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Brant's college football running back rankings for 2025. His top 15 CFB running backs, including Jeremiyah Love, Nicholas Singleton, Makhi Hughes, and more.
College football starts next month. With America’s greatest sport so close to ramping up, more and more speculation about the upcoming season will heat up throughout July into early August.
With many of last season’s star running backs such as Ashton Jeanty, Cam Skattebo, RJ Harvey, and Omarion Hampton off to the NFL, there are many question marks regarding who might be the next star at the position.
On nearly any list going into the season, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love and Penn State’s Nick Singleton can be found at the top. Below them, it is anybody’s guess as to who emerges as the top running back in the nation in 2025. Read on to see the top 15 running backs heading into the college football season.
Honorable Mentions
- Dylan Edwards, Kansas State
- Jam Miller, Alabama
- Anthony Hankerson, Oregon State
- Al-Jay Henderson, Buffalo
- LJ Martin, BYU
15. Kanye Udoh, Arizona State
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 179 carries, 1,117 yards, 10 touchdowns
- Receiving: one catch, three yards
Arizona State will likely take a committee approach to replace the departed Cam Skattebo, and it will likely lean on the Army transfer to carry the load on the ground. Kanye Udoh broke out a season ago for the Black Knights, rushing for 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He offers virtually no usage as a receiver, which leaves a gap in the Sun Devils’ game plan after Skattebo recorded 605 yards through the air last season, but he is a ferocious runner and will offer strong between-the-tackles rushing.
14. Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 237 carries, 1,351 yards, 13 touchdowns
- Receiving: eight catches, 72 yards
Another transfer, Ahmad Hardy, broke out as a true freshman at UL Monroe to the tune of 1,351 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He will carry the load for Missouri this season, which has been searching for an answer at running back since losing Cody Schrader after 2023.
I don’t think many people know Mizzou has the 7th ranked portal class in the nation.
*stars based on transfer rating
5 ⭐️ EDGE Damon Wilson
4 ⭐️ QB Beau Pribula
4 ⭐️ WR Kevin Coleman Jr
4 ⭐️ RB Ahmad Hardy
4 ⭐️ EDGE Nate Johnson
4 ⭐️ OL Dominic GiudiceVery good players. pic.twitter.com/rCVSTp31No
— Garrett Armbrust (@4thandsaturday) June 24, 2025
Hardy has ideal workhorse size at 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, and should be the focal point of Eli Drinkwitz’s new-look offense. He has the skill to translate successfully to the Power Four level and, at just 19 years old, could be the future of the position.
13. Isaac Brown, Louisville
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 165 carries, 1,173 yards, 11 touchdowns
- Receiving: 30 catches, 152 yards, one touchdown
Another player who broke out last season as a true freshman was Louisville’s Isaac Brown, who exploded onto the scene with 123 yards and a touchdown on just five carries in his first collegiate game. Brown’s explosiveness and early breakout make him a strong candidate to offer NFL potential, but in the meantime, he will look to pace the Cardinals backfield once again.
12. Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 169 carries, 944 yards, nine touchdowns
- Receiving: 28 catches, 166 yards, three touchdowns
Jamal Haynes started his career as a receiver at Georgia Tech, but saw little playing time before transitioning to running back and winning the starting job in 2023. His dual-threat ability makes him tough for opposing defenses to guard.
Georgia Tech RB Jamal Haynes deserves top 5 RB buzz for the 2026 NFL Draft. Elite acceleration and agility make him a home run threat whenever he touches the rock pic.twitter.com/8nbRZFlrmS
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) June 30, 2025
Haynes specifically started to heat up later on in the season when receiving more touches. With top receiver Eric Singleton Jr. off to Auburn, Haynes projects as the top playmaker for the Yellow Jackets going into 2025.
11. Quintrevion Wisner, Texas
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 226 carries, 1,064 yards, five touchdowns
- Receiving: 44 catches, 311 yards, one touchdown
Wisner found himself leading Texas’ backfield due to injuries last season, as CJ Baxter and true freshman Christian Clark were both lost for the season before the season had even started.
While splitting the backfield with now Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue, Wisner rushed for 1,064 yards and five touchdowns while also getting a good chunk of receiving work despite Blue being a strong receiving back.
Baxter is healthy going into 2025, but a torn PCL and LCL are not easy to work back from. Wisner should, by all means, be the lead back here again. No part of Wisner’s game truly stands out, but he is very well-rounded and can do a little bit of everything. Steve Sarkisian will get his guy going early and often in 2025.
10. Caden Durham, LSU
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 140 carries, 753 yards, six touchdowns
- Receiving: 28 catches, 260 yards, two touchdowns
Caden Durham was impressive as a true freshman in the SEC. The stocky bowling ball-esque running back displayed the ability to catch passes, as well as showcasing his elite speed.
LSU Freshman RB Caden Durham had a BREAKOUT game today vs South Carolina. All his touches on the film below.
Has outstanding lower body strength, contact balance and yards after contact ability. Stock 📈
Say hello to the next great LSU back. Finally! pic.twitter.com/2u0zc47glk
— Brandon Lejeune (@DevyDeepDive) September 14, 2024
With LSU’s receiver room seemingly upgraded for 2025, Durham should have even more space to operate out of the backfield as a sophomore. A true breakout season looks to be in store for the former four-star back, who will open the season against one of college football’s best defenses in Clemson.
9. Jonah Coleman, Washington
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 193 carries, 1,053 yards, 10 touchdowns
- Receiving: 23 catches, 177 yards
Coleman is entering his fourth collegiate season, coming off his most productive season and his first at Washington. The Huskies running back was the majority of the offense in 2024, and should again be a focal point for a team projected to take a step forward in Year 2 under Jedd Fisch.
While Coleman is smaller (5-foot-9), he has the bulk and the elusiveness to be very effective as a runner. He will likely find himself as a part of an NFL committee at this time next year.
8. Bryson Washington, Baylor
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 175 carries, 1,028 yards, 12 touchdowns
- Receiving: 22 catches, 217 yards, one touchdown
After limited usage and utilizing his redshirt as a true freshman, Bryson Washington broke out in a big way for Baylor in 2024. Washington eclipsed 100 rushing yards in six games, running for 1,028 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season.
Washington will remain the workhorse running back for Baylor heading into 2025, and will put his talent on display to a national audience in Week 1 with a huge matchup against Auburn looming. A strong 2025 campaign could put Washington in the conversation to be one of the top running backs in the 2026 NFL Draft should he choose to declare.
7. Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 184 carries, 966 yards, five touchdowns
- Receiving: 52 catches, 579 yards, four touchdowns
College football’s Austin Ekeler had one heck of a breakout campaign in his first season at the D-1 level. After transferring up from Western Carolina, Desmond Reid recorded 966 rushing yards, 579 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns. Reid will again be the face of Pitt’s offense in 2025 as it looks to bounce back among the ACC’s top teams.
6. Nate Frazier, Georgia
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 133 carries, 671 yards, eight touchdowns
- Receiving: 12 catches, 85 yards
As a true freshman, Nate Frazier seemingly overtook Trevor Etienne as the Bulldogs’ top running back. He outproduced the now departed Etienne by 62 yards on the ground, and now has a clear runway to high volume as the undisputed lead back as a sophomore.
Give me all the Nate Frazier stock 📈📈📈
Due for a big 2025 🦴
pic.twitter.com/LvxH32il36— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) June 23, 2025
Frazier offers a blend of size, speed, and pass-blocking prowess, checking all of the boxes of an every-down back. We should see a lot of him in 2025, and everything is in place for a breakout season.
5. Darius Taylor, Minnesota
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 205 carries, 986 yards, 10 touchdowns
- Receiving: 54 catches, 350 yards, two touchdowns
Minnesota’s Darius Taylor broke out as a true freshman in 2023, rushing for 799 yards in just six games. He eclipsed 190 yards in three of those games, putting himself on the map.
His 2024 was not quite as explosive, but he did produce for an otherwise lackluster offense. Taylor’s decisiveness, contact balance, and pass-catching ability (54 catches in 2024) make him one of the sport’s best backs, and he will again be the focal point of the Golden Gophers offense in 2025.
4. Makhi Hughes, Oregon
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 265 carries, 1,401 yards, 15 touchdowns
- Receiving: 19 catches, 176 yards, two touchdowns
Makhi Hughes took off as a freshman in 2023 for Tulane, rushing for 1,378 yards. He only produced even more in 2024, earning himself a one-way ticket to Dan Lanning’s Oregon offense. Hughes will step into the same role that Bucky Irving and Jordan James produced heavily over the past two seasons. His explosiveness will fit right in, and he should challenge for the NCAA rushing title as a junior.
3. Kaytron Allen, Penn State
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 220 carries, 1,108 yards, eight touchdowns
- Receiving: 18 catches, 153 yards, two touchdowns
Kaytron Allen has been the thunder to Nick Singleton’s lightning since their freshman season in 2022. He is coming off his most productive season to date after rushing for 1,108 yards, and will once again form a monstrous two-headed running back duo in Happy Valley after returning for his senior season.
2. Nick Singleton, Penn State
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 172 carries, 1,099 yards, 12 touchdowns
- Receiving: 41 catches, 375 yards, five touchdowns
Nick Singleton shocked some football fans when he opted to return to Penn State for his senior season, but with how stacked the 2025 running back class was, he has a good shot to be the first running back off the board in 2026. Singleton’s dual-threat ability makes him exciting, and with Tyler Warren departed for the NFL, he should be the primary playmaker on Penn State’s offense this season.
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
2024 Season Stats:
- Rushing: 163 carries, 1,125 yards, 17 touchdowns
- Receiving: 28 catches, 237 yards, two touchdowns
Jeremiyah Love broke out as a sophomore, with perhaps no play standing out as much as his 98-yard touchdown run against Indiana in the playoff. With Riley Leonard departed, the Irish will need to lean on their proven back as they ease in CJ Carr at quarterback. Love will likely see the heaviest workload of his career after rushing just 163 times a season ago.
