NFL Draft

11/13/24

7 min read

2025 NFL Draft: Which Prospects Can Win Battle For RB2?

By Tyler Brooke

NFL Analyst
Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson
Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson (2) runs for a 17 yard touchdown run during the second quarter against the Washington Huskies at Kinnick Stadium. Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

Only one NFL team will be lucky enough to win the Ashton Jeanty sweepstakes, but for other teams needing a running back, there's an interesting race developing months ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Jeanty has firmly established himself as RB1 in the 2025 class. Along with rushing for an absurd 1,743 yards and 23 touchdowns in just nine games, he leads the FBS by nearly 400 yards with 1,260 yards after contact. He also has 90 missed tackles forced, while no other running back has more than 70

No other running back is going to be drafted close to Jeanty, who has the potential to be a top-10 pick. The way the position is valued means that it's highly unlikely another running back even goes in the first round.

Still, there are a few running backs with different play styles who are competing to be the second running back taken off the board in April. Let's take a look at some prospects who fit those different play styles, along with an honorable mention for a sleeper prospect who fits a similar style.

The 33rd Team's Latest Mock Draft, Round 1 Predictions

2025 NFL Draft RB2 Candidates

Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon II runs for a catch for a touchdown against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon II runs for a catch for a touchdown against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Rob Gray-Imagn Images.

Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State Oklahoma State Cowboys logo

Play Style: The Workhorse

There are a few other prospects outside of Jeanty who could handle a full workload at the NFL. However, none of them had a season like Ollie Gordon's in 2023.

While Gordon has taken a step back on a struggling Oklahoma State team this season, he was a breakout superstar in college football last year. He was a unanimous All-American and Doak Walker Award winner as the nation's top running back, rushing for an FBS-leading 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns.

At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, Gordon has the frame to be a primary back in the NFL. His 2023 tape showed a prospect with top-tier quickness and wiggle to catch defenders flat-footed to make them miss and generate explosive plays.

On top of his ability to wiggle out of contact, Gordon is tenacious at the point of attack, driving his legs through contact to generate extra yards. He doesn't have the burst or top-end speed of other running backs in this class, and there are some concerns that his heavy workload at the college level could already be taking its toll.

However, with his skill set and physical profile, Gordon looks like the kind of running back who could handle 15-20 carries a game in the right system.

Ollie Gordon's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp

Honorable Mention: Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech

Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State Ohio State Buckeyes logo

Play Style: The Home-Run Hitter

For teams looking for burst and explosiveness out of the backfield, Quinshon Judkins has a chance to bring that in the rushing and receiving game.

Judkins has found himself in more of a rotational role after transferring from Ole Miss, but he's continuing to have success at Ohio State. He's averaging an impressive 6.2 yards per carry while racking up nearly 750 total yards and seven total touchdowns.

A twitched-up prospect, Judkins relies on excellent acceleration and burst to quickly hit top speed, using that momentum to burn by defenders once he finds a crease. He's not afraid to lower his pads at contact either, using his momentum to run over second-level defenders who try to slow him down.

These two clips show the different ways that Judkins can win at the second level.

The ability to win with speed, elusiveness, and power makes Judkins such an electric home-run hitter. He's also comfortable catching passes out of the backfield and has the competitive toughness to be better in pass protection as he continues to work on his technique.

If he can continue to improve in pass pro, Judkins has the potential to be a three-down back at the next level.

Honorable mention: Dylan Sampson, Tennessee

North Carolina Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton (28) with the ball as Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets linebacker Kyle Efford (44) defends in the fourth quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium.
North Carolina Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton (28) with the ball as Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets linebacker Kyle Efford (44) defends in the fourth quarter. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images.

Omarion Hampton, North Carolina North Carolina Tar Heels logo

Play Style: The Bowling Ball

If you need a running back to break a tackle, then Omarion Hampton is your guy.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound running back has made a living off of yards after contact with the North Carolina Tar Heels. According to Pro Football Focus, 2,181 of his 3,081 career rushing yards (70.8 percent) have come after contact, averaging 4.22 yards after contact per rushing attempt in the last two seasons.

Contact balance, plus great lower-body strength, allows Hampton to break out of all kinds of tackle attempts. He doesn't often get tripped up by arm tackle attempts, continuing to drive his legs and pick his knees up to avoid getting tripped up on his carries.

Hampton also looked like an efficient weapon out of the backfield in quick passing and screen games. While he lacks top-tier burst and play speed, he's so focused on bouncing off of defenders that he typically doesn't need to be fast in order to generate explosive plays.

NFL defenders are typically much more consistent tacklers, but Hampton's size and strength will still make him hard to bring down at the next level.

Omarion Hampton's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp

Honorable mention: Jonah Coleman, Washington

Kaleb Johnson, Iowa Iowa Hawkeyes logo

Play Style: The Visionary

Running backs can be physical and/or explosive, but the best running backs aren't always the most athletically gifted. Instead, they rely on excellent vision to gain yardage.

While Iowa's Kaleb Johnson is a good athlete, it's his vision and contact balance that's made him one of the biggest breakout stars of the college football season. He's averaging 7.1 yards per carry for the Hawkeyes, rushing for 1,328 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Johnson leads the FBS with 27 carries of 15-plus yards because he can find the space he needs to beat angles on second-level defenders. He's the prototype running back for the phrase "slow to the hole and fast through," staying patient as blocks develop before accelerating.

In addition to that vision, Johnson has great contact balance and stays upright through tackle attempts, thanks to a consistently low pad level.

At 225 pounds, Johnson could be better at driving his legs through contact when he gets hit cleanly. However, that happens so rarely with his vision in Iowa's run game that he hasn't had many opportunities to get popped.

His pass protection will also need to improve, but Johnson's vision and balance could make him a future star at the NFL level in the right offense.

Kaleb Johnson's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp

Honorable mention: Nick Singleton, Penn State

Tags: 2025 NFL Draft, Kaleb Johnson, NFL Draft See More

Tyler Brooke

NFL Analyst

Tyler is an experienced NFL writer who has been covering the NFL since 2012. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, FanDuel, SB Nation, and a number of other sites. Along with more than 12 years of experience covering the NFL, Tyler also co-authored "The Science of Football" and is an assistant football coach at Carmel High School in Indiana.

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