2012 NFL Draft: The 10 Best Running Back Prospects Not Named Trent Richardson

Danny FlynnDec 14, 2011

When thinking about the running back prospects available for the 2012 NFL draft, the first player that obviously comes to mind is Alabama’s junior sensation, Trent Richardson, and with good reason.

Richardson is one of the best running back prospects to emerge from the college ranks in years, and he’s destined to be a Top-10 pick in next year’s draft if he decides to leave school early as expected.

While Richardson truly deserves all the attention and accolades that he’s received during his breakout 2011 campaign, it has taken the spotlight off of some of college football’s other top running backs.

While nobody may be in Richardson’s class this year, there are plenty of top-notch running backs who deserve some appreciation besides the star Tide tailback.

So, to be fair, let’s have a look at the 10 best eligible running back prospects besides Trent Richardson.

Lamar Miller, Miami

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Even though two Miami underclassmen—DT Marcus Forston and WR Tommy Streeter—had both declared for the 2012 NFL draft already, the Hurricane player that everyone really cared about was RB Lamar Miller.

Now, with the news that Miller will indeed turn pro this year, it looks like we've got at least one more running back who will be in the first-round mix come this April.

Although he was only a redshirt sophomore in 2011, Miller still managed to establish himself as one of the premier running backs in all of college football this year.

Miller began the season by rushing for over 100 yards in each of his first five games, but then he cooled off and came back down to Earth midway through the year, only to pick things back up again and have some big performances against Duke and Boston College in the latter part of what turned out to be his final season in Coral Gables.

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

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

If Miller does everything he’s supposed to do during the postseason process, there’s no reason that he shouldn’t be the second running back to come off the board behind Trent Richardson.

Chris Polk, Washington

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Because he plays in the Pacific Northwest, which isn't exactly the center of the college football universe, and because he happens to play in the same conference as Oregon’s LaMichael James, Chris Polk doesn’t get the type of national recognition he deserves. But just because he doesn’t receive a ton of attention and publicity, 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 in each of the past three seasons.

This year, the 5'11", 220-pound junior had the best season of his career. Polk totaled 1,665 yards of offense and scored 15 touchdowns, and he was once again the linchpin of the Huskies offense.

The multi-dimensional back can do pretty much everything you’re looking for in an NFL back. He can pound it inside the tackles, get to the second level on a consistent basis and catch the ball out of the backfield.

If he decides to come out after this season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Polk receive late-first-round consideration.

Montee Ball, Wisconsin

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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 was all about Montee Ball, who emerged as the true star in Madison.

After coming up four yards short of the 1,000-yard rushing mark last year, it only took Ball nine games to get over that same hump this season. He ended up rushing for 1,759 yards and scoring 38 total touchdowns on his way to becoming a fourth-place finisher in the Heisman race.

To be fair, the 5'11", 210-pound junior certainly benefited from having one of the biggest and best offensive lines in college football to run behind; and there were times when he could go 10 yards without a defender even touching him.

But even with the blocking advantages he had, you could still tell that Ball is the type of physical downhill runner who is fully capable of handling himself at the NFL level, and he should ultimately find a role as part of a two-headed rushing attack in the pros.

Ball may not have true 4.4-caliber breakaway speed, but he’s fast enough to make things happen when he gets into the open field.

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 to not only run by would-be tacklers; he can run through his fair share as well.

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Bernard Pierce, Temple

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You may be wondering to yourself, is there any reason that I should watch the New Mexico Bowl, which pits Temple against Wyoming on Saturday afternoon.

Well, I've got at least one reason that you should tune in, and his name is Bernard Pierce.

Peirce has been one of the most undervalued and under-appreciated players in college football this season, but Temple fans sure know how important he was to the Owls' success this year.

The 6'1'', 215-pound junior rushed for 1,381 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2011, and he showed scouts that he's got the type of athleticism, physicality and big, strong frame to thrive in the NFL.

Pierce will likely play his last game in a Temple uniform on Saturday, and if he can put up a big performance on a national stage, it will really help boost his stock and solidify his status as a potential Day 2 pick.

LaMichael James, Oregon

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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 throughout his career, but he’s just not going to be able to do that in the NFL, where defenders are bigger, stronger and faster.

James, who averaged a whopping 7.4 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.

James will have to learn how to become a bigger weapon in the passing game in order to utilize his full potential in the pros, but if he can do that, he should definitely be able to stick in the league for a long time, just as long as his body holds up.

David Wilson, Virginia Tech

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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 dangerous offensive weapon in 2011.

The 5'11", 205-pound junior stepped into the full-time starting role this year and was as good as anyone could have hoped, as he came in and led the ACC with 1,627 rushing yards, which ranked fifth in the country.

His 6.1 yards per carry average is certainly impressive, but what’s going to be even more impressive is the blistering time he puts up in the 40-yard dash if he decides to come out after the season.

Wilson has already done enough to warrant second-round interest, but he could end up being lured back to Blacksburg by the appeal of chasing a Heisman Trophy and a national championship in 2012.

Doug Martin, Boise State

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Pretty much all of the talk surrounding Boise State these past few years 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 kicked it into gear by the fourth week of the season and never looked back, as he rushed for 1,148 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.

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.

If you want to grasp what Martin is fully capable of, all you have to do is watch that screen pass play he made against Nevada last season. It’s highlight-reel plays like that which are sure to have NFL scouts interested in the Boise State back’s services.

Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

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Texas A&M was one of the most disappointing teams of the 2011 season, as the Aggies finished just 6-6 after starting off the year ranked in the Top 10, but that didn't stop the scouts from flocking to College Station to get a look at A&M’s many talented pro prospects.

One player that they all probably wanted to get a good look at is RB Cyrus Gray, who opened eyes last season after rushing for over 1,100 yards.

Gray once again topped the 1,000-yard mark in 2011, and he managed to really build 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.

Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

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Because of all of the early departures for the 2011 draft, this year’s senior running back class is very weak, but there are still a few notable seniors to watch. One of the best is Cincinnati’s 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 averaged a whopping 6.3 yards per carry for his career, and he enjoyed his best season yet this year.

Pead totaled 1,414 yards of offense and scored 14 touchdowns, as he was once again the most important player for Cincinnati’s offensive.

He’s demonstrated to scouts that he has what it takes to be a valuable third-down, speed-back option in the NFL, and if he can really wow onlookers with his 40-yard dash time, he should be able to rise up draft boards as April draws closer.

Andre Ellington, Clemson

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QB Tajh Boyd and WR Sammy Watkins received most of the praise and accolades for Clemson’s surge up the rankings this season, but RB Andre Ellington also played a key role in helping turn the Tigers from an unranked preseason afterthought into an ACC champion.

Ellington, a former four-star recruit who arrived at Clemson with a ton of hype, finally lived up to his big billing this season when he was handed the keys to the backfield.

The 5'10", 190-pound junior rushed for 1,062 yards and scored 10 touchdowns this season, and he showed the type of flashes of speed and explosiveness that are sure to have NFL teams interested.

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.

Ellington might be wise to return to school and gain some more national notoriety as a senior next season, as Clemson looks to have the type of team that should be right in the thick of the national title hunt in 2012. But the speedy junior has already opened a few eyes this year, and he’ll have to at least consider a possible early jump to the pros after the Tigers wrap up their season in the Orange Bowl against West Virginia.

And Don't Forget About...

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Arkansas’ Knile Davis and Pittsburgh’s Ray Graham.

Both junior backs suffered season-ending injuries this year—Davis back in August, and Graham back in Week 9 against Connecticut—and because of that, both are going to have to return to school instead of declaring early for the draft.

But if Davis and Graham can heal up, make full recoveries and get back up to full speed, each of them has the chance to regain the respect they had before their injuries.

If they return to full health in 2012, look for Knile Davis and Ray Graham to once again be two of the biggest running back names in college football.