Editor’s note: The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 23-25). Here are his top 10 running backs, plus “bonus” players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

1. Jeremiyah Love (Jr., Notre Dame, 6-foot, 212 pounds)

Love was the fifth-ranked running back in the 2023 recruiting class and my top player in this draft class. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist and became the first player to win the Doak Walker Award for the Irish. He is a patient, balanced runner who presses the hole, makes one cut and can turn routine carries into explosives. He is one of just four running backs weighing at least 212 pounds to run a 4.36 40-yard dash or faster over the last 20 years. Love also has real three-down versatility and enough power to survive between the tackles. He’s usable in every situation, which is what separates feature backs from a true offensive centerpiece. Projected: Top-10

2. Jadarian Price (Jr., Notre Dame, 5-11, 203)

The former four-star recruit would’ve likely been a household name if it weren’t for Love. Price earned All-American honors as an all-purpose player last season, posting 674 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in a complementary role for the Irish. He’s not as complete or as proven as Love, but the juice (8.58 Relative Athletic Score) is obvious and the role versatility matters. He’s still developing as a receiver, and in pass protection, but there’s three-down potential here. In 41 games played, Price had zero starts and never topped 15 offensive touches, but he will contribute immediately on special teams as an impact kick returner. He averaged 36.1 yards per return in college with three touchdowns (all at least 99 yards). Projected: Rounds 2-3

3. Mike Washington Jr. (Sr., Arkansas, 6-1, 223)

Washington is built like a bruiser, but timed like a track guy in Indianapolis. He aced the combine with a 4.33 40 and a 1.51 10-yard split (fastest among RBs; tied for 8th overall among all positions). The former two-star recruit spent three years at Buffalo and transferred to New Mexico State before finally joining the Razorbacks last season. He earned second-team All-SEC recognition and ranked ninth in the FBS with 6.4 yards per carry. He’s improved at each stop. The questions are about how consistently he creates on his own versus what’s blocked, but the size-speed combination (9.88 RAS) will make him a target on Day 2. Projected: Rounds 2-3

4. Nicholas Singleton (Sr., Penn State, 6-0, 219)

Singleton arrived in Happy Valley as five-star recruit and one of the top prospects in the country after winning the 2021 Gatorade National Player of the Year award. He features home-run speed and legitimate three-down upside. When he’s decisive, he runs with real intent — one cut, downhill, and gone. The best reps look like an NFL starter. The worst reps look like he’s still hunting the perfect play instead of taking the profitable one. The career resume is impressive despite there being a significant drop off in production his final season. If Singleton’s vision sharpens and he finds consistency, he could end up as one of the better values of the draft. If not, he’ll still be an asset on third downs and as a kick returner. Projected: Rounds 3-4

5. Emmett Johnson (Sr., Nebraska, 5-10, 205)

After two seasons in a rotation, the former three-star recruit emerged last year for the Cornhuskers, earning major All-American recognition and first-team All-Big Ten honors. Johnson helped himself more than most backs in this class with the way he closed his college career. He was the only FBS player to average more than 150 scrimmage yards per game and finished No. 2 among FBS running backs with 46 receptions in 2025. He’s more smooth than violent, but the vision, agility and pass-game functionality give him a real chance to outplay his draft slot. Projected: Rounds 3-5

6. Kaytron Allen (Sr., Penn State, 5-11, 216)

Allen was the 12th-ranked running back in the 2022 recruiting class and became a four-year starter for the Nittany Lions, earning All-Big Ten recognition each season. Allen won’t win many style points, but he might win a lot of coaches over. He’s decisive, physical, and built for short-yardage and four-minute offense work right away. He led the FBS in 2025 with 8.2 yards per carry in the fourth quarter. His feel for tempo and contact balance show up on tape, even if he doesn’t bring elite top-end burst (like his teammate Singleton). Allen is the kind of back who can grind out a long NFL career. He leaves school with 4,180 career rushing yards, which speaks to his durability, vision and ability to handle a heavy workload. Projected: Rounds 4-5

7. Kaelon Black (Sr., Indiana, 5-9, 211)

After four seasons at James Madison, the former three-star recruit followed Curt Cignetti to Bloomington, where he emerged as a vital part of the Hoosiers’ national title run. He ran for 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry as part of a backfield committee, then helped himself at Indiana’s pro day with a 4.43 40, 37 1/2-inch vertical, 10-foot-5 broad jump and 27 bench reps (9.14 RAS). He’s not a highly creative open-field runner, but he trusts his vision and punishes those who attempt to tackle him. Black creates extra yards through sheer will and determination. Added patience might help, and he isn’t a proven pass catcher, but he gets the job done in pass protection. Black turns 25 in October. Projected: Rounds 5-7

8. Jonah Coleman (Sr., Washington, 5-8, 220)

The former three-star recruit spent two years at Arizona before joining the Huskies in 2024, earning all-conference recognition his final three seasons. Coleman is compact, sturdy, efficient and dependable on passing downs, both as a receiver and blocker. His six receptions of 20-plus yards in 2025 were the third most among FBS running backs. He may not have elite long speed, but he’s a reliable, no-nonsense back. He should find a home in a committee initially, but there’s starter upside. Coleman was named a finalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, known as the “Academic Heisman.” Projected: Rounds 3-5

9. Demond Claiborne (Sr., Wake Forest, 5-10, 188)

The former four-star recruit became a two-year starter for the Demon Deacons, earning All-ACC recognition twice, both as a running back and kick returner. Claiborne is one of the more electric runners in this class. His 4.37-second 40 at the combine confirmed the obvious: he can erase angles, threaten the perimeter and add juice to an offense that needs more explosives. There are questions surrounding his size and ball security, but he has enough burst and return-game appeal to make himself useful right away. Projected: Rounds 4-6

10. Eli Heidenreich (Sr., Navy, 6-0, 198)

The former no-star recruit split his snaps last season between the backfield, wide, slot and in-line. Heidenreich received an almost 46% target share in the Midshipmen’s updated triple-option offense. He broke Navy’s single-season receiving record (941), became the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards (1,994) and then ran in the mid-4.4s at the combine (9.25 RAS). He doesn’t fit the traditional every-down back mold, but that may not matter if a staff knows how to deploy him. Projected: Rounds 5-7

11. Adam Randall (Sr., Clemson, 6-3, 232)

Randall was the 17th-ranked wide receiver in the 2022 recruiting class, and embraced a move to running back his senior year. He’s a converted receiver built like an edge setter. In his first real season as a back, he ran for 814 yards and 10 touchdowns, then showed off intriguing size-speed explosiveness at the combine with an official 4.50 40, a 37-inch vertical, a 10-foot-4 broad jump and 26 bench reps (9.44 RAS). He’s still learning the finer details of the position, but at 232 pounds with pass-catching roots, he’s the kind of developmental swing worth taking on Day 3. Watch out if he ends up with a creative play-caller. Projected: Rounds 5-6

12. Roman Hemby (Sr., Indiana, 6-0, 208)

The former three-star recruit spent four years at Maryland, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention twice while leading the Terrapins in rushing three times before joining the Hoosiers last year (he led the national champions in rushing too). Hemby is helpful in multiple phases, a good enough athlete and it’s easy to envision him earning a coaching staff’s trust and an opportunity early on. He’s a capable pass catcher — drops are rare (only one in his final 31 games) — and he’s fumbled only twice in 840 career offensive touches. There’s still work to do as a blocker, but he’s a willing pass protector. Projected: Rounds 5-6

13. Jaydn Ott (Sr., Oklahoma, 5-11, 198)

The former four-star recruit spent three years at Cal, earning Freshman All-American and first-team All-Pac 12 honors before joining the Sooners last season. A sprained ankle hampered Ott his final season with the Golden Bears and a nagging shoulder injury kept him buried on Oklahoma’s depth chart. His pro day reminded scouts why they cared in the first place: 4.46 40, 40½-inch vertical and a 10-foot-11 broad jump (9.37 RAS). Ott is one of the class’s trickier evaluations because the talent is better than the final two seasons suggests. His underclassman tape shows an NFL player worthy of an early-round pick. Projected: Rounds 5-7

14. J’Mari Taylor (Sr., Virginia, 5-10, 197)

A former walk-on who spent five years at North Carolina Central, Taylor produced 1,146 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns as a first-year starter in 2024 with the Eagles before joining the Cavaliers for his final season. The jump from the FCS to the ACC didn’t faze him. He had 1,062 yards rushing with 16 touchdowns. Taylor’s resume is stronger than his testing, and he’s a bit undersized, so the evaluation will come down to whether teams trust the tape. It shows a productive runner and receiver with enough versatility to stay in the mix on all three downs. He’s also played on both kick return and punt coverages (six career tackles). Projected: Rounds 4-7

15. Le’Veon Moss (Sr., Texas A&M, 5-11, 211)

Moss was the fifth-ranked running back in the 2022 recruiting class and the 82nd-ranked recruit nationally. He features agile footwork, and has a downhill temperament with above-average contact balance. The problem is durability and so-so testing, which makes him harder to project with confidence. He doesn’t appear to have the same explosive speed he once did after suffering a torn ACL in 2024 and missing six games with an ankle injury last season. Moss is still productive when he’s on the field, averaging 5.9 yards per carry the last two seasons for the Aggies, and earning second-team All-SEC recognition as a junior. His best fit would be with a team that needs an early-down rotational back or short-yardage option — 12 of his 16 touchdowns the past two seasons came in goal-to-go situations. Projected: Rounds 4-6

16. Chip Trayanum (Sr., Toledo, 5-11, 224)

A former four-star recruit, Trayanum signed with Arizona State and played two seasons for the Sun Devils before transferring to Ohio State, where he played both linebacker and running back. He then transferred to Kentucky for a chance to be a starter, but missed most of the 2024 season with a hand injury that eventually required two surgeries. Finally, he found a home with the Rockets, leading them in rushing while earning first-team All-MAC recognition last season. Trayanum didn’t get a Combine invite, but he tested well at his pro day (9.62 RAS). He brings size, physicality and a linebacker’s mentality to the position, which shows up in pass protection and short-yardage work. Projected: Rounds 6-7

17. Jam Miller (Sr., Alabama, 5-10, 209)

Miller was the sixth-ranked running back in the 2022 recruiting class. He ran an official 4.42 40 with a 1.53 split at the combine, but his jumps were underwhelming. His overall production and consistency stalled last season at 504 yards and three touchdowns on 130 carries after missing three games with a dislocated collarbone. He also needs work as a pass catcher and blocker, but his pedigree, downhill burst, physical running style and special teams prowess could still earn him a complimentary role in the NFL. Miller played extensive snaps on special teams coverages as a freshman and sophomore for the Crimson Tide. Projected: Rounds 6-7

18. CJ Donaldson (Sr., Ohio State, 6-2, 236)

The former three-star recruit spent three productive seasons at West Virginia, despite battling injuries, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention twice before joining the Buckeyes last year. Donaldson is a big-bodied flyer with a clear niche. At 236 pounds, he offers goal-line and short-yardage appeal, and the career production is respectable. He’s never scored fewer than eight touchdowns despite only starting 15 of the 45 games he’s played. Projected: Round 7-PFA

19. Desmond Reid (Sr., Pittsburgh, 5-6, 176)

The former three-star recruit landed at Western Carolina, and earned FCS All-American honors both seasons before joining the Panthers in 2024. Reid earned second-team All-American recognition and was selected first-team All-ACC in his first year at Pitt with 966 rushing yards, nine touchdowns and 579 yards on 52 receptions. His senior season was derailed by nagging lower-body injuries. Reid is tiny, a problem in space and almost certainly scheme-dependent, but there’s still a path here. He has receiving value, return-game appeal and enough lateral quickness to create mismatches, even if the pro-day testing didn’t fully erase concerns about size and durability. He’s not built for volume, but he doesn’t need volume to be useful. He has returned a punt for a score in each of the last two seasons, one for 78 and one for 88 yards. Reid’s path to success in the pros is similar to Darren Sproles: receiving acumen, gadget value and selective deployment. Projected: Round 7-PFA

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