Football is back and well underway! The top teams and players are beginning to take shape as we are seeing a ton of movement from what we thought were the top prospects and those that were once under the radar. So what better time to drop my current draft rankings for the 2023 NFL Draft? We started with the QB position, now it is time for RBs!
I really like this class overall, even though the position has been devalued as a whole. There are some elite players at the top of this list who can be true game-changers at the next level and put any offense over the top. After that, I think there is a TON of talent and upside all throughout this list. I think many of these backs will be solid contributors and have the ability to be a true RB1 in the NFL. Now let’s take a look at the rankings!
1. Bijan Robinson, Texas
Bijan Robinson is the easy RB1 in this class, and I am not sure anyone will debate this. He is, to me, the only sure-fire 1st round pick of the bunch and will be hard for teams to pass on. Robinson has the size at 6’ 220lbs to carry a full load of an offense. He is very explosive and rips off big runs routinely. He has very good vision and patience to find the running lanes. And he is one of the most productive backs in the country. Robinson is a true workhorse that can change the dynamic of any offense and will most likely be a top-20 pick in the draft.
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Jahmyr Gibbs is another RB prospect that is as close to “can’t miss” as they come. The Georgia Tech transfer has come to Bama and immediately made a positive impact adding to their explosiveness. Gibbs is a do-it-all type of back who has the ability to effectively run between the tackles and is great in the passing game. He has the burst and long speed to take any play for a huge gain. His 3 straight 100+ yard games against top-tier opponents show just how dangerous he is, and to top it off, he has nearly hit his 2021 production totals in nearly half the attempts. Gibbs is another special RB prospect that has a real shot to sneak into the back half of the 1st round.
3. Tank Bigsby, Auburn
Tank Bigsby may be lower down on most rankings, but I believe in his overall talent and upside at the next level. Bigsby is a big-bodied back at 6’ 215lbs but still has juice in his legs. He has very good and deceptive burst. Has the ability to get to top speed quickly. He combos that with very good vision and tremendous balance. He isn’t a player that gets brought down easily. He has had some inconsistent production vs top teams but has proven the ability to put up big games vs good teams. Overall, I think Bigsby brings an entire package to the table and is a guy that can stay on the field for any offense at the next level.
4. Zach Evans, Ole Miss
Zach Evans is another highly-rated recruit that seems to be going a bit under the radar but has elite talent. After spending his first two seasons at TCU, Evans has come in and made an immediate impact for the Rebels. He has good size at 5’11” 195lbs and uses it well. Great balance and play strength. Evans has very good burst and long speed. He does a great job of using patience behind the line and has the ability to plant and get upfield quickly. Evans has a perfect all-around game for the next level and can easily be one of the top backs in the NFL.
5. Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
It feels like many are either all in or all out on Zach Charbonnet, but you can add me to the all-in group! Charbonnet was one of the top RB prospects, and since arriving at UCLA, all he has done is produce at a high level. Last season he put up over 1,000 yards and 13 TDs. This year, he is more than halfway to both of those marks while averaging nearly two more YPC. He has excellent size at 6’1” and 220lbs but is extremely light on his feet and has enough juice to make huge plays. Charbonnet is the complete package to me and has a very real chance to sneak in as a day 2 pick in the draft.
6. Jase McClellan, Alabama
I’m sure this will be the most surprising name for most when they see my rankings, particularly because he doesn’t have high usage with Gibbs there. But I love everything I see from him every time he touches the ball. Good vision and patience. Good burst and long speed. Has the size and frame you look for at 5’11” 215lbs. He has it all, and there is no doubt in my mind that if he were to be the bell cow at Bama, his stats would be off the charts. Now, he may stay in school another year in order to get that chance, but for now, I am ranking him in the top 10 and feeling great about it.
7. Devon Achane, Texas A&M
Devon Achane has perhaps been the fastest and biggest riser since the start of the season. Achane has been one of the lone bright spots for the Aggies this season. He continues to produce regardless of who the opponent is, averaging over 5 YPC on the year. He has incredible speed, perhaps the fastest and most explosive back in the country. He has very good patience and vision to wait for the holes to open up. And is very good in the passing game, making him a true 3 down back. He may need to get a bit bigger at only 5’9” and 185lbs, but he has the talent to overcome that and be a real weapon for any NFL team.
8. Blake Corum, Michigan
It was hard for me to rank Blake Corum this low because I absolutely love his talent, but that shows the depth of this RB class. Last season Corum was very productive despite being in a timeshare. This year, as the lead back, Corum has nearly reached the same yardage and already surpassed his TD total. Corum is a very shifty runner. Great quickness and suddenness. He has good burst and long speed which he shows by routinely breaking off huge runs. I love his vision and patience as well. His only real knock may be his height as he is only 5’8” but he has a thick, strong build at 210lbs. Corum has the talent to be the main ball carrier in any offense and should be a big producer at the next level.
9. Sean Tucker, Syracuse
Sean Tucker has quietly been one of the country’s more talented and productive backs for the past two seasons. Last season he put up nearly 1,500 rushing yards and 12 TDs and is looking like he will be doing more of the same this season. Tucker is a very hard-nosed runner that doesn’t shy away from contact. He has excellent play strength and very good balance. He combos this with good burst and speed. Tucker could easily end up being the best back out of this group, and I firmly believe he played a more high-profile school, he would be getting a ton of hype.
10. Miyan Williams, Ohio State
Coming into the year, I didn’t expect to like Miyan Williams as much as I do. He has been a pleasant surprise and has proven to be an extremely talented back. Williams is a very strong runner with very good balance. He is extremely tough to bring down and seems to always fall forward. He plays with very good vision and is a patient runner. He lets the offense flow and doesn’t look to turn every play into a homerun which allows him to be very productive and get solid runs whenever he touches the ball. He isn’t the most agile player so he won’t be breaking too many ankles, but he still has the juice to rip off big runs. His production won’t be that of the other top backs due to Henderson being the RB1, but he is efficient and talented enough to play a major role at the next level.
The Next 5:
11. Chris Rodriguez, Kentucky
12. Marshawn Lloyd, South Carolina
13. DeWayne McBride, UAB
14. EJ Smith, Stanford
15. Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
