2011 NFL Draft Prospects: Ranking the Top 10 Running Backs
Even though there were a ton of underclassmen running backs who declared for the 2011 NFL Draft, this is still a class that is unusually thin at the top.
There are no backs who you would classify as elite prospects this year; however, it is a diverse group full of various types of runners, who all seemingly have some sort of specialty.
Whether a team needs a big bruiser, a small, speedy jitterbug, or something in between, they’ll most likely be able to find it this year.
We’re only a few weeks away from the draft, yet we still don’t know which back will be the first off the board.
Heck, we’re still not even sure if any will be selected in the first round.
Alabama’s Mark Ingram, the 2009 Heisman winner, is the player everyone’s going to be talking about, but there are a few other faces worthy of attention.
Here’s a look at how I would personally rank the running backs of the 2011 class.
10. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
1 of 11
Class: Senior
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 213
40: 4.41
2010 Statistics
Carries: 282
Yards: 1,214
Average: 4.3
Touchdowns: 20
After being plagued by injuries throughout his career, DeMarco Murray finished his time at Oklahoma with his best season in 2010.
Murray, who caught 71 passes as a senior, will be best used as a third-down receiver out of the backfield in the NFL. But he also has the pure straight-line speed to be a valuable change-of-pace back.
9. Derrick Locke, Kentucky
2 of 11
Class: Senior
Height: 5'8''
Weight: 188
40: 4.37
2010 Statistics
Carries: 166
Yards: 887
Average: 5.3
Touchdowns: 10
This year’s Dexter McCluster?
Derrick Locke isn’t going to make his living running inside the tackles in the NFL; however, he’s an explosive offense weapon who can be utilized in a variety of ways.
Locke is a tough, fearless runner who has shown the ability to make plays in the passing game.
He has the type of speed that has to be accounted for on every snap, whether he lines up in the backfield or at slot receiver.
8. Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State
3 of 11
Class: Junior
Height: 5'6''
Weight: 196
40: 4.64
2010 Statistics
Carries: 256
Yards: 1,184
Average: 4.6
Touchdowns: 17
There’s no getting around the fact that Jacquizz Rodgers is just too small.
It’s sad that God blessed the 5’6’’ Rodgers with such immense talent, only to tease him by putting it in such a small package.
What Rodgers lacks in stature, he makes up for with some of the most powerful legs we’ve seen from a running back prospect in years.
I hear people compare Rodgers to Darren Sproles, but I see him more in the Ray Rice/Maurice Jones-Drew type of mold.
He’s such a competitive and determined player that you have to believe Rodgers will have some type of impact for the team that drafts him.
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7. Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
4 of 11
Class: Senior
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 230
40: 4.60
2010 Statistics
Carries: 298
Yards: 1,585
Average: 5.3
Touchdowns: 19
Daniel Thomas is one back who I still can’t quite figure out.
Even though Thomas has a big, powerful build similar to Adrian Peterson, he doesn’t come close to running with the same type of take-no-prisoners style that intimidates would-be tacklers.
As the scouts like to say, Thomas certainly passes the eyeball test. Plus, he pretty much single-handedly willed a mediocre Kansas State team to a bowl berth this past season.
Still, you have to wonder if his lack of overall physicality will doom Thomas in the NFL.
He’s one of this year’s true boom-or-bust prospects.
6. Bilal Powell, Louisville
5 of 11
Class: Senior
Height: 5'10''
Weight: 207
40: 4.54
2010 Statistics
Carries: 229
Yards: 1,405
Average: 6.1
Touchdowns: 14
A personal favorite of mine, Bilal Powell has been flying under the radar over the last few months of the draft process.
Powell enjoyed a breakout 2010 campaign, finally emerging from Victor Anderson’s shadow as a senior.
He turned out to be the key piece for a surprisingly resurgent Louisville team.
Powell looked like a different player last season, showing the type of burst and vision that NFL teams crave from a running back.
From what I saw from Powell in the Cincinnati game alone, I would have to say that if he ends up in the right situation, the one-year hot shot could turn out to be a major mid-round steal for whichever team picks him up.
5. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
6 of 11
Class: Redshirt Sophomore
Height: 5'9''
Weight: 212
40: 4.59
2010 Statistics
Carries: 110
Yards: 447
Average: 4.3
Touchdowns: 10
Virginia Tech fans will be left to wonder what could have been if they would have had a healthy RB trio of Ryan Williams, Darren Evans and David Wilson for the 2011 season. But it was not to be.
Both Williams and Evans made the decision to go pro, even though Williams, the true star of the Hokie backfield, declared for the draft after a less-than-stellar, injury-plagued sophomore campaign.
If Williams plays like the player we saw in 2009 when he rushed for over 1,600 yards, he should be a solid starter in the league for years.
But the fact that he’s only 5’9’’ and has some durability questions could hurt his stock a bit.
4. Jordan Todman, Connecticut
7 of 11
Class: Junior
Height: 5'9''
Weight: 203
40: 4.40
2010 Statistics
Carries: 334
Yards: 1,695
Average: 5.1
Touchdowns: 14
Even though I’m a West Virginia fan, I have to admit that I loved what I saw from Jordan Todman in 2010.
And really, how could you not?
Todman proved to be Connecticut’s latest and greatest bell cow back this past season, finishing second in the nation with 334 rushing attempts.
Even though he’s not built like a traditional workhorse, Todman showed he could carry a heavy load.
It would be an understatement to say that UConn wouldn't have come close to winning the Big East without him.
He may only be 5’9’’ but Todman is a terrific athlete who possesses all the traits necessary to be a successful pro back.
3. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
8 of 11
Class: Senior
Height: 5'7''
Weight: 199
40: 4.46
2010 Statistics
Carries: 271
Yards: 1,548
Average: 5.7
Touchdowns: 16
One of the prospects who made a major impression on me during Senior Bowl week was Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter.
Watching Hunter stonewall linebackers like Greg Jones in pass protection drills really helped to solidify just how tough and strong he really is.
Even though the Cowboys were most known for their high-flying passing attack in 2010, Hunter was the true equalizer for the offense.
When healthy, Hunter is the type of back who does exactly what you need him to do.
He’s the definition of a producer.
2. Mark Ingram, Alabama
9 of 11
Class: Junior
Height: 5'9''
Weight: 215
40: 4.62
2010 Statistics
Carries: 158
Yards: 875
Average: 5.5
Touchdowns: 14
All you have to do is watch one Mark Ingram run to know that he’s going to be a good pro. But at this point, no one’s really sure if he’ll ever become an upper-echelon back in the NFL.
That’s why the debate will continue up until draft night concerning whether Ingram is really worthy of a first-round pick.
Running back is a position which has decreased substantially in value over the last decade
To justify yourself as a first-round prospect, you have to offer something special.
Ingram isn’t one of those rare running back talents who only comes along every five years or so, but it’s hard not to like what you saw from him during his tremendous career at Alabama.
Ingram will be good, probably even very good in the NFL. But only time will tell if he’ll ever become great.
1. Mikel Leshoure, Illinois
10 of 11
Class: Junior
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 227
40: 4.59
2010 Statistics
Carries: 281
Yards: 1,697
Average: 6.0
Touchdowns: 20
All you have to do is read my Mikel Leshoure scouting report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/629215-2011-nfl-draft-prospect-rb-mikel-leshoure) from about a month ago to know how fondly I think of the big Illinois back.
As I said in the report, Steven Jackson meets Ryan Matthews, meets Laurence Maroney, meets Marshawn Lynch. Somewhere in there, you'll find Mikel Leshoure.
He's got all the tools to be an NFL team's go-to back, and he's the only running back who I feel is worthy of a first-round grade this year.
There are more than a few teams picking in the mid-to-late first-round range that could use some running back help, so it should be interesting to see where Leshoure ends up.
The Next Best 10
11 of 11
1. Shane Vereen, Cal
2. Roy Helu Jr., Nebraska
3. Dion Lewis, Pitt
4. Noel Devine, West Virginia
5. Alex Green, Hawaii
6. Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington
7. Delone Carter, Syracuse
8. Stevan Ridley, LSU
9. Jamie Harper, Clemson
10. Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech
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