Way Too Early Top 10 Series: Best RB's of the 2021 Draft

Yeah the 2020 NFL Draft hasn't even started yet, but let's have some fun, and take a look at the next crop of running backs in 2021 draft. These are very early rankings, but also very fluid rankings, and have the ability to change, with the incoming of new information over the next year. So let's dive in!

Running Backs

1. Travis Etienne/Clemso, Senior, 5-10/210 lbs

2019 Season: 1614 Rushing Yards, 16 TD's, 7.8 yrds/c, 37 receptions, 432 yards, 4 Td's

If he would have came out in the draft this year, he would have arguably been the best back of the class. He is a natural runner, and fits very well in today's NFL, that asks running back to be a big part in the passing game, and Etienne excels in that aspect. Needs to work on blitz pick up, so he can stay on the field all three downs in the NFL. Clemson just keeps on pumping out offensive talent, and Etienne has the chance to join that illustrious group who went day 1.

2. Chuba Hubbard/Oklahoma State, Redshirt Junior, 6-0/201 lbs

2019 Season: 2094 rushing yards, 21 TD's, 6.4 yrds/c, 23 receptions, 198 yards

The Canadian Cowboy was ultra productive in his first year as a full time work horse back, and was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award (Nations best RB). He posses top end sprinter speed, along with some great field vision in tight situations. With that field vision, he rarely makes the wrong read, and tries to force a play that is not there. His versatility was more prevalent when Justice Hill was in the mix in 2018, so he can be utilized in different ways. It is noteworthy to keep track of the workload, as he carried the ball 328 times, and the risk of injury may be an issue.

3. Najee Harris/Alabama, Senior, 6-2/230 lbs

2019 Season: 1224 rushing yards, 13 TD's, 5.9 yrds/c, 27 receptions, 304 yards, 7 TD's

Another Alabama running back projected as a high end running back in the draft, whats new. Harris has the prototypical size of an NFL running back, he transfers his weight amazingly, for a player his size, this can be seen especially in his jump cuts. While he is elusive, he has the ability to play a physical type of game, making it hard to bring him down with arm tackles. One thing people can negatively point out is that he has never been the "man" at Alabama, but that is kind of the status quo with Bama running backs.

4. CJ Verdell/Oregon, Redshirt Junior, 5-9/205 lbs

2019 Season: 1220 rushing yards, 8 TD's, 6.2 yrds/c, 14 receptions, 125 yards

Verdell posses legit home run hitting speed, and offers a threat of scoring every carry he gets, which makes him such an intriguing prospect. Even though hes undersized, he shows a willingness to step up, and be aggressive in pass blocking. With Herbert gone from Eugene, and some lack of experience behind center, the Ducks may lean on the run game, and Verdell more. The lack of size is something to keep an eye on, but he should run a fast 40 yard dash, and will probably go at some point in the second round.

5. Kylin Hill/Mississippi State, Senior, 5-11/215 lbs

2019 Season:1350 rushing yards, 10 TD's, 5.6 yrds/c, 18 receptions, 180 yards 1TD

The thunder is brought every single carry by Hill. He plays with great leverage, and explosiveness, to gain that dirty yardage, and uses his aggression very well to get through the first line of defenders, when there is not necessarily a hole. The major knock against him is the lack of big play speed, which may damper his value as a full time, workload back. I see him as a late second, early third round pick at the moment.

6. Jaret Patterson/Buffalo, Junior, 5-9/195 lbs

2019 Season: 1799 rushing yards, 19 TD's, 5.8 yrds/c, 13 receptions, 209 yards, 1 TD

The production has been there for Patterson since he stepped on campus for the Bulls, as he rushed for over 1000 yards his true freshman year, then followed it up his sophomore year, for just about 1800 yards. He has the ability to create yards when the play is broken, due to his slippery running style, he doesn't go down very easily either as more than half of his yards in 2019 came after contact (961 yards). He is not the fastest, or the strongest, but he is well rounded, and with another season like the last two years, we should expect him to be on all the NFL teams radar.

7. Pooka Williams Jr/Kansas, Junior, 5-10/170 lbs

2019 Season: 1061 rushing yards, 3 TD's, 5.2 yrds/c, 27 receptions, 214 yards, 2 TD's

Another back that jumped right into their respective teams offense the moment they joined the team, and started producing, eclipsing the 1000 yard mark his first two years. He is a one cut and go type of player, with deadly acceleration, and is virtually impossible to get down once he hits the open field. He also offers the versatility that NFL team absolutely love, as you can line him up in the backfield, slot, or split him out wide as a receiver. His size is a concern, and may be used more of a scat back. Another serious red flag is his domestic violence case in 2018.

8. Journey Brown/Penn State, Redshirt Junior, 5-11/216 lbs

2019 Season: 890 rushing yards, 12 TD's, 6.9 yrds/c, 15 receptions, 134 yards, 1 TD

Another Nittany Lion who can potentially make some noise in the NFL when he eventually gets to the league. Brown hits the hole with a purpose,and once he gets any type of lane he tends to be gone with some real track level speed. He also is a very tough runner to bring down, with great balance, so arm tackles will not bring him down, that was on display against Memphis on a beautiful 32 yard run in the Cotton Bowl. May be some character issues as he was suspended for violating team rules, but only time will tell.

9. Max Borghi/Washigton Sate, Junior, 5-10/197 lbs

2019 Season: 817 rushing yards, 11 TD's, 6.4 yrds/c, 86 receptions, 597 yards

This kid is Christian McCaffrey lite, he plays like him, and even looks like the guy. Borghi is the best receiving back in this upcoming draft, as he can run the whole route tree, and once the ball is in his hands he can make things happen, as he had 25 plays of +14 yards in 2019. He is not as polished a runner between the tackle like McCaffrey, or a lot of these backs in the 2021 draft are. Another thing to keep an eye on is Nick Rolovich, the new head coach at Washington State, who did not use his runners in the passing game as much at his previous tenure, Hawaii.

10. Kenny Gainwell/Memphis, Redshirt Sophomore, 5-11/191 lbs

2019 Season: 1459 rushing yards, 13 TD's, 6.3 yrds/c, 51 receptions, 610 yards, 3 TD's

There was no drop off in production at the running back spot this past season, after the departures of Darrell Henderson, Tony Pollard to the NFL, as Gainwell put up some stellar numbers in his first full season. He is a guy that I am expecting to fly up the rankings after this season, because he runs with such great vision, and is able to find the holes in the defense very easily. He would be a perfect addition to a team running a zone running scheme. There really isn't any true weakness to his game, as he does everything at an acceptable level, the only thing is that more has to be seen, because he only did it for one year at Memphis.

Best of the Rest

Jermar Jefferson (Oregon State), Zamir White (Georgia), Trey Ragas (Louisiana Lafayette), Kennedy Brooks (Oklahoma), Trey Sermon (Ohio State)