Entering Week 9 of the College Football season, most teams have played 7 or 8 games, and the season has reached its midpoint. We’ve seen every Running Back play some, and in some cases at least one “big” game. Today, I’m going to go through all of the Running Backs heading into the 2027 NFL Draft at the midpoint of the season, and give them a designation of “Graduate, 1st Round, 2nd Round, or Return to School”. This is in line with the mold of the NFL’s College Advisory Committee, but obviously with a twist. Two weeks ago, I completed the QB and WR Market Update for the 2027 NFL Draft over the last few weeks.

The NFL’s College Advisory Committee evaluation request deadline will likely be December 12th for underclassmen ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft. What does the College Advisory Committee do?

• Underclassmen who apply for Review will receive one of three grades: 1st round, 2nd round, or go back to school.
• Each school can request up to 5 grades from the Advisory Committee.

Graduates (2027 NFL Draft)

• Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami (ACC) — 6-2, 225, Sr — 7 games, 94 carries, 457 rush yards, 9 rush tds, 7 receptions, 85 rec. yards, 1 rec. td
• LJ Martin, BYU (Big 12) — 6-2, 225, Sr — 4 games, 44 carries, 344 rush yards, 3 rush tds, 5 receptions, 41 rec. yards, 0 rec. tds
• DeSean Bishop, Tennessee (SEC) — 5-10, 215, Sr — 8 games, 171 carries, 957 rush yards, 11 rush tds, 9 receptions, 64 rec. yards, 0 rec. tds
• Jamal Roberts, Missouri (SEC) — 6-0, 216, Sr — 8 games, 190 carries, 1,005 rush yards, 9 rush tds, 16 receptions, 125 rec. yards, 1 rec. td
• Raleek Brown, Texas (SEC) — 5-9, 193, RSr — 8 games, 92 carries, 452 rush yards, 5 rush tds, 12 receptions, 54 rec. yards, 1 rec. td
• Cam Cook, West Virginia (Big 12) — 5-9, 203, Sr — 8 games, 186 carries, 923 rush yards, 7 rush tds, 11 receptions, 115 rec. yards, 2 rec. tds
• Torrance Burgess Jr., Texas State (Pac-12) — 5-8, 176, RSr — 8 games, 129 carries, 922 rush yards, 5 rush tds, 17 receptions, 123 rec. yards, 0 rec. tds
• Wayne Knight, UCLA (Big Ten) — 5-7, 193, RSr — 8 games, 110 carries, 680 rush yards, 12 rush tds, 16 receptions, 127 rec. yards, 2 rec. tds
• George Pettaway, James Madison (Sun Belt) — 5-10, 200, Sr — 8 games, 124 carries, 824 rush yards, 8 rush tds, 8 receptions, 57 rec. yards, 0 rec. tds
• Lee Beebe, Indiana (Big Ten) — 5-10, 215, RSr — 9 games, 134 carries, 715 rush yards, 4 rush tds, 3 receptions, 7 rec. yards, 0 rec. tds
• Messiah Burch, Buffalo (MAC) — 5-9, 190, RSJr — 8 games, 151 carries, 845 rush yards, 5 rush tds, 6 receptions, 13 rec. yards, 0 rec. tds

Underclassmen (Round 1 Potential)

• Jadan Baugh, Florida (SEC) — 6-1, 231, Jr — 8 games, 152 carries, 801 rush yards, 13 rush tds, 9 receptions, 59 rec. yards, 0 rec. tds
• Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss (SEC) — 5-11, 205, Jr — 6 games, 78 carries, 388 rush yards, 5 rush tds, 10 receptions, 33 rec. yards, 0 rec. tds

Underclassmen (Round 2 Potential)

• Isaac Brown, Louisville (ACC) — 5-9, 190, Jr — 8 games, 92 carries, 707 rush yards, 7 rush tds, 15 receptions, 141 rec. yards, 2 rec. tds
• Antwan Raymond, Rutgers (Big Ten) — 5-11, 205, Jr — 8 games, 134 carries, 733 rush yards, 6 rush tds, 14 receptions, 160 rec. yards, 1 rec. td
• Dylan Riley, Boise State (Pac-12) — 5-10, 203, Jr — 8 games, 165 carries, 1,049 rush yards, 9 rush tds, 15 receptions, 130 rec. yards, 1 rec. td

Underclassmen (Return to School Recommendation)

• Ahmad Hardy, Missouri (SEC) — 5-10, 210, Jr — 1 game, 2 carries, 5 rush yards, 0 rush tds, 0 receptions, 0 rec. yards, 0 rec. tds
• Wayshawn Parker, Utah (Big 12) — 5-10, 205, Jr — 8 games, 109 carries, 726 rush yards, 9 rush tds, 26 receptions, 264 rec. yards, 4 rec. tds
• Kendrick Raphael, SMU (ACC) — 5-11, 201, Sr — 8 games, 135 carries, 692 rush yards, 9 rush tds, 15 receptions, 127 rec. yards, 1 rec. td
• Nate Frazier, Georgia (SEC) — 5-10, 205, Jr — 6 games, 47 carries, 297 rush yards, 6 rush tds, 5 receptions, 31 rec. yards, 0 rec. tds
• Justice Haynes, Georgia Tech (ACC) — 5-11, 210, Sr — 7 games, 112 carries, 548 rush yards, 4 rush tds, 13 receptions, 71 rec. yards, 2 rec. tds
• Hollywood Smothers, Texas (SEC) — 5-11, 196, Sr — 6 games, 69 carries, 283 rush yards, 2 rush tds, 10 receptions, 79 rec. yards, 1 rec. td
• Rueben Owens II, Texas A&M (SEC) — 5-11, 215, Sr — 8 games, 78 carries, 332 rush yards, 1 rush td, 9 receptions, 61 rec. yards, 0 rec. tds
• Jahiem White, North Texas (American) — 5-7, 190, Sr — 8 games, 142 carries, 1,054 rush yards, 13 rush tds, 29 receptions, 277 rec. yards, 2 rec. tds
• Turbo Richard, Indiana (Big Ten) — 5-9, 207, Jr — 9 games, 113 carries, 745 rush yards, 6 rush tds, 5 receptions, 49 rec. yards, 0 rec. tds
• Micah Ford, Stanford (ACC) — 6-0, 225, Jr — 9 games, 156 carries, 751 rush yards, 8 rush tds, 26 receptions, 224 rec. yards, 1 rec. td
• Darius Taylor, Minnesota (Big Ten) — 6-0, 215, Sr — 7 games, 83 carries, 217 rush yards, 5 rush tds, 22 receptions, 167 rec. yards, 1 rec. td

The 2027 NFL Draft class at running back has fulfilled its promise, but not quite its elite upside. So far, the clear-cut top two running backs, Jadan Baugh from Florida and Kewan Lacy from Ole Miss, have had strong seasons, but both have dealt with their fair share of ups and downs and injuries, more often with Lacy than Baugh.

Baugh has been the steadier of the two, with 801 yards and 13 touchdowns on 152 carries through eight games. Lacy, meanwhile, has been limited to six games and 388 yards after dislocating his left shoulder on October 24th at Texas; he missed the Auburn game the following week.

The third name that was expected to be a part of this top group was Ahmad Hardy from Missouri. Hardy was shot at a concert this past summer and dealt with fractures in his femur and pelvis, along with other musculature tissue issues. Hardy returned to the field on October 31st for the Missouri Tigers, but only carried the ball twice behind Jamal Roberts.

In Hardy’s absence, we have seen the emergence of senior Jamal Roberts, 6-0, 216 pounds. Roberts has averaged 5.3 yards per carry in his time, and he now leads the group with 1,005 yards and 9 touchdowns on 190 carries.

What this class carries best is probably its second tier at the position, between Roberts, DeSean Bishop from Tennessee, Mark Fletcher Jr. from Miami, and Isaac Brown from Louisville. Bishop has been the most productive of the bunch, with 957 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Fletcher has 9 touchdowns and Brown has 707 yards and 7 touchdowns. This class projects to have a ton of day-two capable talent at the running back position.

Not to mention if Boise State junior Dylan Riley decides to declare. Riley isn’t quite the Ashton Jeanty at Boise, but he has improved from his 5.8 yards per carry, 1,100-yard sophomore season in 2025 to 6.4 yards per carry this year, while splitting the workload with fellow junior Sire Gaines. Riley could decide to return to Boise in 2027 and play alongside Gaines again, or hand the baton to Gaines for the 2027 season.

Nonetheless, the running back position is by far the deeper of the fantasy-relevant positions. Wide receiver is really good at the top, quarterback has good depth but may lose some to returning to college. Running back is guaranteed to be deep, due to the crop of graduates and strength among the underclassmen.