2012 NFL Draft Preview: Ranking the Top 15 Running Back Prospects

Danny FlynnNov 7, 2011

We’ve seen plenty of terrific performances from college football’s top running backs this season, but no other back in the country has managed to separate himself from the pack like Alabama’s Trent Richardson.

After taking a backseat to former Heisman-winning teammate Mark Ingram for the first two years of his career, Richardson has stepped into the starting running back role for the Tide and absolutely flourished.

Richardson may be the only running back who is worthy of a high first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft, but depending on how many underclassmen decide to throw their hat into the ring early, next year’s running back crop has the chance to be one of the most diverse groups in years.

With every type of back available to fit a team’s specific needs, it doesn’t matter if you need a small, speedy slasher, or a big, bulky bruiser, you should be able to find the back you’re looking for in 2012.

Sadly, two highly-touted juniors who appeared like they were on their way to making an early exodus to the NFL—Arkansas’ Knile Davis and Pittsburgh’s Ray Graham—suffered season-ending injuries and will now likely have to wait another year to make the move, but there are still plenty of underclassmen who can make up for the depleted senior class.

Here’s a look at the 15 running backs you need to keep an eye on, as we inch closer to the 2012 NFL draft.

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama (Jr.)

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If you watched the LSU-Alabama game, you quickly found out why everyone is talking about Alabama’s Trent Richardson.

The stellar LSU defense had a tough time containing Richardson in both the running and the passing games, as he racked up 169 total yards on the Tigers in a losing effort.

In my opinion, as an NFL prospect, Richardson belongs in the same conversation with the likes of Darren McFadden, Adrian Peterson and Reggie Bush as the type of rare running back prospect who is worthy of a Top 10 pick.

You can call Richardson a lot of things, but there’s really only one word you need to sufficiently describe him: Beast.

Richardson, who looks like he was born in a weight room and never left, is without a doubt the strongest and most powerful back in the country, and he packs quite a punch when he meets contact.

After two consecutive seasons of producing over 700 yards on the ground, the 5’11’’, 220-pound junior has taken the relinquished rushing reins from Mark Ingram and become the main man of the Alabama backfield.

Richardson has already rushed for 1,078 yards and scored 18 TDs in the first nine games of the season.

To me, he looks like a bigger, stronger version of New York Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw.

Richardson is definitely a special type of running back prospect that only comes along every few years.

If he keeps up his current pace and decides to come out next year, Richardson should be a Top 10 pick.

2. Chris Polk, Washington (Jr.)

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Because he plays in the Pacific Northwest, and because he happens to play in the same conference as star running back LaMichael James, Washington’s Chris Polk doesn’t get the national recognition he deserves, but just because he doesn’t receive a ton of attention, that doesn’t mean that Polk isn’t one of the top backs in college football.

You’re not going to find many college backs as consistent and productive as Polk, who has rushed for over 1,000 yards the past three seasons.

The 5’11’’, 220-pound junior can be a bruiser at times, but he’s also got the quickness to get to the second level and make things happen in the open field.

Polk reminds me a little of Marshawn Lynch when he was coming out of Cal back in 2007, because he’s got the power that will really capture the eyes of scouts, but he’s far from being just a one-dimensional back.

3. Lamar Miller, Miami (R-Soph.)

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Although he’s only a redshirt sophomore, Miami’s Lamar Miller has already managed to establish himself as one of the top running backs in all of college football.

Miller began his 2011 season by rushing for over 100 yards in the first five games, before cooling off and coming back down to Earth a little bit.

The 5’11’’, 210-pound Hurricane has the same traits as many of the other great backs that Miami has produced in recent years like Frank Gore and Willis McGahee.

Miller’s got the total package, with the athleticism and the strength to put pressure on defenses, and he’s got the perfect build to handle running the ball in today’s NFL.

The Miami native has already impressed scouts enough to receive early interest if he decides to leave school early after this season.

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4. Montee Ball, Wisconsin (Jr.)

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Last year, Wisconsin had the deepest and most potent backfield in the country with Montee Ball, James White and John Clay, but this season, it’s been Ball who has emerged as the true star in Madison.

After coming up four yards short of the 1,000-yard mark last year, Ball has already broken it this season in just nine games, as he’s rushed for 1,076 yards and scored 24 total touchdowns.

The 5’11’’, 210-pound junior is aided by having one of the biggest offensive lines in football to run behind, but you can still tell that he’s the type of physical downhill runner who is fully capable of handling the load at the NFL level and pounding it in between the tackles.

Ball may not have 4.4 speed, but he’s fast enough to make things happen when he’s got the ball in his hands.

The NFL running back who I think he most resembles is Pittsburgh’s Rashard Mendenhall.

Like Mendenhall, Ball has a sturdy, powerful build and he’s got the strength and lateral agility not only to run by would-be tacklers; he can run over them as well.

5. David Wilson, Virginia Tech (Jr.)

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Losing two running backs as good as Ryan Williams and Darren Evans early to the draft would be enough to frighten any head coach, but Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer knew he didn’t have anything to fear this season, with David Wilson taking over in the backfield.

Beamer knew all about Wilson’s tremendous game-breaking speed, and he knew he would finally be able to fully release his weapon in 2011.

So far, Wilson has stepped in and been as good as anyone could have hoped for, as he’s come in and rushed for 1,185 yards, which is the best rushing output in the ACC and the second best in the entire country.

The 5’11’’, 205-pound junior has definitely proven that he can move the chains, and if he keeps up his current pace, he’s only going to continue to soar up draft boards.

6. LaMichael James, Oregon (Jr.)

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Oregon’s LaMichael James is one of the most entertaining players in all of college football, and there’s no doubt that he’s always worth the price of admission; however, that doesn’t change the fact that he just doesn’t have the size to be an every-down back at the NFL level.

The 5’8’’, 185-pound junior has been highly successful in Oregon’s spread offense, as he’s gashed defense after defense, but he’s just not going to be able to do that in the NFL, where defenders are bigger, stronger and faster.

James, who is averaging a whopping eight yards per carry this season, will have to adjust to being a secondary option at the NFL level, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he won’t be successful.

When you possess the knack for making big plays like James does, you can bet that an NFL team will find a role for you.

7. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati (Sr.)

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This year’s senior running back class is very weak because of all of the early departures for the 2011 draft, but there are a few seniors to watch, and in my opinion, the best is Isaiah Pead.

Pead, who possesses track speed, is one of the fastest backs in the country, and he’s used that elusiveness to torch defenses since his sophomore year.

The 5’11’’, 200-pound senior is averaging a whopping 6.5 yards per carry for his career, and he’s enjoying his best season yet this year.

Pead has rushed for 821 yards and scored 10 TDs this season, and he’s shown that he can be a valuable third-down, speed-back option in the NFL.

8. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M (Sr.)

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Texas A&M hasn’t enjoyed the type of season that fans were hoping for, as the Aggies have dropped to 5-4 after starting off the year ranked in the Top 10, but that hasn’t stopped scouts from flocking to College Station to get a look at A&M’s many pro prospects.

One player that they all have to be interested in is RB Cyrus Gray, who opened eyes last season after rushing for over 1,100 yards.

Gray has already rushed for 733 yards and scored 10 TDs this season, and he’s really built on the positive momentum he started in 2010.

The 5’10’’, 200-pound senior isn’t the biggest back on the block, but he packs quite a bit of muscle in his compact frame.

Gray is the type of prospect that could really make some noise in the postseason evaluation period during workouts and all-star games.

9. Doug Martin, Boise State (Sr.)

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Pretty much all of the talk surrounding Boise State has always been about QB Kellen Moore, and rightfully so, but it’s actually Moore’s backfield partner, RB Doug Martin, who has the brighter NFL future.

Martin may have started off this season slowly, but he’s kicked it into gear lately and he's been running like the same type of back that we saw rush for 1,260 yards in 2010.

The 5’9’’, 215-pound senior is built like a mini tank, and he fits the mold of bowling-ball backs like Ray Rice and Maurice Jones-Drew.

Martin left this past weekend’s game against UNLV with a leg injury, but initial reports indicate that it’s not serious, and he should be able to get back out onto the field and finish up what's been a very impressive career the right way.

10. Andre Ellington, Clemson (Jr.)

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QB Tajh Boyd and WR Sammy Watkins have been getting most of the praise for Clemson’s surge up the rankings this season, but RB Andre Ellington has also played a key role in helping turn the Tigers from an unranked afterthought into a Top 10 conference front-runner.

Ellington, a former 4-Star recruit who arrived at Clemson with a ton of hype, has finally lived up to his big billing now that he’s been handed the keys to the backfield.

The 5’10’’, 190-pound junior has rushed for 745 yards and scored seven touchdowns this season, and he’s shown the type of flashes of speed and explosiveness that should have NFL teams interested in his services.

Although he’s dealt with a few injuries in his career, Ellington still possesses the type of burst to make a difference at the pro level, and if he can finish off the season in strong fashion, he could solidify his status as a second-day pick.

11. Jeff Demps, Florida (Sr.)

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If you’re looking for pure, explosive straight-line speed, then Florida’s Jeff Demps is your guy.

Demps is the type of running back that makes you feel you’re looking at a piece of art when you watch him run.

Because of his rare, Olympic-caliber speed, Demps, who has broken the 10-second mark in the 100 meter dash during his track career, has gained a reputation as the fastest player in college football.

While that’s still debatable, we’ll find out at this year’s combine just how ridiculously impressive and awe-inspiring Demps’ 40 yard-dash will actually be.

Because the 5’7’’, 190-pound senior lacks the frame to handle running inside the tackles in the NFL on a consistent basis, Demps will be used as more of a specialty speed back at the next level, but not matter what his role becomes, his raw explosiveness will be a welcomed asset to any offense.

12. Stepfan Taylor, Stanford (Jr.)

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When you play in the same backfield as star quarterback Andrew Luck, you’re certainly going to get overlooked, no matter how well you perform, and that’s exactly what’s happened to RB Stepfan Taylor this season.

Taylor has quietly rushed for 891 yards and scored 10 TDs this season and demonstrated that he’s got an NFL skill-set.

The 5’11’’, 205-pound junior packs a punch when he runs and you couldn’t find a back more perfectly suited to carry the load for the Cardinal’s balanced offensive attack.

While Taylor may not be the flashiest runner in college football, he always finds a way to get the job done, and he’s the type of reliable and sturdy ball-carrier that can handle a big workload.

13. Brandon Bolden, Ole Miss (Sr.)

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After rushing for 976 yards and scoring 17 TDs last season, Mississippi’s Brandon Bolden hasn’t had the senior season he was hoping for, as injuries and suspensions have really hurt his production this year.

Still, when the 5’11’’, 220-pound senior is 100 percent and running at full speed, he’s proven that he can be a huge burden on a defense.

Bolden is big, thick and strong and he’s got the type of power to repeatedly punch a defensive front seven right in the gut.

The Rebel rusher’s stock has certainly taken a hit this season, but if he can get back to full health and have a strong showing in the postseason leading up to the draft, Bolden should earn his way back into the good graces of scouts.

14. Johnathan Franklin, UCLA (Jr.)

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Because UCLA has endured its fair share of struggles in recent years, RB Johnathan Franklin hasn’t received much publicity outside of California, but the talented 5’10’’, 190-pound junior is certainly deserving of a closer look.

Franklin, who rushed for over 1,100 yards in 2010, has been one of the most steady performers for the Bruins since his freshman year, and he’s displayed some top-notch skills during the last three seasons.

If Franklin were a beer, he’d be LeSean McCoy Light, as he can do a lot of the same things that the Philadelphia back can, but he just hasn’t had the chance to prove himself in the passing game yet.

Franklin could use another year of seasoning to really develop and meet his potential as an all-around back, but he’s already given pro scouts enough to chew on, and he definitely has established a solid reputation so far.

15. Bernard Pierce, Temple (Jr.)

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When you play for a MAC school like Temple, it’s obviously not going to be easy to get a lot of national attention, and you certainly don’t have to tell that to Temple RB Bernard Pierce, because he already knows.

Even though Pierce has run for over 1,000 yards and scored 19 touchdowns already this season, he’s still been flying largely under the national radar.

You can bet that the NFL scouts have taken notice of the big 6’1’’, 215-pound junior, though.

Pierce has been a dominant force at Temple since his freshman year, and he’s been able to use his superior power and natural ability to his advantage to dominate the weaker competition he faces.

He’s also had a few good showings against BCS schools, and you better not bring up his name around Maryland, because Pierce torched the Terrapins to the tune of 149 yards and 5 touchdowns this year.