Which running backs will matter in the 2021 NFL Draft, and what’s the college perspective on all of the top prospects?
2021 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings
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Who said that running backs are interchangeable and not worth the high pick draft value?
Okay, so running backs are sort of interchangeable now and not worth the high pick draft value, and this year there are plenty of good runners who’ll make a big splash from Day 3.
There are a few excellent prospects up top, too.
From the college perspective, the top running backs in the 2021 NFL Draft are …
15. Larry Rountree, Missouri
Size: 5-11, 211
The Good: An unsung SEC producer for the last four years, he showed off enough burst to average five yards per carry and can be used a little bit as a receiver. He’ll bring the energy with every carry and brings nice pop and power to finish off his runs.
The Not-So-Good: The raw speed isn’t there. He’s around a mid-4.6 runner and doesn’t tear off too many big runs when he gets into the clear. He’s quicker-than-fast, though, but not enough to be much of a third down pass catcher.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There’s a chance he finds a job in a rotation by adding a different look and style. He’s almost like a knuckleball pitcher in the way he runs – he’s always moving, and he’ll get the positive yard when needed.
Projected Round: Fifth
14. Spencer Brown, UAB
Size: 6-0-220
The Good: The workhorse carried the offense and the team at times with over 2,500 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first two seasons and remained as one of the best Group of Five backs despite a drop-off in production. He’s tough, he’ll carry the load, and he should be good as a No. 2 option in a rotation.
The Not-So-Good: He has a whole lot of wear on those tires. He carried the ball 858 times in his four hard years. For good and for bad, he’s not afraid to blast over someone, and he took a pounding. He’s not enough of a receiver to find a role in the passing game.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: It’s hard to underestimate just how much he meant to the rebirth of UAB football. Great around the goal line and strong for the hard yard, he’ll be a tough cut and could find a job in an offense with speed backs.
Projected Round: Sixth
13. Pooka Williams, Kansas
Size: 5-9, 175
The Good: Ultra-explosive and tough enough to be a steady workhorse if needed, he did what he could as one of the only positives for Kansas football over the last few years. A 4.39 runner who can catch, he can be used in a variant of ways including as a kick returner.
The Not-So-Good: Way too small to be any sort of a blocker, he can’t do too much on third downs if he’s not getting the ball. He was suspended for a game back in 2019 after a misdemeanor domestic battery charge.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’s not getting enough respect and attention from the scouting world. He’ll make a team as a return man and a jack-of-all-trades playmaker for an offense. No, he won’t be a steady feature back, but the ability is there be a difference-maker.
Projected Round: Sixth
12. Khalil Herbert, Virginia Tech
Size: 5-9, 204
The Good: A short, compact runner with a great burst, he was good at Kansas over his four years, and then was amazing in his one season at Virginia Tech averaging 7.6 yards per carry with eight scores. Strong when he gets a seam, he finds the hole and tears off yards in chunks.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not quite as quick in the short yard situations as you might like. A bit scheme specific, he was more of a run through space guy than a blaster of a workhorse. He’s not enough of a receiver to step in and be a third down guy.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’ll be an interesting call. He got a whole lot of work over the last five yards, but he only carried the ball 475 times. As part of a rotation he’s a fun runner who could work well in an up-tempo attack.
Projected Round: Fifth
11. Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
Size: 5-9, 210
The Good: Ultra-productive for an offense that didn’t have a whole lot of weapons, he was the focus of every defensive gameplan and he still always found ways to produce. He’s short, but he’s ultra-quick, delivers a punch, and he always came through – he was a 100-yard machine. While he wasn’t used much as a receiver over his last two years, he can catch.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not quite as fast as some might like. He’s got a burst, but he’s not going to be a breakaway threat. While there’s no issue with his power and toughness, he’s not a big enough back to wear down defenses.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Sometimes running backs get lost in the NFL draft shuffle, and rise up and rock when they get a chance. He’s going to be one of those guys who goes on Day 3, gets into a camp, and then comes through whenever he gets a chance. Again, everyone tried to stop him, and he kept on producing.
Projected Round: Fifth
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings Top Ten
2021 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings Top Ten
10. Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
Size: 6-0, 208
The Good: Speed, speed, speed, speed and more speed. He ran for close to 2,100 yards as a sophomore and was okay when he wasn’t banged up as a junior, but he’s got the 4.36 track star wheels to be a devastating home run hitter once he develops into more of a receiver.
The Not-So-Good: There isn’t going to be enough power to come up with the big pop when the hole isn’t there. While he’s quick, he’s more of a straight-line speed guy whose game might not quite translate to the next level if he’s not running in space.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Hubbard is a tough, strange call. The comp is former Viking star Robert Smith with his wheels and upside, but he’s not necessarily going to be a next-level workhorse and he has to do a better job of holding on to the ball. At worst, he should be a fantastic No. 2 back who scares defenses to death when he gets any room to roll.
Projected Round: Fourth
9. Jaret Patterson, Buffalo
Size: 5-7, 195
The Good: He’s different – in a good way. There’s nothing pretty about his running style, but it’s ultra-effective as he uses his lack of size to dart in and out of traffic on the way to big bursts. SUPER productive, he had a two-game run of 710 yards and 12 touchdowns this year. He brings power in that small package with a whole lot of attitude in every carry.
The Not-So-Good: He’s just not that big – 5-7 is pushing it – and he doesn’t have the blazing speed to be anything more than a ball carrier. He was almost never used as a receiver, and while he’ll give everything to a block, the lack of bulk is going to be an issue there.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Don’t worry about what he’s not. Give him the ball and watch him get positive yards every time. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he ripped through the MAC and didn’t get a shot against a whole lot of big-name teams, but he hit Rutgers for 104 yards and two scores as a freshman and went for 71 yards against Penn State as a sophomore. Draft him and dare the rest of your team bring the same fight to the game.
Projected Round: Fifth
8. Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
Size: 5-11, 214
The Good: A strong all-around back who came into his own as a junior and then showed off a different style look when Mike Leach took over. He’s a mix of skills – both on and off the field; his stance on the Mississippi State flag was a major catalyst in the change – with good power, a rocked-up style, and with good enough hands to grow into a receiver. He only played three games for Leach, but he caught 23 passes.
The Not-So-Good: He’s fast enough, but he’s a bit more of a pounder who’s not going to do a whole lot at the next level to make defenders miss. While he averaged 5.6 yards per carry, there aren’t going to be a whole lot of big runs when he gets outside of the hashmarks.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: It’ll be interesting to see how the NFL types see him. There’s a chance he grows into a different type of game if given a chance to be a part of a rotation – he’ll make himself into a role on a team. His limited time with Leach showed the potential to become a solid receiver with more time.
Projected Round: Fourth
7. Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis
Size: 5-8, 201
The Good: He only had one year of meaningful production, but he was a monster with 1,459 yards and 13 scores to go along with 51 catches. He might not be all that big, but he’s tough when he comes up with a lot of carries and he’s got the 4.42 speed to go along with the good hands.
The Not-So-Good: Considering how quick and athletic he is, he’s not all that elusive. He takes a whole lot of big pops and doesn’t really have the power to matter at the next level. His toughness could actually be a problem – he’ll catch a beating trying to go for the hard yard.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Considering his style, it’s a good thing that he opted out on the 2020 season – of course you’d rather have a back with 300 fewer touches and with a year to get his body right. It’ll be interesting to find out after the fact – if possible – what teams think on him. It only takes one, and somebody is going to see their feature back, and someone else will see him as just a guy you can get anywhere.
Projected Round: Third
6. Michael Carter, North Carolina
Size: 5-8, 202
The Good: A solid all-around back who can return kicks, catch, and handle the ball as part of a rotation, he’s got good straight-like field speed – he’s a 4.5 runner – and he’s reliable enough as a blocker to keep him on the field on third downs. He’ll find a role in some way, can fit any style of offense, and he’ll do what’s needed as a potential big-play running back who’ll produce when he gets his chance.
The Not-So-Good: His production was scheme-specific in college – he had a whole lot of space to work through – and he’ll have to get used to not being able to bounce off of NFL defenses like he did in college. There’s an outside shot that he’s a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none at the next level.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He might not be your workhorse No. 1 guy, but who cares? Make him a part of your ensemble cast, find a way to get him the ball in any way – including special teams – ten times a game, and hope for one big play per outing.
Projected Round: Third
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings No. 5
2021 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings Top Five
5. Trey Sermon, Oklahoma
Size: 6-0, 215
The Good: With excellent bulk, enough quickness and speed to matter, and with everything else in place, he’s got the tools with all the prerequisite pro traits.
He was always good, but he became a whole other back once the calendar turned to December of 2020, ripping through Michigan State before destroying Northwestern for 331 yards in the Big Ten title game and hammering Clemson in the CFP.
That back is an NFL franchise guy who can carry an offense, but …
The Not-So-Good: That back didn’t show up all that often over the first three years and two months. He went from mid-November of 2018 until early December 2020 without a 100-yard day.
To be fair, Ohio State seemed to save him for the finishing kick, and he ran like a fresh back taking his final exam. However, he got hurt right out of the gate against Alabama and was out for the back half of the 2019 season at Oklahoma with a leg injury – and missed the Texas game, too.
— Trey Sermon (@treyera) April 3, 2021
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: It’s not like he didn’t produce before December of last year. Again, he was always good – he averaged over six yards per carry at OU – but he wasn’t a workhorse since that wasn’t the team’s style.
When he got the ball 20 times – which wasn’t all that often – he produced. In the back-is-half-full way, he’s the rare four-year key running back with just 455 carries.
Projected Round: Third
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings No. 4
4. Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma
Size: 6-0, 235
The Good: You want the best power back in the draft, here you go.
Don’t look for wiggle and don’t expect anything subtle about his game – see guy, pound guy, repeat. It’s no coincidence that Oklahoma went from good to amazing offensively over the last six games when he gave the attack a whole other option.
Don’t expect anything happening on the outside, but he can catch a little bit – get the ball to him on the move and good luck to anyone who gets in his way. He’s got the blocking ability to be a factor, too.
Smooth and efficient. @dreeday32
🎥 https://t.co/XhOdfeJeYP pic.twitter.com/v6MyivRQGQ
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) March 12, 2021
The Not-So-Good: There’s one note here. He’s not going to be any sort of quick speed-type of back, and his use as a receiver will be merely as a curveball.
On the plus side, he doesn’t have a ton of carries under his belt for a star back. On the negative side, he doesn’t have a ton of carries. It’s almost like he needs more work just so he can feel the holes and the game a little bit better.
It’s too easy for him to simply destroy the defender in front of him, and that’s not happening quite as often at the next level.
Yes, he was suspended for a bowl game and the first part of last season for a positive drug test, but …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: The suspension was reportedly for marijuana … whatever.
There’s a place in the world for the tough guy back who sets a tone for your offense and your team.
No, he’s not Derrick Henry or the Playoff Lenny version of Leonard Fournette, but he’s got the ability to become destructive force for a coaching staff to lean on to close out a game with a time crunching drive.
Best of all for a player of his style, he has fewer than 200 career touches. Some coaching staff is going to love the potential of what he’ll bring.
Projected Round: Fourth
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings No. 3
3. Javonte Williams, North Carolina
Size: 5-10, 220
The Good: He brings more power to the North Carolina back attack than Michael Carter to go along with good enough functional speed to break off mid-range runs.
Strong around the goal line and fantastic – at least in college – at getting through the first guy and moving the chains, he got a hole, powered through or off a defender, and then he was came the big gain.
You can’t knock him off his feet. He’s like a big pinball, but he’s got the feet to make the quick cuts when needed to avoid taking the big shot.
No, he’s not going to be a big volume catcher, but he’s improving as a receiver.
The Not-So-Good: He doesn’t have quite the speed you might like for a guy who averaged over seven yards per carry last year.
No, he’s not going to get crushed all that often, but he’ll take his share of shots that will add up. Those runs that turned into 6-to-15-yard gains are going to be tougher to come by at the next level.
we all agree that Javonte Williams is *at least* RB3, right? pic.twitter.com/a7CXg2zSFw
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) April 4, 2021
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’s a different sort of back. He’s not really a home run hitter, but he busts out a whole lot of big runs and is always getting tackled down the field. He’s not all about the power, but he’s a tough guy who can become a red zone superstar.
No, he might not be a ten-year back, but he can become the focal point of an NFL running game for several seasons.
Projected Round: Second
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings No. 2
2. Travis Etienne, Clemson
Size: 5-10, 215
The Good: Ultra-productive, ultra-consistent, and good enough to be a steady star for one of the great four year runs by any college football school in the history of the sport, he finished as the ACC’s all-time leading rusher with 4,952 yards with 70 touchdowns.
There’s no questioning his running skills inside and out, he’s a great finisher when he’s around the goal line, and he improved as a receiver, increasing his pass catching production in each of the four years – he can do it all.
While he’s not going to blast away on anyone, he’s a hard runner who won’t shy away from contact, and he plays faster than he actually is – the 4.4 wheels are more than fine – with an extra burst once he gets into the open.
Wherever @ClemsonFB RB Travis Etienne lands in the @NFLDraft…
He'll make an immediate impact. 😤 @swaggy_t1
📺: 2021 #NFLDraft — April 29 – May 1 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/jZR3be6nrN
— NFL (@NFL) April 7, 2021
The Not-So-Good: He was just sort of okay last year. Yeah, he ran for 914 yards and averaged more than five yards per carry, and yeah, he did a whole lot more as a receiver, but he was bottled up a bit too often – he was stuffed in the first meeting with Notre Dame – and only got past 90 yards on the ground three times.
That’s totally nitpicking, but he took a whole lot of shots with close to 800 touches in his 55 game career. For good and for bad, there’s nothing finesse about his game – his physical style is going to take its toll.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Has there been a more underappreciated superstar in college football history? He was a scoring machine, balanced things out as the Trevor Lawrence era got going, and even when he wasn’t getting the ball 20 times a game like last year, he was productively tough to go along with all the flash.
In a perfect world, he’s the Kansas City Chief starting running back, but he’d thrive in a place like Buffalo, too. He’s not going to be the Zeke Elliott or Derrick Henry bell cow guy, but that’s not important in the the modern NFL.
Projected Round: Second
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings No. 1
1. Najee Harris, Alabama
Size: 6-1, 232
The Good: The superstar of superstar running back recruits, he was okay through the first part of his career, but then when he was needed as a junior – especially after Tua Tagovailoa got hurt – a light turned on and he took his game up to a whole other level.
From the Auburn game late in 2019 on, he became an all-around machine as both a receiver and a runner, scoring 50 touchdowns over his last two season.
You want the big power game? He can do that. You want a third down receiver? He can do that. You want 4.45 speed in a 6-1, 232-pound guy? He can do that.
You want a workhorse who can handle the ball 36 times for 245 yards and five touchdowns of all-purpose production in an SEC Championship win over Florida, he can do that, too.
There’s no questioning his drive, his character, and now after the last 15 games, his football talent. In this draft, he’s it. He’s the No. 1 running back who changes your offense and becomes the guy to work everything around.
Will @ohthatsNajee22 be RB No. 1 in the #NFLDraft? 🤔@AlabamaFTBL | @movethesticks
📺: Path to the Draft Pro Day Special on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/UMsr40avK0
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 30, 2021
The Not-So-Good: It’s partly because of his size and partly because of his style, but he’s going to get hit a whole lot. It was big for his draft status to have the 2020 that he did, but that upped his workload a ton – he finished his career with over 700 touches.
For all of his speed and athleticism, there isn’t a whole lot of wiggle. He’ll read the blocks just fine, but he’s not going to make a whole lot of things happen at the next level without resorting to sheer power – and then he’ll take more shots.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: I always get honked at for this but …
He was the best player on the epic 2020 Alabama team.
For all of the love given to the parts in the passing game, and with all of the stars across the board, Harris was the steady glue to it all. He grew into an ultra-reliable receiver and an automatic touchdown when he got his shot at the end zone.
Here’s your next great Alabama NFL running back – someone will get a draft-maker by taking him after the first 22 picks – the Colts won’t go with him at 21 and the Titans with the 22 already have a pretty good Bama back.
Projected Round: Second
