Running Back Rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft

1. Jeremiyah Love: Notre Dame

Love is the number 2 player in this class, and has the same evaluation as guys like Bijan Robinson, Ashton Jeanty and Jahmyr Gibbs. At the combine, he surprised people by participating in the majority of the drills and the 40, which he ran a blazing 4.36, which was 2nd among all running backs. Love is an all around back, and excels in the passing game. In the last 2 years, he has had 55 catches for 517 yards and 5 touchdowns. His combination of acceleration and athleticism makes him hard to tackle, as you see his spin moves, jukes and insane hurdles. His monster season in 2025 is why he won the Doak Walker award, and was a Heisman finalist. The main concern with Love, is his knee injury which he hurt in 2024 vs USC. Love is a rare talent, and will be a top 10 pick, but the question is if a team will use a high pick on a running back.

2. Jadarian Price: Notre Dame

Both Notre Dame running back being 1 & 2 on this shows how talented their roster and program is. Price is a dynamic playmaker, and would be the best player on an offense for a majority of college programs. His decision to stay at Notre Dame and be behind Love says a lot about his character, especially in these days of college sports. Price brings speed, and versatility to teams, with his receiving and return abilities. The past 2 years, he has had a total of 3 kickoff return touchdowns. With the new kickoff rule, it is crucial that the returner knows how to read blocks and find open field, and Price has that. Being a RB2, he still managed to put up 674 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. He ran a 4.49 at the combine, and a 10″4 broad jump. At 5″11 210 pounds, he is a physical runner, and can be a home run hitter. Although, his limited snap count questions if he can be a workhorse back, when he has never had a game over 20 carries.

3. Jonah Coleman: Washington

Coleman is a bruiser, he is a hard runner who will lower his shoulder and run through contact. Standing at 5″9 225, he is on the smaller side but his production shows up. He has 37 total touchdowns in 4 years, 2 at Arizona and 2 at Washington. He did not test at the combine outside of bench press, where he did 22 reps. What sticks out is ball security, he only has 1 fumble over 4 years. Coleman will not wow any scouts with crazy athleticism or speed, but his ability to read his blocks, and slip through tackles is very valuable. He projects as a early day 3 pick who can be a productive backup in the league.

4. Mike Washington Jr: Arkansas

Washington Jr was one of the athletic freaks that shot up boards after the combine. He ran a 4.33 40, which was 1st among all RBS, as well as a 39″ vertical jump and a 10’8 broad jump. Measuring in at 6″1 223 pounds, he is a bigger back. He spent 1 year at Arkansas, 2024 at New Mexico state, and 2021-2023 at Buffalo. In 5 years, he has ran for 2,914 yards and 26 touchdowns. He serves as a one cut downhill runner, who can balance through contact and break away with his speed.

5. Emmett Johnson: Nebraska

Emmett Johnson is a flashy and shifty back. At the combine, he ran a 4.56 40, a 35.5 vertical jump and a 10’0″ broad jump. In 2025, he won Big 10 running back of the year, and had 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns. His size and physicality is a concern, as he is 5″10 200 pounds, and often gets blown back when meeting backers in the hole. Overall, when Johnson gets in space he can make you miss easily and bend the corner with his speed.

6. Kaytron Allen: Penn State

Allen’s strengths are built around his body type. He is very physically demanding, and has a violent running style. Standing at 5″11 216 pounds, he runs low to the ground, making it easy to break through arm tackles. Kaytrons vision and patience behind the line of scrimmage helps him in short yardage situations. What he lacks is explosiveness and breakaway speed, as well as the natural receiving ability. In the league, Allen will serve as a short yardage, goal line back where his power will help him more than being elusive.

7. Nicholas Singleton: Penn State

Singleton is arguably the most freakish player in this draft, but he did not showcase it at the combine. In 2024, he was expected to be one of the top backs in the nation, but the whole Penn State team fell apart. In 2024, he 1,099 yards and 12 TDs, and in the passing game he had 41 catches for 375 yards and 5 touchdowns. Singletons has legit juice and explosiveness, and will be utilized heavily in the passing game. In 2025, Allen took more of the RB1 role, but Singleton still had 549 yards with13 touchdowns. He runs hard, and is agile and dangerous with the ball in his hands. If he gets into the right system and is utilized right, he can be a serious home run threat.

8. Demond Claiborne: Wake Forest

Demond Claiborne has actual speed. At the combine he ran a 4.37, and it shows on the tape. In 4 years all at wake forest, he had 2,600 yards and 28 total TDs. Demond thrives at seeing his lanes open, and accelerating through them. He has quick change of direction and great burst of speed. At 5’11 195, he has size limitations, but he excels in outside runs where he has room to run.

9. J’Mari Taylor: Virginia

J’Mari Taylor is a 23 year old player, who spent his first 4 years at North Carolina Central. In 2025 at UVA, he had 1,062 yards and 14 touchdowns. Taylor is smaller, at 5’9 205, but makes it up with his physicality. He has short area burst, and has decent elusiveness. He also can get involved in the passing game, which he has 10 total receiving touchdowns in 4 years. His best trait is his contact balance, and his ability to break arm tackles.

10. Seth McGowan: Kentucky

McGowan has a interesting story. He was a recruit in the 2020 class, and committed to Oklahoma. In 2021, he got arrested for armed robbery and three months in jail. He then went to Juco, then New Mexico state, then found home at Kentucky in 2025. In 2025, he had 725 yards and 12 touchdowns, and got a combine and senior bowl invite. McGowan has good vision and patience, which helps him set up his runs. He measured in at 6’0 223 pounds, and he has quads like tree trunks. When April comes around, NFL teams will see his character development, along with his downhill running style, and see a future as a rotational piece for him at the next level.

Thank you for reading! – Written by Harry Lewis TWITTER @Hlewfootball