2024 NFL Draft Prospects: Running Back

8/19/23: Henderson put together an impressive freshman year in 2021 and was too talented to keep on the bench behind more experienced upperclassmen. He averaged 6.8 yards per carry that season for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns on only 183 carries. Henderson also was an impressive receiving back, snatching 27 passes for 312 yards and four scores. Before getting injured in 2022, he averaged 5.3 yards per carry for 571 yards and six touchdowns. With his impressive skill set, Henderson (5-10, 214) has upside to explode in 2024.

8/19/23: Edwards was the backup to Blake Corum in 2022, but Edwards was superb to close out the year, showing a real combination of size and speed. He was phenomenal in the games against Ohio State (22-216-2), Purdue (25-185-1) and TCU (23-119). Edwards has quality size and impressive speed.

8/19/23: Corum was a tough back and point producer for the Wolverines in 2022. As a downhill runner, he shows good strength to break tackles alongside contact balance and an ability to pick up yards after a hit. In 2022, Corum averaged 5.9 yards per carry for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also recorded five receptions for 73 yards.

Corum went out with a meniscus tear late in the 2022 season that led him to miss the end of the year and return to Michigan. Some NFL sources told WalterFootball.com that they thought Corum could have gone on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft if he hadn’t gotten hurt.

8/19/23: In 2022, Milton averaged 7.0 yards per carry for 592 yards and eight touchdowns. He had five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown as well. Milton flashed serious ability in 2020, averaging 5.5 yards per carry for 193 yards. In 2021, Milton was behind Zamir White and James Cook. Milton averaged 4.7 yards per carry for 264 yards and one touchdown on the year. He is big, quick, and full of potential.

8/19/23: As the backup to Jahmyr Gibbs in 2022, McClellan came on late in the year for Alabama. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry for 655 yards and seven touchdowns. McClellan also caught 14 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns. With Gibbs in the NFL, McClellan should take over as the feature back for Crimson Tide in 2023.

8/19/23: Steele was a dominant runner for Ball State in 2022, averaging 5.4 yards per carry while totaling 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also caught 29 passes for 166 yards and a score. Steele is a big back with good quickness for his size. After the season, he transferred to UCLA, where he will replace Zach Charbonnet in Chip Kelly’s offense. In 2021, Steele averaged 4.6 yards per carry for 891 yards and six touchdowns.

8/19/23: Johnson followed head coach Billy Napier from La.-Lafayette to Florida, and Johnson hit the ground running in the SEC. While serving in a platoon backfield, Johnson averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2022 for 841 yards and 10 touchdowns. Johnson would have been the feature back for most programs, but at Florida, he split carries with Trevor Etienne and running quarterback Anthony Richardson. As a freshman with the Ragin’ Cajuns, he averaged 5.2 yards per carry for 838 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Johnson is a strong, downhill, physical runner who is tough to tackle. He could help himself to show more receiving ability.

8/19/23: Wright flashed in 2021 for Florida, but in 2022, he was buried on the depth chart behind some very talented runners. That situation led to Wright transferring to South Florida for 2023. He could be a feature back for the Bulls, and it would not be surprising if he breaks outs this year.

8/19/23: Jones is an undersized back, but he has some ability to contribute as a runner and receiver. In 2022, Jones averaged 5.2 yards per carry for 705 yards and five touchdowns. He also had 25 catches for 267 yards and a touchdown. That just about matched his receiving production in 2021, while he improved in the ground game. Jones could be in store for a big 2023 season with defenses focused on Caleb Williams.

8/19/23: Robinson was on NFL teams’ preseason watch list for the 2022 season, but he was buried on the depth chart behind a future top-10 pick in Bijan Robinson and a mid-round talent in Roschon Johnson. Now that those two are in the NFL, Keilan Robinson should take on a bigger role in 2023. He is smaller back who has serious speed and some receiving ability.

8/19/23: Holani is returning for a fifth season in 2023 and coming off his best year for the Broncos. In 2022, Holani averaged 5.2 yards per carry for 1,157 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had 24 receptions for 151 yards and three scores. It was his best season since 2019. Staying healthy and consistent will be important for Holani to rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.

8/19/23: Garwo flashed some ability in 2021 with an average of 5.1 yards per carry for 1,045 yards and seven touchdowns. While his rushing production declined in 2022, he did well as a receiver with 29 catches for 241 yards.