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2025 Senior Bowl Preview: Running Backs

2025 Senior Bowl Preview: Running Backs
2025 Senior Bowl Preview: Running Backs

The recent history of running backs at the Senior Bowl is illustrious, with stars like Najee Harris, Ray Davis, Tyjae Spears, and Chase Brown participating before making their way to the league. Who of the current generation of Senior Bowl running backs will join them in the pro ranks? The 2025 running back class is deep and brimming with talent at all draft levels. Although elite talents aren’t in Mobile, plenty of intriguing names exist.

Running Back

1. LeQuint Allen | Syracuse

2. Donovan Edwards | Michigan

3. Trevor Etienne | Georgia

4. Ollie Gordon | Oklahoma State

5. RJ Harvey | UCF

6. Jarquez Hunter | Auburn

7. Woody Marks | USC

8. Damien Martinez | Miami

9. Kalel Mullings | Michigan

10. Devin Neal | Kansas

11. Cam Skattebo | Arizona State

12. Brashard Smith | SMU

13. Bhayshul Tuten | Virginia Tech

14. Marcus Yarns | Delaware

Big Names

Trevor Etienne

Etienne is the most talented and dynamic of the big names but has questions about injury, off-field, and long-term durability. He’s a primetime athlete with excellent receiving skills, as evidenced by his improving numbers in that category. His size might be a hindrance, as he is listed at 5’9 “and 200 pounds. The former Bulldogs rusher is Travis’ younger brother, who plies his trade for the Jaguars. Great lateral athleticism coupled with innate vision allows him to make defenders whiff. After two highly productive seasons at Florida, he transferred to Georgia in 2024. Etienne is a terrific big-game player, singlehandedly dragging Georgia to beat Texas twice. If he can interview well with teams, the on-field talent should shine through the week against slower linebackers.

Ollie Gordon

The 2023 Doak Walker winner had an ominous start to the 2024 campaign when he was arrested for DUI before the season. Gordon eclipsed 1,700 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2023. The Cowboys superstar fell back to earth in 2024, in which he did not crack 900 yards. He saw a downgrade in facets, including the receiving game. Regression to the mean hit Gordon hard as the team suffered around him. He is a bigger back at a listed 6’2 225 with limited burst and lateral quickness. Oklahoma State’s leading rusher isn’t the most fluid athlete, relying on brute power and instincts to get by defenders. Gordon must have a successful Senior Bowl week to offset athleticism and off-field concerns. He’s currently projected as a Day 3 selection.

Top Prospects

RJ Harvey

Harvey is being woefully underrated as one of the best running backs in the country. He was a shining light for the struggling Knights. As an athlete, Harvey is an explosive runner with good contact balance and patience. Harvey also proved adept in the passing game, posting consecutive 200+ yard seasons. The former Knights star was a consistent producer during the last two seasons, running over 1,400 yards and double-digit touchdowns. 2024 was his best season, with 1,500+ yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground. With a solid week of practices against less dynamic linebackers and defensive backs, he can jump on the boards into the Day 2 range.

Devin Neal

The Big 12 was the land of talented runners, and Devin Neal could be the best of the bunch. Neal is a tremendous athlete with the speed and agility to take it the distance. He’s a slippery runner in the box and has a lot of wiggle in one-on-one situations. His production was consistent over two seasons, running for 1,200+ yards and 16 touchdowns each year. He provides the juice in the passing game with 70 receptions in three seasons. Neal’s speed and lateral quickness should help him get an edge during Senior Bowl week, much like Tyjae Spears. He could be a late Day 2 selection with a good week of practice.

Damien Martinez

Martinez burst onto the scene as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Miami as a junior in 2024. He’s one of the bigger backs in the class at a listed 6’0 230. The former Hurricanes star has been a consistent producer, rushing for at least 980 yards in his three seasons, and touchdown production increased every year. He shows a surprising amount of speed and lateral quickness for his size. Martinez doesn’t have the home run speed, but he gets the job done with instincts and vision. He needs a good week to prove to evaluators that he can be a true dual-threat weapon.

Sleepers

Bhayshul Tuten

Tuten transferred to Virginia Tech before the 2023 season from North Carolina A&T after a standout career at the FCS level. He has the deep speed to hit a home run from every level of the field. The Hokies star can accelerate quickly in a short amount of space. He also has kick return experience from the 2023 season, in which he scored two touchdowns. Despite the quarterback issues at Tech, he produced a 1,100-yard and 15-touchdown season in 2024. While logging just 81 yards receiving in 2024, he’s a solid receiver out of the backfield. PFF credited him with 30 catches for 333 yards in 2022. If Tuten can have a good Senior Bowl week, he should fly up the boards into the early Day 3 range for a team looking for a dual-threat back.

LeQuint Allen

Allen led the revitalization of the Syracuse program in 2024, helping head coach Fran Brown establish the Orange as a perennial bowl contender. The Orange runner served as Sean Tucker’s understudy for the 2022 season before taking over the reins in 2023. He produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and had 16 touchdowns in 2024. As a receiver, he led all running backs in 2024 with an incredible 64 receptions. Syracuse deployed him in various ways, similar to a slot-back Brandon Aiyuk’s role. Allen has a terrific burst and acceleration. Allen is definitely a prospect to watch among the Senior Bowl running backs.

Woody Marks

It seems like Marks is following the path of his predecessor, Marshawn Loyd, to the NFL. He, too, was a star at Mississippi State before transferring to USC. Loyd was a superstar at last year’s Senior Bowl before being drafted by the Packers. Hopefully, Marks can take his turn in the spotlight in Mobile. Woody was an immensely productive pass catcher out of the backfield, posting 261 catches for 1,546 yards in his career. He’s an explosive runner with oodles of short area burst and agility, which should play well during the week. The Trojans’ star rusher had over 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024. With a good week like his former MSU/USC counterpart, he can elevate himself into the Day 2 discussion.

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