The nation's best running backs somehow escaped the can't miss label as prep stars

Florida's Jadan Baugh (13) is a truly elite running back (Photo by Chris Spears)

Recently, the Tennessee Vols secured a commitment for 2027 from running back David Gabriel Georges (5-11, 220, Quebec, Canada/Chattanooga, TN Baylor Prep). He didn’t come cheap. There are reports it took a $2 million NIL commitment from the Vols to outbid Ohio State to secure Georges. He is an instant millionaire who hasn’t played a single snap at a position where high school success habitually fails to replicate at the collegiate level where very fast tacklers hit with runaway train impact.

It can easily be argued that the best three running backs in the country for 2026 all ply their trade in the Southeastern Conference – Ahmad Hardy (Missouri), Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss) and Jadan Baugh (Florida). None of them were ranked among the top 10 backs out of high school but they have proven their worth on the field. Each of them will earn $1 million or more in NIL money this year, money that was earned with blood, sweat, tears and serious contact. Proof that this is as tough a position as there is in all of football is at the NFL level where the average back lasts 2.5-3 years.

Hardy, Lacy and Baugh are proven commodities who strap it on and get the job done, often spectacularly. Georges has yet to play a college football game and he's going to play in the SEC where very fast defenses arrive at whoever has the football in the nastiest of moods. Georges will be paid as if he is the second coming of Herschel Walker. If he isn't the next Herschel or even the equal of Hardy, Lacy or Baugh then someone in Tennessee has more money than brains.

Georges will arrive at Tennessee with a can't miss label. Hardy, Lacy and Baugh arrived without anything close to the hype.

Hardy was a 3-star recruit out of Lawrence County, Mississippi where he was ranked the No. 107 running back in the country. He signed with Louisiana-Monroe where he gained 1,351 yards as a freshman then transferred to Missouri where he gained 1,651 yards and finished second in the country in rushing last year. His two years of college football have produced 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Lacy originally signed with Missouri out of Lancaster, Texas where he was the No. 16 high school running back. After being sparingly used at Mizzou, he transferred to Ole Miss where he gained 1,567 yards and scored 24 touchdowns last season.

Jadan Baugh was ranked No. 24 nationally out of Columbia High School in Decatur, Georgia. He has led the Gators in rushing each of the last two seasons, cracking the 1,000-yard mark as a sophomore last season, the first UF back to do that since Kelvin Taylor did it in 2015. In two seasons he has 1,843 rushing yards for 15 touchdowns, 37 receptions for 243 yards and three more TDs.

Hardy, Lacy and Baugh are the most distinctive backs from the recruiting class of 2024. Here is a look at the top ten running backs for each year in the recruiting classes from 2018-24. Of the 60 running backs who made up the top 10 in each class that were NFL draft eligible from 2018-23, only 18 were selected and just four were taken in the first round.  

2018

Top 10

1. Zamir White (Georgia): 2,043 yards in three seasons; drafted fourth round in 2021 by Las Vegas Raiders

2. Lorenzo Lingard (Miami): Started at Miami, three seasons at Florida, finished at Akron.

3. Ricky Slade (Penn State): Two subpar seasons at Penn State.

4. Jaelin Gill (Ohio State): Moved to wide receiver, transferred to Boston College, then to Fresno State.

5. James Cook (Georgia): Gained more than 1,500 yards and caught 67 passes. Drafted second round by Buffalo.

6. Brian Snead (Ohio State): One season at Ohio State, two unremarkable years at Arkansas State.

7. T.J. Pledger (Oklahoma): Gained more than 1,300 yards, three seasons at Oklahoma, one at Utah.

8. Ricky Person Jr. (NC State): Gained 1,922 yards in four seasons.

9. Harold Joiner (Auburn): Six unremarkable seasons, three at Auburn, three at Michigan State.

10. Keaontay Ingram (Texas): Gained 2,722 rushing and caught 67 passes in three seasons at Texas, one at Southern Cal. Drafted 6^th round by Arizona.

Other top 50 backs from 2018: 22. Dameon Pierce (Florida) gained 1,806 yards and caught 45 passes. Drafted in the fourth round by Houston.

2019

Top 10

1. Trey Sanders (Alabama): Three seasons at Alabama, two at TCU produced 750 rushing yards.

2. John Emery Jr. (LSU): Five seasons at LSU, one at Texas-San Antonio produced 1,127 rushing yards.

3. Jerrion Ealy (Ole Miss): Gained 2,235 yards and caught 67 passes in three seasons.

4. Zach Charbonnet (Michigan): Blossomed at UCLA after two seasons at Michigan. Finished with 3,346 yards and 75 catches. Drafted second round by Seattle.

5. Devyn Ford (Penn State): Four seasons at Penn State, two at Notre Dame, 751 rushing yards.

6. Mark-Antony Richards (Auburn): One season at Auburn, three at UCF, 418 rushing yards.

7. Noah Cain (Penn State): Gained 1,396 yards and caught 46 passes in three seasons at Penn State, two at LSU.

8. Tyrion Davis-Price (LSU): Gained 1,744 yards in three seasons at LSU; drafted third round by San Francisco.

9. Austin Jones (Stanford): Gained 2,337 yards and caught 105 passes in three seasons at Stanford, two at Southern Cal.

10. Isaiah Spiller (Texas A&M): Gained 2,993 yards and caught 74 passes in three years at A&M; drafted fourth round by the Los Angeles Chargers.

Other top 50 backs from 2019: Nay’Quan Wright (No. 23) gained 2,060 yards and caught 67 pasess in six seasons, four at Florida and two at South Florida .... The best running back in 2019 was Breece Hall (No. 31), who gained 3,933 yards and caught 82 passes in three seasons at Iowa State. Drafted in the second round by the New York Jets.

2020

Top 10

1. Zach Evans (TCU): Gained 1,999 yards in three seasons, two at TCU, one at Ole Miss. Drafted in the sixth round by the Los Angeles Rams.

2. Bijan Robinson (Texas): Gained 3,410 yards and caught 60 passes in three seasons. Drafted in the first round by the Atlanta Falcons.

3. Demarkcus Bowman (Clemson): Three uneventful seasons, one at Clemson, one at Florida, one at UCF produced 175 rushing yards.

4. Tank Bigsby (Auburn): Gained 2,906 yards and caught 62 passes in three seasons. Drafted in the third round by Jacksonville.

5. MarShawn Lloyd (South Carolina): Gained 1,621 yards, two seasons at South Carolina and one at Southern Cal. Drafted third round by the Green Bay Packers.

6. Jase McClellan (Alabama): Gained 1,891 yards and caught 40 passes in four years at Bama. Drafted sixth round by Atlanta.

7. Kendall Milton (Georgia): Gained 1,839 yards in four years.

8. Chris Tyree (Notre Dame): Four seasons at running back at Notre Dame and one season at wide receiver at Virginia produced 1,204 rushing yards and 106 receptions.

9. Jahmyr Gibbs (Georgia Tech): On the shortest of lists for best back from 2020. Two seasons at Georgia Tech and one at Alabama produced 2,132 rushing yards and 104 receptions. Drafted first round by Detroit.

10. Roydell Williams (Alabama): Played four years at Alabama, two at Florida State, gaining 1,264 yards.

Other top 50 running backs from 2020: Blake Corum (No. 11) led Michigan to the 2023 national championship. Ran for 3,738 yards and scored 58 touchdowns. Drafted third round by the Los Angeles Rams … EJ Smith (son of Emmitt, No. 15) played six seasons, four at Stanford, two at Texas A&M, gaining 969 yards. Devon Achane (No. 16) ran for 2,376 yards and caught 65 passes in three years. Drafted third round by Miami.

2021

Top 10

1. TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State): Ran for 3,761 yards and caught 77 passes in four seasons. Drafted second round by New England.

2. Donovan Edwards (Michigan): Gained 2,251 yards and caught 86 passes in four seasons.

3. Will Shipley (Clemson): Ran for 2,747 yards and caught 85 passes in three years. Drafted fourth round by Philadelphia.

4. Camar Wheaton (Alabama): Redshirt one year at Alabama, two at SMU produced 732 rushing yards.

5. L.J. Johnson (Texas A&M): Ran for 1,111 yards in two seasons at A&M, two at SMU and one at California.

6. Evan Pryor (Ohio State): He’s at Florida now after two seasons at Ohio State and two at Cincinnati that produced 1,087 rushing yard and 28 receptions.

7. Armoni Goodwin (LSU): In two seasons at LSU and one at UAB ran for 420 yards.

8. AJ Green (Arkansas): He is at Oklahoma State now after running for 964 yards in four years at Arkansas.

9. Corey Kiner (LSU): Spent one season at LSU, then three at Cincinnati. Gained 2,882 yards and caught 32 passes.

10. Prophet Brown (Southern Cal): Moved to corner where he played four seasons.

Other top 50 running backs from 2021: Phil Mafah (No. 11) gained 2,887 yards and caught 58 passes in four years at Clemson. Drafted seventh round by Dallas.

2022

Top 10

1. Nick Singleton (Penn State): Ran for 3,461 yards and caught 102 passes in four seasons. Drafted fifth round by Tennessee.

2. Branson Robinson (Georgia): Spent two seasons at Georgia, one at Georgia State where he gained 555 yards.

3. Le’Veon Moss (Texas A&M): Ran for 1,767 yards in four seasons at Texas A&M.

4. Jam Miller (Alabama): Ran for 1,596 yards and caught 40 passes in four seasons. Drafted seventh round by New England.

5. TreVonte Citizen (Miami): Played one game in 2023.

6. Jovantae Barnes (Oklahoma): Transferred to Kentucky after four years and 1,281 rushing yards at Oklahoma.

7. George Pettaway (North Carolina): Transferred to James Madison after two years at UNC. Has run for 1,268 yards and caught 39 passes. Will be Billy Napier’s lead back in 2026.

8. Kaytron Allen (Penn State): Ran for 4,180 yards and caught 70 passes in four years at PSU. Drafted sixth round by Washington.

9. Omarion Hampton (North Carolina): Ran for 3,565 yards and caught 73 passes in three seasons. Drafted first round by the Los Angeles Chargers.

10. Gavin Sawchuk (Oklahoma): In three seasons at Oklahoma and one at Florida State he ran for 1,463 yards and caught 36 passes. Transferred to Northwestern.

Other top 50 running backs from 2022: Ollie Gordon (No. 15) ran for 2,920 yards and caught 80 passes in three seasons. Drafted sixth round by Miami … Trevor Etienne (No. 20) began at Florida then transferred to Georgia after two seasons. Gained 2,081 yards and caught 62 passes. Drafted fourth round by Carolina … Dylan Sampson (No. 31) ran for 2,492 yards and caught 40 passes in three years. Drafted fourth round by Cleveland … Quinshon Judkins (No. 31) spent two years at Ole Miss, one at Ohio State. Ran for 3,785 yards and caught 59 passes. Drafted second round by Cleveland … Anthony Hankerson (No. 45) spent two years at Colorado and two at Oregon State. Ran for 2,721 yards and caught 70 passes.

2023

Top 10

1. CJ Baxter (Texas): Transferred to Kentucky after three years, 855 rushing yards and 36 catches at Texas.

2. Justice Haynes (Alabama): Now at Georgia Tech after two seasons at Alabama and one at Michigan which produced 1,473 rushing yards and 30 receptions.

3. Rueben Owens (Texas A&M): A redshirt junior in 2026, he has run for 1,090 yards and caught 26 passes.

4. Richard Young (Alabama): Transferred to Colorado as a redshirt junior after 234 rushing yards at Alabama.  

5. Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame): Ran for 2,882 yards and caught 63 passes in three seasons at Notre Dame. Drafted first round by Arizona.

6. Jeremiah Cobb (Auburn): Back for his senior season at Auburn. Has 1,283 rushing yards in three seasons.

7. Kedrick Reescano (Ole Miss): Senior at Arizona. Two seasons at Ole Miss and two at Arizona have produced 755 rushing yards.

8. Dante Dowdell (Oregon): Started at Oregon, transferred to Nebraska and then to Kentucky. Now he’s at Georgia with 1,264 rushing yards in his career.

9. Mark Fletcher (Miami): Senior at Miami. Three previous seasons have produced 2,313 rushing yards and 34 receptions.

10. Roderick Robinson II (Georgia): Transferred to UAB as a redshirt junior after 234 rushing yards at Georgia.

Other top 50 running backs from 2023: Cam Cook (No. 20) spent two seasons at TCU then transferred to Jacksonville State where he gained 1,659 yards in 2025. Transferred to West Virginia … Treyaun Webb (No. 23) transferred to Appalachian State after three injury-filled years at Florida in which he gained 256 yards … Hollywood Smothers (No. 26) transferred to Texas after gaining 1,552 yards and catching 47 passes in three years, first at Oklahoma, last two at North Carolina State … London Montgomery (No. 36) transferred to East Carolina after a redshirt year at Penn State. Gained 1,101 yards in two seasons at ECU.

2024

Top 10

1. Taylor Tatum (Oklahoma): Transferred to Michigan where he will play DB. Ran for 277 yards in two seasons at Oklahoma.

2. Nate Frazier (Georgia): Has 1,618 rushing yards and 28 receptions in two years.

3. Kevin Riley (Alabama): Redshirt sophomore at Alabama with 254 rushing yards and 21 catches to his credit.

4. Jordan Marshall (Michigan): Ran for 952 yards last year and has 1,052 for his career. Third year junior at Michigan.

5. Caden Durham (LSU): Third year junior with 1,258 rushing yards and 44 receptions.

6. Jordan Lyle (Miami): Third year junior with 508 career rushing yards.

7. Jerrick Gibson (Texas): Transferred to Purdue after two seasons and 529 yards at Texas.

8. James Peoples (Ohio State): Transferred to Penn State after two years and 541 rushing yards at Ohio State.

9. Kedren Young (Notre Dame): Injured last year. Ran for 116 yards in 2024.

10. Peyton Lewis (Tennessee): Transferred to Virginia after two seasons and 629 rushing yards at Tennessee.

Other top 50 running backs from 2024: 13. Daniel Hill (No. 13) has run for 345 yards in two seasons at Alabama … K.D. Daniels (No. 15) spent two years at Florida (197 rushing yards) then transferred to Wake Forest … Kewan Lacey (No. 16) spent one year at Missouri then transferred to Ole Miss where he gained 1,671 yards (24 touchdowns) and caught 31 passes last year … Dwight Phillips (No. 19) has gained 243 yards in two years at Georgia … Chauncey Bowens (No. 22) has run for 584 yards in two seasons at Georgia … Jadan Baugh (No. 24) has run for 1,843 yards with 37 receptions in two years at Florida … Isaac Brown (No. 42) has run for 1,104 yards and caught 45 passes in two seasons at Louisville.