Combine Takeaways Among the Running Backs

During the 2023 college football season and throughout the draft process, I have held the same mentality about this class of running backs in particular. I’ve said the top six to eight guys all had nearly identical grades and you would see them in completely different orders, depending on who you’ve asked.

However, throughout the process, I’ve always had Florida State’s Trey Benson at the top of my list, and his showing at the Combine validates my claims about him. Benson ran his 40 in 4.39 seconds, faster than even I had anticipated. 

Due to the Combine and the running back performances, I think the class is separated a bit more in terms of where the running backs fall within my rankings.

However, when it comes to Mock Drafts and the question of who will be the first running back off the board, it still seems a bit blurry. Jonathan Brooks and Trey Benson I would argue are the frontrunners for the first back off the board. Guys like Marshawn Lloyd, Ray Davis, and Jaylen Wright are also guys I wouldn’t be surprised to see their name off the board first come April.