After putting a bow on the 2020 NFL Draft with team-by-team recaps it is now time to look to the future. The 2020 college football season “should be” getting underway in a little over two months. When (if?) the season starts, Deep Fried Draft will be right there bringing you all of the things you are accustomed to seeing from me.
Like last year, I am entering the 2021 NFL Draft season with 300 names on my watch list.
Today, we are going to look at the RBs. These players will be listed only by class and not in any sort of official ranking.
2021 Preliminary Running Back List
SENIORS
| Najee Harris | Alabama | Sr | 6’1 | 230 |
| Rakeem Boyd | Arkansas | Sr | 6’0 | 214 |
| Travis Etienne | Clemson | Sr | 5’10 | 200 |
| Asim Rose | Kentucky | Sr | 6’1 | 210 |
| Elijah Mitchell | Louisiana | Sr | 5’11 | 217 |
| Kylin Hill | Mississippi State | Sr | 5’11 | 215 |
| Trey Sermon | Ohio State | Sr | 6’0 | 224 |
| Chuba Hubbard | Oklahoma State | Sr | 6’1 | 211 |
| Stephen Carr | Southern Cal | Sr | 6’0 | 205 |
| Shane Simpson | Towson | Sr | 5’11 | 195 |
| Otis Anderson | UCF | Sr | 5’11 | 174 |
| Demetric Felton | UCLA | Sr | 5’9 | 185 |
| Larry Roundtree, III | Missouri | Sr | 5’10 | 209 |
| Trey Ragas | Louisiana | Sr | 5’10 | 218 |
| Chris Evans | Michigan | Sr | 5’11 | 216 |
| Brian Robinson | Alabama | Sr | 6’0 | 226 |
| Mekhi Sargent | Iowa | Sr | 5’9 | 212 |
The senior RB class is much deeper this year than it would normally be. Some of the top underclass backs decided to stay in school, leaving a surplus in 2021. The biggest surprise of the ball carriers that returned had to be Travis Etienne. The speedster from Clemson likely would have been a Top 50 pick. Najee Harris has big-play skills and low miles on the odometer. Overlooked by many, Kylin Hill of Mississippi State is another back that can make a huge impact at the next level. Chuba Hubbard is a player I didn’t study in 2020 that has a chance to make a statement this year.
UNDERCLASSMEN
| Master Teague | Ohio State | rSo | 5’11 | 225 |
| Lopini Katoa | BYU | Jr | 6’1 | 210 |
| Kennedy Brooks | Oklahoma | Jr | 5’11 | 205 |
| C.J. Verdell | Oregon | Jr | 5’9 | 210 |
| Stevie Scott | Indiana | Jr | 6’1 | 231 |
| Raheem Blackshear | Virginia Tech | Jr | 5’9 | 192 |
| Max Borghi | Washington State | Jr | 5’9 | 195 |
| Jaret Patterson | Buffalo | Jr | 5’9 | 195 |
Of all the underclassmen backs on this list, the player I am the fondest of is BYU’s Lopini Katoa. He is a three-down back but has had injury issues.
Next up, we look ahead to the 2021 WR class.
