Mike's First Look
1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (5-81/2, 211 lbs.)
2. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina (5-113/4, 221lbs.)
3. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa (6-1, 224 lbs.)
4. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State (5-115/8, 221 lbs.)
5. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (5-101/8, 202 lbs.)
Mike's Second Look
1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (5-81/2, 211 lbs.)
2. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina (5-113/4, 221lbs.)
3. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State (5-115/8, 221 lbs.)
4. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa (6-1, 224 lbs.)
5. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (5-101/8, 202 lbs.)
Mike's Thoughts: Judkins gets bumped up a spot and Johnson knocked down a notch after further review, but a team in need at the position ought to be elated with either player … Tennessee's Dylan Sampson (5-11, 201 lbs.) knows his way to the end zone. He set Tennessee records with 22 rushing touchdowns (fourth in FBS) and by rushing for at least one score in 11 consecutive games on the way to amassing 132 points in 2024. Thompson is the first SEC player with 20-plus rushing touchdowns since Alabama's Najee Harris in 2020 (26) … Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon (6-0 3/8, 226) is another big back who intrigues. He won the Doak Walker Award (top running back) in 2023 with an FBS-leading 1,732 rushing yards, an FBS-leading 2,062 yards from scrimmage and 21 rushing touchdowns (second in FBS). Gordon's production dipped dramatically this season but his standout week at the Senior Bowl included throwing a 32-yard touchdown pass to Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins in the Senior Bowl game … Arizona State's Cam Skattebo (5-9 1/2, 219 lbs.) bashed and smashed his way to becoming the only FBS player this century to have at least 100 yards rushing (143), at least 75 yards receiving (99), a passing touchdown and a two-point conversion in the same game in the College Football Playoff against Texas. Skattebo's 2,316 yards from scrimmage in 2024 were second in FBS to Jeanty … SMU's Brashard Smith (5-97/8, 194 lbs.) was a slot receiver at Miami (Fla.) who converted to running back at SMU and had a breakout year in 2024 (1,332 yards rushing, 14 rushing TDs). He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and projects as a speedy, sub-package, change-of-pace option … Ja'Quinden Jackson (6-1 5/8, 225 lbs.) of Arkansas is a converted quarterback and the only player in FBS who had 15-plus rushing touchdowns (15) in 10 or fewer games (10) … Michigan's Kalel Mullings (6-2, 233 lbs.) has bounced between linebacker and running back and got the ball often enough to rush for 948 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2024 … Devin Neal (5-11 1/8, 213 lbs.) of Kansas had 207 yards rushing, 80 yards receiving and a combined four touchdowns against Colorado. He's the all-time rushing leader at Kansas (4,343 yards), the alma mater of Gale Sayers … Virginia Tech's Bhayshul Tuten (5-9, 205 lbs.) flew his way to a 4.32 40 in Indy, rushed for 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns and averaged 6.3 yards per carry in 2024. He also has two career kickoff returns for a touchdown on is resume … Central Florida's R.J. Harvey (5-8, 205 lbs.) rushed for just under 1,600 yards in 2024 (1,577, with a 6.8 average per carry). Harvey had 12 games with 100-plus yards from scrimmage (second in FBS) and nine with multiple scrimmage TDs (tried with Skattebo for the most among FBS running backs) in 2024.