Building the perfect running back out of 2025 NFL Draft prospects

What does the perfect running back look like?

Cory Kinnan | Sep 19, 2024

Sep 10, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) runs the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images / Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

In this story:

Building the perfect running back out of 2025 NFL Draft prospects

Vision: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Contact Balance: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Explosiveness: Jaydn Ott, California
Agility/Change of Direction: Devin Neal, Kansas
Receiving ability: Jaydon Blue, Texas
Pass Protection: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Listen to the full "Build-a-running back" episode on the Daft on Draft Podcast

The 2025 NFL Draft is still months away, but how can we not talk about some of these college football standouts already making a name for themselves like Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty?

The Boise State product is one of many fun running backs in this draft class. This begs the question: what makes for the perfect running back? We've seen some good ones in the NFL over the years, but Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns stands out the most. He has the ideal balance of vision, contact balance, explosiveness, agility, and hands to impact the game in every facet.

So if we were building the perfect running back out of 2025 NFL Draft running backs, what would that Frankenstein look like? Let's get in the lab:

Vision: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

So here is the thing, I could have used Jeanty for just about every single one of these categories. It's extremely hard to poke holes in his game. However, for the sake of introducing a variety of names, I am doing a different back for each category.

Jeanty, however, has the respect of RB1 in this class because of his well-rounded and elite game with the Broncos. And first and foremost about his game is his ability to sift through traffic at every level of the field. Patience and vision for a running back is more than just waiting for an initial hole to develop and hitting it. It's about finding cuts at the second and third level as well to hunt out green grass.

The Boise State standout is a pro at it.

Ashton Jeanty:

19 carries
249 yards
6 (!!!) touchdowns

There’s 13 minutes left in the game

pic.twitter.com/HbhMRiWFKf
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 31, 2024

Nov 11, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton (28) with the ball in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Contact Balance: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

This one was too easy. North Carolina's Omarion Hampton is an absolute bowling ball who is impossible to bring down on first contact. Don't believe me, just look at his data.

Through three games this season already, Hampton has already forced 20 missed tackles. Twenty. In 2023, he forced a whopping 67 missed tackles with the football in his hands for the Tar Heels. Over the last two seasons, Hampton has averaged over four yards after initial contact. It's absurd. On the year, he has 416 rushing yards, and 310 of those yards have come after contact.

This is a no-brainer.

There’s a lot of great backs in the 2025 class, but make sure you don’t sleep on @OmarionHampton

6’ 220
- Great Size
- Runs Physical
- Incredible Contact Balance
- Good Hands
- Takes Pride in Pass Pro pic.twitter.com/jjben4mCQl
— Garret Price (@DynastyPrice) September 18, 2024

Aug 31, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott (1) before the game against the UC Davis Aggies at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images / Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Explosiveness: Jaydn Ott, California

The production is down for Ott this year with the Golden Bears after an explosive season a year ago. This may lead to him heading back to the college level again in 2025, but make no mistake: He is one of the most explosive playmakers in the nation. The issue for Ott this year has been finding green grass to scamper into.

Once he hits green grass, however? He is as good as gone.

While he has not had one this year, Ott had 16 carries of over 15 yards a year ago for the Cal offense. He has legit 4.3 speed, so if he is able to get into space, good luck. As Cal takes on the struggling Florida State team this week, let's see if Ott can get the ball rolling.

#Cal RB Jaydn Ott (5-11, 205)

High knee, long strider. Explosive. Routinely finishes long runs with TDs. pic.twitter.com/aJBC67pJxV
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) June 11, 2024

Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal (4) looks back after a touchdown against Lindenwood Lions in the second quarter Thursday, August 29, 2024 at Children's Mercy Park. / Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Agility/Change of Direction: Devin Neal, Kansas

One of my favorite running backs in the class, Kansas weapon Devin Neal is a ball of fun in between the lines. He's incredibly slippery and nearly impossible to get hands on in the open field. His fluidity to stick his foot in the ground and make an open field move is a blast to watch on film.

Even as Kansas struggles offensively through the air, Neal is a back they can depend on to create an explosive play out of nothing. It's going to be fun to watch him at the NFL level with the right offensive coordinator like Klint Kubiak, Kyle Shanahan, or even Andy Reid.

Obviously a brutal loss, but shoutout to Devin Neal for another incredible game

138 Yards
7.7 YPC
3 TDs pic.twitter.com/1E2wc6JVZM
— Unbeaten in Big 12 play (@KUBurner) November 19, 2023

Texas running back Jaydon Blue (23) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Michigan defensive back Jyaire Hill (20) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, September 7, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Receiving ability: Jaydon Blue, Texas

Texas has become a bit of a running back factory over the last few years. In the last two years alone, all of Bijan Robinson, Roschon Johnson, and Jonathon Brooks have all been drafted into the NFL. They may have another this year in Jaydon Blue.

Not only is Jaydon Blue a patient and explosive runner, but he is a legit asset out of the backfield as a receiver. Texas is plastering him with targets this season, and he is not disappointing. Not only that, but Blue has shown the versatility to line up in the slot as well for the Longhorns to give them another plan of attack.

Before Jaydon Blue stayed down on the sideline and came out of the game, he had 16 touches vs 6 for the rest of the RBs (counting Niblett).

There should be no controversy about who is RB1.
(Jaydon Blue didn't appear injured later on) pic.twitter.com/dYU1YyYZz1
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) September 1, 2024

Sep 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) runs for a touchdown past Western Michigan Broncos defensive lineman Tyson Lee (58) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pass Protection: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State

Yeah, he's like that.

Not only is TreVeyon Henderson explosive with the football in his hands, but he has proven more than capable of doing the dirty work as well. He will step up and punch pass rushers and blitzers in the mouth without hesitation. This will win him a ton of brownie points with NFL coaches and scouts.