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2013 NFL Draft: Running Back Rankings

The top 2013 running back prospects available for the 2013 NFL Draft in the order in which I believe they will be drafted. * - denotes 2014 prospect ** - denotes 2015 prospect.

This page was last updated May 10, 2012. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

By Charlie Campbell.
Send Charlie an e-mail here: draftcampbell@gmail.com
Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates.

2012 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | NT | 4-3 OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2013 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | NT | 4-3 OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

Marcus Lattimore**, RB, South Carolina
Height: 6-1. Weight: 232.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2013): Top-25 Pick.
5/10/12: Lattimore is a powerful workhorse back who took college football by storm as a freshman. He ran for 1,197 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry with 17 touchdowns in 2010. Lattimore also hauled in 29 receptions for 412 yards and one touchdown. For that effort, he was named the SEC Freshman of the Year.

Lattimore's second act didn't go as planned. The sophomore was one of the nation's leaders in rushing through seven games in 2011. Lattimore tore ligaments in his left knee against Mississippi State and that ended his sophomore campaign. On the play, he was blocking for a receiver when a defender rolled into his leg. Lattimore ran for 818 yards on 163 carries (5.02 average) with 10 touchdowns in his shortened season. He also caught 19 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown.

Lattimore is expected to be ready to start the 2012 season on time. The power back hits the hole quickly and trucks into the second level of the defense. He is very strong, tough to bring down and breaks arm tackles with ease. Lattimore has more agility than one might think with good pad level, vision and cutting ability. The only thing missing from his game is that he does not have a second gear to break off long touchdown runs when he hits the open field.

Michael Dyer**, RB, Arkansas State
Height: 5-9. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
5/10/12: Dyer was on his way to being a first-round pick before off-the-field problems derailed his career and caused him to transfer from Auburn to Arkansas State. Dyer was suspended by Auburn for unspecified team reasons. He followed now former Tigers offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn to Arkansas State where Malzahn has become the head coach. It is expected that Dyer will be forced to sit out the 2012 season. He could enter the 2013 draft, but would be better off playing another season of college football to resuscitate his draft status.

Dyer ran for 1,093 yards with five touchdowns as freshman in 2010, averaging six yards per carry. With Cam Newton gone, Dyer carried the load for the Auburn offense in 2011. He ran for 1,242 yards (5.13 average) with 10 touchdowns. Dyer was a First-Team All-SEC selection with Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

One big question mark about Dyer's game is his receiving ability. He only caught three receptions for 16 yards in two seasons at Auburn.

Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
Height: 5-11. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
5/10/12: Last September I wrote this: "Montee Ball could be a player who explodes across the national scene quickly in the 2011 season with John Clay no longer at Wisconsin. Ball came on like gangbusters late in the (2010) season for the Badgers with five straight 100-yard games with a total of 777 yards in those five contests. He was third on the team in rushing behind Clay and James White, but Ball led the team with 18 touchdowns. Ball has a nice blend of power and speed that will appeal to NFL coaches and scouts. He hits the hole quickly and is hard to bring down."

That turned out to be a relative understatement as Ball was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He ran for 1,923 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry) and 33 touchdowns in 2011. Ball also caught 24 passes for 306 yards and six scores. His 39 total touchdowns were one of the most prolific season totals in college football history, putting Ball next to Barry Sanders in the record books.

Ball runs with excellent vision, balance and pad level. He is not a burner, but he hits the hole quickly before it closes. It wouldn't be surprising if Ball's production declines in 2012 with teams selling out to stop him. His supporting cast is greatly reduced as well. Wisconsin lost center Peter Konz, guard Kevin Zeitler, its offensive line coach, its offensive coordinator, quarterback Russell Wilson and wide receiver Nick Toon. Ball will also enter the NFL with another season of wear-and-tear on his legs.

Giovanni Bernard**, RB, North Carolina
Height: 5-10. Weight: 205.
Projected 40 Time: 4.52.
Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
5/10/12: Bernard burst onto the scene with 1,324 yards and 13 touchdowns (5.24 average) last year as a redshirt freshman. He also showed fantastic receiving ability with 45 receptions for 362 yards and one touchdown. Bernard carried the Tar Heels' offense and was consistently good. He is extremely quick to break runs for big gains. Furthermore, Bernard is hard to tackle in the open field as he has shiftiness to dodge tacklers.

Joseph Randle*, RB, Oklahoma State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 194.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
5/10/12: The Cowboys had a passing offense with Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon, but Randle still put together a massive season. He finished off a number of drives with touchdown runs for Oklahoma State. Randle averaged 5.9 yards per carry with 1,216 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2011. He chipped in with 43 receptions for 266 yards and two scores, too. Randle picked up the slack for Kendall Hunter and provided a similar speedy and shifty runner. Randle was a First-Team All-Big XII selection for his breakout sophomore campaign.

Stephan Taylor, RB, Stanford
Height: 5-11. Weight: 208.
Projected 40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
5/10/12: Taylor could be one of the more underrated players in college football. Quarterback Andrew Luck, guard David DeCastro and tackle Jonathan Martin have received more attention, but Taylor has been a critical player in Stanford's ongoing success. The underappreciated back averaged 5.5 yards per carry in 2011, rushing for 1,330 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also caught 25 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

Taylor had his first 1,000-yard season as a sophomore, racking up 1,137 yards on the ground (5.1 average) and 15 touchdowns. He also caught 28 passes for 266 yards and a score. Taylor has a nice mix of quickness and strength. He has three-down back ability as well. The challenge will be for him to maintain his production without those tough run blockers in front of him and a quarterback like Luck.

Rex Burkhead, RB, Nebraska
Height: 5-11. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.62.
Projected Round (2013): 2-4.
5/10/12: Burkhead, a power back, was an All-Big Ten selection for his 2011 season. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry with 1,357 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns. Burkhead had a quality sophomore season in 2010 with 951 yards rushing (5.5 average) and seven touchdowns. Even though he is a downhill North-South power runner, Burkhead has some receiving skills. He has caught 49 passes for 415 yards and three touchdowns in his career.

Burkhead is known as a hard worker and high-character individual who is active in community charity work. He has the potential to be a fan favorite in the NFL.

Cameron Marshall, RB, Arizona State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 223.
Projected 40 Time: 4.57.
Projected Round (2013): 2-4.
5/10/12: Marshall has had a quality collegiate career for the Sun Devils. He ran for 1,050 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2011, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Marshall has a nice burst with some agility. He moves like a smaller back, but has good size.

Marshall entered the starting lineup in 2010 and had 787 yards rushing (5.2 average) with nine touchdowns. He is a nice receiver out of the backfield with a total of 55 receptions for 459 yards and one touchdown in three seasons. Marshall is a sleeper back who could be a nice value pick.

Knile Davis*, RB, Arkansas
Height: 5-11. Weight: 208.
Projected 40 Time: 4.59.
Projected Round (2013): 3-4.
5/10/12: Davis injured his ankle in August of 2011 and missed the season. It wasn't the first ankle injury for him as he broke the same ankle during his senior season of high school. Davis averaged 6.5 yards per carry and totaled 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Razorbacks in 2010. He was one of the best backs in the SEC that year. Davis is very talented but needs to stay healthy to push his draft stock back into the early rounds.

Andre Ellington, RB, Clemson
Height: 5-10. Weight: 190.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2013): 3-4.
5/10/12: Ellington is the lead back of a high-powered offense. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry as a junior in 2011, totaling 1,178 yards with 11 touchdowns. Ellington also caught 22 passes for 109 yards. He ran for 686 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2010, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.

Ellington is a smaller speed back who is a big-play threat. He is quick to the hole and can turn the corner on perimeter runs. When Ellington gets in the open field, he is tough to to keep out of the end zone.

There are concerns about if Ellington can hold up under a large number of carries in the NFL. He also needs to show more as a pass catcher. Ellington has some big-play ability and could be considered as a change-of-pace backup.

Marcus Coker*, RB, Iowa
Height: 6-0. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Projected Round (2013): 3-4.
5/10/12: Coker ran for 1,384 yards (4.9 average) and 15 touchdowns in 2011. He has some off-the-field concerns and was suspended from the 2011 Insight Bowl. He ran for 622 yards and three scores as a backup his fresman year. Coker is a physical power back who is a one-cut downhill runner.

Spencer Ware*, RB, LSU
Height: 5-11. Weight: 223.
Projected 40 Time: 4.57.
Projected Round (2013): 3-5.
5/10/12: Ware was the starting back last year, but he finished second on the team in rushing. LSU regularly rotates its backs and, while that keeps the backs fresh, they are unable to put together big statistics. Ware ran for 707 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2011. With the running back-by-committee approach, it could be hard for any of the Tigers' running backs to have a breakout season in 2012.

Michael Ford*, RB, LSU
Height: 5-10. Weight: 215.
Projected 40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round (2013): 3-5.
5/10/12: Ford ran for 756 yards and seven touchdowns last season. The rotation with Ware hurts Ford's production. He barely led the team in rushing, while the Tigers had three backs go over 500 yards on the ground.

Zac Stacy, RB, Vanderbilt
Height: 5-9. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.59.
Projected Round (2013): 4-5.
5/10/12: Stacy was a Second-Team ALL-SEC selection for his 2011 season. He ran for 1,193 yards and 14 touchdowns, also catching 20 receptions for 106 yards. Stacy was a workhorse back for Vanderbilt and figures to perform the same role in 2012.

Le'Veon Bell*, RB, Michigan State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 238.
Projected 40 Time: 4.63.
Projected Round (2013): 4-5.
5/10/12: Bell is a massive back who could move to fullback in the NFL. He outperformed Edwin Baker and became the lead back for the Spartans in 2011. Bell ran for 948 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also caught 35 passes for 267 yards. The Spartans like to run the ball and are breaking in a new quarterback, so Bell should get plenty of carries in 2012. He ran for 605 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman.

Cierre Wood, RB, Notre Dame
Height: 6-0. Weight: 215.
Projected 40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round (2013): 4-5.
5/10/12: Wood averaged five yards per carry, totalling 1,102 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground as a junior in 2011. He is an experienced, well-rounded back who could push his stock into the second day with a big 2012 season.

Kenjon Barner, RB, Oregon
Height: 5-11. Weight: 195.
Projected 40 Time: 4.49.
Projected Round (2013): 4-5.
5/10/12: Like all Oregon running backs, Barner has speed to break off big runs. He had a strong season in 2011 despite splitting carries with LaMichael James and D'Anthony Thomas. Barner ran for 939 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. He has returned punts (10.1 average) and kicks (22.5 average) in his collegiate career, too. Barner could be a third-down back in the NFL who also contributes on special teams.

Ray Graham*, RB, Pittsburgh
Height: 5-9. Weight: 195.
Projected 40 Time: 4.52.
Projected Round (2013): 4-6.
5/10/12: Graham was having a massive 2011 season before a knee injury ended it in late October against Connecticut. He ran for 958 yards and nine touchdowns in only eight games. That still surpassed his sophomore year production of 922 yards rushing and eight touchdowns in a running back-by-committee approach. If Graham can regain his pre-injury form and stay healthy, he could definitely push his stock higher.

Henry Josey*, RB, Missouri
Height: 5-10. Weight: 190.
Projected 40 Time: 4.53.
Projected Round (2013): 4-6.
5/10/12: Josey was one of the best running backs in the Big XII in 2011 before a season-ending knee injury. He ran for 1,168 yards and averaged 8.1 yards per carry with nine touchdowns in only eight starts. Josey had his knee devestated versus Texas, coming away with a torn ACL, torn MCL, torn cartilages, a torn meniscus and torn patellar tendon. He was unable to play in spring practice and his status for 2012 is unclear. Josey may end up taking a medical redshirt in 2012.

Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M
Height: 5-11. Weight: 215.
Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round (2012): 5-6.
5/10/12: Before going down with a knee injury, Michael outshined teammate Cyrus Gray in 2011. Michael led Texas A&M in rushing prior to the injury. He averaged six yards per carry with 899 yards and eight touchdowns. Michael had a massive game of 230 yards rushing and three touchdowns against Arkansas. He is a quick and powerful runner who gets good yards after contact.

Gray finished the 2010 season strong for Texas A&M, and Michael had become a forgotten man in many respects. Still, he had 631 yards rushing with four touchdowns and a five yard per carry average into the eighth game of the season, when a broken tibia knocked him out of the lineup. Michael had 844 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns as freshman, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He will be the lead back in 2012. Michael is very talented with power and speed, but he has to stay healthy to get drafted.

Dennis Johnson, RB, Arkansas
Height: 5-9. Weight: 213.
Projected 40 Time: 4.54.
Projected Round (2013): 5-6.
5/10/12: Johnson took over the starting running back position after Knile Davis was lost for the 2011 season. Johnson ran for 670 yards (6.3 average) with three touchdowns. He showed nice receiving ability too, making 24 catches for 255 yards and two touchdowns.

Johnson lost his 2010 season to injury. He has been one of the best kick returners in the SEC every year he has played. Johnson has averaged 24.3 yards per return in his career, scoring three touchdowns. He will split carries with Davis in 2012, but Johnson could be a potential third-down back and special teams contributor in the NFL.

Curtis McNeal, RB, USC
Height: 5-7. Weight: 190.
Projected 40 Time: 4.53.
Projected Round (2013): 5-7.
5/10/12: McNeal is an interesting back given that he took over the starting position from senior Marc Tyler in 2011 and really played well. McNeal averaged just under seven yards per carry (6.9) with 1,005 yards on only 145 carries. He ran for six touchdowns.

McNeal had academic problems that made him ineligible for the 2010 season. He saw limited action in 2009 and redshirted in 2008. For the NFL, McNeal needs to show his receiving ability and get more active in the passing game. He is a speed back who runs with unexpected power and physicality.

Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA
Height: 5-10. Weight: 205.
Projected 40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round (2013): 5-7.
5/10/12: Franklin ran for 976 yards and five touchdowns in 2011. His sophomore season was more productive with 1,127 yards and eight scores. The drop in yards and touchdowns wasn't Franklin's fault as UCLA struggled throughout the 2011 season.

Montel Harris, RB, Boston College
Height: 5-10. Weight: 200.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2012): 6-FA.
5/10/12: Harris has left Boston College's program and may enter the NFL Supplemental Draft. He also could transfer to another, lower-level school to play the 2012 season with his medical redshirt before going into the 2013 NFL Draft.

Harris missed the first three games of the 2011 season due to his rehabilitation from knee surgery. He only played in two games last season. Harris ran for 108 yards on 22 carries against Wake Forest. He was injured again and didn't play after Week 5.

Previously, Harris had been a workhorse who had logged a lot of yards and a lot of wear-and-tear. He ran for 1,242 yards and eight touchdowns with an average of 4.6 yards per carry as a junior in 2010. He also logged 18 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Harris ran for 1,457 yards and 14 scores in 2009, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He ran for 900 yards with an average of five yards per carry and five scores in 2008, his first season.

Mike Gillislee, RB, Florida
Height: 5-11. Weight: 198.
Projected 40 Time: 4.42.
Projected Round (2013): 7-FA.
5/10/12: Gillislee hasn't played much as he had Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey ahead of him on the depth chart, but both of those backs are gone and Gillislee figures to be the lead back for Florida in 2012. When he has played, he has demonstrated some real burst and running ability. In his career, Gillislee has averaged 6.3 yards per carry, totalling 920 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Like the previous Gators backs, Gillislee is very fast.

Washaun Ealey*, RB, Jacksonville State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 215.
Projected 40 Time: 4.46.
Projected Round (2013): FA.
5/10/12: Ealey had off-the-field troubles and transferred out of Georgia. He ran for 1,119 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, in 2011, his first season at Jacksonville State. The former FBS back ran for eight touchdowns and averaged 108 yards per game.

Ealey is a similar back to former Bulldogs back Knowshon Moreno in terms of his running style. Ealey totaled 811 yards and 11 touchdowns for Georgia in 2010, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He ran for 717 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman. The Bulldogs did not use Ealey in the passing game that much. He had only 11 receptions for 108 yards over his first two seasons. Ealey is a talented back, but the off-the-field problems make his draft stock hard to predict.

Midlo3 05-22-2012 10:04 am xxx.xxx.xxx6.99 (total posts: 1)

Walt, take a look at Perry Jones at UVA. He's in a committee, so he loses out statistically, but he's a top-ten back. He can run, catch, and even throw pretty well. Jones is a little small, but he's tough and can slip pass defenders or go through them.

Frank "Grimey" Grimes 05-14-2012 03:18 am xxx.xxx.xxx0.58 (total posts: 1)

Silas Redd of Penn State will have a breakout season in the new Patriots style offense which will showcase all his skills.

Redd had 1200 yards rushing last year on a pathetic passing team. Every defense's gameplan was to stop Redd. He still averaged over 5 per carry.

Doubtful Redd will come out early, but i'd put Redd over anybody but Lattimore.

Also, look for Montee Ball to drop. Part of his success was Russell Wilson keeping defenses off balance. The yards won't come so easy this year.

Ball definitely should have come out early. He probably would have gone in Rd 1 to the Bucs or Giants. Next year he'll be just another solid Wisconsin RB and probably go in Rd 4.

no3456 05-13-2012 06:56 am xxx.xxx.xxx.165 (total posts: 1)

Knile Davis has 40 times in the 4.3s - obviously that is probably inflated but he is definitely not a 4.6 40 guy.

Bernard 05-11-2012 01:42 pm xxx.xxx.xxx7.59 (total posts: 1)

Knile Davis is listed at 6-1, 220 by everyone else. Not sure why he's listed so much smaller here. He's also considerably faster than Lattimore.

Blake 05-11-2012 12:02 am xxx.xxx.xxx.103 (total posts: 1)

Knile Davis is too low imo

Kyle 05-10-2012 10:38 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.218 (total posts: 1)

No fitzgerald Toussaint? He ran for over 1,000 yards last year

Detroit313 05-10-2012 08:03 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.184 (total posts: 1)

Denard Robinson should be higher on this list(;

C-3PO 05-10-2012 05:08 pm xxx.xxx.xxx9.46 (total posts: 1)

Perry Jones from UVA should be on this list. Doesn't have great size or speed, but he's very elusive and has fantastic hands out of the backfield. He can be a good 3rd down back like Jacquizz Rogers.

Wharthog 05-10-2012 12:15 pm xxx.xxx.xxx4.24 (total posts: 1)

Walter,

Not that it matters but I wondered where you get the projected 40 times? Are they estimates based on game tape or figures from the college teams themselves? Just curious. Thanks

Drew 05-10-2012 08:51 am xxx.xxx.xxx6.67 (total posts: 1)

Where's Silas Redd?

Cam Newton 05-09-2012 11:21 am xxx.xxx.xxx1.71 (total posts: 1)

im faster than all you

carl 04-28-2012 02:09 am xxx.xxx.xxx.207 (total posts: 1)

look at carlos ross from langston university game tape and pro day workout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECsxpwZn9LM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP3j7Yd02gE

lionel stuckey 04-26-2012 03:38 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.254 (total posts: 1)

I think LaMichael James should be a first round pick he has the ability to tricks on the field hes very explosive on the field if you seen the highlights you would know he coming in with the most rushing yards and he missed i think four games he another sproils but more faster and quicker

Stephen 04-24-2012 08:11 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.198 (total posts: 1)

JONATHAN GRIMES IS A BEAST! ADD HIM

Bossman 04-22-2012 09:28 pm xxx.xxx.xxx0.45 (total posts: 2)

For those not feeling Bryce Brown I understand his play was limited in Tennessee because Montario Hardesty played like gang busters his final year which limited Bryce chances.

For those who didn't keep up or didn't know why Bryce's stay at K-State was not successful, one could say it was partly his fault; if not all his fault. But Bryce decided not to attend the "voluntary" practice at K-State but rather workout in Tennessee (I guess that's where is girlfriend was located). Because of that Bryce then entered K-State coach Bill Snyder's dog house. Then the media didn't make matters any better for Bryce when the voted him to be the top runner in the Big 12 for 2011.

I personnaly believe Snyder was determined not to feature Bryce for the skipping voluntary practice and the media vote. (You know to show who's boss.) Frustration build-up and Bryce called it a day.

But don't be fooled this guy has talent and some lucky team will find out once they draft him.

Pages: 12 3 4 ...8 9

2012 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 24

2013 NFL Mock Draft - May 22

Charlie's 2013 NFL Mock Draft - May 21

2012 NBA Mock Draft - May 19

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 7

2013 NFL Draft: Running Back Rankings

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