round steal as part of a committee, which most teams are turning to now to keep their backs fresh and healthy.
He displays solid vision and hits each hole hard, which teams loves to see. He clearly has the speed to outrun defenders but will need to display better patience when he enters the league.
7. Roy Helu Jr., Nebraska
5 of 11Height: 6’0”
Weight: 219 lbs
Career Stats: 578 attempts, 3,404 yards, 27 touchdowns
40-yard Dash – 4.42
Bench Press – 11.0
Vertical Jump – 36.5
Broad Jump – 119.0
3-Cone Drill – 6.67
20-yard Shuttle – 4.01
60-yard Shuttle – 11.07
One team is going to love Roy Helu Jr., who has blazing speed and will be able to shred teams late in games. We can expect to see him make several highlight reel plays in the professional level. Although known for his speed, he has good size and build, which will help him stay healthy at the next level.
Although he won’t emerge as an every-down starter, he will prove to be a vital piece to a team’s success with his ability off the bench. He will prove to be an option for quarterbacks looking to check down as he has the ability to pick up a lot of real estate quickly with his speed and acceleration.
6. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
6 of 11Height: 6’0”
Weight: 213 lbs
Career Stats: 759 attempts, 3,685 yards, 50 touchdowns
40-yard Dash – 4.41
Bench Press – 22.0
Vertical Jump – 34.5
Broad Jump – 124.0
3-Cone Drill – 7.28
20-yard Shuttle - 4.18
60-yard Shuttle – N/A
Murray impressed at the combine and should be drafted in the third round. He has excellent playmaking ability and can emerge as an immediate threat as a third-down back with his receiving abilities. He is not just a third-down back, though, and is fairly underrated heading into the draft for his toughness.
Some are worried that he could get hurt too often in the NFL and will need to continue building his already muscular frame. He will rely on his speed and burst and will be a great threat for a team like the Dallas Cowboys or New Orleans Saints, for example, who use multiple running backs to keep everyone fresh.
5. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
7 of 11Height: 5’7”
Weight: 199 lbs
Career Stats: 704 attempts, 4,181 yards, 37 touchdowns
40-yard Dash – 4.53
Bench Press – 24.0
Vertical Jump – 35.0
Broad Jump – 122.0
3-Cone Drill – 6.74
20-yard Shuttle – 4.21
60-yard Shuttle – 11.19
Hunter is gaining momentum heading into the draft. He is another reason why teams are deciding to wait on running backs this year. He is another runner that displays very good speed, vision, power and patience—a complete package if you will.
“Hunter has a compact muscular build and good speed. Reads his blockers, shows good patience and hits the hole hard. Quick back that has enough wiggle to make the first guy miss. Very capable receiver that runs precise routes and possesses reliable hands. Productive college player with a nose for the end zone,” according to NFL.com’s scouting assessment.
What more do you want from an NFL-ready prospect at a discount rate?
4. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
8 of 11Height: 5’9”
Weight: 212 lbs
Career Stats: 403 attempts, 2,132 yards, 30 touchdowns
40-yard Dash – 4.61
Bench Press – 19.0
Vertical Jump – 40.0
Broad Jump – 123.0
3-Cone Drill – 6.96
20-yard Shuttle – 4.18
60-yard Shuttle – 11.4
Williams will develop into an every-down starter as his body transforms. He displays great vision, toughness and what I like the most, determination. He has good patience and power, which will only improve at the next level. His best quality is his ability to cut quickly and get to the secondary, where he is a dangerous threat.
With more practice and reps, he should develop into an all-around threat as his pass-catching ability improves.
Williams could fall to the third round, where he would be a steal. The class is dominated with elite defensive talent in the first two rounds, which is the only reason he would fall because he could very well end up with a team like Washington or Indianapolis in the second round.
3. Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
9 of 11Height: 6’0”
Weight: 230 lbs
Career Stats: 545 attempts, 2,850 yards, 30 touchdowns
40-yard Dash – N/A
Bench Press – 21.0
Vertical Jump – N/A
Broad Jump – N/A
3-Cone Drill – N/A
20-yard Shuttle –N/A
60-yard Shuttle – N/A
Thomas is one of the most underrated backs heading into the draft. He can do a bit of everything and on a team like New England or Miami can quickly become a star as a workhorse runner. He has the power, speed, toughness, footwork and vision to become an important piece to an offense.
He had a rather poor pro day due to a hamstring injury, but as I discussed, any slip in his stock would be foolish and he could be a draft day steal. Thomas is one of the reasons teams are looking to avoid the position all together in the first two rounds hoping they can snag him in the third.
I believe the Patriots or Dolphins would be able to rely heavily on him in his rookie season and win. He could be the missing piece to the Patriots’ offense should they decide to let BenJarvus Green-Ellis walk. In my three-round mock draft posted on February 15, I predicted Thomas would fall to the Patriots in the third round. He is the type of inside runner teams want.
2. Mikel Leshoure, Illinois
10 of 11Height: 6’0”
Weight: 227 lbs
Career Stats: 424 attempts, 2,557 yards, 23 touchdowns
40-yard Dash – 4.59
Bench Press – 21.0
Vertical Jump – 38.0
Broad Jump – 122.0
3-Cone Drill – 6.82
20-yard Shuttle - 4.4
60-yard Shuttle – N/A
Leshoure broke out in his junior season to become one of the best backs in the nation as he ran for 1,697 yards and 17 touchdowns on 281 attempts. He enters the draft as one of the most complete runners in the class and is inching closer to Ingram’s NFL-ready status. In all of 2010, Leshoure never once put the ball on the ground and comes with no fumbling concerns heading into the NFL.
He is one of the more powerful runners in the class and although not elite speed, has enough speed and quickness to get around the corners to burst into the secondary. A pile pusher, expect him to rack up touchdowns in the NFL.
He has the talent to be a star in the league and could possibly see him end up with Washington, Indianapolis or the New York Giants as a second-round selection.
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama
11 of 11Height: 5’9”
Weight: 215 lbs
Career Stats: 572 attempts, 3,261 yards, 42 touchdowns
40-yard Dash – 4.62
Bench Press – 21.0
Vertical Jump – 31.5
Broad Jump – 118.0
3-Cone Drill – 7.13
20-yard Shuttle – 4.62
60-yard Shuttle – N/A
Deemed one of the angriest runners NFL Network’s Mike Mayock has ever seen, the 2009 Heisman winner was the catalyst to the Crimson Tide’s BCS national championship season. Ingram is the most NFL-ready runner in the class. He can presumably do it all—pass block, catch and most importantly, run defenders over. He has the most power of any back in the class and will be a force in the league for years to come.
Many are worried that his knee is a concern, but I would not worry. Many had the same reservations about San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore, and he’s fared quite well I must say.
We could possibly see Ingram in a Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New England Patriots or Green Bay Packers uniform in 2010 as a first-round pick.
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