• Blake Corum highlights multiple traits: The Michigan running back not only has the best footwork and vision but he also reigns supreme in short-yardage situations among this class.
• Bucky Irving is being slept on: The Oregon RB showcased top-notch elusiveness to go with his best-in-class receiving ability.
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Our NFL superlative series rolls on with the running back group. With so many different skill sets to showcase, these superlatives can mean a lot. Here’s how we see it for the top backs in this class.
Best Long Speed: Isaac Guerendo, Louisville
Guerendo was a former track star in high school as a three-time state champion, earning titles in long jump, 100 meters, and 4×100 relay. He put that straight-line explosiveness on display at the combine, running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at 221 pounds. Finding the space to use those jets is a different story, but in terms of who can run away from defenders when he gets to the sideline, no one in this class is faster than Guerendo.
Best Balance: Jonathon Brooks, Texas
Brooks was having an RB1-caliber season before tearing his ACL in November. He has some of the best all-around running back ability in the class, and his balance is one of his top traits. The 6-foot, 216-pound back had a very healthy 0.34 missed tackles forced per attempt while averaging nearly 4.0 yards after contact per attempt. This shows how well he can make defenders miss and keep moving forward. He registered 35 attempts in which he picked up six or more yards after contact, which was third-best in the class among the top backs. Bucky Irving, who was another top choice for this superlative, had 41.
Best Footwork: Blake Corum, Michigan
Corum could clean up in these superlatives. His game is so good and so precise that the only trait holding him back from being a first-round pick is his size, which affects his pass protection, catch radius and top speed due to limited stride length. Outside of that, he’s a master at work with the ball in his hands. That’s why he’s the choice for best footwork. A handful of backs in this class have some fancy feet behind the line of scrimmage, but Corum is so quick and explosive to see cutback lanes and open space. He’s on another level in terms of consistency.
Best Vision: Blake Corum, Michigan
Pairing with his footwork superlative, Corum’s vision is superb. His reaction time is lightning-quick, so if something breaks late or a defender doesn’t maintain gap integrity, he’ll make them pay and find daylight. He is so smart when it comes to his feel for zone-blocking schemes, and he has fantastic patience behind man/gap schemes as well. He has the vision of an NFL veteran, but he hasn’t played a down yet.
Best Elusiveness: Bucky Irving, Oregon
Once again, a handful of backs were up for this superlative. Tyrone Tracy and Marshawn Lloyd have forced a lot of missed tackles, but Irving gets the nod because he’s in the top three in missed tackles forced per attempt (0.38) with nearly 200 carries. Irving is so compact and strong on contact that he can bounce off tackles with good balance, but he also has the fast footwork to put his foot in the ground and make a hard cut to put defenders on a highlight reel.
Best Short-Yardage: Blake Corum, Michigan
Oh, look, Blake Corum again – I warned you that he was going to clean up this list.
There are a handful of good short-yardage backs in this class. When setting the parameters to a distance of one-to-three yards to achieve a first down, Corum’s 46 first downs were, by far, the most amongst the top backs in the class, and his 73.0% first down/touchdown rate shows that even with more carries, his efficiency was still top of his class. Those vision and footwork traits come in handy to win this one as well.
Best Pass Catcher: Bucky Irving, Oregon
Irving will take home two superlatives from this list, as he was also the standout amongst the group when it came to hauling in passes out of the backfield. He had an 18.5% threat percentage, showcasing how often he was targeted as a receiver, which is impressive since he logged 330 receiving snaps. He also hauled in 93.5% of the catchable passes thrown his way.
Best Pass Protector: Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
Wright is still raw in terms of vision and patience for those home run plays his athleticism warrants, but his pass protection reps were eye-popping. He is stout when taking on blitzers of all shapes and sizes. That paired with his speed will make him a tempting bet to make for a team on Day 2 of the draft.
Most Determined Runner: Cody Schrader, Missouri
It makes sense that Schrader gets this superlative knowing his football journey. He went the D-II route out of high school after not being awarded a star in recruiting services. It took him four years to really break out, but after he did, he decided to take a chance as a walk-on at Missouri. He not only earned a spot but became a school record holder in 2023 for most rushing yards in a single season. When you turn on the tape you can see why, as he puts his heart and soul into every carry. That is a quality every team wants.
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