Heading into the 2024 college football regular season, what do the early 2025 NFL Draft RB rankings look like? There are several potential first-round talents at the top, and farther down the board, the 2025 class’ depth far surpasses that of 2024.
Way-Too-Early Top 10 RB Prospects in 2025 NFL Draft
Only four running backs were selected on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft, the lowest figure since 2021. Only one — Texas’ Jonathon Brooks — was selected before Round 3, marking the first time since 2003 that two or fewer running backs went within the top 64.
After a 2023 cycle that boasted Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs — two prospects deemed “special” — the 2024 class was a visible letdown. Luckily, for teams still in need of talent in the RB room, the 2025 NFL Draft class might be able to fill the gaps.
10) Trevor Etienne, Georgia
Trevor Etienne, the younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars star Travis Etienne Jr., will have all eyes on him as he carries the torch at the RB position for the Georgia Bulldogs. Trevor Etienne transferred to Georgia after logging 753 rushing yards and eight touchdowns at Florida in 2023.
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At 5’9″, 205 pounds, Etienne wins — first and foremost — with his speed, burst, and agility. He also has solid vision, creative instincts, and good contact balance for his size. To go Round 1 like Travis did, Trevor must prove more as a receiver, but the physical talent is present.
9) Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
Nicholas Singleton has the name recognition and the talent. As a former five-star recruit, he’s been heavily anticipated as a 2025 NFL Draft prospect. With more refinement, he can ride his size, athleticism, and contact balance to an early selection.
Singleton’s production took a dip in 2023, but there’s hope that the Nittany Lions’ playmaker can experience a resurgence in 2024 with Andy Kotelnicki as his coordinator. Kotelnicki helped engineer success for Devin Neal at Kansas in the years prior.
8) Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
A few cycles ago, Rutgers produced one of the class’ hidden gems in current Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco. In the 2025 NFL Draft, it could have another gem on the way in Kyle Monangai.
Monangai racked up 1,262 yards and eight scores in 2023.
At 5’9″, 210 pounds, Monangai is dense and well-leveraged, and his compact mass enables him to withstand early contact more often than expected.
Beyond his build, Monangai has stellar agility, twitch, and vision, and he’s one of the best pass-protecting backs in recent memory.
7) Devin Neal, Kansas
Speaking of Devin Neal, he had a strong case to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft but returned to school to close out his storied career with the Jayhawks. His marks from 2023 — 203 carries for 1,280 yards and 16 scores — will be tough, but not impossible, to beat.
At 5’11”, 208 pounds, Neal is a compact, well-leveraged runner with great explosiveness, snappy corrective athleticism and footwork, and a willingness to finish forward as a rusher. If he can stay steady amidst an offensive coordinator change, Neal can bolster his stock.
6) Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
The North Carolina offense may have lost Drake Maye and Tez Walker to the NFL, but it’ll still be very much worth watching in 2024, and Omarion Hampton is a big reason why.
Hampton racked up 1,504 yards and 15 TDs in 2023, and he’ll be relied upon even more this year. At 6’0″, 220 pounds, he’s among the most imposing spectacles in the early 2025 NFL Draft RB class.
Hampton is big, tough, and physical in tight spaces. He also has the vertical explosion to capitalize on tight creases and flashes impressive cutting ability for his size.
5) Damien Martinez, Miami (FL)
The Miami Hurricanes’ offense will be a must-watch unit in 2024. At quarterback, Miami has Cameron Ward, one of the top riser candidates in the 2025 NFL Draft. Then, at running back, the Hurricanes got Damien Martinez in the transfer portal from Oregon State.
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In 2023, Martinez rumbled for 1,185 yards and nine scores on 194 carries. He uses his 6’0″, 241-pound frame to sustain volume, but he quietly has extremely impressive throttle control, freedom of motion, and angle freedom on cuts for his size.
4) TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
TreVeyon Henderson — who broke out with 1,560 yards and 19 total TDs as a freshman phenom — would’ve been my RB1 had he declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. Given his high-flying stock and medical history, Henderson’s decision to return was surprising, and now Quinshon Judkins will be eating into his volume.
Nevertheless, as a prospect, little has changed. At 5’10”, 213 pounds, Henderson brings the natural leverage and power of a volume back, but he also has elite explosive athleticism, vertical speed, and stellar receiving chops.
Henderson can be a quality modern RB.
3) Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
As the 2025 NFL Draft cycle begins, the RB1 mantle is up for grabs. However, few prospects have had as strong a statistical case as Quinshon Judkins over the past two seasons.
In two years at Ole Miss, the former three-star recruit eclipsed 3,000 total yards from scrimmage and found the end zone 34 times.
There are times when Judkins’ vision can be a bit more consistent, but the SEC standout has an energized running style that few can imitate, and he’s versatile across running schemes. At Ohio State, Judkins will be tasked with sustaining his high-level production.
2) Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
Ollie Gordon II is just now entering his first season of eligibility for the NFL Draft. Still, he’s already a top contender for RB1 after amassing 285 carries, 1,732 yards, and 21 scores in a Doak Walker Award-winning 2023 campaign. Past the rushing production, he also caught 39 passes for 330 yards.
Athletically, Gordon might not be the superlative member of the 2025 RB class. Yet, at 6’2″, 215 pounds, he has enough functional explosiveness as a long strider. He’s also a supremely elastic and malleable short-area mover with rare cutting flexibility and flow.
1) Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Ashton Jeanty is PFN’s RB1 entering the 2025 NFL Draft cycle. To almost no national fanfare, Jeanty logged nearly 2,000 total yards from scrimmage in 2023 and found the end zone 19 times. Last year, 1,347 of his yardage output came on the ground.
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Of all the 2025 NFL Draft-eligible backs, Jeanty has one of the cleanest profiles. At 5’9″, 217 pounds, he has good natural leverage and is an energized short strider, but what makes his game so alluring is the efficiency and urgency with which he works upfield and flows through congestion.
Honorable Mentions
- Jaydn Ott, California
- Donovan Edwards, Michigan
- Jaylin Lucas, Florida State
- Jo’Quavious Marks, USC
- Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
- Roman Hemby, Maryland
- Nathan Carter, Michigan State
- Phil Mafah, Clemson
- Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
- Raheim Sanders, South Carolina
Other 2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings
Check out our other way-too-early position rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft:
- Top 10 QBs in the 2025 NFL Draft
- Top 10 WRs in the 2025 NFL Draft
- Top 10 TEs in the 2025 NFL Draft
- Top 10 IOL in the 2025 NFL Draft
- Top 10 OTs in the 2025 NFL Draft
- Top 10 DTs in the 2025 NFL Draft
- Top 10 EDGEs in the 2025 NFL Draft
- Top 10 LBs in the 2025 NFL Draft
- Top 10 Safeties in the 2025 NFL Draft
- Top 10 CBs in the 2025 NFL Draft