1. Bijan Robinson – Texas

5’11” 215 lbs.
Bijan Robinson is head and shoulders above this years running back class. He is truly the only prospect at this position that is deserving of a first round grade. Bijans ability to create something out of nothing is what makes him shine. Playing behind a sub par offensive line at Texas, Bijan constantly found holes that weren’t originally there, or bouncing outside for a big gain. Withholding extreme agile and shiftiness, Robinson constantly breaks defenders ankles in the hole and running by them for a big gain. Another highlight of his game is his attitude to never settle for no gain. Robinson is constantly churning his legs and falling forward to maximize potential yards on smaller runs. At Texas he showed that he can produce as a teams bell cow running back. Averaging 21.5 carries a game, Bijan shows good toughness and durability. Has the creativity to take any run for 6, but lacks the long speed to be truly spectacular. He has exceptional burst past the line of scrimmage and isn’t afraid of contact. Bijan instead utilizes his shiftiness to get by would be tacklers rather than his big frame. Robinson has tremendous patience in the backfield, scanning each gap until a hole opens up for him to exploit. Despite this, Robinson is hesitant to settle for a minimal gain, and waits too long for the hole to become bigger, or for something else to open up. He does bail himself out most of the time because of his elite agility and body control. Bijan needs to attack the hole when it opens up and getting downfield, not waiting for it to develop into something bigger. Bijan Robinson will most likely go in the twenties of the first round due to there being so many other glaring needs for teams, and so many interesting prospects. 

2. Jahmyr Gibbs – Alabama

5’9″ 199 lbs.
Gibbs is an easy #2 in the draft at the running back position. His ability to find a hole, but also make a hole that wasn’t initially there is remarkable. He meets defenders between in a gap and leaves them there as he possesses elite agility and speed. Gibbs turns the jets on once he reaches the second level, and rarely gets caught if he breaks it past the line untouched. Gibbs lower body strength and balance helps him shed off would be tacklers leading to yards after contact. He extends plays by providing his quarterback with an outlet in the passing game, always finding the open space and working his way back to the quarterback. Gibbs has a third sense and anticipates the defender when he first catches the pass, leading to broken tackles and yards after the catch. Although he is great at catching the ball out the backfield, he really needs to work on his pass protection if he’s going to be an every down back in the NFL. Often times he leads with his shoulder, or goes for the big hit instead of maintaining his ground and punching for the chest plate. He isn’t a bruiser by any means, but he has the talent to be a #1 back on most teams rosters. Gibbs should be an early day 2 selection in the 2023 NFL draft. 

3. Zach Charbonnet – UCLA

6’0″ 214 lbs.
Many thought that Charbonnet would declare for the 2022 NFL draft, but he returned for his senior season in 2023. Charbonnet is a traditional power back as he plays downhill and runs well through contact. He does bounce it outside from time to time, but makes sure to always turn his shoulders north instead of east or west. He has great contact balance, and is tough to bring down once he gets his legs moving. Charbonnet is dangerous once he gets to the second level, out muscling any defensive back and has a great stiff arm. He shows good patience when reading his offensive line, and utilizes his vision to find and burst through holes when they open up. You would like to see him hit the hole harder, and being more decisive when in the backfield. Charbonnet has demonstrated that he can catch the ball out of the backfield, but could still show improvement. He has plenty of power, but lacks the long speed which prevents him from breaking off huge runs for 6. Charbonnet isn’t as agile as other running backs in this draft class, and will have to rely on his lower body strength to gain yards. As he is lacking in the agility department, it limits his role as a third down back especially because he wasn’t tasked with a lot of pass blocking at UCLA. Charbonnet is the top power back in this class, he is projected to go somewhere in round 2. 

4. Tyjae Spears – Tulane

5’10” 210 lbs.
Despite a torn acl in 2020, Tyjae Spears produced big numbers at Tulane for the next 2 seasons. Spears is an explosive runner that possesses both the acceleration and long speed to take it the distance on any run. He isn’t a huge running back by any means, but showed tenacity and grit when faced with contact. When running between the tackles, Spears is decisive and hits the hole hard. With elite contact balance, and quick feet, Spears has shown that he can break out of tackles and beat a defense up through the middle. Spears does a good job of setting up tacklers for failure as he is quite flashy in the juke department. He has good ball security despite having a leaner frame which is something teams will love as he looks more like a complimentary back at the next level. Spears is super creative in space, and doesn’t let the first tackler stop him in his tracks. He showed at Tulane that he was exceptional as a pass catcher given his ability to make defenders miss out the backfield. Arm tackles won’t bring him down as he is constantly pumping his legs, and plays through contact well. When he bounces it outside, he takes good angles leading to huge gains. Given his narrower frame, it limits his potential role as workhorse. Spears didn’t prove to be a great help in pass protection, but had limited opportunities to perform. Spears may go later in the draft than I think he should, expect him to have his name called on day 3. 

5. Israel Abanikanda – Pitt

5’10” 216 lbs.
Israel Abanikanda broke out in his senior year at Pitt, recording over 1400 yards and scoring 20 touchdowns. On draft night, Abanikanda will only be 20 years old, giving him lots of time to develop as a running back. As a larger running back who possesses a one cut ability, he produces best when running an inside zone concept. He doesn’t lose much speed when making that first cut, maintaining good pad level through the hole and blazing through the defense. Abanikanda has good feet when challenged in the backfield, and is able to turn tackles for loss into minimal gains. He has great long speed, especially for a running back that is 216 pounds. Israel is more of a 2 down back at the next level, you would like to see him be more controlled and confident in pass protection. Despite his showing of good hands, he wasn’t as threatening as a pass catcher often times running clearing routes. He was effective when he did get the ball in his hands out the backfield, showing good patience and vision in the screen game. Abanikanda doesn’t produce a great amount of power and won’t terrify defenders he meets in the hole. He also doesn’t play through contact as well as you would like him to given his size. I have him projected to go on day 3, in round 4.