Julius Loughridge, RB, South Dakota State | 2026 NFL Draft Prospect Zoom Interview
South Dakota State’s Julius Loughridge is one of the most prolific running backs in recent FCS football, compiling 4,106 career rushing yards, 34 touchdowns, and over a 5.5 yards-per-carry average across his collegiate career. Beginning with the Fordham Rams, Loughridge developed into a two-time First-Team All-Patriot League selection and finished among the program’s all-time rushing leaders. His production and efficiency earned national recognition, including placement on the Walter Payton Award Watch List, which honors the top offensive player in FCS football. Loughridge later transferred to South Dakota State, where he quickly added an experienced and proven presence to one of the nation’s premier FCS programs.
On the field, Loughridge is a physical runner known for his contact balance, vision, and ability to consistently generate yards after contact. He runs with a downhill style, showing patience at the line of scrimmage before accelerating through creases. His game blends power with good speed, quickness, and anticipation, enabling him to read developing lanes and capitalize on openings in traffic. Loughridge also displays natural creativity with the ball in his hands, improvising when plays break down to extend runs and turn limited space into positive yardage. His strength—highlighted by a reported 390-pound power clean—along with his physical and mental toughness further complements his skillset. Combined with his vision, burst, and natural running ability, Loughridge has established himself as one of the more accomplished backs in the FCS and a player to watch during this upcoming draft.
Content Creator & Senior Writer for NFL Draft Diamonds. Independent Scouting Consultant.