2022 NFL Draft Notebook: Taking a look at the 2022 running back class
By John Blair
A look at some of the running backs who are seeing their stock rise going into the 2021 season.
Kevin Marks Jr., Buffalo
Buffalo’s Kevin Marks Jr. should have a breakout season this year now that Jaret Patterson is off to the NFL. In limited action, last year Marks was able to rush for 741 yards and seven touchdowns on just 112 carries. Now that he is the starting running back it would not be a shock if Patterson put up over 1,500 yards rushing.
Breece Hall, Iowa State
Last season, Hall burst onto the national scene and became the first player from Iowa State to be named a unanimous All-American. He finished the 2020 season rushing for 1,572 yards which led the nation and had almost twice as many yards as he had in 2019. If Hall can perform like he did last season and Iowa State lives up to expectations he could be the first Heisman Trophy winner from Iowa State this year.
Kevin Harris, South Carolina
South Carolina running back Kevin Harris came out of nowhere to become one of the top running backs in the SEC last season. Coming out of high school he was rated as the 702nd best player in the 2019 class by 247sports. Then as a freshman, he only rushed for 179 yards on the season. However, this past season he was the second-leading rusher in the SEC with 1,138 yards and also scored 15 rushing touchdowns.
Leddie Brown, West Virginia
2020 was a breakout year for West Virginia running back Leddie Brown. After accounting for only 813 yards and five touchdowns his first two seasons, he rushed for 1,010 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He saw his production as a receiver go up as well catching 31 passes on the season.
Jarek Broussard, Colorado
After missing the 2019 season with a knee injury Colorado running back Jarek Broussard had a strong bounce-back season in 2020. Broussard was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 895 yards on just 156 carries. One area he could contribute more this season though is as a receiver having just recorded 95 receiving yards last season.