2012 NFL Draft: Ranking College Football's Top 15 Running Back Prospects

Danny FlynnSep 20, 2011

It’s rare occurrence when the two top running backs in college football are actually too young for the NFL draft, but that’s the situation we're dealing with this year with South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore and Auburn’s Michael Dyer.

We’re only three weeks into the season, yet already both Lattimore and Dyer have combined to rush for almost 900 yards and 13 TDs.

The shocking part is: The two SEC studs are only sophomores.

We’ll be lucky enough to see what the two former 5-star recruits can do next year as well, but sadly, college football is probably going to lose many of its top running backs after the conclusion of this season.

As is always the annual tradition, the top eligible underclassmen running backs are likely going to throw their names into the ring and try to out-test each other for positioning on 2012 draft boards.

So how do all the eligible running back prospects really stack up this year?

Is Trent Richardson as good as advertised?

Is LaMichael James big enough to make it in the pros?

Who is this year’s ‘sleeper’ back?

It’s time to start answering these questions, so here’s a look at how I would personally rank the 2012 running back crop.

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama

1 of 16

Class: Junior

Height: 5'11''

Weight: 225 lbs.

2011 Stats: 50 carries, 315 rushing yards, 6.3 yards per carry, 8 rushing TDs, 6 catches, 36 receiving yards

The Flynncast: "The offspring of some type of strange Shonn Greene/Maurice Jones-Drew experiment."

Richardson is one of the strongest and most powerful runners in college football, and he's got the build and the stamina to be a bell-cow back for an NFL offense.

2. Andre Ellington, Clemson

2 of 16

Class: Junior

Height: 5'10''

Weight: 190 lbs.

2011 Stats: 54 carries, 300 rushing yards, 5.6 yards per carry, 2 rushing TDs, 6 catches, 20 receiving yards

The Flynncast: "The next Chris Johnson."

Ellington has rare explosiveness and long speed, and he's the type of home-run threat who can change the complexion of an offense.

If he can stay healthy, he could develop into one of the league's top speedsters.

3. Lamar Miller, Miami

3 of 16

Class: Red-shirt Sophomore

Height: 5'11''

Weight: 212 lbs.

2011 Stats: 44 carries, 303 rushing yards, 6.9 yards per carry, 1 rushing TD, 3 catches, 4 receiving yards

The Flynncast: "Clinton Portis in his prime, with a little Edgerrin James and Willis McGahee mixed in."

Miller shares the same traits as many of his popular predecessors at Miami.

He has the type of size-speed-strength combination that will have the pro scouts drooling.

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4. David Wilson, Virginia Tech

4 of 16

Class: Junior

Height: 5'10''

Weight: 205 lbs.

2011 Stats: 62 carries, 387 rushing yards, 6.2 yards per carry, 4 rushing TDs, 3 catches, 11 receiving yards

The Flynncast: "If Reggie Bush was a better runner than receiver."

Right now, Wilson is still a track star in football pads, but once he figures out all the nuances of being a workhorse back, he should develop into a featured weapon for an NFL offense.

5. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

5 of 16

Class: Senior

Height: 5'10''

Weight: 200 lbs.

2011 Stats: 50 carries, 233 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per carry, 4 rushing TDs, 6 catches, 62 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD

The Flynncast: "The 21st century Thurman Thomas."

Gray is the classic 'take what the defense gives you' kind of back. Although he doesn't create a ton of big gainers, he's the type of instinctive and consistent back who keeps an offense moving down the field.

6. LaMichael James, Oregon

6 of 16

Class: Junior

Height: 5'9''

Weight: 185 lbs.

2011 Stats: 42 carries, 325 rushing yards, 7.7 yards per carry, 5 rushing TDs, 9 catches, 144 receiving yards, 1 receiving TDs

The Flynncast: "A more explosive Danny Woodhead."

What James lacks in size and bulk, he more than makes up for with explosiveness and agility.

James won't be able to create as many open-field runs in the NFL, but he's still a dangerous threat any time the ball is in his hands.

7. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State

7 of 16

Class: Senior

Height: 5’11’’

Weight: 220 lbs.

2011 Stats: 41 carries, 339 rushing yards, 8.3 yards per carry, 4 rushing TDs, 8 catches, 96 receiving yards.

The Flynncast: "A poor man’s Ronnie Brown."

Ballard has shown that he has both the mental and physical strength to handle running inside the tackles, and every now and then, he flashes some of his underrated athleticism, like he did with his goal-line leap against Auburn.

8. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

8 of 16

Class: Senior

Height: 5'11''

Weight: 200 lbs.

2011 Stats: 27 carries, 257 rushing yards, 9.5 yards per carry, 4 rushing TDs, 3 catches, 25 receiving yards

The Flynncast: "If LeSean McCoy weren't a threat in the passing game."

The Bearcats don't give Pead the ball as much as they should, but when he does get a chance to tote the rock, he certainly makes the most of it.

Pead still needs to work on catching the ball out of the backfield, but he's got the type of raw burst that will have teams interested.

9. Chris Polk, Washington

9 of 16

Class: Junior

Height: 5'11''

Weight: 220 lbs.

2011 Stats: 67 carries, 362 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 2 rushing TDs, 3 catches, 27 receiving yards

The Flynncast: "A less overwhelming version of Pierre Thomas."

Now that Jake Locker's gone, you have to expect that Chris Polk will see a ton of carries this year, and it's a role he should thrive in.

You really can't build a power back any better than Polk.

10. Doug Martin, Boise State

10 of 16

Class: Senior

Height: 5'9''

Weight: 215 lbs.

2011 Stats: 43 carries, 127 rushing yards, 3 yards per carry, 1 rushing TD, 8 catches, 174 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD

The Flynncast: "A pudgier version of Ray Rice."

Martin has had a slow start to his senior campaign, but if you go back and turn on a Boise State game from last season, you'll see a powerful, stocky, compact runner who brings value in the passing game.

11. Johnathan Franklin, UCLA

11 of 16

Class: Junior

Height: 5'10''

Weight: 193 lbs.

2011 Stats: 47 carries, 267 rushing yards, 5.7 yards per carry, 2 rushing TDs, 5 catches, 25 receiving yards

The Flynncast: "A Jamaal Charles-Jahvid Best mash-up."

Franklin has the short area quickness to get into the line quickly and follow his blockers to daylight. Although you have to worry about his long-term durability and stamina, the athletic junior is the type of back who can handle eight to 10 carries a game and make a few big runs on occasion.

12. Montee Ball, Wisconsin

12 of 16

Class: Junior

Height: 5'11''

Weight: 210 lbs.

2011 Stats: 48 carries, 272 rushing yards, 5.7 yards per carry, 7 rushing TDs, 4 catches, 99 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD

The Flynncast: "Chicago era Thomas Brown."

We might as well just call Montee Ball 'Mr. Reliable' because he has shown he can handle any type of workload you throw at him.

Ball isn't the shiftiest runner around, but he's a sturdy back who knows exactly how to get north and south.

13. Stepfan Taylor, Stanford

13 of 16

Class: Junior

Height: 5'11''

Weight: 208 lbs.

2011 Stats: 54 carries, 289 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 2 rushing TDs, 3 catches, 25 receiving yards

The Flynncast: "A slightly more physical version of Cadillac Williams."

Because he plays next to Andrew Luck, Stepfan Taylor is one of the most underappreciated players in college football.

Taylor may not break any stopwatches, but he's the type of steady worker who always seems to get the job done.

14. Chris Rainey, Florida

14 of 16

Class: Senior

Height: 5'9''

Weight: 175 lbs.

2011 Stats: 48 carries, 306 rushing yards, 6.4 yards per carry, 2 rushing TDs, 11 catches, 214 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs

The Flynncast: "Dexter McCluster without the dreads."

Rainey may only be 175 lbs. of skin and bones, but he's also lightning fast, and this year he's shown a knack for making big, explosive plays when he gets the ball in his hands.

The speedy running back/wide receiver will find a home as a hybrid offensive weapon.

15. Edwin Baker, Michigan State

15 of 16

Class: Junior

Height: 5'9''

Weight: 210 lbs.

2011 Stats: 34 carries, 167 rushing yards, 4.9 yards per carry, 1 rushing TD, 3 catches, 24 receiving yards

The Flynncast: "A Deji Karim-type of backup."

Baker is far from flashy, but hey, you can't argue with results.

Although he may lack the long speed and burst to ever be considered for a featured back role, Baker is the type of back who would produce well in a tag-team system.