The 'On The Clock' crew of Matt Williamson, Mike Prisuta and Max Starks take a look at the top prospects in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh in April. Today, they take a second look at the running back position.
Note: The opinions expressed here are their own and not those of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Matt's First Look
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, 6-0, 212 lbs.
2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, 5-11, 203 lbs.
3. Jonah Coleman, Washington, 5-8, 2220 lbs.
4. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas, 6-1, 223 lbs.
5. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska, 5-10, 202 lbs.
Matt's Thoughts
Love is a total superstar prospect. He's a better prospect than Ashton Jeanty, who went sixth overall one year ago, and rivals Bijan Robinson and Saquon Barkley as the best prospects at this position in recent memory. In fact, I am convinced the Saints signed Travis Etienne and the Chiefs signed Kenneth Walker because they believed Love wouldn't still be on the board when they pick at eight and nine respectively. After Love, this running back class falls off. Maybe Seattle drafts a running back with the final pick of the second round to replace Walker, but the second day of the draft is unlikely to see many players at this position come off the board. This just isn't the year to really need a starting running back and even Price, as the second best prospect, is really lacking in the passing game. As for my top five, I honestly don't feel real strongly about it, but I would keep the order the same. A name that almost broke into that group is Demond Claiborne from Wake Forest (5-10, 188 lbs.), but he just doesn't project as an every down player because of his lack of bulk. But in a league desperate for explosive plays, Claiborne does have a lot of value after running a 4.37/40-yard dash. He is twitched up and explosive with very good receiving traits. But there is a hit or miss nature to his game overall. The pair from Penn State also need to be discussed: Nicholas Singleton (6-0, 219 lbs.) certainly has the explosiveness and big play prowess that the league covets. Big and fast really plays at this position in the NFL and Singletary has the combination. But Singletary is particularly fond of doing the dirty work the position requires and doesn't have great vision. Singletary could be a very valuable kick returner. His teammate, Kaytron Allen (5-11, 216 lbs.) is much more reliable and trustworthy.
Mike's First Look
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, 6-0, 212 lbs.
2. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State, 6-0, 219 lbs
3. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska, 5-10, 202 lbs.
4. Kaytron Allen, Penn State, 5-11, 216 lbs.
5. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, 5-11, 203 lbs.
Mike's Thoughts
Love is everybody's RB1; I'm not as high on his Notre Dame teammate as most so I'll stick with my initial Top 5 and with Indiana's Kaelon Black (5-9, 208) as a back who should not be slept on. Wake Forest's Demond Claiborne has generated buzz in the pre-draft process, thanks in no small part to the 4.37 40-yard dash he ran at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He can get to the boundary and turn it up. Washington's Jonah Coleman (5-8, 220) scored 15 rushing touchdowns in 2025, 25 in his last two seasons and 34 in a four-year career that also included two seasons at Arizona. He was also a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player) and the William V. Campbell Trophy (academic Heisman). Ohio State's CJ Donaldson (6-2, 230) is a big-back option who scored 40 career touchdowns (eighth-most in FBS since 2022). Navy's Eli Heidenreich (6-0, 198) is intriguing because of his potential in the passing game (he may even end up as a slot receiver at the next level). Heidenreich is one of three players in the last 70 years with 400-plus yards rushing and 700-plus yards receiving in the same season (499, 941 in 2025; Tavon Austin in 2021 and Randall Cobb in 2010 are the others). Heidenreich also caught the game-winning touchdown pass against Army. Don't give up the ship! Roman Hemby (6-0, 207) amassed a combined 3,467 career rushing yards, 1,086 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns in four seasons at Maryland and one at Indiana. UTSA's Robert Henry Jr. (5-91/4, 196) went through a Texas A&M defense that sent six representatives to the Combine to the tune of 16 carries, 177 rushing yards (11.1 yards per attempt) and two rushing touchdowns on the way to averaging 6.9 yards per carry (third in FBS in 2025). Texas A&M's Le'Veon Moss (5-11, 203) only carried more than 100 times once in four seasons with the Aggies. He turned those 121 attempts in 2024 into 765 rushing yards, a 6.3 average per carry and 10 rushing touchdowns. Virginia's J'Mari Taylor (5-10, 199) started out at North Carolina Central and wound up as a First-Team All-ACC selection after producing 1,062 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns in his lone season at UVA. Mike Washington Jr. of Arkansas (6-1, 233) is a big back who can run (4.33 in the 40 at Indy). He's well-traveled, with stints at the University of Buffalo and New Mexico on the way to Arkansas, but according to NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah he "looks blistering fast for a 200-pound back on tape." No one may want it more than Washington, who cried after his lightning-fast 40. Stacey Dales of the NFL Network reported Washington said he was overcome with emotion because, "I've worked my whole life for this.". Oregon's Noah Whittington (5-81/4, 205) has drawn comparisons to Devonta Freeman and Omarion Hampton while averaging 5.6 yards per carry in two seasons at Western Kentucky and four with the Ducks. He produced Jeremiah's favorite play of running back evaluation when he ran through the approximate entirety of the Minnesota defense.
Max's First Look
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, 6-0, 212 lbs.
2. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State, 6-0, 219 lbs
3. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, 5-11, 203 lbs.
4. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska, 5-10, 202 lbs.
5. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas, 6-1, 223 lbs.
Max's Thoughts
Upon further review, I look back at this running back group that I initially slotted and I feel pretty good about where I have players slotted. I think this is still a solid top five list, but I think you can move pieces around to create what you're looking for depending on which organization you are, at the time that you're drafting a running back. Some considerations to take when thinking about this running back group would be," What do I want in my running back?" Jeremiyah Love is the lead horse and quite possibly the best player in the draft overall considering his skill set and three down capability. The next group behind him is highly skilled and has major pluses in some areas and average and others, but this group is nothing to sneeze at while I have Nick Singleton slotted at the number two slot. You could easily slide your dairy in Price in Wright behind his Notre Dame teammate. I love the throwback capability of Emmett Johnson and I think you look at Jonah Coleman as well in that category that could be a new entrance into this top five I do love Mike, Washington, and the versatility that he brings not only to the backfield, but also in special teams and the new dynamic kickoff alignment he could be a very valuable piece for a team that has spot flexibility. Kaytron Allen is still my sleeper because I think he's done it all in college and took a reserve role to Nick Singleton, who had an excellent year. Overall, when I look at this crop of running backs, I think there are some very good skill sets and desirable trait that teams will cover it come day two of the draft and will be surprised in day three that a couple of these guys are still available and you'll probably see some movement early in the fourth round to secure their services.
