The 2025 college football season is less than two months away. There are several running backs to watch this fall ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Some are looking to build upon strong showings in 2024, while others hope to bounce back from injuries or subpar performances.
Top Five Running Backs in the 2026 NFL Draft
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Love burst onto the scene after a stellar sophomore season, rushing for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns. The first thing that jumps out on film when watching Love is his physical running style. He possesses excellent contact balance and powers through defenders to get every last yard on a given play. Play strength isn’t the only thing Love has going for him. Love also has phenomenal field vision and the acceleration needed to beat defenders to the sideline. Simply put, Love is the most complete back in this class and should hear his name called on day one of the draft next April.
2. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State has boasted one of the strongest 1-2 running back combos in the nation since 2022, that being the duo of Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The former bounced back from a sophomore slump in 2023 to account for 1,474 total yards and 17 total touchdowns in 2024. Singleton’s burst and top-end speed make him a nightmare for defenses in the open field. His value goes beyond the run game, as he excels as a receiving threat out of the backfield. An area of improvement for Singleton is breaking tackles more consistently. The strength is there; it’s just a matter of improving that aspect of his game.
3. Makhi Hughes, Oregon Ducks
Hughes has been among the most productive players at his position since his freshman year, rushing for 2,779 yards and 22 touchdowns in two seasons with Tulane. The upcoming season gives Hughes the chance to showcase his abilities against Big Ten competition after transferring to Oregon. Hughes has an impressive blend of strength and agility that allows him to evade defenders both in the trenches and in open space. While he is very well-rounded as a runner, his impact in the passing game was very limited with the Green Wave. Playing at a more prominent program with better surrounding talent should help Hughes’ draft stock rise.
4. Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma Sooners
Ott is one of the more complicated prospects entering the 2025 season. This time last year, he was fresh off a sophomore season where he led the Pac-12 with 1,315 rushing yards at California. However, 2024 was riddled with an ankle injury and a massive drop in production. His speed and acceleration make him one of the most explosive backs in college football. Ott is also a skilled receiving threat, having 95 catches in three seasons with the Golden Bears. Ott isn’t the most physical running back and isn’t a player you expect to be consistently breaking tackles. Like Hughes, Ott will have the opportunity to compete in a premier conference after transferring to Oklahoma. It will be interesting to see how new Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle utilizes Ott in 2025.
5. Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M Aggies
Moss is a bit of an unknown after rushing for 765 yards and averaging 6.3 yards per carry in 2024 before suffering a season-ending knee injury against South Carolina. Before his injury, Moss showed many of the traits NFL teams look for in a running back. His combination of speed, power, and vision made him one of the most prolific backs in the Southeastern Conference. While Moss checks all the boxes as a runner, his impact in the passing game leaves a lot to be desired. The injury complicates his evaluation, but the traits of a starting NFL running back are there.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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