College Football Recruiting 2102: Where Are the Top 10 Running Backs Headed?

Here's the third edition of the top RB board.

Running backs are a coveted position during every recruiting cycle, as it's a position that can be an impact spot early on for a program. This year, we have several talented rock-toters who I think can play as freshmen and several others I think will be starters after a year or two.

The more critical question is, where will they be doing their running? We're going to try to get you some answers, so come inside and check it out.

10. Warren Ball

Ball is a 6'2", 200-pound running back who is equally good as a receiver out of the backfield. We use the term "every down" back a lot when evaluating running backs, but Ball is the epitome of the term.

He will be able to tote the rock on the first two initial downs, but he will also be able to be used as a featured pass-catcher in the air assault portion of his team's offense. 

Committed to Ohio State.

9. Wes Brown

Brown is a very solid running back prospect from the Mid-Atlantic region and has the tools be a complete runner on the collegiate level. He's solid in all areas of his game and stands at 6'0" and 190 pounds.

He can pick and slide to holes and he has the juice to skate through. Look for Brown to develop into a very solid back down the line.

Vanderbilt leads Colorado, South Carolina and Miami.

8. Trey Williams

Williams is not very big, but he's very fast, slippery, explosive, quick and elusive. At 5'8", 175 pounds, Williams is a stick of dynamite in the backfield and can score any time he touches the rock.

He uses his lack of height to his advantage, sliding and hiding behind his line, then darting when he sees a crease. He may not be an every-down back in college, but I still expect him to be very productive.

He's committed to Texas A&M.

7. Matt Jones

Jones is a big-back prospect who stands a large 6'3", 210 pounds. Most big backs are stiff, straight-line bruising types, but Jones is the contrary.

He has very good athleticism and has good wiggle for a big back. He is decisive with his reads, hits holes hard and can also be used as a receiver.

Jones is committed to Florida.

6. Brionte Dunn

Dunn is your classic big-back prospect. He's a bruiser who does the dirty work in between the tackles and loves to mix it up in run alleys. At 6'1", 215 pounds, he's a chugger who relishes contact.

I like the way Dunn finishes runs and plays to his size upon contact. He's physical and has excellent run instincts.

Ohio State has him finally solid.

5. Barry Sanders Jr.

At 5'9", 190 pounds, Sanders actually does remind you a bit of his dad when you watch him on tape. He has excellent elusiveness and quickness in the open field and just enough long speed to get to the house.

He displays great balance to take hits and shoves in the box, and he can still stay on his feet and get up field. He won't wow you with his stature, but he will with the ball in his hands.

Oklahoma State and Stanford lead Florida State and Alabama.

4. Duke Johnson

Johnson shows athleticism that speaks to me as being quicker than fast. At 5'9", 180 pounds, he's an elusive ball carrier who can shake and bake with the best of them.

Dangerous in the open field, he always looks for even the smallest crease to skate through and can hide well behind his blockers to pick and slide to holes.

Miami has him committed.

3. Rushel Shell

5'11", 215 pounds, Shell is among the best running backs in the country. He has elite vision, awareness and run instincts to go along with great speed and run strength.

Shell will be an every-down carrier as a collegiate player as he shows the toughness, size and run strength to stay between the tackles, while also solid hands and speed as a receiver out of the backfield.

Shell's committed to Pitt.

2. Keith Marshall

Marshall shows a skill set that is based on speed and quickness. He has a good burst to scoot to the second level, can shake and bake in the open field and has solid run instincts. 

He's an elite-caliber recruit at 5'11", 185 pounds with nimble feet and is a pure home run hitter. Marshall can score from anywhere on the field in every way possible. Great vision, wiggle, elusiveness and playmaking ability all are attached to his name.

Marshall is headed to Georgia.

1. Johnathan Gray

With production that amounts to over 6,000 yards and 109 touchdowns over the past two seasons alone, Gray entrenched himself into the Texas and U.S. high school football record books this senior season with the national TD record.

At 5'11", 195 pounds, Gray has elite vision, feel, instincts, elusiveness, speed and quickness. He's as complete a running back as there is in the nation and maybe to come out in the past several years.

Texas has him locked up.