This year’s running back class might be a step behind in comparison to the stellar 2025 group that entered the league in April. However, where it may lack in star power deeper down the rankings, the pre-season top-5 highlighted here carries it’s own special level of pop. There is a lot of change to take place yet throughout the 2026 cycle, but as of July 26th, these are the five individuals positioned to compete for the coveted title of RB1.
1. Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)
In a breakout season highlighted by the bright lights of a trip to the CFP National Championship, Jeremiyah Love inserted himself as a household name in 2024.
Going 162/1,124/17 on the ground without forking up a single fumble, Love’s game is defined by freaky athleticism and power. He led all 2026 draft-eligible backs in touchdowns and yards after contact per attempt (4.39). He also led the FBS in breakaway percentage (52.5%) and was second in total ground yards.
Love features an elite first step, world-class acceleration, and has a thirst for the physicality of the game. You’ll catch him lowering his shoulder to put the hurt on one second, just to see him turn around and hurdle an upright line backer the next. His long-speed and big-play ability makes him a shoe-in top-75 prospect come next April. His uncanny ability to manipulate a 6-foot, 210 pound frame to hit the hole is what will make him an inevitable threat for the entirety of his career.
If there’s one place we’d like to see his game grow in 2025 it’s in pass pro. Among RBs who recorded at least 55 pass block reps, PFF graded him out as RB27.
2. Jonah Coleman (Washington)
At 5-foot-9 and nearly 230 pounds, Jonah Coleman is the bruiser of this bunch. What makes him special is the surprising shiftiness that he has in that frame.
Where Coleman may not have the high-key breakaway speed of some others on this list, he refuses to go down and will beat anybody caught on their heels. Finishing second among 2026 draft-eligible FBS backs in yards after contact (833), clearing 1,000 yards, and living fumble-free throughout his career make for an enticing prospect profile.
He hauled in 23 of his 25 targets through the air last year and is the second highest revered pass blocker on this short list. He’s a complete running back who has been on our radar since his days at Arizona. A repeat performance of 2024 will make him a highly touted draft asset for a primarily zone scheme offense at the next level.
3. Makhi Hughes (Oregon via Tulane)
Makhi Hughes is a bonafide stud and the newest addition to the lore of the Transfer Portal Papi, Dan Lanning’s off-season efforts. If you haven’t tapped in yet, you’re in for a treat when checking out the Ducks this fall.
The former three-star recruit out of Alabama finished his high school career with a senior season comprising 1,600 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns. Tulane scooped him up and enjoyed his two seasons as their feature back. His tenure with the Green Wave concluded with 2,776 yards on 520 attempts with 22 scores and zero fumbles. In 2024, he finished fifth in the FBS in yards after contact behind four drafted prospects (Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, Cam Skattebo, Tre Stewart, and Kaleb Johnson).
At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, he lacks the breakaway speed required to finish all his runs at the highest level, but earns his flowers back as the most plain-sight bell cow back in the class. He’s proven the capacity for a three-down role and a high volume of carries.
It’s safe to assume that he will be the feature back at Oregon, with redshirt senior Noah Whittington—the most experienced returning back for the Ducks—touting a similar play style. Makhi shouldn’t have too much competition to stay on the field for third downs, and if he can hold his own in the Big10, will be a serious contender for 2026 RB1.
4. Nicholas Singleton (Penn State)
The most accomplished of the backs in this list, Nicholas Singleton was firmly on The Sunday Slate radar in 2024, and his decision to return for a senior season in Happy Valley will likely enhance his draft stock.
Eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark in both his 2022 and 2024 seasons, Singleton has proven that he can produce throughout his career and has been responsible for at least 150 carries over each of his three years with Penn State. Of the 18 running backs with at least 170 touches in 2024, he finished 1st in yards per attempt (6.4), 3rd in touchdowns (12), 3rd in breakaway percentage (40.5%), and 4th in yards (1,106).
Singleton is also the most regularly targeted back on this list in the passing game. He hauled in 41 of 52 passes thrown his way last season for an additional 375 yards and 5 touchdowns. His game is semblant of Isiah Pacheco’s, with a violent running style that seems to only have a top gear. It tends to work out similarly as it does for the Chief, and Singleton brings a little more shake/agility to the gridiron than Pop.
He may be the most complete scoring threat on this list—including his reps on kick return—but has shown up quite poorly in pass pro and has coughed up 6 fumbles in his career. If he can maintain his high volume workload on the ground and through the air while cutting back on the fumbles in 2025, Singleton will remain about right where he is today on this list come draft day.
5. Jaydn Ott (Oklahoma via Cal)
A huge addition for what was a stale Oklahoma offense in 2024, Jaydn Ott battled an ankle injury last season that limited his production, but it’s the upside of his sophomore campaign that makes him so valuable for the Sooners.
Playing in a full time capacity for Cal in 2023, Ott took 246 carries for more than 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s also been a steady contributor and big-play threat in the passing game, racking up 740 yards and 6 TDs on just under 100 receptions in his career. That adds up for over 3,300 all-purpose yards and 30 touchdowns in three years of competition. Taking his talents to the SEC will present a test, but one that he’s poised to handle at full strength.
Ott’s game can be defined by sure hands and track speed. You simply won’t catch him in space, and at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, he maintains the ability to run through defenders. His breakout 2023 season was highlighted by five contests of over 150 rushing yards and 32 explosive rushes of 10 or more yards.
He’s seen the majority of his passing game work come out of the slot, but recorded 48 snaps out wide as a freshman and will likely take on a varietal deployment to OU. The only gripes about Jaydn Ott are middle-of-the-pack performance in pass protection and a total of four fumbles across 532 carries in his career. Two of those came in a single 2023 game against Washington State, where he made up for it with 178 all-purpose yards and a pair of touchdowns.
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