Who are the best running backs in this year's draft class?
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> READ: RUNNING BACK DRAFT PREVIEW
If there is any consensus regarding this year's running back class, it's that Georgia's Todd Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon are going to be the first two off the board. But it's close.
In NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's latest top 50 draft prospect rankings, Gurley is listed as the No. 12 overall prospect and Gordon is one spot behind at No. 13.
Gurley would likely have been the unanimous No. 1 running back in this year's draft class had he not suffered a torn ACL back in November. He ran for 900 yards or more in each of his three seasons with the Bulldogs and scored 35 touchdowns in his career.
After those two, there is room for debate. Boise State's Jay Ajayi is a strong, powerful runner while Duke Johnson leaves Miami as the school's all-time leading rusher. Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah played well in the Senior Bowl and was one of the top performers at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Below are the top 5 running back prospects, according to NFL Media's Mike Mayock:
- Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
- Todd Gurley, Georgia
- Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska
- Duke Johnson, Miami
- Tevin Coleman, Indiana
A countdown of the top 50 overall players in the 2015 NFL Draft as ranked by NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah.(Note: this list has been updated to reflect Jeremiah's most recent rankings.)
SMU defensive lineman Elie Nabushosi (7) rushes against Texas A&M offensive linesman Cedric Ogbuehi (70) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
UCLA defensive lineman Owamagbe Odighizuwa gestures to teammates while facing Colorado in the first quarter of an NCAA football game in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Miami's Phillip Dorsett (4) runs against North Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks, top, gets ready for the snap as Southern California center Max Tuerk looks on during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA won 38-20. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oregon offensive lineman Jake Fisher (75) waits for the snap in the first quarter during an NCAA college football game against Utah Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Oklahoma defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (80) is pictured before an NCAA football game against Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney (50) claps his hands as he prepares for another play at the line of scrimmage in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Mississippi at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014. Mississippi State won the season opener, 49-0. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah breaks away from Southern California defenders on a 20-yard touchdown run during the second half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, in San Diego. Southern California won 45-42. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson (9) lines up to cover a Utah State receiver during an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Logan, Utah. (AP Photo/Eli Lucero)
Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams (88) catches a touchdown pass as Syracuse defensive back Darius Kelly (18) defends during the second half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, in Houston. Syracuse won 21-17. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Florida State center Cameron Erving (75) points out an assignment before a snap against Oregon in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015 in Pasadena, Calif. Oregon defeated Florida State 59-20 to advance to the first ever NCAA football playoff championship game. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)
Boise State running back Jay Ajayi dives for the touchdown as Arizona cornerback Jarvis McCall Jr. defends during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones (16) runs a drill before an NCAA college football game against Temple in East Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess (1) celebrates a touchdown in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Penn State in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Mississippi State defensive lineman Preston Smith (91) readies for a tackle against UAB in the second half of an NCAA college football game at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. Mississippi State won 47-34. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Florida State defensive back P.J. Williams (26) defends at the line of scrimmage against Oklahoma State 's Jhajuan Seales (81) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Florida A&M running back Gerald Hearns (30) is tackled by Miami linebacker Denzel Perryman (52) in the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith celebrates after catching a 44-yard touchdown pass during the first half of the Big Ten Conference championship NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
USC Trojans wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) during an NCAA football game against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on November 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Washington's Marcus Peters (21) snags the ball in the end zone in front of intended receiver Georgia State's Robert Davis in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, in Seattle. Peters was flagged for pass interference on the play, leading to a Georgia State touchdown on the drive. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Central Florida wide receiver Breshad Perriman (11) breaks a tackle by Connecticut cornerback Jhavon Williams (6) after Perriman's touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in East Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. Connecticut won 37-29. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
LSU cornerback Jalen Collins (32) celebrates his interception with safety Rickey Jefferson (29) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014, in College Station, Texas. LSU won 23-17. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong (21) runs away from Arizona cornerback Jonathan McKnight (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Kentucky linebacker Bud Dupree poses for a headshot during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, February 20, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
In this photo taken on Oct. 13, 2012, and provided by the University of Virginia , Virginia's freshman defensive end Eli Harold follows the action during an NCAA college football game against Maryland in Charlottesville, Va. Coach Mike London decided to get more young players involved last week after the Cavaliers had lost four straight, and Harold, an undersized defensive end, was among those that made an immediate impact.(AP Photo/University of Virginia)
Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Ereck Flowers (74) lines up on the field in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Miami defeated Cincinnati 55-34. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham (15) celebrates his touchdown against Auburn during the first half of the Southeastern Conference NCAA football championship game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins (70) warms up before an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, September 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)
Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat (70) during the second half of the Foster Farms Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Houston defensive end Eric Eiland (21) and Pittsburgh offensive lineman T.J. Clemmings (68) during the second half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, in Fort Worth. Texas. Houston won 35-34. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)
Florida State defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (90) celebrates after Florida place kicker Austin Hardin (16) missed a field goal attempt during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. Florida State won 24-19. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2014, file photo, Alabama defensive back Landon Collins celebrates after Alabama sacked Florida's quarterback during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff looks to block during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Florida offensive linesman D.J. Humphries (70) prepares to block a Tennessee defender during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
Clemson's Vic Beasley pursues Syracuse running back Prince-Tyson Gulley during the second half an NCAA college football game in Clemson, S.C., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/ Richard Shiro)
Texas' Malcom Brown (90) lines up against Baylor during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Oregon Alex Balducci, left, and Arik Armstead celebrate a defensive stop against Michigan State during the 1st quarter of their college football game in Eugene, Ore. Saturday Sept. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)
Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon (25) stiff arms Auburn defensive back Jermaine Whitehead (35) on a 53-yard touchdown run during the third quarter of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Georgia's Todd Gurley (3) returns a kickoff for a touchdown as Auburn running back Corey Grant (20) defends in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, in Athens, Ga. The touchdown was called back due to a holding penalty. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
In this Sept. 27, 2014, file photo, Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory (4) is stopped by Illinois' Simon Cvijanovic, second from left, and Chris O'Connor, right, as Illinois quarterback Reilly O'Toole (4) throws the ball in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb. G(AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes (15) intercepts a pass in the end zone intended for Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Washington defensive lineman Danny Shelton (55) in the first half during the Cactus Bowl NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Senior wide receiver DeVante Parker celebrates after scoring on a 33-yard pass and run play against rival Kentucky in their NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, in Louisville, Ky. Louisville came from behind to beat Kentucky 44-40. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)
Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota runs as T.J. McDonald and Eric Dungy chase during an NCAA football game against USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Ca,. on Nov. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
South Dakota State quarterback Jacob Menage, left, is sacked by Missouri's Shane Ray during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (5) looks for a receiver as Florida defensive lineman Dante Fowler, Jr. (6) pressures him during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson, bottom, is sacked by Florida's Dante Fowler Jr. (6) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated South Carolina 44-11. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) celebrates his touchdown against Ohio State in the second half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
West Virginia's Kevin White (11) catches a pass for a touchdown over Baylor's Xavien Howard (4) in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson)
Southern California defensive end Leonard Williams looks on during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
