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RBU: Schools That Produce the Best Running Backs in the NFL

By Hunter Haas

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 08: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs the ball during a game against the Chicago Bears at Nissan Stadium on November 08, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Bears 24-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 08: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs the ball during a game against the Chicago Bears at Nissan Stadium on November 08, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Bears 24-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Jan 23, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) run the ball for a touchdown against Los Angeles Rams safety Nick Scott (33) in a NFC Divisional playoff football game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) run the ball for a touchdown against Los Angeles Rams safety Nick Scott (33) in a NFC Divisional playoff football game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports /

6. LSU Tigers

•Leonard Fournette (Buccaneers)

•Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Chiefs)

•Darrel Williams (Cardinals)

•Tyrion Davis-Price (49ers)

The LSU Tigers were so close to making my top five that I ended up turning this into a top six. Leonard Fournette is the best player from LSU at the running back position. He served as the feature back for Tom Brady during the team’s 2020 Super Bowl run and assumed the same role throughout the entirety of the 2021 season. With Tom Brady deciding to run it back one more time, Fournette returned to Tampa Bay and has a great chance to put up the best numbers of his career as he enters his sixth season in the league. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the other Tiger that went in round one of the NFL Draft. The Chiefs took CEH with the final pick of the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, passing on other running backs that will be featured later in the article. Nonetheless, Edwards-Helaire has been a better pro than given credit for. He needs to get some luck in the injury department to make the most of his position in the Chiefs offense. Edwards-Helaire’s former backup, Darrel Williams, moved on to Arizona to serve as a backup to James Conner. Rookie Tyrion Davis-Price has an uphill battle to earn reps as a rookie, but he’s worth monitoring in the future. Right now, the group is elevated by Fournette, but the three other guys will determine if LSU rises or falls in the coming years.

5. Florida State Seminoles

•Dalvin Cook (Vikings)

•Cam Akers (Rams)

Picking between LSU and Florida State was a tough call that took me longer than I’d like to admit to decide on. Ultimately I gave the edge to the school with the best player of the two programs. Dalvin Cook is that guy. Cook dealt with injuries his first two seasons in the NFL but has put up at least 1135 yards on the ground in each of the past three seasons. He also recorded 35 touchdowns on the ground in that timeframe. Cook is efficient as a runner and has become a real threat in the passing game in recent years. Cam Akers played well in limited time as a rookie in 2020, but he had his second season cut short before it ever got going. Akers suffered a torn Achilles and was forced to go on the shelf for the remainder of the regular season. Somehow, the running back worked his way back to play in the Rams’ Super Bowl victory, a mere six months after suffering such a debilitating injury. It’s tough to fully recover from an Achilles tear, but given Akers’ age and standing on the depth chart, it would be surprising if he’s not at least a solid player going forward. Cook is already in discussions as the best at the position, a strong 2022 season would cement his status.

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