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2026 RB Rankings
1.
Jeremiyah Love
Archetype: Bellcow Back
Pro Comp: Demarco Murray
Grade: 1st round
School:
Notre Dame
Height:
6'0
Weight:
214lbs
Strengths:
Love has a dangerous combination of speed, agility, and strength. Very sudden in the open field. Patient letting his blocks develop and accelerates through open lanes. Talented pass catcher with alignment versatility. Ball security is elite; 1 career fumble. Legit production profile with two seasons of production at a high competition level.
Weaknesses:
Fairly lean and upright frame that could benefit from a bit more bulk. Tendency to make himself vulnerable to big hits with wild hurdles and jump cuts.
2.
Emmett Johnson
Archetype: 3-Down Elusive Back
Pro Comp: LeSean McCoy
Grade: 2nd round
School:
Nebraska
Height:
5'11
Weight:
200lbs
Strengths:
Arguably the most elusive back in the class; possesses elite lateral agility and quickness. Burst pops off the screen while watching his tape. Good vision as a runner; prescient and decisive. Running style is rife with physicality despite not being a big back. Reliable option out of the backfield; doesn't drop many passes. Has proven he can handle a full workload in 2025.
Weaknesses:
Top-end speed is good but not great. Contact balance is average; 2.93 yards after contact per carry is meager. Ball security has greatly improved in 2025 but worth keeping an eye on. Gets blown up in pass protection more often than you'd want; will have a learning curve in the NFL.
3.
Hollywood Smothers
Archetype: Home Run Hitter
Pro Comp: Duke Johnson Jr.
Grade: 3rd round
School:
NC State
Height:
5'11
Weight:
195lbs
Strengths:
Explosive home run prospect who averages 6.9 yards/carry in 2025. Extremely elusive and creative runner who makes defenders miss in the open field and in traffic. Some of the best vision of any back in the class. 1 career fumble. Surprising contact balance (4.45 yards after contact/carry). High-end receiver who can contribute immediately. Kick return upside.
Weaknesses:
Long speed is good but not great. Lacks the anchor to be a designated pass protector in the backfield. Questions over whether he has the bulk to succeed at the next level.
4.
Jadarian Price
Archetype:
Pro Comp:
Grade: 3rd round
School:
Notre Dame
Height:
5'11
Weight:
210lbs
Strengths:
Enticing change of direction ability to cut at sharp angles without losing speed. Possesses surprising suddenness and long speed. Legit burst and acceleration to bust angles; accelerates quickly through the LOS and runs through arm tackles. Not much tread on the tires thanks to sharing a backfield with Jeremiyah Love. Pro Bowl kick returner potential.
Weaknesses:
Major ball security concerns; has fumbled inside the 5-yard line three times in 2025. Has displayed a tendency to bounce runs to the outside unnecessarily rather than running between the tackles, though he's steadily improved in this area. Top-end speed is good but not great. Hasn't produced much of anything as a receiver.
5.
Jonah Coleman
Archetype: Zone Scheme Bowling Ball
Pro Comp: Javonte Williams
Grade: 3rd round
School:
Washington
Height:
5'8
Weight:
228lbs
Strengths:
Coleman sports a compact, bowling ball build that affords him elite contact balance. Racks up missed tackles forced and yards after contact. Arguably the most sagacious ball carrier vision in the class; finds running lanes at the LOS and navigates to openings at the 2nd level. Above average lateral agility and acceleration. Reliable hands; 0 drops in the last two seasons.
Weaknesses:
Coleman lacks dynamic top-end speed; not somebody who will consistently hit home runs. Can catch checkdowns and make plays but lacks variety as a route runner; won't create any mismatches.
6.
Waymond Jordan
Archetype: 2-Down Slasher
Pro Comp: DeAngelo Williams
Grade: 3rd round
School:
USC
Height:
5'9
Weight:
210lbs
Strengths:
Electric runner; flashes elite burst and great lateral agility. Creative runner in the open field who makes people miss. Compact build and good contact balance helps him push the pile; 5.15 yards after contact/carry in 2025. Good vision; patient runner in USC's gap-heavy scheme. Finishes runs hard. Serious 3rd down upside; intelligent pass protector and a solid route runner.
Weaknesses:
Sustained an injury that sidelined him for much of his lone year at USC in 2025; may do well to return to school. Hasn't made the most of his limited receiving opportunities; two drops on 12 targets in 2025. Limited pass pro film; hard to grade his actual ability. Two fumbles in 2025. Long speed is good but not great; doesn't flash breakaway speed on film.
7.
Justice Haynes
Archetype: Home Run Hitter
Pro Comp: Jerome Ford
Grade: 3rd round
School:
Michigan
Height:
5'11
Weight:
210lbs
Strengths:
Great long speed; rarely gets caught from behind. Averages 7.1 yards/carry in 2025. Very aggressive for a big play back; capable of producing with a large workload. Some of the best and most prescient ball carrier vision in the class. Compact build provides him with solid contact balance. Pad level remains low in traffic; runs through arm tackles.
Weaknesses:
Agility and open-field creativity leave a lot to be desired; one-cut straight-line runner. Durability concerns despite not having a lot of tread on the tires. Offers little to nothing as a receiver; production is lackluster and his routes are subpar.
8.
Keyjuan Brown
Archetype: One-Cut Committee Back
Pro Comp: Damien Harris
Grade: early day 3
School:
Louisville
Height:
5'10
Weight:
210lbs
Strengths:
Displays some powerful leg drive to fight for extra yards; 4.93 yards after contact/carry. Slips through arm tackles and punishes defensive backs thanks to his aggressive style. Has the patience to excel in a mix of run schemes; very keen letting blocks develop. Soft hands as a receiver. Willing pass protector. Redshirt sophomore with not a lot of tread on the tires.
Weaknesses:
Burst doesn't jump off the screen; acceleration needs to improve. Tight hips limit his open-field creativity. Pad level could be improved through the LOS. Has yet to show any development in his route tree beyond the basics. Inexperienced in pass protection. Only really began producing in the second half of 2025, may benefit from returning to school.
9.
Robert Henry Jr.
Archetype: Home Run Hitter
Pro Comp:
Grade: early day 3
School:
UTSA
Height:
5'9
Weight:
205lbs
Strengths:
Explosive burst and great long speed; rarely gets caught from behind. Averages 7.5 yards/carry in 2025. Burst through the LOS and change of direction ability allow him to slip arm tackles and get to the next level. Flashes open-field creativity to make DBs miss; good hip mobility and savvy footwork. Proved he can compete at a high level vs. Texas A&M.
Weaknesses:
Slippery but lacks power to push the pile. Serviceable but not dynamic as a receiving back. More of a one-cut change of pace player who doesn't offer anything as a pass protector. Doesn't often play against a high competition level. Six career fumbles.
10.
LJ Martin
Archetype: One-Cut Zone Runner
Pro Comp:
Grade: early day 3
School:
BYU
Height:
6'2
Weight:
220lbs
Strengths:
Surprising burst for his size; true one-cut-and-go zone scheme back. Good pad level and forward lean for a bigger back. Has the vision to press holes and accelerate for chunks of yards. Has cleaned up his fumbles in 2025. Upside as a receiver; reliable hands. Offers a lot as a pass blocker and even some alignment versatility due to his ability as a run blocker.
Weaknesses:
Lacks the power to be a true north-south bruiser despite his size. Long speed is average. Will most likely be confined to a committee in the NFL. Sustained an injury vs. Iowa State and saw subsequent production decline; nagging lower body durability concerns stemming from 2024.
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