The 2021 NFL Draft rankings process continues this week with an elite class at the running back position. After ranking the wide receivers and quarterbacks the past two weeks, the running backs get their due in a deep, versatile, and exciting group of runners. The skill positions continue to excite 2021 NFL Draft enthusiasts, and the RB position appears littered with All-Pro talent and NFL starters throughout.
Below, I list my top-10 in what figures to be a loaded class with plenty of value throughout the entire seven rounds of action. Take a look and see if you concur with the ranking of these great talents, beginning with some familiar faces from Clemson and Alabama.
Travis Etienne leads the pack of 2021 NFL Draft RBs
The battle for the top running back spot in the 2021 NFL Draft is a close one, and the nod goes to Clemson’s all-time leading rusher, Travis Etienne. The senior running back is a home-run hitter with great speed, slashing ability, and vision. Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook is a favorable comparison as another former great ACC back and early-round pick.
Etienne’s potential to become a Cook or Alvin Kamara-type dual-threat and elite touchdown-scorer set him apart from the other backs in this class. He has worked extensively on his pass-catching ability and improved dramatically throughout his four years at Clemson. He could be selected as early as the top half of the first frame in April’s 2021 NFL Draft.
2. Najee Harris – Alabama
When discussing the top pass-catchers out of the backfield, that conversation has to include Alabama’s Najee Harris. For being one of the bigger backs at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, Harris has very soft hands. He broke the single-season record at Alabama for receptions by a running back with 43 in 2020.
As a former top recruit, Harris had to bide his time with the Crimson Tide behind other top running back prospects like Josh Jacobs and Bo Scarborough. He flashed early but cemented his status the past two seasons as one of the best backs in all of college football. His ability as a receiver combined with his terrific athleticism and power should guarantee Harris a spot in the top-32 picks.
3. Javonte Williams – North Carolina
The first of a dynamic duo of running backs for the Tar Heels last season is the bruising Javonte Williams. The junior 220-pounder scored 22 total touchdowns in a dominant showing at North Carolina in 2020. Even in a timeshare with fellow star Michael Carter, Williams was able to showcase his NFL ability every week in the ACC.
The benefit to Williams splitting carries is the lack of wear and tear on his body as a RB prospect entering the 2021 NFL Draft. That is one area that favors Williams in comparison to Etienne or even Najee Harris. He is a sturdy runner with adequate hands that will start right away as a potential top-50 pick.
4. Trey Sermon – Ohio State
Sermon is a well-traveled and extremely intriguing prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft. The former Oklahoma Sooner flashed as a freshman in Norman before falling behind on the Sooners’ depth chart. His decision to transfer to Ohio State for the 2020 season proved fruitful for his professional prospects.
The lean, powerful runner spent most of 2020 in an even timeshare with fellow bruiser Master Teague. However, Sermon separated himself as a 2021 NFL Draft prospect with his impressive postseason play with the Buckeyes. He rushed for over 500 yards combined in two games leading Ohio State to the National Championship game and could settle in as a second-rounder in April.
5. Michael Carter – North Carolina
The second half of North Carolina’s elite running back duo in 2020, Carter is a terrific prospect in his own right and he could be drafted as early as the second round. The diminutive senior rushed for over 1,200 yards and scored 11 total touchdowns this past season as the backup to Williams.
For a shorter back, Carter runs with exceptional balance and power and looks like a potential starter or nice complementary piece in the NFL. He was able to showcase his skills at the Senior Bowl in January, scoring a touchdown and playing well during the week of practice. That showing should help Carter’s stock, especially with a running back-needy team like the Miami Dolphins.
6. Chuba Hubbard – Oklahoma State
One of the stars of 2019, Chuba Hubbard entered 2020 with extensive fanfare and plenty of accolades to boast. He continued his strong play this season and should be in contention for a second-day selection. He produced an eye-popping 2,252 yards from scrimmage and 21 total touchdowns as a sophomore for the Cowboys.
Even though Hubbard’s yards-per-carry fell off a bit this past season, he is still considered a home-run threat and difference-maker at the RB position. Hubbard declared before Oklahoma State’s bowl game with college eligibility remaining. The junior RB is a lean but sturdy back at 6-foot, 207 pounds with great acceleration to hit holes and take it the distance. Hubbard projects as a solid if unspectacular starter at the next level.
7. Kenneth Gainwell – Memphis
The Memphis Tigers have been a skill position factory and feeder program to the NFL in recent years. With standout prospects such as Antonio Gibson, Darrell Henderson, and Tony Pollard the past couple of seasons, the Tigers’ prospects are making waves in the NFL Draft process. The next in line is the talented 2020 opt-out Kenneth Gainwell.
Gainwell came into 2020 as a player with RB1 overall upside. However, he opted to skip the year and focus on his health. Gainwell’s production and tape certainly show an elite prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has good size, vision, and pass-catching ability. In a class full of great receiving ability, Gainwell may be the cream of the crop. He should find his way onto an NFL roster by the start of the third day.
8. Rhamondre Stevenson – Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Sooners faced an extremely uncertain reality at the RB position in 2020. This after the opt-out of Kennedy Brooks and the transfer of Trey Sermon. Despite the loss of talent, the cupboard remained full of the ability of young players like Rhamondre Stevenson. Stevenson is a big back and effective downhill runner with surprising speed and burst for a runner over 240 pounds.
He has some long touchdown runs with the Sooners the past two seasons and maintained at least a 6.6 yards-per-carry average. He wasn’t asked to contribute in the passing game but isn’t completely inept in that aspect. With a decent Pro Day showing, I could see Stevenson rising up the boards quickly before this coming April.
9. Kylin Hill – Mississippi State
Despite the addition of transfer quarterback K.J. Costello and coach Mike Leach, 2020 was a disappointment for RB Kylin Hill and the entire Mississippi State offense. Leach directed a prolific offense at Washington with star running back Max Borghi as the catalyst. Hopes were high that Hill would be able to build off a strong 2019 and add to his numbers under the new head coach.
However, Hill disappointed with a 3.9 YPC average in only three games before opting out this past November. He is a RB with tremendous upside as a power runner with soft hands. Hill is another player that should excite those at his Pro Day and could surprise as a rookie in 2021.
10. Demetric Felton – UCLA
One of my favorite players in the entire 2021 NFL Draft, Demetric Felton is a former receiver that could turn heads in the NFL in 2021. Felton was a dynamic runner out of the backfield in 2020, but he could contribute as both a RB and WR at the next level. The talented RB is also a great return prospect, as showcased during his time in Mobile at the Senior Bowl in January.
Some pundits list Felton as a WR heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, but I feel his most significant impact will be as a weapon out of the backfield. He has video game-like agility and runs extremely hard for a former receiver. He produced over 800 total yards and eight touchdowns in only six games this season while showcasing his great all-purpose ability for the Bruins. This spot may end up being a bit low, and I could see him going a lot earlier than expected on Draft Day.