2012 RB Class

Here is a quick look at the upcoming 2012 RB class.

Like always feel free to email me any questions or comments at [email protected]

Trent Richardson, Alabama
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 220
40 time: 4.49
Trent Richardson will get his chance this year to be the full time starter with Mark Ingram gone to the NFL. I am a little worried about him this season; he has some big shoes to fill. Not only is he going to be constantly compared to Ingram, but people are talking him up a lot this offseason. The sights could be set a little too high for him and I am worried that he may disappoint some people. On a brighter note, I really hope he doesn't disappoint, he has the talent and skill to be what many are expecting. He is big, quick, has great instincts, and has soft hands. He is my number one rated RB for right now.

Knile Davis, Arkansas
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 220
40 time: 4.45
Davis finished his first full year of starting last season with over 1300 yards rushing and 13 TDs. He caught 19 balls last season too. He has good size and speed and if he can improve on what he did last year he could be a first round draft pick.

LaMichael James, Oregon
Ht: 5-9 Wt: 185
40 time: 4.38
James is an athletic freak with off the charts playmaking ability. He lead the NCAA in rushing last season with over 1700 yards; he also had 24 TDs and over 200 yards receiving. He is a little on the smaller side, but he is tough, fast and extremely quick.

Chris Polk, Washington
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 215
40 time: 4.46
Chris Polk is incredibly talented; he rushed for over 1000 yards each of the past two years. He's got good NFL size, speed and I love his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. If Polk does well this season, he could be a high pick next April.

Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 198
40 time: 4.47
Gray is a quick and hard RB who put up some great numbers last season in place of the injured Christine Michael. He can make catches out of the backfield and pick up the blitz effectively. I love his ability to make quick cuts and his instincts when running with the football. I think I would like to see him be a little more aggressive, but overall Cyrus Gray has a great amount of potential.

Tauren Poole, Tennessee
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 213
40 time: 4.50
Poole is a bigger back who rushed for over 1000 yards, 11 TDs and 22 receptions last season.

Doug Martian, Boise St.
Ht: 5-9 Wt: 201
40 time: 4.46
Martian is a fiery RB who has the playmaking ability to take it to the house on any play. He is a smaller back, but he makes up for it with tough running and homerun speed. He rushed for over 1200 yards and 12 TDs last season.

Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 200
40 time: 4.41
Pead is a talented RB who did a little bit of everything last season. It helps his stock out a lot when teams see that he is a target out of the backfield; he caught 26 receptions last season. This is the second year that Pead had over 20 receptions; it shows that he has the ability and the consistency to be a target in the receiving game.

Edwin Baker, Michigan St.
Ht: 5-9 Wt: 210
40 time: 4.52
Baker had a solid year last season by rushing for over 1200 yards and 13 TDs. He needs to become a better pass catcher though in order to improve his draft stock.

Daniel Herron, Ohio St.
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 205
40 time: 4.54
Herron rushed for over 1000 yards last season. I think that may be a little more difficult this year with the loss of Pryor and all the drama that's going on at Ohio St. On the bright side, it gives Herron a heck of an opportunity to show that he can carry the load no matter what's the circumstances are.

Bernard Pierce, Temple
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 217
40 time: 4.51
Pierce is a big back who had a terrific freshman campaign, and saw his sophomore season cut short due to an injury. Hopefully Pierce is back to 100% and he can bounce back with a strong 2011 season.

Brandon Bolen, Ole Miss
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 220
40 time: 4.57
Another one of my favorites backs. I am really excited about Bolen; I think he could have a breakout year and really emerge as a 2^nd or 3^rd round pick. He's got size, speed, and instincts. Oh, he also has soft hands (he caught 32 balls last season).

Montee Ball, Wisconsin
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 218
40 time: 4.57
Ball is a monstrous RB who scored a whopping 18 TDs last season. He looks like he is going to be the full time starter this season; he could really rise up draft boards quickly after this year.

Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky
Ht: 5-7 Wt: 198
40 time: 4.39
Ranked in the top 5 in total rushing last season; Rainey rushed for over 1600 yards and 15 TDs. He also can be a good receiver out of the backfield. However, Rainey doesn't have the NFL size (5-7 195 lbs), and that will cause teams to shy away from him.

Marc Tyler, USC
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 230
40 time: 4.58
Tyler is a large back who really has been held back because of injuries. He is talented but just can't seem to get back to 100%.

Jeff Demps, Florida
Ht: 5-8 Wt: 190
40 time: 4.25
More of a return man than a RB. He has a very small frame (5'8 190 lbs) but can run like the wind. Guys who run in the 4.2's usually get drafted somewhere.

Montel Harris, Boston College
Ht: 5-9 Wt: 200
40 time: 4.49
Harris has rushed for well over 1000 yards for two years in a row now. His measurable aren't anything to write home about, but I think his tape is more important. He can get it done on the field, that's what matters to me.

Andre Ellington, Clemson
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 190
40 time: 4.35
Rushed for 10 TDs last season despite missing some time due to injury. He should see his carries increase this season.

Bryce Brown, Kansas St.
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 215
40 time: 4.45
Once a number 1 recruit, Brown transferred from Tennessee to Kansas St. Character issues are rumored to be the cause for the transfer.

Christine Michael, Texas A&M
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 215
40 time: 4.48
Got injured and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. He may find it tough to get a good amount of carries now due to Cyrus Gray's success.

Jermaine Thomas, Florida St.
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 190
40 time: 4.48
Decent size RB who rushed for over 800 yards last season. He can also catch the football out of the backfield.

Ralph Bolden, Purdue
Ht: 5-9 Wt: 194
40 time: 4.49
Bolden is a small RB who has had multiple injuries to his ACL. It is a shame because Bolden is extremely talented; I wish him a speedy recovery from his latest ACL injury.

Vick Ballard, Miss. St.
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 215
40 time: 4.52
Ballard is a bruising back. At 5-11 215 lbs, If he can run below a 4.5 he will be taken somewhere in the middle of the draft.

Lance Dunbar, North Texas
Ht: 5-9 Wt: 203
40 time: 4.55
Rushed for over 1500 yards and 13 TDs last season.

Lennon Creer, Louisiana Tech
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 215
40 time: 4.57
A bigger back (6-1, 215 lbs), Creer rushed for over 1000 yards, 10 TDs and caught 25 passes.

Jason Ford, Illinois
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 235
40 time: 4.53

Caleb King, Georgia
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 210
40 time: 4.40
July 11, 2011 update: Just ruled academically ineligible for the 2011 season. He will enter the supplemental draft whenever it happens this year.

Michael Shaw, Michigan
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 187
40 time: 4.49

Victor Anderson, Louisville
Ht: 5-9 Wt: 185
40 time: 4.48

Robert Turbin, Utah St.
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 202
40 time: 4.57
Turbin has good NFL size and talent. He rushed for 1296 yards and had 30 receptions for 418 yards. Unfortunately he is currently recovering from an ACL injury.

Bryce Beall, Houston
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 205
40 time: 4.53
Do it all type of back; rushed for over 600 yards and had over 300 receiving yards.

Rodney Stewart, Colorado
Ht: 5-6 Wt: 178
40 time: 4.49
A small RB who rushed for over 1300 yards last season.

Jonas Gray, Notre Dame
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 230
40 time: 4.58