Best Running Backs witnessed for 2026 Draft

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Lebanon, TN – Already, we identified Jerimiyah Love of Notre Dame as the best running back we’ve seen perform on our recent schedules. Many top running backs with most yards gained in 2025 played as Freshmen and Sophomores. Their draft days will come. On the other hand, we see the impact of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) temptation. Opportunities exist where Junior and Senior players find guaranteed offers for big bucks rather than risk a low draft position in the pros for less money. Transfer portals and grad school opportunities open up. That’s the way it is now, but this may change in the near future.

Most of the running backs projected for this year’s draft move on because they ran out of college eligibility. In some cases, they sought more. Most likely, they didn’t get the approval from some district court judge to continue a career in college football. Time to move on and play at the highest level of all.

Some of the best RBs seek other careers

In the final rankings of FBS football, the 17th leading runner played quarterback. Once again, the value of Navy QB Blake Horvath comes to light for the Mids with rushing for 1,200 yards and 16 TDs. Ranked just ahead of him at No. 16 came Cale Hellums, quarterback of his archrival rival Army. He rushed for 1,232 yards and 18 scores. Of course, neither will most likely make it to the NFL this year or in the future. It does indicate, however, what a difference a good rushing QB can make at the collegiate level for a program looking for some leverage to win.

Running backs predicted to go in the first two days

Cam Cook of Jacksonville State (4) looks for running room againnst Kennesaw State in CUSA championship game in December. Cook led teh nation in rushing with 1,695 yards and 16 scores. He also caught 30 passes out of the backfield for 286 yards, Should go in early rounds.
Cam Cook of Jacksonville State (4) looks for running room against Kennesaw State in CUSA championship game in December. Cook led the nation in rushing with 1,695 yards and 16 scores. He also caught 30 passes out of the backfield for 286 yards. Should go in early rounds.
Penn State RB Kaytron Allen (13) runs up into Notre Dame in Orange Bowl semi-final in 2024. Between he and Singleton, we thought he impressed us more.
Penn State RB Kaytron Allen (13) runs up into Notre Dame in Orange Bowl semi-final in 2024. Over their careers at PSU, between he and Singleton, he impressed us more. In his last two seasons, he gained 2,411 yards on the ground, 221 via air and scored 25 TDs.
RB Mark Washington, JR (4) transferred from Buffalo after his Junior season to Arkansas. In 2025, he rushed for 1,070 yards and eight TDs. He snared 28 passes for 266 yards and one TD. Look for him to get taken in the second round.
RB Mark Washington, JR (4) transferred from Buffalo after his Junior season to Arkansas. In 2025, he rushed for 1,070 yards and eight TDs. This Razorback snared 28 passes for 266 yards and one TD. Look for him to get taken in the second round.

Penn Stat RB Nick Singleton (10) runs into teeth of Michigan defense in 2023.
Penn State’s Nick Singleton (10) runs into teeth of No. 1 Michigan
defense in 2023. On 295 carries his Senior season, he totaled 1,548 yards. He snagged 65 passes for 594 yards and six TDs.

Running backs lurking in middle rounds

Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne burst for a TD in 2025 win over UNC. In his fourth season with the Deacs, he totaled 2,599 yards and 26 TDs to earn Second Team All-ACC honors.
Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne bursts for a TD in 2025 win over UNC. In his fourth season with the Deacons, he totaled 2,599 yards and 26 TDs to earn Second Team All-ACC honors.
North Dakota State RB Barika Kpeenu starts the 59-3 slaughter of Tennessee State with his first of three touchdowns on 24 yards at Nissan Stadium last September. Kpeenu ran for 1,005 yards and 20 TDs for the 12-1 Bison. An All-MVC First teamer, he played for two National Champion NDSU teams.
North Dakota State’s leading ball carrier Barika Kpeenu starts the 59-3 slaughter of Tennessee State with his first of three touchdowns on 24 yards at Nissan Stadium last September. Kpeenu ran for 1,005 yards and 20 TDs for the 12-1 Bison. An All-MVC First teamer, he played for two National Champion NDSU teams.

Long shots for the long run

RB Noah Whittington (6) takes on Montana State tackler directly on 2025 opening day victory.
Oregon RB Noah Whittington (6) takes on Montana State tackler directly in 2025 opening day victory. Only 897 yards and six TDs in 2025. Six years of college ball starting at games in 2021 at Western Kentucky. 25-years old, 5’8″ 203 lbs. We’ll see.
For our long shot late draft or free agent success, RB Lincoln Pare of Texas State takes the ball 57 yards here against Louisiana in a Bobcat loss in 2022. Under new HC GJ Kinne in 2025, Pare rushed 1,128 yards on 210 carries and caught 37 passes for 312 yards and two scores. Mr. Irrelevant?
For our long shot late draft or free agent success, Lincoln Pare of Texas State takes the ball 57 yards here against Louisiana in a Bobcat loss in 2022. Under new HC GJ Kinne in 2025, Pare rushed 1,128 yards on 210 carries and caught 37 passes for 312 yards and two scores. Mr. Irrelevant?

Read our great history of seeing great college players who excelled in the Pros!

Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Among them, you’ll pry into collegiate lore regarding the likes of Willie Gault, Dan Marino, Randy Moss, Eli Manning, Ezekial Elliot, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and many more.

Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some of the same memories you encountered when we did!

Edited and written by Stephen J. Koreivo, member of Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Author of “Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.”

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