Ranking Jeremiyah Love, Nick Singleton, and a Big 12 sleeper highlight early look at the 2026 NFL Draft running back class
The 2025 NFL Draft was littered with talented running backs, one of the deeper groups we have seen come out in several years. While the 2026 NFL Draft isn’t quite that caliber of a group, it still has plenty of talent to get excited about. The depth of the class is especially promising, with a […]
The 2025 NFL Draft was littered with talented running backs, one of the deeper groups we have seen come out in several years. While the 2026 NFL Draft isn’t quite that caliber of a group, it still has plenty of talent to get excited about. The depth of the class is especially promising, with a lot of movement potentially on the horizon.
As we head toward the back half of summer scouting, here is how this 2026 group stacks up currently. That includes my top ten ranked running backs right now, including an elite option at the very top, as well as some others that narrowly missed the list. The theme of this class so far is big play ability, and developmental upside.
1. Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)
As of today, it feels like a consensus take that Love is the top running back in the 2026 class. At 6-0 and 214 pounds, he is a dynamic athlete who is a threat to score every time he touches the football. If Love’s power profile takes another step forward, and he’s able to stay healthy, we are talking about a potentially elite prospect. This is the lone first rounder in the class right now.
2. Nick Singleton (Penn State)
After being a very highly rated recruit coming out of high school, it isn’t overly surprising to see Singleton have the success he has had as a Nittany Lion. He’s a bigger back at right around 220 pounds, but has uncommon explosiveness and receiving upside. If Singleton becomes a more patient and instinctive runner, the first round is not out of the conversation, but he is much more athlete than football player currently.
3. Quinten Joyner (Texas Tech)
Speaking of raw athletes, there is so much to be excited about with Joyner. He didn’t get a ton of opportunities at USC, but the athletic traits are jaw dropping. This is admittedly a projection but it’s one based on a dynamite all around skill set. Joyner could very well end up being one of the top running backs in the class come April.
4. Jamal Haynes (Georgia Tech)
Let’s get the unfortunate news out of the way, Haynes is under 5-7 and about 185 pounds right now. He just doesn’t bring the size profile to project as a heavy volume getter on the next level. There is no running back better in this class, however, at making defenders miss in space. Doubt Haynes due to his size if you want. This is an offensive weapon who will assume an important role in a backfield.
5. Le’Veon Moss (Texas A&M)
If Moss is fully healthy, it’s possible that he could contend to be a top three running back in this class. He’s a violent runner at 208 pounds, playing well above his weight class. When Moss gets going, he is a runaway freight train. Moss also possesses underrated quickness, acceleration, and comfort as a receiver out of the backfield.
6. Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest)
While playing for a poor Wake Forest team, Claiborne has become a very underrated running back nationally. Despite that, he managed to rush for over 1,000 yards last season. At right around 195 pounds, Claiborne isn’t the strongest running back of all time. He is, however, an explosive runner that gets up to top speed in a hurry. Claiborne should, at worst, develop into a strong committee option at the next level.
7. CJ Baxter (Texas)
Baxter is a projection after he missed the entirety of the 2024 season. You are, instead, relying on freshman film from the year prior, which isn’t the best practice. Now back healthy, there is a lot to be excited about with Baxter. He is an extremely gifted athlete at over 220 pounds.
8. Jaydn Ott (Oklahoma)
After rushing for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns back in 2023, Ott was banged up the majority of last season for Cal. Ott isn’t the biggest runner in the world, but he is extremely explosive. When he gets a crease, he has the homerun speed to make some big plays. The Sooners are hoping for a fully healthy season from the talented runner in 2025. He could rise if so.
9. Makhi Hughes (Oregon)
Going into my viewing of Hughes for the first time, I had a preconceived notion that he was this tough physical runner who didn’t have a ton of athletic upside. Boy, was I wrong. At 5-11 and 210 pounds, Hughes brings notable explosiveness and short area quickness to the table. He actually needs to up his physicality as a runner, especially since he made the jump from Tulane to Oregon this offseason.
10. Justice Haynes (Michigan)
A former top recruit for Alabama, Haynes opted for a fresh start with the Wolverines this offseason. At a listed 5-11 and 205 pounds, Haynes is a very talented overall runner who hasn’t quite put it together yet. With a bigger volume in his figure in Ann Arbor, Haynes is one of the easier bets as a riser in this class. His explosiveness is what stands out most.
JUST MISSED THE LIST
Here are a few of the other top running backs who just missed the list.
Jam Miller (Alabama)
At 5-9.5 and 214 pounds, Miller runs low to the ground and has notable explosiveness. While he lacks a true top gear, he gets to it in a hurry. Miller is one of the more instinctive runners in the 2026 class overall. His vision is his biggest asset, understanding how to sort from the first to second level. Miller brings a very good floor to the table.
Jonah Coleman (Washington)
North of 220 pounds, Coleman is a bowling ball of a runner with low center of gravity. He has spent time at Arizona and Washington, and has continued to be a consistent weapon out of the backfield. There isn’t anything flashy about Coleman, but he is an efficient runner with outstanding contact balance to create a lot of second effort yardage.
Elijah Tau-Tolliver (Michigan State)
If you don’t know Tau-Tolliver, I have a good feeling you will get familiar this season. He transferred over from Sacramento State this offseason, and brings impressive overall athleticism to the table. While he isn’t the most powerful runner at 6-1 and 205 pounds, Tau-Tolliver has the explosiveness to give opposing defenses a lot of issues.
Desmond Reid (Pittsburgh)
Reid, who was a transfer from Western Carolina, is a major outlier at the position. At a hair under 5-6 and 169 pounds, this is never going to be an early down volume getter. What Reid is, however, is a dynamic space weapon and change of pace option.
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