CFB Future 100: Top 11 Running Backs in Class of 2017

Bleacher Report

After a thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report national recruiting analysts Damon Sayles ^[1], Sanjay Kirpalani ^[2] and Tyler Donohue ^[3] have graded the top 100 players in the 247Sports composite rankings ^[4] and provided in-depth analysis on each young athlete. Bleacher Report will run a position-by-position breakdown series of the best college football recruits in the 2017 class. Here, we present the Top Running Backs.

Other Positions:

Quarterbacks ^[5]
Defensive Tackles
^[6]

The 2015 season was somewhat of a renaissance in college football for the running back position.

Alabama star Derrick Henry became just the second running back to win the Heisman Trophy in the last decade. Additionally, backs such as Stanford's Christian McCaffrey, LSU's Leonard Fournette and Florida State's Dalvin Cook all had banner sophomore campaigns that should keep them in the conversation for that award this fall.

College football coaches are searching for the next wave of game-breaking rushers on the recruiting trail, and the 2017 class looks to be stacked with talented backs.

Crimson Tide pledge and 5-star California running back Najee Harris ^[7] is at the top of that list, but he's far from alone. Harris is one of 11 rushers among the nation's top 100 overall prospects in the 2017 cycle.

The latest installment in the CFB Future 100 series takes a look those backs.

Bleacher Report scored the position ^[8] on traits such as ball security (10 points), power (20 points), vision (20 points), hands (15 points), speed (20 points) and agility (15 points). The cumulative figures from those traits resulted in our overall grade for each prospect.

How do the nation's top running backs measure up to one another?

Height/Weight: 6'1", 206 lbs

High School: Sprayberry High School; Marietta, Georgia

247Sports Ranking: No. 7 RB, No. 89 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 91/100

Recruitment Status: Considering Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State and Tennessee

Notre Dame is the latest school to jump in the mix with 4-star running back Trey Sermon ^[11], extending him an offer Feb. 2.

The Peach State rusher has close to 30 offers heading into the spring, and he's the No. 10 overall prospect from the state of Georgia.

Last August, Sermon released a top 10 ^[12] that featured power programs from around the nation.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Sermon runs with great balance, and he's strong enough to absorb contact and keep his legs churning. At 206 pounds, he moves like a 180-pound scatback, which highlights his athleticism and agility (13 of 15 points). He still has the type of breakaway speed you want in a big-time back (18 of 20 points).

As a receiver, he has good hands and body control while working against linebackers and defensive backs. Overall, Sermon has the size and athleticism to be a starting running back at a power program early in his career.

Height/Weight: 5'11", 190 lbs

High School: Montgomery Bell Academy; Nashville, Tennessee

247Sports Ranking: No. 6 RB, No. 87 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 90/100

Recruitment Status: Considering Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Tennessee

Auburn and Nebraska are the latest two programs to offer 4-star running back Ty Chandler ^[15].

According to MaxPreps ^[16], Chandler rushed for 2,558 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior. He rates as the No. 5 overall prospect from the Volunteer State in the 2017 cycle.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Chandler is a well-rounded back who is tough to bring down on first contact. He has great ability to spot cutback lanes and boasts decent speed (17 of 20 points) for a back of his size. He also shows solid hands out of the backfield as a receiver. With his versatility and toughness as an inside runner, Chandler has a chance to be a big-time college back.

Height/Weight: 6'1", 205 lbs

High School: Clay High School; Green Cove Springs, Florida

247Sports Ranking: No. 5 RB, No. 72 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 90/100

Recruitment Status: Considering Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida and Georgia

Auburn and Clemson were among the schools that were able to get 4-star running back Colin Wilson ^[19] on campus in 2015.

Over the past three years, Wilson has rushed for 2,465 yards and 46 touchdowns. He also played defense last season and recorded five interceptions.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Wilson holds the ball high and tight, and he does a good job of securing it in the outside hand when he breaks to the outside (ball security: 13 of 15 points). He has great size and good short-area burst. He's not a burner speed-wise (17 of 20 points), but he's elusive in open space. As a receiver, Wilson is serviceable with good hands and the ability to work well in the flats.

Height/Weight: 5'9", 184 lbs

High School: La Grange High School; La Grange, Texas

247Sports Ranking: No. 4 All-purpose back, No. 55 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 92/100

Recruitment Status: Considering Arkansas, Oklahoma, Stanford, TCU and Texas A&M

Notre Dame and Wisconsin are the two latest programs to offer 4-star all-purpose back J.K. Dobbins ^[22].

Dobbins, who is the No. 8 player from Texas in the 2017 class, has already accumulated 16 offers. Over the last two seasons, he has rushed for 4,971 yards and 72 touchdowns.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Dobbins is a versatile weapon who can do damage from a number of different spots on the field. He's at his best when he can get to the edge and break big runs. As a receiver, he has good hands and can be a threat on speed sweeps.

His speed (18 of 20 points) makes him a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball, as evidenced by his average of more than 10 yards per carry. That kind of explosiveness is what makes him a special prospect.

Height/Weight: 5'11", 205 lbs

High School: Langham Creek High School; Houston

247Sports Ranking: No. 4 RB, No. 41 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 92/100

Recruitment Status: Considering Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M

Over the last two years, 4-star running back Toneil Carter ^[25] has rushed for 2,588 yards and 36 touchdowns.

Carter, who is the No. 6 overall prospect from Texas, has piled up 18 offers heading into the spring. In-state power Texas A&M was the last school to host him on campus, as he attended the Aggies' junior day last month.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Carter's burst is impressive when he finds a seam. He has breakaway speed at 205 pounds, which illustrates what makes him a special back. He has good agility (13 of 15 points) in the open field. His vision is also present in setting up his cuts and blocks. One adjustment he could face in college is doing more running inside the tackles.

Height/Weight: 5'11 ½", 210 lbs

High School: Clinton High School; Clinton, Mississippi

247Sports Ranking: No. 3 RB, No. 40 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 91/100

Recruitment Status: Committed to Alabama on Aug. 4, 2015

The fourth of Alabama's eight 2017 pledges ^[28] came from 4-star running back Cam Akers ^[29].

Akers, who is the top overall prospect from Mississippi, played quarterback for his high school team and accounted for 2,696 yards of total offense and 37 total touchdowns as a sophomore.

Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan and Ole Miss are among the programs that have offered Akers.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Akers is a big back who has the physicality to run between the tackles. He also has the wiggle of a considerably lighter runner. He's able to cut and get north and south in a hurry, and he exhibits great short-area burst. He's athletic enough to be an asset in the passing game as well. Overall, Akers has the potential to develop into a star at the next level.

Height/Weight: 5'9", 193 lbs

High School: Ocean Lakes High School; Virginia Beach, Virginia

247Sports Ranking: No. 3 APB, No. 38 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 90/100

Recruitment Status: Considering Alabama, Auburn, Arizona State, Florida State and Virginia Tech

The top prospect from the state of Virginia in 2017 is 4-star all-purpose back Khalan Laborn ^[32].

According to MaxPreps ^[33], he rushed for 2,228 yards and 32 touchdowns while averaging nearly 11 yards per carry last season.

Laborn has 16 offers to his credit.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Speed is the name of the game with Laborn. He's a true home run threat whether he's in the backfield or lined up at receiver. He's not the most powerful back (15 of 20 points), but he does a good job of eluding tacklers and finding open space. His versatility makes him a trusted weapon in the passing game.

Height/Weight: 6'0", 195 lbs

High School: Summit High School; Fontana, California

247Sports Ranking: No. 2 RB, No. 37 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 91/100

Recruitment Status: Committed to USC on March 23, 2015

Miami and Louisville are the latest programs to offer 4-star running back Stephen Carr ^[36], who is committed to USC.

Carr is the No. 5 overall prospect from California in the 2017 cycle.

Arizona, Georgia, UCLA and Washington are among the other programs that have offered him.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Carr is a home run waiting to happen in the run and pass game. As a receiver, he looks comfortable running routes and creating big plays in space. He's also a solid all-around back who can get tough yards up the middle but does most of his damage while running wide.

That's one area he may have to address once he enters a college weight program. Overall, Carr is a well-rounded athlete who has the traits necessary to be a starting back.

Height/Weight: 5'9", 189 lbs

High School: DeMatha Catholic High School; Hyattsville, Maryland

247Sports Ranking: No. 2 APB, No. 31 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 93/100

Recruitment Status: Considering Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Maryland and Michigan

Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Penn State were among the schools to host 4-star all-purpose back Anthony McFarland ^[39] last year.

McFarland has landed 26 offers heading into the spring. He is the top overall prospect from Maryland in the 2017 cycle.

Bleacher Report Analysis

McFarland has the type of speed (19 of 20 points) that makes angles disappear when defenders are trying to corral him in the open field. He has the unique ability to make cuts without losing acceleration. He's skilled enough as a receiver to line up in the slot and be effective. As an inside runner, he's tougher than most scatback types. Overall, McFarland is a playmaker who can do damage in a variety of ways.

Height/Weight: 5'9", 204 lbs

High School: St. Joseph's High School; Philadelphia

247Sports Ranking: No. 1 APB, No. 30 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 93/100

Recruitment Status: Considering Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Michigan and Penn State

The top overall recruit from Pennsylvania in the 2017 cycle is 5-star all-purpose back D'Andre Swift ^[42].

As a sophomore, Swift racked up 1,264 yards of total offense and 15 total touchdowns.

He has already landed 24 offers heading into the spring before his senior season.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Swift comes equipped with size, speed and juke-button moves in the open field. I saw him at The Opening last summer, and he looked comfortable as one of the few juniors who were invited to the premier camp showcase.

Swift has the size and toughness to pick up tough yards inside. He is also a threat to make plays when he lines up as a receiver. He's an elite prospect who could also make an impact on special teams as a return man.

Height/Weight: 6'2", 220 lbs

High School: Antioch High School; Antioch, California

247Sports Ranking: No. 1 RB, No. 2 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 95/100

Recruitment Status: Committed to Alabama on April 18, 2015

One player who figures to compete for the title of top overall prospect in the 2017 cycle is 5-star running back Najee Harris ^[45].

The Golden State standout rushed for 5,007 yards and 59 touchdowns over the last two seasons.

Harris committed to Alabama last spring over offers from Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and USC, among others.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Simply put, Harris is the best pure running back prospect since Leonard Fournette ^[46], who was of the 2014 class. At 220 pounds, Harris has the power to run inside. Yet he still has the speed and agility (14 of 15 points) to be a threat to break long runs when he gets to the second level.

He has great hands and could play receiver in college if he were to put his focus on that position. Overall, Harris is a freakish athlete who has the makings of a superstar.

All analysis provided by B/R National Recruiting Analyst Sanjay Kirpalani. ^[47]