Projecting a 2023 NFL draft prospect to the NFL isn’t simply about looking at production from the 2022 season, as measurables and career bodies of work also come into play.
Still, it’s interesting to see when some of the best players in the draft had their best season in college football. Here, we look at the top 10 running backs on PFF’s big board and highlight their best season by PFF grade, adding some stats for context.
BIJAN ROBINSON, TEXAS
- Big board rank: 27/RB1
- Best PFF grade: 95.3, 2022
- 2022 Rushing yards: 1,575
- 2022 Yards after contact per attempt: 4.2
- 2022 Missed tackles forced on runs: 104
- 2022 10-plus-yard runs: 41
JAHMYR GIBBS, ALABAMA
- Big board rank: 51/RB2
- Best PFF grade: 88.4, 2021
- 2021 rushing yards: 746
- 2021 Yards after contact per attempt: 3.3
- 2021 Missed tackles forced on runs: 34
- 2021 10-plus-yard runs: 19
ZACH CHARBONNET, UCLA
- Big board rank: 60/RB3
- Best PFF grade: 91.5, 2022
- 2022 Rushing yards: 1,358
- 2022 Yards after contact per attempt: 4.2
- 2022 Missed tackles forced on runs: 53
- 2022 10-plus-yard runs: 44
DEVON ACHANE, TEXAS A&M
- Big board rank: 72/RB4
- Best PFF grade: 90.3, 2021
- 2021 rushing yards: 885
- 2021 Yards after contact per attempt: 4.0
- 2021 Missed tackles forced on runs: 36
- 2021 10-plus-yard runs: 27
DEWAYNE MCBRIDE, UAB
- Big board rank: 80/RB5
- Best PFF grade: 94.1, 2022
- 2022 Rushing yards: 1,702
- 2022 Yards after contact per attempt: 4.7
- 2022 Missed tackles forced on runs: 78
- 2022 10-plus-yard runs: 39
TANK BIGSBY, AUBURN
- Big board rank: 83/RB6
- Best PFF grade: 84.1, 2020
- 2020 Rushing yards: 834
- 2020 Yards after contact per attempt: 4.0
- 2020 Missed tackles forced on runs: 47
- 2020 10-plus-yard runs: 24
KENDRE MILLER, TCU
- Big board rank: 96/RB7
- Best PFF grade: 85.3, 2022
- 2022 Rushing yards: 1,399
- 2022 Yards after contact per attempt: 3.6
- 2022 Missed tackles forced on runs: 70
- 2022 10-plus-yard runs: 38
TYJAE SPEARS, TULANE
- Big board rank: 98/RB8
- Best PFF grade: 90.2, 2022
- 2022 Rushing yards: 1,586
- 2022 Yards after contact per attempt: 4.6
- 2022 Missed tackles forced on runs: 63
- 2022 10-plus-yard runs: 35
Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
- Big board rank: 102/RB9
- Best PFF grade: 91.6, 2021
- 2021 rushing yards: 1,409
- 2021 Yards after contact per attempt: 3.0
- 2021 Missed tackles forced on runs: 50
- 2021 10-plus-yard runs: 42
Sean Tucker, Syracuse
- Big board rank: 119/RB10
- Best PFF grade: 81.1, 2021
- 2021 rushing yards: 1,515
- 2021 Yards after contact per attempt: 4.1
- 2021 Missed tackles forced on runs: 66
- 2021 10-plus-yard runs: 44
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