There might be fewer FBS Independent teams for the 2023 college football season, but don’t be fooled into thinking that means less talent. The four teams that will compete as independents this year all have talent on their rosters, as our 2023 FBS Independent RB rankings are a testament to.
2023 FBS Independent RB Rankings
1) Audric Estime, Chris Tyree, Jeremiyah Love, Gi’Bran Payne, Jadarian Price | Notre Dame
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are a team in flux. Heading into his second season as head coach, Marcus Freeman has landed himself a quarterback who can actually sling the ball. But with the departure of offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, their identity under former tight end coach Gerad Parker remains something of a mystery at this early point in 2023 proceedings.
The ground game carried the offense last year, and while they likely won’t be required to do so this season, the sheer amount of talent in the RB room sees Notre Dame at the top of our FBS Independent RB rankings. The departure of Logan Diggs to LSU via the transfer portal does, however, weaken their depth somewhat.
That said, both Estime and Chris Tyree broke triple-digit carries last fall. With the departure of Diggs, redshirt freshmen Gi’Bran Payne and Jadarian Price are set to feature more prominently than previously expected. Payne saw the field a little as a true freshman last fall. Notre Dame also adds explosive high school recruit Jeremiyah Love.
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“He’s an extremely talented guy that does multiple different things,” Freeman said of Love, per NBC Sports. “We wanted to address overall speed, and he’s a track kid that runs track but also does a lot of the jumps. He plays multiple positions on both sides of the ball. Obviously, we’re looking at him at the running back position, but he can do multiple things well.”
At 5’11 1/2″ (God bless Notre Dame for their NFL-standard player measurements) and 227 pounds, Estime is the enforcer of the group. He’s extremely physical, with stiff arms and lowering the shoulder into contact the hallmark of his game. The draft analyst in me can’t help but admire the pass-protection ability that Sam Hartman will enjoy from the junior RB.
Tyree provides the speed threat to Notre Dame’s backfield, helping solidify the Fighting Irish spot atop our 2023 FBS Independent RB rankings. The team’s primary kick returner last fall, Tyree can turn on the jets to produce what looks on tape like effortless speed, with twitchy, jittery, movements that allow him to shake off defensive advances as he progresses downfield.
2) Victor Rosa, Devontae Houston, Jalen Mitchell | UConn
Having waxed lyrically about Notre Dame’s running back room for the best part of 500 words, let me tell you that their standing as the top program in our 2023 FBS Independent RB rankings was by no means a walkover. Known primarily for their historic basketball success, the UConn Huskies have a stable of backs who can set the tone for the program as a football school.
That process has already begun. While quarterback Zion Turner was impressive at times — and their defense had multiple stars in their midst — it was the run game led by homegrown talent Victor Rosa that ensured bowl eligibility for the Huskies for the first time since 2015 and only the second time since 2010.
The former Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year led the Huskies with 11 touchdowns and 636 rushing yards last fall, and you get the feeling that he’s only just getting started. Rosa has the skill set to be one of the top running backs in college football this fall, with head coach Jim Mora impressed by a player that was recruited prior to his arrival.
“He is explosive, and he is fast,” Mora told the CT Insider last fall. “He is compact and muscular. … He is right about 6-foot, right about 200 pounds. He’s got good lateral movement, and he can burst, and then when he gets to the open field, he’s got that speed.”
Rosa’s opportunity to shine partially came as a result of Nathan Carter’s injury. Carter has now transferred to Michigan State, striking a blow to the Huskies’ RB room. However, UConn dipped into the portal themselves and pulled out former Louisville standout Jalen Mitchell — adding Power Five experience and a physical presence between the tackles.
UConn’s challenge to Notre Dame in our 2023 FBS Independent RB rankings is bolstered by Devontae Houston’s presence. A genuine speedster with competitive toughness forged in Alabama, Houston ripped off multiple chunk plays on his way to 578 rushing yards and an eye-opening 6.9 yards per carry. He’s one to watch in the upcoming campaign.
3) Tyson Riley, Tyrell Robinson, Ay’Juan Marshall, Jakobi Buchanan | Army
The nature of Army’s triple-option offense makes a normal assessment of their running back capability — and therefore, their placing in our FBS Independent RB rankings — somewhat tricky. While it’s something truly beautiful to behold out on the field, Army’s offense is far removed from the college football norm.
If you’re not familiar, consider some simple numbers. In 2022, 13 players on Army’s offense had double-digit carries. While the average CFB roster has around six to eight running backs on it, Army’s 2023 roster has 20 players listed at the position.
The two leading producers for the Black Knights in the ground game last fall were Jemel Jones (seven touchdowns) and Tyhier Tyler (663 rushing yards). Both are quarterbacks. When it comes to comparisons for ranking purposes, we’re not comparing apples with apples. We’re comparing tanks with Ferraris.
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That’s not to say that there aren’t some prancing horses parked in the Army RB stable.
Tyrell Robinson is a shifty and speedy back who averaged 8.4 yards per carry, with 321 rushing yards in just five games. A legitimate multi-phase weapon, he took a punt return to the house last fall and led the RB room with seven receptions. Ay’Juan Marshall is a similarly skilled standout for them.
There are tanks too, of course. Leading returning rusher Tyson Riley is a 6’2″, 255-pound, beast who can bulldoze with the best of them. Meanwhile, Jakobi Buchanan put his full 6’0″, 260 pounds, behind each of his six touchdowns last fall. Buchanan also proved his worth against Power Five opposition.
4) Tim Baldwin Jr., Kay’Ron Adams, Greg Desrosiers Jr., Jalen John, Jackson Paradis, Donta Whack | UMass
Ellis Merriweather was the bell-cow back of the UMass Minutemen offense for the last two seasons, surpassing 1,000 yards at 5.2 yards per carry in 2021. Although he led the team again last fall, his slide to 575 rushing yards at 3.8 yards per clip really epitomized the ground game issues in Don Brown’s first season at the helm. Now, Merriweather is gone.
The RB room that he leaves behind has many questions. Subsequently, that sees the Minutemen rock bottom of our 2023 FBS Independent running back rankings. Right now, there isn’t an established playmaker at the position on the roster.
Kay’Ron Adams has the most experience of any of the running backs but has never gone over 300 yards for UMass or during his two seasons at Rutgers. Moreover, he’s never scored more than one TD or gone over 4.5 yards per carry in his college career.
The two juniors — Tim Baldwin Jr. and Greg Desrosiers Jr. — have shown promise in limited action, while Brown bolstered the roster with a familiar face in the transfer portal in the form of Arizona rusher Jalen John. John has just 66 carries in three years, and fellow portal acquisition Jackson Paradis is a redshirt freshman who didn’t see the field for Buffalo last fall.
