1010XL Draft Guide: 2024 Running Back Rankings

Welcome to the latest edition of our 2024 NFL Draft prospect rankings! All the football heads at 1010XL/92.5 FM have gathered to preview the upcoming draft in April. Today, we’ll be focusing on running backs.

Here’s how our internal panel of experts ranked* this year’s class.

*Subject to change. Final rankings will be released in a full Draft Guide in March. 

Here’s more information on our consensus top-five prospects.

Jonathon Brooks, Texas

Our consensus rank: 1 | National consensus rank: 3

Bio: Brooks was a four-star recruit after scoring 70 total touchdowns as a senior at Hallettsville High School. He committed to Texas but saw just 51 carries in his first two seasons behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. With those two off to the league in 2023, Brooks carried the ball 187 times for 1,139 yards and 10 scores to earn Second-Team All-Big 12 honors. His 6.7 yards per touch ranked fourth among running backs in the conference, though Brooks tore his ACL in November. 

Player comp: Derrick Henry lite

Strengths: Vision, contact balance, acceleration

Weaknesses: Health, lateral agility, size

Trey Benson, Florida State

Our consensus rank: 2 | National consensus rank: 1

Bio: Benson was a three-star recruit out of St. Joseph Catholic High School, where he was a two-time team captain and won back-to-back state titles. He committed to Oregon but saw just 6 carries in his first two years due to a significant knee injury. Benson transferred to Florida State in 2022 and earned consecutive Second-Team All-ACC honors, finishing with 200 rushes for 1,201 yards in four collegiate seasons. 

Player comp: Miles Sanders

Strengths: Long speed, burst, vision

Weaknesses: Pad level, hip flexibility, pass protection

Blake Corum, Michigan

Our consensus rank: 3 | National consensus rank: 2

Bio: Corum was a four-star recruit out of Saint Fances Academy, where he won Maryland’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year in 2019. Corum had three straight 100-yard rushing games as a sophomore, broke out with 1,463 yards as a junior, and won Offensive MVP in the national championship as a senior. He holds Michigan’s single-season and all-time records for rushing touchdowns. 

Player comp: Doug Martin with a hint of Kyren Williams

Strengths: Agility, patience, contact balance

Weaknesses: Size, age, long speed

Mar’Keise “Bucky” Irving, Oregon

Our consensus rank: 4 | National consensus rank: 6

Bio: Irving was a four-star recruit out of Hillcrest High School. He committed to Minnesota and rushed for 699 yards and 4 touchdowns as a true freshman, earning Offensive MVP of the Holiday Bowl. Irving then transferred to Oregon in 2022 and registered two 1,000-yard rushing seasons. His 11 scores on the ground last year ranked third in the Pac-12. 

Player comp: Tank Bigsby

Strengths: Burst, agility, contact balance

Weaknesses: Size, patience, pass protection 

Audric Estimé, Notre Dame

Our consensus rank: 5 | National consensus rank: 4

Bio: Estimé was a four-star recruit out of Saint Joseph Regional High School. He originally committed to Michigan State before flipping to Notre Dame. Estimé saw 7 carries as a true freshman behind Kyren Williams, but he rushed for 2,261 yards and 29 touchdowns over the next two seasons. His 18 scores in 2023 broke a single-season school record. 

Player comp: Leonard Fournette lite

Strengths: Size, strength, patience

Weaknesses: Long speed, burst, hip flexibility

Follow along as we rank each position group leading up to the draft!

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Offensive Tackles

Interior Offensive Linemen

Tight Ends

Cornerbacks

Safeties

Edge Defenders

Defensive Tackles

Inside Linebackers