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Best College Running Backs 2022-2023 Rankings | NFL Draft 2023 Running Back Rankings

Ranking the best college Running Backs of the NCAA 2022-2023 season and the 2023 NFL Draft as Bijan Robinson leads the way

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By admin | January 5, 2023

The level of talent at the running back position across College Football during the 2022 NCAA football schedule was at an extreme level.

As you start to look at the 10 NCAA running backs who landed on the Top 10 College Football Running Backs January 2023 rankings, each has the talent to play at the next level.

The group of Top College Football running backs all have the physical tools to dominate on the ground as well as through the air.

Headlining the list of the top running backs in College Football is the Texas Longhorns All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson.

While Robinson entered the 2022-23 NCAA Football schedule as the potential top overall running back, many great college running backs stepped up over the course of the season as well as within the College Bowl game structure.

Other top running backs worth landing on the Top 10 College Football Running Backs January 2023 rankings list include Blake Corum of the Michigan Wolverines, Chase Brown of the Illinois Fighting Illini, Mohamed Ibrahim of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and Quinshon Jukdkins of the Ole Miss Rebels. Here is a look at the Top 10 College Football Running Backs January 2023 rankings:

Honorable Mention

Zach Charbonnet

School: UCLA Bruins

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Just missing the Top 10 College Football Running Backs January 2023 rankings list is the UCLA Bruins senior running back Zach Charbonnet.

Charbonnet who is expected to be one of the more intriguing style running backs is a big strong physical running back that has the size to make him a durable north south running back who can pound out physical yards for any team in the NFL.

The Bruins running back finished the season with career highs in rushing yards (1,359), rushing touchdowns (14), and receiving yards (321).

Raheim Sanders

School: Arkansas Razorbacks

NFL Draft Status: Not eligible for 2023 NFL Draft

After getting his feet wet last year posting 114 rushing attempts for the Arkansas Razorbacks, Raheim Sanders took over the role as one of the feature backs during the 2022 NCAA Footballs schedule.

Sanders posted 10 rushing touchdowns over his 222 rushing attempts while also posting two touchdown receptions on 28 catches.

The Razorbacks running back has solid size and speed to develop into one of the top running backs for either the 2024 NFL Draft or the 2025 NFL Draft. In all Sanders posted 1,443 rushing yards while averaging 6.5 yards per carry for the season.

Top 10 Best College Running Backs 2022 Rankings

10. Tank Bigsby

School: Auburn Tigers

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

In at number 10 on the Top 10 College Football Running Backs January 2023 rankings list is the Auburn Tigers running back Tank Bigsby.

Possibly the coolest of the names among the running back group, Tank Bigsby is an absolute tank and a top tier running back who has announced he will be entering the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Auburn Tigers junior running back just missed the 1,000-yard mark by 30 rushing yards while posting his second straight season with at least 10 rushing touchdowns.

Bigsby, who finished with 970 yards on the year also added 30 catches for 180 yards while averaging 5.4 rushing yards per carry. 

9. DeWayne McBride

School: UAB Blazers 

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Another top tier college football running back from the 2022 NFL schedule is on his way to the next level as DeWayne McBride of the UAB Blazers recently announced he would forgo his senior season to enter the NFL Draft.

The decision is a simple one after finishing 2nd in NCAA football in rushing yards with 1,713 and tied for second with 19 rushing touchdowns.

Over the past two seasons McBride has combined to top the 3,000-yard rushing mark (3,084) and 32 rushing touchdowns.

8. Kendre Miller

School: TCU Horned Frogs 

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

As he prepares himself for a shot at the National Championship as the TCU Horned Frogs get set for their biggest matchup of the 2022 NCAA schedule, Kendre Miller continues to build an NFL style resume.

In the high pace style offense of the Horned Frogs, Miller was as dominant as any running back while creating a name for himself among the NFL Mock Draft community.

Miller finished the season rushing for 1,399 rushing yards to go along with 17 rushing touchdowns and a 6.2 yard per carry average over 224 rushing attempts.

7. Will Shipley

School: Clemson Tigers

NFL Draft Status: Not eligible for 2023 NFL Draft

One of the top running backs on the Top 10 College Football Running Backs January 2023 rankings list Will Shipley will be back for another big season during the 2023 NCAA Football schedule.

Shipley, who is just a sophomore, has not met the requirements set forth for the NFL Draft while opening up his return to the Clemson Tigers.

Shipley, who rushed for 739 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns last season as a freshman, finished the 2022 NCAA Football season with 1,182 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. In addition, Shipley became more involved in the passing attack, catching 38 passes for 242 yards.

6. Chase Brown

School: Illinois Fighting Illini 

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

After landing on with the Illinois Fightin Illini before the 2019 NCAA Season, Brown has gone on to put together a solid college career.

After narrowly topping the 1,000-yard mark last season (1,005), Brown cruised past it this season finishing with 1,643 receiving yards.

The Fighting Illini running back was a workhorse for the club while finishing the season with 328 carries and 158 more than the previous season.

Brown finished the season topping 100 combined yards (receiving/rushing) in all 12 of the team’s games this season while failing to reach 100 rushing yards in just two contests.

5. Deuce Vaughn

School: Kansas State Wildcats

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 College Football Running Backs January 2023 rankings list is the Kansas State Wildcats talented running back Deuce Vaughn.

Vaughn, who is coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 1,400 yards on the ground, has declared for the upcoming 2023 NFL draft.

This decision came after rushing for 133 yards with a rushing touchdown in the team’s heartbreaking 45-20 loss against the Alabama Crimson Tide within the Allstate Sugar Bowl. 

Overall, Vaughn rushed for at least 100 yards in nine games this season. The Wildcats running back also added 378 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions.

4. Quinshon Judkins

School: Ole Miss Rebels 

NFL Draft Status: Not eligible for 2023 NFL Draft

One name that surprised many among the best running backs in College Football is the Ole Miss Rebels freshman star Quinshon Judkins.

Most of the running backs landing within the Top 10-15 in rushing yards for the season were all experienced. That wasn’t the case for the Pike Road native as he dominated on the ground as a freshman.

Judkins finished the season averaging 5.7 yards per carry to go along with 1,567 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. Judkins also was solid in the passing game posting 132 receiving yards and one touchdown reception. 

3. Mohamed Ibrahim

School: Minnesota Golden Gophers

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

It is hard not to imagine Mohamed Ibrahim landing high among the top running backs entering the 2023 NFL Draft.

Ibrahim, who was expected to enter the draft last season before suffering an injury, bounced back with a huge season in 2022 finishing the season with 1,665 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. In the end Ibrahim finished 3rd overall in rushing yards on the year and 1st with 20 rushing touchdowns.

2. Blake Corum

School: Michigan Wolverines

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

While the Michigan Wolverines wait to see what happens with head coach Jim Harbaugh, they will also be more likely to not have Blake Corum around next season as many expect him to be one of the highest drafted running backs entering the 2023 NFL Draft.

With expectations high, and the potential of Harbaugh leaving for the NFL, Corum is expected to enter the NFL draft.

The Virginia native finished the season with 1,463 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns while also adding one touchdown reception.

Unfortunately, a late season injury limited his production in what may be his final two NCAA football games of his career.

1. Bijan Robinson

School: Texas Longhorns

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

In at number one on the list of the Top 10 College Football Running Backs January 2023 rankings list is the Texas Longhorns Junior running back Bijan Robinson.

After rushing for 1,127 yards last season, Robinson continued to show his development this season while improving in nearly every offensive category.

The Longhorns running back finished the season with 1,580 yards to go along with 314 receiving yards, two touchdown receptions and 18 rushing touchdowns. Robinson is expected to be the first running back off the NFL draft board come the 2023 NFL Draft.

How would you rank these College Running Backs in the 2022-2023 BCS season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings

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Players Count 10
  1. Ollie Gordon II

    Running Backs
  2. Audric Estime

    Running Backs
  3. Ashton Jeanty

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  4. Raheim Sanders

    Running Backs
  5. Zach Charbonnet

    Running Backs
  6. Tank Bigsby

    Running Backs
  7. Bijan Robinson

    Running Backs
  8. Blake Corum

    Running Backs
  9. Mohamed Ibrahim

    Running Backs
  10. Quinshon Judkins

    Running Backs
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