2020 NFL Draft: Ranking the top 10 running backs

Cam Akers of Florida State has tried to bring the most out of his team in the midst of their forgettable season. He breaks a lot of tackles and can be a problem for defenders in one-on-one situations and is able to show up in the clutch. However, he heeds to locate the correct hole more often, especially being a one-cut back.

Akers is fairly quick and has caught a handful of receiving touchdowns. He also knows how to properly hit the inside gaps. Akers can be really effective in zone runs and holds tremendous upside. He took a while to reach his peak, but did nonetheless just in time for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Just like his name, he stays in rhythm. And that’s exactly what the senior running back from Vanderbilt, Keshawn Vaughn, has done throughout his entire career. He has averaged over five yards per carry and reception every season since his sophomore year. He has a solid frame making him difficult to tackle. Vaughn has put up good results both as a pass-catcher and a running back.

Sadly at times, he chooses the wrong gap to hit, though he has shown his ability to get vertical and maneuver in tight spaces. And being on a mediocre 3-4 squad, it shows even more of what he can do. Expect him to be one of the few Commodores taken in the 2020 NFL Draft.

You can’t argue with the top rushing leader in all of college football playing on an average team. You just can’t.

Chuba Hubbard has been on a roll this season and is increasing his draft stock with every game he plays. It’s likely that he takes the 2019 college football rushing title. He already has 1,265 yards and 15 trips to the endzone. Hubbard also displayed a 300-plus yard game against Kansas State this year. One of my favorite things is his athleticism on special teams.

Despite his production, there’s somewhat of a lack of film on the redshirt sophomore. He has also shown fear to take the big hit, and also isn’t contributing much on pass plays with just six receptions this season. His best attribute is his stamina.

The kid has shown he can carry the ball 30 times a game if needed. Do you know who can handle volume in the NFL that Hubbard can emulate? Christian McCaffrey.

Arizona State doesn’t push out prospects like they used to making running back Eno Benjamin a rare find.

Benjamin shows good burst when striding downfield. He has great balance as he was able to reach over 1,000 yards after contact last season. He was the first ASU player ever to lead All-Pac-12 in rushing and finished top five in the country in total rushing yards in 2018.

An injury that required surgery in 2017 is something no coach wants to see on a prospect’s resume. He’ll stop before the line of scrimmage when reading blocks and skew the flow of the play.

Only a sophomore, Anthony McFarland wreaks havoc in the Big-Ten.

Well, last year at least. The running back for Maryland only has 66 rushing attempts through seven games in 2019.

However, his 2018 showing was enough to keep him in the 2020 NFL Draft’s public eye. He averaged an outstanding 7.9 yards on 131 carries and even ran one for 81 yards to the house that season.

McFarland is highly elusive and his style of play has been compared to NFL players like Alvin Kamara. He has the potential to be one of those gadget players considering what he’s shown with ball skills. McFarland is too small to rely on in pass protection and struggles to find the right path.