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Justin's projections and analysis for rookie running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft. Middle-round running back breakdowns including Dylan Sampson, Ollie Gordon II, and more.
The NFL Draft is coming soon. Later this month, we'll get to find out where the top players all end up.
There's plenty of excitement around where running backs like Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton will go, but overall, this is a deep running-back class. Players will be available in the middle rounds who can really help a team out. Who will those players be, though?
Here are projections for running backs who are expected to be picked in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft.
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Third Round Running Backs
Ollie Gordon II - Oklahoma State
Ollie Gordon might be the most divisive mid-round running back prospect. Some people will love the upside after looking at how he dominated the college game back in 2023. Others will dismiss him for struggling to adjust to defensive pressure in 2024.
Because of that, there's a wide range of places where Gordon could come off the board. He could be a third-rounder. He could also be a sixth-rounder.
I tend to think some team will fall in love with the upside and grab him in the third round. Gordon has the size to be an every-down back and while he has to figure out how to be effective when his rushing lanes close up, he's good at lowering his shoulder and powering ahead for tough yards.
Dylan Sampson - Tennessee
Dylan Sampson was a workhorse for Tennessee last year, leading the SEC in attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. He was the engine that kept the Volunteers' offense chugging along.
Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson. 5’9, 200.
One-cut back. Patient, decisive runner with NFL vision. Explosive. No verified 40 time, but 35-inch vert & 10.4 broad jump. Fast on tape. pic.twitter.com/UnGSVM0qDn
— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) March 17, 2025
That probably won't be his role in the NFL. The 5-foot-8 back has breakaway speed and projects more as a third-down back in the pro game. His frame might not hold up to a consistent pounding on early downs.
But there's a place for Sampson in the league. In the right spot, his foot speed and ability to pick his spots and carve up defenses will make him a considerable threat in the NFL. He won't be the best back from this class but can make a long-term impact.
Fourth Round Running Backs
Damien Martinez - Miami
I know a lot of people are high on Damien Martinez, to the point that I wonder if he sneaks up into the third round. At this current moment, he feels like he'll be the first back off the board on Day 3, but anything can happen between now and the draft itself.
So, why are people high on Martinez? Well, simply put, he's just a very powerful back.
Martinez has the size to run through defenders, but he's also not just a power back. The Miami product is also capable of making things happen in the open field because of his surprising speed, as he runs a 4.51 40-yard dash. That's not elite, but it is pretty good, considering how Martinez is built.
Another vital trait he has is that he's willing to pound the ball through contact. Among the running backs in this class, Martinez ranks second in yards after contact per play:
Damien Martinez is pure POWER 🤯
He averages 4.46 yards after contact per carry, 2nd in the class behind only Ashton Jeanty.
He’s also surprisingly quick at times; look at the evasiveness in some of these clips.
He might just be my RB6 👀 pic.twitter.com/GTKLMusKOP
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 22, 2025
So maybe Martinez won't be out there making highlight-reel plays every week, but he'll be valuable in short-yardage situations. He should be a major red-zone threat wherever he lands.
R.J. Harvey - UCF
UCF's R.J. Harvey feels like one of those running backs who will fly under the radar because he lacks elite skills but does enough things really well to earn a second NFL contract.
Harvey led the Big 12 in yards per attempt last season at 6.8. He's not going to consistently break away from NFL defenses, but he's a patient runner who can get into the second level. His great footwork allows him to evade tacklers when he's operating in space.
There's some concern that Harvey's on the older end of things and thus doesn't have much more room for development, but he can be a solid No. 2 running back for a team, someone who can take advantage late in games when opposing defenses are worn down.
Devin Neal - Kansas
I really don't get Devin Neal going as far under the radar as he has. He's coming off three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and has scored 32 rushing touchdowns over the past two years. Plus, he caught 71 passes over his four seasons at Kansas.
Maybe it's just that while Neal does a bit of everything, he lacks a particular elite skill to hang his hat on.
Sure, Neal's not the fastest player in the world. In a league that's become so reliant on speed, he lacks the ability to shift into a higher gear and outrun a defense.
But Neal is just such a solid player. He keeps his feet moving and is willing to do the dirty work. Assuming he doesn't break down from how much usage he had at Kansas, Neal can be a solid NFL running back, though likely not a bellcow.
Cam Skattebo - Arizona State
Cam Skattebo was arguably the biggest surprise in college football last season. The Arizona State product came from relative obscurity to finish fifth in the Heisman voting. If Jeanty hadn't been out posting historic numbers week after week, Skattebo might have had a better shot at the award as he led the Sun Devils to a shocking playoff berth.
Skattebo began his collegiate career at Sacramento State before transferring to Arizona State in 2023, where he posted mostly unremarkable numbers. His showing certainly didn't foreshadow his explosion in 2024 when Skattebo led the Big 12 in rushing yards.
Having only one real season of high-level production at the FBS level makes it tough to project Skattebo. He's a tough runner who will play through contact, but he's not the world's fastest dude. He'll have to succeed based on his tenacity.
Fifth Round Running Backs
Bhayshul Tuten - Virginia Tech
Bhayshul Tuten is probably the player you know the least about out of all the running backs in this article. After beginning his career at North Carolina A&T, Tuten spent two seasons at Virginia Tech.
Bhayshul Tuten is a RB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.56 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 93 out of 2099 RB from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/ZVbNQ4MRbG pic.twitter.com/yoVvFzl5dL
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 8, 2025
As a senior, Tuten rushed for 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding a pair of receiving scores. However, his 23 catches resulted in just 81 receiving yards, which is certainly worrisome, to say the least. He's an extremely fast player, but that hasn't translated into the receiving game.
Tuten projects as an early-down back who will mostly hit the bench in obvious passing situations and third downs.
D.J. Giddens - Kansas State
D.J. Giddens is coming off a strong 2024 season for the Kansas State Wildcats, rushing for 1,346 yards and seven scores. In three seasons in Manhattan, Giddens has found the end zone 27 total times, including four times as a receiver.
Giddens lacks something important in terms of explosiveness, but he's a smart runner who can find holes at the line and get into the second level due to his craftiness. He'll need to improve on passing downs, but he's worth a shot in the fifth round.
Kyle Monangai - Rutgers
In 2023, Kyle Monangai led the Big Ten in rushing yards. In 2024, he led the Big Ten in rushing attempts. He's clearly a pretty good back, though concerns about age and past workload should give teams a bit of pause. He also lacks the top-end speed to succeed on an outside-run-oriented team.
But for a team willing to take a shot on Monangai, that team is getting a hard runner who can make positive plays at the line of scrimmage. He's a hard-nosed player who will fight through contact and can perform well on early downs and near the goal line.
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