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 delve into the running back position.
Note: The opinions expressed here are their own and not those of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Matt's Take
This running back class isn't what we have become accustomed to in recent years. Jeremiyah Love is a truly elite prospect and not only is he ahead of Ashton Jeanty, last year's first running back taken, but Love also has a strong case of being the best player at any position in this entire draft class. But after Love, there could be a long gap before the next player at this position comes off the board and it seems unlikely that many opening day starters in 2027 are rookies around the league. Late round depth at running back also isn't what he has been in most draft classes.
Matt's Rankings
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, 6-0, 212 lbs. - In a league in which explosive plays are of paramount importance, Love has tremendous value. Not only can he handle a big workload as a runner, but he has elite home run abilities as both a runner and receiver-and he is a fantastic receiving option. Guys like Love don't come around very often.
2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, 5-11, 203 lbs. - Obviously if Price were on just about any other team in college football he would have been showcased much much more. But Price is a fine prospect in his own right. While he has good long speed, the worry with Price is his overall explosiveness and abilities to be a big contributor in the passing game. Price is a smooth mover though with very good vision and ability to set up defenders.
3. Jonah Coleman, Washington, 5-8, 2220 lbs. - Coleman is a total bowling ball that gives tacklers very little to hit. He's a real handful to get on the ground-and tackle breaking abilities translate well to the NFL. It would have been nice if Coleman worked out at the Combine and that could be considered a red flag, but he is reliable and productive with a style that should translate well.
4. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas, 6-1, 223 lbs. - The Combine isn't always a great indicator of how a running back translates to the NFL, but big and fast certainly translates very well to the league and that is exactly what Washington is. In fact, he is pretty rare with his combination running a 4.33/40 at 223 pounds in Indianapolis.
5. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska, 5-10, 202 lbs. - The Combine wasn't particularly kind to Johnson, but his 40-yard dash time of 4.56 certainly isn't a deal breaker either. Where Johnson is at his best is in his ability to quickly attack downhill in a zone rushing scheme as well as being a very capable receiving option.
Sleeper: Seth McGowan, Kentucky, 6-0, 223 lbs. - McGowan has a very interesting story and one that every team might decipher differently. He has had off-the-field issues, but by all accounts, McGowan doesn't run from his past and instead, is using those experiences to help other young people in a positive manner. On the field, he doesn't offer a ton in the passing game, but McGowan is a very hard charging runner with an NFL level of size, speed, and explosive traits.
Mike's Take
The trend of late has been for a running back to go in the Top 10, a trend that very well might continue in the upcoming NFL Draft.
In 2023, it was Bijan Robinson of Texas going to Atlanta with the eighth-overall selection. Jahmyr Gibbs also landed just outside of the Top 10 in that draft when the Lions grabbed him out of Alabama with the 12th-overall pick.
And in 2025, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty went sixth overall to the Raiders.
This year, Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love is the consensus head of the running back class, and he's being consistently mocked among the first 10 selections.
But if you need a running back, you had better get one fast.
Mike's Rankings
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, 6-0, 212 lbs. - He probably didn't need to add an exclamation point to his RB1 resume, but the 4.36 40-yard dash Love ran at the Combine provided one, anyway. The Doak Walker Award winner (nation's top running back) and First-Team Associated Press All-American has the tape and the talent. No need to over-think it.
2. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State, 6-0, 219 lbs. - Singleton suffered a broken foot at the Senior Bowl and showed up in Indy in a walking boot. He reportedly told media at the Combine he "should be ready" to work out for scouts a week before the NFL Draft, April 23-25. In the meantime, trust the production. Singleton is Penn State's all-time leader in touchdowns (55, including one on a kickoff return) and all-purpose yards (5,586).
3. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska, 5-10, 202 lbs. - Of the 10 running backs who ran 40s in Indy, Johnson's 4.56 was the slowest. But that's also what Alvin Kamara ran before he went on to become the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017. Johnson led FBS with 151.8 all-purpose yards and finished fourth in FBS with 1,451 rushing yards in a breakout 2025 campaign that included 12 rushing touchdowns and three receiving TDs.
4. Kaytron Allen, Penn State, 5-11, 216 lbs. - Allen left Happy Valley as the Nittany Lions' all-time leader in career rushing yards (4,180). There are running back options at Penn State this time, not as many as at The Creamery but there's clearly more than one flavor available.
5. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, 5-11, 203 lbs. - There are options in South Bend, as well. Price took a backseat to Love in Notre Dame's backfield but still exhibited "NFL-starter traits," in the opinion of NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah. Price also found the end zone twice on kickoff returns in 2025 and three times overall in three seasons with the Fighting Irish.
Sleeper: Kaelon Black, Indiana, 5-9, 208 lbs - Black wasn't invited to the Combine but he made a competitive statement by participating in the Senior Bowl after a 16-game, national championship-winning season at Indiana. And he helped himself in Mobile, Ala., in Jeremiah's estimation. Black rushed for 1,040 yards, scored 10 rushing TDs and averaged 5.6 yards per carry in helping to carry the Hoosiers to the top of the college football mountain.
Max's Take
Running back position has had a Renaissance and re-emergence and I would argue second most important position on the offensive side of the ball last year. When you think of teams and the playoff runs, there's always a running back associated with each team and as we look into this year's crop of running backs, there are a lot of "do it all backs" that have emerged and that I believe will be littered throughout Day 2 and beyond in this years draft. Speed, strength and explosiveness are commonplace in this group.
Max's Rankings
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, 6-0, 212 lbs. - Jeremiah Love is the do it all back and top-tier running back in this year's crop of RB's. His explosiveness and breakaway speed make him a clear cut choice for the top of this year's draft for any team looking for a running back upgrade.
2. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State, 6-0, 219 lbs. - Singleton put together a stellar career at Penn State as a running back who not only could rush the football and set records, but also showed great hands out of the backfield with kickoff return skills to boot.
3. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, 5-11, 203 lbs. - The Robin to Jeremiah Love's Batman. Jaderian Price was a back who not only complimented Love but also excelled in a two back running system. I could see that role being very similar at the next level for Price. He lacks the explosiveness but makes up for it in the vision and zone style running that a lot of teams desire in the NFL.
4. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska, 5-10, 202 lbs. - Johnson is a throwback to the old school, three-down style running backs, which makes him a very attractive prospect in this year's draft. He led FBS in all-purpose yards and that's exactly what he is, a Swiss Army knife back.
5. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas, 6-1, 223 lbs. - The fastest running back at the Combine and this year's Draft. There's something about these Arkansas football prospects - there must be something in the water because they're all fast in the backfield. Washington has the burst and explosiveness to be an effective back at the next level.
Sleeper - Kaytron Allen, Penn State, 5-11, 216 lbs - There is a theme in my list: running by committee. Another combo package from a team that had two stellar running backs. Kaytron Allen was the clearcut leader last season at Penn State. Not a lot went right on the field in Happy Valley last year, but Allen was that bright spot on a team that struggled . He amassed over ,300 yards last season, giving him the burst to move up into my top five.
