Updated 04/1/10

Check back as I update my rankings each week!

1. Jahvid Best - California, 5’10” 195 lbs. - Best has some of the best moves in this entire draft class and is very dangerous every time the ball is in his hands.  A fierce competitor, Best has the quickness and agility to break down even the most disciplined defender in the open field.  He sees the field well, and has the field vision to cutback against the grain for big yards and gets to top speed in a hurry because of his quick initial burst.  Best can spin around would be tacklers, freeze defenders with a juke move, and can change direction on a dime without losing much speed.  Simply put - he plays fast.  Best has great body control for such an athletic player and can be used in a number of different ways - runner, receiver, and return man.  Scouts are concerned about Best’s durability after he sustained one of the worst looking injuries in college football history.  Best skied for the end zone and was knocked even higher by a defender.  Falling to the ground and hitting the back of his neck and head, Best’s helmet popped off and it looked as though he may have been instantly paralyzed.  With concussions a big concern for teams Best will have to test out medically for a team to feel comfortable drafting him.  Best moves up my rankings from #3 to #1 because I feel he’s the best back in this draft class regardless of destination. 

2. C.J. Spiller - Clemson, 5’11” 195 lbs. - Spiller’s game is built off speed and agility.  He is very dangerous in the open field, but does a good job creating his own space when a defender has him lined up.  With good start/stop ability Spiller doesn’t lose much speed when changing direction, and can get to top speed in a hurry.  His vision and instincts for running the football are top notch, and he does a good job of setting up defenders in the second level when he’s still behind the line of scrimmage.  A good hands receiver, Spiller can be effectively used out of the backfield on screens and wheel routes.  He does lack ideal size for a full time back, and teams are worried he could wear down with extended playing time. 

3. Ryan Mathews - Fresno State, 5’11” 220 lbs. - Mathews is a strong runner between the tackles who only gets stronger as the game goes on.  He is very decisive and is willing to pound out tough yards in the middle of the defense.  Mathews is hard nosed and doesn’t like to get tackled without a fight.  He lacks a second gear when he gets to the open field, but he does get to top speed in a hurry.  It’s difficult to knock him off balance because of his strong lower body.  Mathews game is similar to that of the Packers Ryan Grant.  He’s not creative in the open field and will look to run into a defender rather than run around them.  His instincts aren’t as sharp as they need to be and he doesn’t have elite field vision.
 
4. Toby Gerhart - Stanford, 6’1” 235 lbs. - Gerhart is not a fullback.  He is a running back that has deceptive speed for a player his size.  His footwork is reminiscent of former Steelers great Jerome Bettis, as Gerhart is very nimble - keeping his feet when defenders are knocking him around.  Even though he is an upright runner, Gerhart knows how to get low when he’s about to initiate contact.  He has good leg drive after contact and will fight for extra yards on every carry.  Gerhart not only is a good receiver out of the backfield, but he can also throw a halfback option from time to time.  Gerhart runs with good forward lean, and is athletic enough to hurdle over defenders if need be.  As aforementioned, Gerhart is an upright runner and he could open himself up to more contact at the next level.  He also loses speed when cutting, and is not very sudden when getting back up to speed.

5. Jonathan Dwyer - Georgia Tech, 5’11” 235 lbs. - Arguably the best back in this draft class because of his size/speed combination.  Dwyer generates power instantly and has good pop at the point of attack.  His footwork is superb, and he can navigate his way through trash at the line of scrimmage with ease.  He has a strong lower body to run through arm tackles, and he’s got one of the best stiff arms in college football.  He can effectively create space for himself with shoulder fakes, and is agile enough to find most cutback lanes.  He’s not a liability in the passing game because he’s a consistent receiver and puts good effort into pass protection.  Dwyer will fight for extra yards on every carry and has a good nose for the end zone.  The biggest red flag about Dwyer concerns his weight and whether or not he can keep it under control at the pro level.

6. Montario Hardesty - Tennessee, 6’0” 215 lbs. - Hardesty has everything that teams are looking for in a running back.  He is an agile back that can create space for himself by spinning off contact, juking around defenders, and bursting to the outside once in the second level.  Hardesty has the strength to run through arm tackles, and will keep his feet after he takes a big hit from a safety in the box.  He has smooth change of direction skills, and can get by defenders with a stop/start “matador” move similar to what Marshall Faulk used to do in the pros.  Not afraid of contact, he can split defenders, runs with a good forward lean, a good pad level, and creates pop at the point of attack.  Hardesty is also a fantastic receiver out of the backfield.  He has good concentration when looking the ball into his hands, and has the body control to turn and catch passes over his shoulder.  Hardesty even spent some time split out wide as a receiver where he can run routes.  Durability is his biggest concern at the next level. 

7. Anthony Dixon - Mississippi State, 6’1” 245 lbs. - Dixon loves the counter play.  He regularly abused opponents with that play and has the ability to lower his shoulders and carry defenders with him for extra yardage.  Dixon has a good stutter step to catch defenders off guard and open up rushing lanes.  He is a patient runner that will wait for his blocks to fully develop in front of him before charging upfield.  He runs with good balance and is light on his feet when running through trash at the line of scrimmage.  Dixon can be used to run the Wildcat, but doesn’t have the elite burst to make him a special back at the next level.  He also has build up speed in the open field and can be caught from behind. 

8. Ben Tate - Auburn, 5’11” 214 lbs. - Ben Tate runs with good balance and can pick up tough yards between the tackles.  He knows how to lower his shoulders and grind it out, getting stronger as the game goes on.  Tate is a one cut runner that would be most effectively utilized in a zone blocking scheme.  Tate is not fast and sometimes his legs go dead after contact.

9. Joique Bell - Wayne State, 5’11” 223 lbs. - Bell is a versatile player that can excel as both a runner and a receiver.  He runs with a good pad level and low center of gravity which makes him hard to bring down.  With good balance, patience, and agility Bell is an aggressive runner that constantly attacks a defense.  He is a willing blocker in pass protection and can stand up an oncoming rusher.  Bell is a decent receiver out of the backfield and dangerous when he gets into open space.  Scouts will question his level of competition at Wayne State, but Bell proved at the Senior Bowl that he could hang with the big boys of college football.  He’ll have to continue to prove himself at the next level. 

10. Joe McKnight - USC, 6’0” 190 lbs. - McKnight was always compared to Reggie Bush throughout his college career, but never lived up to the comparison.  He is a creative runner with the speed to get to the corner on most runs.  He doesn’t win collisions, but will lower his shoulder to initiate contact.  He has good burst and change of direction skills, and that’s why he has added value to teams because he could be used as a returner.  McKnight is a good receiver out of the backfield, and can line up as a slot receiver if necessary.  McKnight is clearly athletic but runs a little out of control.  He regularly trips himself up in the open field because he’s making moves with a high degree of difficulty at a high speed.  He lacks elite body control and doesn’t show the ability to consistently tight rope the sideline.

11. Charles Scott - LSU, 6’0” 239 lbs. - Charles Scott is similar to former Bengals RB Rudi Johnson.  Scott is a powerful running back that can split defenders and pick up tough yards between the tackles.  He lowers his shoulders and has good burst and pop at the point of attack.  He is a patient runner that keeps his feet when defenders try to take him down with a shoulder rather than wrap him up.  A classic downhill runner, Scott has good leg drive and can push a pile.  He has no second gear in the open field, and is not a creative or elusive back.

12. Pat Paschall - North Dakota State, 6’0” 206 lbs. - Pascall is a big time playmaker that is a threat to score every time he touches the football.  A creative runner, Paschall can go around and threw unsuspecting defenders with a multitude of moves.  He can spin out of the grasp of a defender, and gets to top speed ultra fast.  He runs with great balance, and effectively runs “inside/out.”  He is patient when running inside, and knows exactly when to break a run outside.  Paschall is also adept at using the entire width of the field to his advantage.  He sees the field well and can set up defenders in the second level even before he crosses the line of scrimmage.  He uses shoulder fakes in addition to stiff arms to get by defenders, and can even leap over unsuspecting opponents.  Scouts question whether he has the lower body strength to hold up as an inside runner, but he’s good enough of a receiver to stick around as at least a third-down back. 

13. LeGarrette Blount - Oregon, 6’0” 239 lbs. - Blount impacts defenders so hard he could be nicknamed blunt force trauma.  He’s a traditional power runner that has the leg drive to make his way through the toughest defense with ease.  He’s a swift runner that can make one cut to get up field, and even has the athleticism to hurdle over defenders once in a while.  Blount has good vision, and decent initial burst when he gets the ball in his hands.  He looked good at the Senior Bowl as a runner and was the best back in pass protection drills.  He doesn’t have a top gear in the open field, and off field character issues are certainly a concern after Blount missed most of his final season at Oregon because he punched a player after a loss to Boise State.

14. James Starks - Buffalo, 6’2” 218 lbs. - Starks is a very tall runner that knows how to slice his way through a defense.  He is not fast or sudden, but instinctive and determined.  He has good balance and it’s difficult for players to knock him off his feet in the open field.  Starks struggles when asked to change direction on the fly.  Patience is his greatest attribute as he will allow his blocks to fully develop before he makes a move up field. 

15. Curtis Steele - Memphis, 5’11” 194 lbs. - Steele was one of my favorite backs to watch at the Texas vs The Nation game this year.  Steele has a good stutter step, and doesn’t lose much speed when he changes direction.  I like the way he runs with balance, vision and agility.  His feet are among the best I’ve seen this season covering the All-Star games.  He showed good hands as a receiver and was quick to get his head around for the catch.  He needs to work on his pass protection skills and his blocking technique. 

16. Chris Brown - Oklahoma, 5’10” 202 lbs. - Brown is an instinctive runner that does everything well, but nothing great.  He has good instincts and runs with a good pad level when running between the tackles.  Brown runs with good balance and leans forward when he runs to maximize the yardage he gets after contact.  He has patience, field vision, and the leg drive to push for extra yards once he’s wrapped up.  Brown is a classic cutback runner, but lacks the upside that teams desire.  He could add quality depth on a squad that values hard work and versatility. 

17. Dmitri Nance - Arizona State, 5’10” 218 lbs. - Nance is a powerful runner that runs with a good pad level - keeping his knees high and his shoulders low which makes him more difficult to tackle.  He has more burst than you would expect a man his size to have, and he delivers punishment to anyone trying to tackle him.  Nance shows a great start/stop move in the hole that most big backs can’t make.  He doesn’t lose all of his momentum when changing direction, and keeps his piston-like legs moving to churn out the tough yards after contact.  He’s more than a big man that is hard to tackle, he runs with “pop” and has an aggressive (mean) attitude when it comes to running the football.  Nance also had a good spin move and is light on his feet.

18. Deji Karim - Southern Illinois, 5’9” 210 lbs. - Karim is a powerful runner that runs with a low center of gravity.  He’s basically a bowling ball with cleats, and is tough to bring down.  Karim has decent burst in the open field, but will never outrun a defense for a big play.  He’s likely to make his way at the next level as a short-yardage and goalline runner.  He can be used effectively as a receiver out of the backfield, and has a nice stiff arm to get through defenders.

19. Lonyae Miller - Fresno State, 5’11” 220 lbs. - Miller was behind Ryan Mathews this year at Fresno State and will not have the same type of impact at the next level as his former teammate will.  Miller has good upper body strength and good initial burst after the ball is in his hands.  He is a one-cut runner with decisiveness and he can turn on a little speed in the open field.  His lower body is very thin, and he is a liability in pass protection.

20. Andre Dixon - Connecticut, 6’1” 200 lbs. - Dixon is a instinctive runner that lacks elite speed, but makes up for that with savvy moves and field vision.  He has great passion for the game of football, and is really focused on the field.  Dixon shows great hand/eye coordination as a receiver and can adjust to poorly thrown passes.  He’s a straight line runner with limited upside at the next level.

21. Andre Anderson - Tulane, 5’11” 205 lbs. - Anderson is a very determined runner that will make his living between the tackles as a runner in the NFL.  He can absorb punishment and will keep on grinding out yards after contact.  Anderson lowers his shoulders, keeps his legs driving, and can bounce off tacklers.  He has good balance, and can even break off a spin move from time to time.  A natural hands catcher, he has good concentration when looking a pass in.  He is slow when changing direction, and is a one-speed back who lacks a top gear.  Anderson loses his effectiveness as a runner when he’s forced to go outside.

22. Keith Toston - Oklahoma State, 6’0” 214 lbs. - Toston runs with good aggression and is looking to make a big play every time he touches the ball - which is both a good and bad thing.  He has the speed to get to the corner, yet knows how to “get skinny” inside the tackles.  However, he needs to play with more discipline as sometimes it’s best to just lower your shoulder and take what the defense is giving you.  He can change direction without losing much speed in the open field.  Toston will have to become a more natural receiver in order to stick around as a change of pace back in the NFL.

23. Stafon Johnson - USC, 5’11” 214 lbs. - Johnson has fought back from a devastating throat injury he sustained while lifting weights in 2009.  Johnson is a decisive runner that has good field vision, and can find cutback lanes with ease.  He has the speed and lateral quickness to get to the corner, and uses subtle fakes to create more space for him to run through.  Johnson is a willing pass blocker, and enhances his value to teams because he can be used as a receiver or a returner. 

24. Darius Marshall - Marshall, 5’10” 190 lbs. -  Marshall can run through trash at the line of scrimmage effectively, and picks up his feet nicely in between the tackles.  His footwork allows him to change direction with minimal steps, but he lacks elite burst.  Marshall also knows how to get low in short yardage situations.  Marshall is a classic “more quick than fast” type of player that lacks any sort of gamebreaking long-play ability. 

25. Keiland Williams - LSU, 5’11” 221 lbs. - Williams never lived up to the potential he showed early in his career with the Bayou Bengals.  He is an instinctive runner that can use different moves to gain positive yardage.  He can cutback, spin, and use a stiff arm to gain extra yards after contact.  Williams can be used as a receiver out of the backfield or a kick returner because he has good footwork.  He knows how to lower his shoulders, but needs to build momentum in order to run with any sort of power.  He lacks pop at the point of attack.