College RB's - Who will be the best in the pro's?

[bobbing_headz]

PJ Hill. I know he's only a sophomore but he's gonna be a beast.

[CC]

I think either way he will be a first, he is the type of guy that will kill in workouts.

How much will that mean though? McFadden, Stewart, and Jones will have amazing workouts as well. Slaton and Davis should have some nice ones too. Who knows with guys like Rice and Charles, maybe they do alright for themselves as well. RB is just too loaded in the NFL. Who in the 2nd half of round 1 will take a RB? Maybes include: Packers, Lions, Seahawks. Lions will likely pick too high to think about Mendenhall. The other two aren't locks to take RBs, but you'd think Felix would go to one of them. Felix, who is more impressive right now than Mendenhall and is a great return man, would be barely a 1st rounder. Mendenhall I think will get pushed down by (potentially, with juniors declaring) a very good OT class and a GREAT CB class. Both take precedent over RB, especially when you've got guys like Tashard Choice waiting in the 2nd.

I guess it is a case of who you see declaring for the draft this year. My prediction is that Felix Jones will be back in Arkansas next year and I think that Mendenhall will be a higher pick than Slaton, Rice, Davis, and Charles (regardless of which of them declares) and the 3rd RB taken.

[APAP]

Thank you Boozer, I was waiting for someone to mention Cory Boyd. If you didn't he was gonna be my recomendation. This guy isn't a big name player but I've watched him play a few times and he looks like one of those backs that doesnt get a lot of praise in college, isnt considered for the Heisman and everybody isnt falling all over that make a solid impact in the NFL and is a solid player for a while. You might wanna look more closely at him.

[The Lung]

Mendenhall would indeed be an elite pick if he declares. Not only is he a skilled RB, he is also the team's second leading receiver. Although he didn't have any grabs in the past two games, on the season he has 25 receptions for 226 yards with 2 TDs.

McFadden is the clear #1 RB in this years class but there is going to be a ton of RB talent in this draft.
If all the top juniors come out (unlikely) we are looking at a crop like this (loosely ranked in order):

McFadden*
Jonathon Stewart*
Felix Jones
Rashard Mendenhall*
Ray Rice*
Steve Slaton*
Jamal Charles
James Davis*

I know you said "loosely ranked in order" but I would agree exactly with the above list if you insert Jamaal Charles above Rice and Slaton. In the last two games against Neb and OK St., Charles ran 33 times for 290 with 3 TDs, and 16 times for 180 with 3 TDs. He broke off a 86-yard TD in the first and a 75-yard TD in the latter.

[mattp987]

McFadden is the clear #1 RB in this years class but there is going to be a ton of RB talent in this draft.
If all the top juniors come out (unlikely) we are looking at a crop like this (loosely ranked in order):

McFadden*
Jonathon Stewart*
Felix Jones
Rashard Mendenhall*
Ray Rice*
Steve Slaton*
Jamal Charles
James Davis*

The senior RB crop is weak although there are some solid guys in there:

Mike Hart
Ryan Torain (if he is healthy)
Tashard Choice

The *'s denote the juniors I think will declare for the draft.

Mike Hart is another that you can toss "if he is healthy" behind. I honestly feel if Hart didn't face the injury problems he did, he would be in the "front runnings" for the heisman. Hart is a workhorse just like someone else mentioned. He turns plays where he should be stopped for a loss of 2 or 3 into gains...

He's run over guys outweighing him 30-50 pounds countless times too. He is Marion Barber-like in the determination department (2nd, 3rd, 4th efforts, broken tackles etc)

If Hart can stay healthy, he will he a steal for ever takes him at the next level.

[squeentz]

Jonathan Stewart. NO DOUBT

[Metroid]

I'm curious how you guys think Yvenson Bernard from Oregon State will fare in the draft and in the NFL. Steven Jackson he ain't but he is somewhat of a bruiser and has rushed for over 1,000 yards a season since becoming a starter - 1321 yards and 13 TDs in 2005, 1307 yards and 12 TDs in 2006. Hes on pace to rush for over a 1,000 this year as well - 814 yards and 10 TDs so far this season. Not top tier numbers but still decent and he has the size at 5'9" 202 pounds. Thoughts?

[APAP]

Also, nobody mentioned Wells from Ohio State. I think he could be a decent option as well.

[The Lung]

Here's how yesterday's elite RB prospects fared:

Darren McFadden - 22 rushes, 117 yards, 0 TDs, 3 catches for 17 yards
Jonathon Stewart - idle
Felix Jones - 3 rushes for 3 yards
Rashard Mendenhall - 26 rushes, 88 yards, 0 TDs, one catch for 4 yards
Jamaal Charles - 23 rushes, 174 yards, 1 TD
Steve Slaton - 17 rushes, 60 yards, 1 TD
Ray Rice - 34 rushes, 243 yards, 2 TDs, 1 catch for 12 yards

[steelerfan513]

The one knock on Mendenhall is that he doesn't run in an NFL-style offense. The Illini run the spread, and Mendenhall benefits from the athleticism that Juice Williams brings to the quarterback position. He's definitely got the size to succeed in the NFL, and maybe he can run well in an NFL-style offense, but my guess is that teams will cite the offense the Illini run and be a bit cautious with drafting him.