Top Running Backs to Watch: Jeremiyah Love and Nick Singleton Headline a Deep 2026 NFL Draft Class

The 2026 NFL Draft running back class has a chance to be special, led by Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love—currently graded as a top-10 overall prospect in our early summer scouting evaluations. While the group may lack multiple first-round locks, it offers intriguing depth and scheme versatility.

Penn State’s Nick Singleton returns after bypassing the 2025 NFL Draft, and Minnesota’s Darius Taylor could be one of the biggest risers in the country, bringing arguably the best three-down versatility in this class.

At this stage, Love is the only back carrying clear Day 1 expectations. However, several others are either coming off breakout seasons or are poised for major elevation in new offensive systems—setting up a competitive Day 2 potential.

Top Running Backs to Watch in the 2026 NFL Draft

Below, we evaluate each player’s size, play style, draft projection, and long-term ceiling heading into the 2025 college football season.

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

• Ht/Wt: 6'0", 210 lbs

• Grade: Near Elite (Round 1 Projection)

• Player Comparison: Jahmyr Gibbs meets D’Andre Swift

Analysis: Jeremiyah Love is the most electric back in this class with rare burst, home-run speed, and creative footwork in space. With a strong 2025 season as Notre Dame’s workhorse, he could cement his case as a Round 1 pick, but he’ll need to elevate his pass protection and route-running polish to fully round out his profile.

Nick Singleton, Penn State

• Ht/Wt: 6'0", 224 lbs

• Grade: High-End Starter Potential (Round 2 Projection)

• Player Comparison: Melvin Gordon

Analysis: Singleton boasts top-end straight-line explosiveness and power, with a reported 4.35 speed at over 220 pounds. He’s a perfect fit in gap and pin/pull schemes and brings early-down thunder with three-down potential. His lateral agility and vision inside need refinement, but the ceiling is sky-high if the mental processing catches up to the raw athleticism.

Makhi Hughes, Oregon

• Ht/Wt: 5'11", 210 lbs

• Grade: Mid-Level Starter Potential (Round 3 Projection)

• Player Comparison: Tyler Allgeier

Analysis: A two-time All-AAC standout at Tulane, Hughes led all returning FBS backs in rushing yards heading into 2025. He brings physicality, patience, and elite YAC ability to the table. At Oregon, Hughes will now prove he can do it against top-tier Big Ten defenses. He’s a classic inside-zone/gap grinder with Day 2 upside.

C.J. Baxter Jr., Texas

• Ht/Wt: 6'0", 220 lbs

• Grade: Mid-Level Starter Potential (Round 3–4 Projection)

• Player Comparison: Damien Harris

Analysis: Baxter’s combination of size, receiving chops, and inside-zone success as a freshman gives him legitimate NFL upside. But after battling injuries in 2024, his 2025 campaign will need to showcase consistent health, durability, and volume capability to reestablish Day 2 status.

Justice Haynes, Michigan

• Ht/Wt: 5'11", 210 lbs

• Grade: Mid-Level Starter Potential (Round 3–4 Projection)

• Player Comparison: Kenneth Walker III (light)

Analysis: Haynes transferred from Alabama to Michigan for a true lead role in 2025—and he’s ready to explode. He runs with low pad level, elite contact balance, and strong one-cut decisiveness. Haynes flashes burst and vision, but will need to show more in the receiving game to push into Day 2 territory.

Darius Taylor, Minnesota

• Ht/Wt: 6'0", 215 lbs

• Grade: Low-Level Starter Potential (Round 4–5 Projection)

• Player Comparison: Jamaal Williams

Analysis: Taylor is a workhorse with real third-down chops—posting 54 catches in 2024 to go with nearly 1,000 yards rushing. He’s not a burner, but he’s reliable between the tackles and out of the backfield. He profiles as a volume-capable RB2 in rhythm-based offenses.

Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma

• Ht/Wt: 6'0", 200 lbs

• Grade: Low-Level Starter Potential (Round 4–5 Projection)

• Player Comparison: Elijah Mitchell

Analysis: When healthy, Ott is one of the best pure zone runners in the class. His footwork, acceleration, and receiving instincts make him a modern offensive weapon. Now at Oklahoma, he’ll look to stay healthy and prove his durability while showcasing his versatile three-down traits.

Jonah Coleman, Washington

• Ht/Wt: 5'9", 229 lbs

• Grade: Low-Level Starter Potential (Round 4–5 Projection)

• Player Comparison: Maurice Jones-Drew

Analysis: A squatty, physical runner with serious balance and leg drive, Coleman is built for dirty work. He can win in short yardage, break tackles in space, and quietly contribute as a pass-catcher. He’ll never be flashy, but he checks a lot of NFL boxes as a back-end starter or reliable committee option.