Now that we're a little more than halfway through the college season, we have a large enough sample size to see which true freshman running backs are beginning to separate themselves from the rest of their class. Early college production isn't necessarily a requirement for future NFL success, but it can be a strong indicator of someone with a leg up on his peers on making the jump to the next level. Below I've listed the running backs from the 2022 recruiting class that have made the biggest impact on the stat sheet to open their careers. Tier 1 lists those that currently mean the most to their team's success. Tier 2 lists those that have found early playing time but are still sharing the load. These are purely stat-based and not a ranking of their NFL Draft profiles. Their On3 Consensus RB Rankings are in parentheses.
Tier 1
Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss (37) - 831 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, 7 receptions for 71 yards and 1 touchdown
Jadyn Ott, Cal (24) - 617 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns, 21 receptions for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns
Richard Reese, Baylor (54) - 643 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns, 8 receptions for 68 yards
Tier 2
Nicholas Singleton, Penn State (1) - 552 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns, 5 receptions for 39 yards
C.J. Donaldson, West Virginia (TE 51) - 422 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, 8 receptions for 27 yards
Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (64) - 363 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, 9 receptions for 121 yards
Kaytron Allen, Penn State (8) - 396 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, 7 receptions for 52 yards
Jovantae Barnes, Oklahoma (6) - 316 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, 4 receptions for 21 yards
Trevor Etienne, Florida (20) - 334 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, 4 receptions for 11 yards
Of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to which young running backs are set up to succeed as a professional. Some of them are buried on their depth chart or have sustained injuries that have held back the beginning of their career. Georgia has a pair of studs waiting on their turn in Branson Robinson (2) and Andrew Paul (33 - torn ACL). North Carolina has Omarion Hampton(9) and George Pettaway(7) ready to take on more work, but the Tar Heels have understandably leaned into breakout star quarterback Drake Maye as their primary offensive option. Le'Veon Moss(3) awaits the departure of Devon Achane before getting his turn for Texas A&M. Jaydon Blue(11) at Texas is stuck behind future NFL star Bijan Robinson. The list goes on and on. This is a very strong freshman class, and I can't wait to see who ascends to the top when it's time for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Top Week 8 Performances
Riley Leonard, QB, Duke, Sophomore - 13/25 for 136 yards and 1 passing touchdown & 61 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns
Not to be outdone by rival quarterback Drake Maye of North Carolina, Duke's signal-caller has quietly put together a nice season in his first as the full-time starter. His three touchdowns in Week 8 gave him eight on the year to go along with 481 rushing yards. Leonard led the Blue Devils to a 45-21 victory over Miami (FL), which was certainly helped by the Hurricanes' baffling eight turnovers, but he's done enough to lead Duke to a 5-3 record and that deserves a shout-out here.
Roman Hemby, RB, Maryland, Redshirt Freshman - 24 carries for 179 yards and 3 touchdowns
Hemby has been a revelation for the Terrapins this season after only getting 17 carries in 2021. His 681 rushing yards rank 6th in the Big 10, and he's also managed to catch 26 passes for an additional 239 yards on the year. In Week 8, he accounted for nearly 45% of Maryland's total yardage. At 6-feet-0 and 200 pounds, he has room to add more weight to his frame if he is going to get himself ready for the next level. Still, his productivity cannot be denied. If he continues to be the focal point of the offense, NFL scouts will continue taking notice.
Richard Reese, RB, Baylor, Freshman - 31 carries for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns
If you haven't seen Reese play yet, it's a joy to watch him operate in the open field. He's listed at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds and moves with an unmatched quickness. Even at his smaller size, he doesn't shy away from contact. He can often be seen accelerating into oncoming defenders. Saturday was his third multi-touchdown performance of the year as he amassed 212 yards on 33 total touches. Without prototypical size for the NFL, you need an elite trait. His speed and quickness may be what help him find a place in the league in a few years.
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon, Sophomore - 8 receptions for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns
As discussed earlier in the year, Franklin's connection with quarterback Bo Nix continues to flourish. He's now up to 35 receptions for 561 yards and 5 touchdowns on the year. With his size and speed combination, a 3rd-4th round draft grade in 2024 seems well within his grasp.
Will Shipley, RB, Clemson, Sophomore - 27 carries for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns
Shipley has been the focal point of a Clemson offense that could be in the midst of a quarterback change. Based on some of the rhetoric around the team, you could almost forget that they're currently undefeated (8-0) and ranked in the top 5 in the country, and much of their success can be attributed to the steadiness of their starting running back. He's a true three-down back that would fit nicely in any NFL offense. He's likely to be an early declare after his junior season and make himself available for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Other Standouts:
Tre Harris, WR, Louisiana Tech, RS Sophomore - 8 receptions for 92 yards and 3 touchdowns
Damien Martinez, RB, Oregon St, Freshman - 22 carries for 178 yards and 3 touchdowns
J. Michael Sturdivant, WR, Cal, RS Freshman - 8 receptions for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns
What to Watch in Week 9
#2 Ohio State @ #13 Penn St
There are several big-time names playing in this game that I've discussed in previous iterations of this article. For Ohio St., sophomore wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr and Emeka Egbuka have accounted for 61% of Ohio State's receiving yardage with future 1st-rounder Jaxon Smith-Njigba sidelined with an injury since Week 1. Running back Treveyon Henderson has a pro skill set, but has been operating behind junior Miyan Williams for the most part. Henderson is still averaging 13 carries per game and could show up in a big spot here.
As for Penn St., it's all about the backfield. As referenced above, Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen make up a two-headed monster that should wreak havoc on the Big 10 for the foreseeable future. Ohio St. has been solid against the run in 2022, but Penn St. needs to get production from the ground game to slow things down for their defense. If this game becomes a shootout, it's advantage C.J. Stroud and the Buckeyes.
You can find me on Twitter @craiglakins or by email at lakins@footballguys.com.