Utilizing a combination of the industry consensus rankings, who are the top running backs that are set to run rampant in the college football world? The top 2024 RB Rankings are an interesting mix of players from all corners of the country.
Class of 2024 RB Rankings
We’ve seen the RB Class of 2024 under the microscope for years, fixing our recruiting rankings at every turn. Now, with Early Signing Day approaching, who are the top running backs in this year’s recruiting class, and where are they headed?
In our rankings below, we utilize a combination of rankings from the big four recruiting websites: 247Sports, ESPN, On3, and Rivals.
1) Taylor Tatum, Longview High School
College: Oklahoma
Hometown: Longview, TX
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 205
247 Position Rank: 1
On3 Position Rank: 1
ESPN Position Rank: 2
Rivals Position Rank: 1
Consensus Rank: 1
The near-consensus top running back in this class, Tatum committed to the Oklahoma Sooners over the summer and hasn’t wavered once. The two-sport star will also play baseball for the Sooners after playing football, baseball, and running track at Longview.
After rushing for 1,850 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2022, Tatum followed that up with a near-1500-yard performance and 20 touchdowns in 2023. Oklahoma has a rich history at running back, and Tatum seems like the next Sooner star there.
2) Nate Frazier, Mater Dei High School
College: Georgia
Hometown: Santa Ana, CA
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 208
247 Position Rank: 8
On3 Position Rank: 2
ESPN Position Rank: 6
Rivals Position Rank: 4
Consensus Rank: 2
A track star who flipped to running back due to injuries at the position, Frazier’s explosive speed made him an instant hit at the position, with rare instincts and home run speed. Frazier hit marks of 10.58 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.62 seconds in the 200 and also had a GPS time of 21.3 mph on the field last fall.
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Mater Dei is one of the best talent pipelines in the country, and Frazier is their next all-star talent. Georgia has produced plenty of elite running backs over their program’s history, which makes them an excellent fit with Frazier’s playmaking ability.
3) Kameron Davis, Dougherty High School
College: Florida State
Hometown: Albany, GA
Height: 5’9.5″
Weight: 200
247 Position Rank: 6
On3 Position Rank: 6
ESPN Position Rank: 3
Rivals Position Rank: 3
Consensus Rank: 3
Another football/baseball star on this list, Davis is a quarterback who will make the switch to running back in college football. With over 5,000 yards on the ground over his high school career, Davis’s production and open-field ability head to join the Florida State Seminoles, who have already had Dalvin Cook and Cam Akers be drafted early and have Trey Benson poised to do much of the same.
Davis’s 5’9″ frame gives him a naturally low center of gravity and makes him difficult to tackle. A quarterback with his natural rushing ability is pretty rare, and Davis’s already college-ready frame at over 200 pounds should point to him being able to play sooner rather than later. He could hit the ground running in college.
4) Kevin Riley, Tuscaloosa County High School
College: Alabama
Hometown: Northpoint, AL
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 195
247 Position Rank: 5
On3 Position Rank: 3
ESPN Position Rank: 5
Rivals Position Rank: 10
Consensus Rank: 4
His 195-pound frame belies his playing style. Make no mistake, Riley is a hard-nosed runner in between the tackles who offers a bit of a throwback for Miami football. The Hurricanes secured his commitment over other teams like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Penn State.
Riley credited his relationship with the coaching staff and their offense under Shannon Dawson as his reasons for committing. With Miami beginning to turn its offensive line around under Mario Cristobal, Riley could be headed for a productive collegiate career.
5) Jerrick Gibson, IMG Academy
College: Texas
Hometown: Bradenton, FL
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 200
247 Position Rank: 2
On3 Position Rank: 5
ESPN Position Rank: 1
Rivals Position Rank: 11
Consensus Rank: 5
A powerhouse for one of the nation’s most elite programs at IMG Academy, Gibson has enjoyed a decorated high school career. His tape features an explosive back with the ability to outrun defenders despite having an already pretty filled-out frame. With Texas’s recent success with Bijan Robinson and Jonathan Brooks, Gibson seems destined for stardom in the Lone Star State.
6) Jordan Marshall, Archbishop Moeller High School
College: Michigan
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 193
247 Position Rank: 9
On3 Position Rank: 4
ESPN Position Rank: 9
Rivals Position Rank: 2
Consensus Rank: 6
An Ohio star going to play for Michigan feels like it violates some natural law, but regardless, Marshall is poised to join Michigan’s long history of excellent running back play. A physical back with the track background to take rushes the distance, Marshall was the Ohio Division I co-state player Offensive Player of the Year in 2022.
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Michigan had to beat out Ohio State, Penn State, and Tennessee during his recruitment. Marshall’s rushing style fits right into the sort of offense that Jim Harbaugh and Sherrone Moore have established with the Wolverines and should be productive from the start.
7) James Peoples, Veterans Memorial High School
College: Ohio State
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 192
247 Position Rank: 4
On3 Position Rank: 7
ESPN Position Rank: 12
Rivals Position Rank: 8
Consensus Rank: 7
Ohio State reached into Texas and plucked away the Texas District 13-5A D-II Co-MVP from 2022 in James Peoples. A talented and slippery back, Peoples ran circles around most of his competition at the high school level. It’s easy to see his track background on film, with his quickness and movement skills in space.
Tony Alford, Ohio State’s running backs coach, was a significant part of Peoples’ recruitment with his off-field personality. It doesn’t hurt that Alford has helped coach some of the best backs in recent memory while at Ohio State, with six 1,000-yard rushers in seven seasons with the team. He and Peoples will look to have a bright future with the Buckeyes.
8) Caden Durham, Duncanville High School
College: LSU
Hometown: Duncanville, TX
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 195
247 Position Rank: 15
On3 Position Rank: 9
ESPN Position Rank: 13
Rivals Position Rank: 6
Consensus Rank: 8
Caden Durham’s film is reminiscent of Lightning McQueen, given his ridiculous speed on the field. His explosiveness is akin to a stick of dynamite with legs, and it’s a surprise he isn’t higher on the rankings. Durham plays for one of the best schools in Texas and has sped his way to success. There isn’t a foot race he has lost yet, and he rips off long runs with surprising regularity.
Durham’s stature isn’t exactly what you’d call large, but defenders still couldn’t tackle him. Given LSU’s offensive success this season, the SEC better be ready for Durham sooner than later.
9) Jonathan Paylor, Hugh M. Cummings High School
College: NC State
Hometown: Burlington, NC
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 170
247 Position Rank: 10
On3 Position Rank: 12
ESPN Position Rank: N/A
Rivals Position Rank: N/A
Consensus Rank: 9
Much like Durham, Paylor may be small, but he is oftentimes the fastest player on the field. Boasting state titles in 100, 200, and 400 meters as a sophomore and running the 100 meters in 10.65 seconds as a junior, Paylor is a walking highlight reel.
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Paylor has a remarkable skill set, with his ability in between the tackles and as a receiver, which should excite NC State fans. Finding where he can settle in and play might be tricky, but finding him with the football shouldn’t be.
10) Dwight Phillips Jr., Pebblebrook High School
College: Georgia
Hometown: Mableton, GA
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 170
247 Position Rank: 12
On3 Position Rank: 10
ESPN Position Rank: N/A
Rivals Position Rank: N/A
Consensus Rank: 10
The son of 2004 Olympic long jump gold medalist and four-time world champion Dwight Phillips, Phillips Jr. inherited his father’s genes, with some stellar track times, including a 10.43 100-meter dash. Even crazier, On3 reported Phillips Jr. followed that up with a 10.24 second time as a junior. His 40-yard dash has been clocked in the 4.2s by college staffs.
Georgia is the only school with two commits on this list, and they are looking at their explosiveness. Between Frazier and Phillips Jr., Georgia is adding two home run hitters in this class to feed their deep running back stable.
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