The college football season is approaching. There is always debate over ranking the best players in the sport. Here are the top 25 college football running backs heading into the 2024 season.
Note: While projection of what a player can be is considered, most rankings are from what has been seen on the field. These are not NFL Draft rankings, but rather focus on the best players in college football.
25. Makhi Hughes, Tulane Green Wave
Hughes proved to be one of the best running backs in the group of five conferences last season. He rushed for 1,378 yards and 11 touchdowns.
24. Jordan James, Oregon Ducks
James wasn’t the lead back for Oregon last season and still managed to rush for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns. Now the backfield is his, so he could put up some serious numbers.
23. Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech has a versatile running back in Tuten, who had 863 rushing yards, 239 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns in 2023.
22. Kaytron Allen, Penn State Nittany Lions
Allen shares the Penn State backfield with Nicholas Singleton, but has produced more than most time-shares. He has 1,769 rushing yards over the last two seasons for the Nittany Lions.
21. Dylan Sampson, Tennessee Volunteers
Last season, Tennessee utilized Jabari Small, Jaylen Wright and Sampson out of the backfield. The first two are gone, so now Sampson gets a chance for more of a workload after totaling 604 rushing yards and 175 receiving yards in 2023.
20. C.J. Baxter, Texas Longhorns
While Jonathon Brooks took most of the work before getting hurt last season, Baxter still produced. He finished the 2023 season with 659 rushing yards and 156 receiving yards. Those numbers will likely increase in 2024 with an increased amount of touches.
19. Quinton Cooley, Liberty Flames
After spending three seasons at Wake Forest, Cooley transferred to Liberty and impressed in 2023. He tallied 1,401 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns for the Flames.
18. Jarquez Hunter, Auburn Tigers
Hunter was a highly-touted recruit who has increased his production in all of his three seasons at Auburn. Last season was his best yet with 909 rushing yards and 118 receiving yards.
17. Phil Mafah, Clemson Tigers
Mafah has contributed over the last few years, even while the Tigers have featured Will Shipley at running back. In 2023, he rushed for 965 yards and now should do even more as the lead back.
16. Montrell Johnson, Florida Gators
Johnson has rushed for over 800 yards every season he has been in college, which includes two seasons at Louisiana and one season at Florida. With Trevor Etienne transferring out, there is more opportunity for Johnson.
15. Trevor Etienne, Georgia Bulldogs
After posting two straight 700-yard seasons at Florida, Etienne has decided to transfer to a rival. Georgia will make him the workhorse running back this season.
14. DJ Giddens, Kansas State Wildcats
Giddens took a big step from year one to year two in college, going from 518 rushing yards to 1,226 last season. While Colorado transfer Dylan Edwards joins him in the backfield, there is still a pathway for him to lead the offense.
13. Kyle Monangai, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Monangai has improved every year at Rutgers and last year really broke out with 1,262 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He will be one of the best returning running backs in the Big Ten with a chance to replicate the production from last season.
12. RJ Harvey, UCF Knights
Harvey was one of the leading rushers in all of the FBS last season with 1,410 yards. The sky is the limit again this season for him, as Gus Malzahn calls a good rushing offense for the Knights.
11. Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Brooks had been productive earlier in his Texas Tech career, but he stepped his game up in 2023. He rushed for 1,538 yards and 10 touchdowns with a chance to be productive again in 2024.
10. Donovan Edwards, Michigan Wolverines
Despite being behind Blake Corum on the depth chart the last few years, Edwards has been productive and had some big moments. While he only had 497 rushing yards in 2023, his best season was in 2022, when he rushed for 991 yards and seven touchdowns.
9. Devin Neal, Kansas Jayhawks
Neal has had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons for the Jayhawks. Last season was his best with 1,280 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.
8. Jadyn Ott, California Golden Bears
Ott has been a bright spot for Cal over the last two seasons. He has 2,212 yards rushing yards, 514 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in his career. His play will help Cal transition to the ACC.
7. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State Nittany Lions
Singleton’s production dipped last season, but he still has great talent. Over two seasons at Penn State, he has totaled 1,813 rushing yards, 393 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns.
6. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State Buckeyes
Henderson has proven that he has unique skill when healthy, but he has been injured a lot during his career. In three seasons at Ohio State, he has registered 2,745 rushing yards, 569 receiving yards and 37 touchdowns.
5. Damien Martinez, Miami Hurricanes
Martinez had two great seasons at Oregon State that saw him rush for 2,167 yards and 16 touchdowns. He transferred to Miami this offseason, where he’ll have a chance to help them compete in the ACC.
4. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina Tar Heels
Hampton had one of the best seasons for a running back in college football last season, totaling 1,504 rushing yards and 222 receiving yards.
3. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State Buckeyes
Judkins had an amazing freshman season, then took a small step backwards last year at Ole Miss, despite still rushing for over 1,100 yards. He now joins a backfield with TreVeyon Henderson, making them the best duo in the sport.
2. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Broncos
Boise State houses one of the best running backs in college football in Ashton Jeanty. He can run and catch the ball with 1,347 rushing yards to go with 569 receiving yards last season.
1. Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Gordon had over 2,000 total yards last season for the Cowboys as the most productive player at the position. His return to Stillwater could lead the Cowboys to a Big 12 Championship.
Make sure to check out our college football page for more content like Top 25 College Football Running Backs!
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
