DRAFT DIVE PART 9, RUNNING BACKS

DRAFT DIVE PART 9, RUNNING BACKS

Greg Creese

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The one position — if there is one — where the Miami Dolphins seem safe, running back is not viewed as being as high on the priority list as some other spots.

But just like every other position, nobody knows exactly at this time what direction new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan will go or if the backs currently on Miami’s roster meet his preferred criteria at the position.

This is part nine in a near-complete 11-part series breaking down and ranking potential Dolphins draftees by position.

DOLPHINS RUNNING BACK PROSPECTS

Devon Achane is a bonafide star and the best player on the Dolphins roster, but he’s also the team’s top trade asset and is approaching a contract year, so nothing is for certain.

Jaylen Wright came on toward the end of his sophomore season, but he still leaves a bit to be desired as a runner to be counted on as it relates to seeing running lanes. Ollie Gordon II seemed to regress as 2025 went on, but his cost is low and a sophomore bump is possible.

This year’s draft has a variety of backs — a couple potential first rounders, one or two intriguing second-day backs, and a bevy of day three players to consider.

2026 ACR Dolphins Draft Guide bios included. (⭐denotes favorite players respective of projected draft range; DNM means “Do Not Want”)

⭐ RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Is a good combination of power and burst; not as natural or instinctive as RB1 in recent drafts (Bijan, Jeanty) but more explosive and a top-flight receiver; has power/burst, good leg drive and pushes piles; tremendously athletic; loves the spin move and trying to hurdle tacklers; numbers the last two years almost speak for themselves (almost 2,500 yards, 35 TDs, 6.9 yards per carry); think he’ll be better in gap scheme-heavy offense where he doesn’t have to do a ton of thinking and can play up to his athletic traits, but will be fine wherever he goes in all likelihood; power, burst and speed is his game; elusive in open space; dynamic at times; top back in the class, Miami just has greater needs (R1) ⬤

RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

Smooth runner who plays with great pad level; good vision; not nearly as electric or as good of a pass catcher as his teammate; 5-11, 203 and kind of bounces off of guys rather than going through them, which can lead to bigger gains; good in short yardage, 11 TDs in ’25; 4.49 40-yard dash with a 35-inch vertical, 10-4 broad and 21 reps/225; good vision, good balance, tough to bring down; defenders don’t often hit him head on; long strider but not a problem because he gets up to speed quick; uses a nice little studder/jab step to let blocks develop (R1-R2) ⬤

⭐ RB Mike Washington Jr, Arkansas

Personal favorite among running backs this year who cemented that spot at the combine; posted the fastest 40 (4.33) the fastest split (1.51) the second-highest vertical (39 inches) and the second-longest broad jump (10-8) among RBs; intriguing for Miami’s needs, especially if he gets past the second round; looks like a 6-2, 228-pound version of Frank Gore; no fumbles in 4 years; runs with great pad level, especially at his size; is patient, often letting blocks materialize before planting to go (transparency: reminded me of LeVeon Bell); nice burst when he makes his decision; soft hands as a pass catcher; real good inside runner, both crafty and powerful and finds lanes in the secondary; not Achane fast, but fast enough to be dangerous to break long plays in the SEC on a bad team; watching him you forget what size player you’re looking at, he moves really well; honestly don’t see any flaws in his game and imagine he would be both good in pass pro and a good change of pace for Achane; natural runner; good vision, hits seams at full speed; 1,070 yards on 167 carries (6.4 avg) with 8 TDs in 2025 (R2) ⬤

RB Jonah Coleman, Washington

Like players who run like him and are built like him; a poor man’s Ricky Williams or a mini-Ironhead Heyward, style-wise; powerful 5-8, 226-pound workhorse; thick and strong lower half helps him shake off tackles; good vision; good third down option because can be hard to see in bunch formations then hits the defense with full force of a compact frame; averaged over five yards per carry for his career and posted 25 rushing TDs the last two seasons; top end speed is average at best but his shake and quickness come at his top speed; doesn’t mind throwing a stiff arm; really good balance after contact; arms are short (30”) and hands are small (9 1/8-inch) but not a concern as he fumbled twice in four years (losing just one); didn’t test except to bench 22 reps (R3-R4)

RB Emmett Johnson, Nebraska

Declared early; 5-10, 202; had a big junior year (1,451 yards) where he led Big Ten backs in receiving and was conference RBOTY; good, quick hard effective jab step; gets in and out of right spaces quick; kind of an odd running style; is fearless running in traffic, physical; sometimes pays for it; real good vision and looks great when he’s hitting holes full speed; really can’t over-emphasize how fearless he is running the football; looks more quick than fast; might struggle physically with inside run in the NFL but no question he’s willing and has the vision to win if there’s space; some coach is going to try and get him more north/south because he does like to dance sometimes; is a receiving threat (46 catches in ’25); not sure about him in pass pro; combine explosion numbers good (10-0 broad, 35 ½-inch vertical), but speed pretty pedestrian at 4.56, slowest among RBs at the combine (R4-R5)

RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

A well-rounded back who had a productive four years; 3,461 yards (5.6 avg.) with 45 rushing touchdowns; had nearly 1,000 yards receiving and 9 TDs; had up and down seasons, with last year being down despite scoring 13 rushing TDs; 6-0, 224 but seems to prefer to beat people with quickness/speed rather than power; can drag a pile but is by no means a banger; stop/start ability is not great; workout warrior, not sure about his game (R5)

RB Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest

Listed at 5-11, 195; actually looks shorter so check combine (he is: real measurement is 5-9 ¾, 188); good in space and out of the backfield; kind of a long strider (ran a 4.37); no real power to speak of but elite burst and gets to top speed quickly, which makes him dangerous; if he can handle the physical side, could be a good third down back; probably not what Miami needs or is looking for, unless they trade Achane; not good in pass protection (R5)

FB Max Bredeson, Michigan

Could be a real good pickup if Miami uses a FB; 54 career games at tight end and fullback with 18 starts; special teams contributor throughout his career; is a solid receiver; zero career carries;  moved to more of a fullback role, which Michigan still used him more as an h-back, and this is where he could shine; 6-2, 252; not super fast so most teams will view him as an F but Miami can use as a true fullback; hell of a lead blocker and physical even when he just chips guys; plays low and with great balance on contact; would be perfect addition; toughness; brother Max is starting left guard for the Bucs (R5-R6)

FB Riley Nowakowski, Indiana

6-1, 243 and was used as pretty much a true H-back at Indiana, mixing fullback and tight end roles with regularity, though he was listed as a TE; probably the better of the fullback prospects as it relates to athleticism and ability to contribute in the pass game; good blocker, but needs to get more consistent; main issue is power at the point of attack, would like to see him go through more people; 32 receptions for 387 yards (12.1 avg.) en route to the national championship; also had two one-yard carries, each for a touchdown (R6-R7)

RB J’Mari Taylor, UVa

5-10, 199 lb. power back; 14 rush TDs in ’25 at nearly 5 ypc; does not have high end speed; good vision; has good feet and gets east and west quick; not a ton of burst; doesn’t go down easy on any play; if he can do the same thing at his size in the NFL, would be a solid RB3 to have for short yardage especially; 205 pounds at 5-9 is stacked; good hands out of the backfield; great in pass protection; testing numbers were all average (R6-R7)

RB Le’Veon Moss, TAMU

210 pounds on a 5-11 frame though and he can get skinny with power at the goal line, something Miami needs; 5.2 ypc and 6 TDs in ’25; not blazing fast but runs well for his size, more importantly, his feet are real good; tackle breaker; may end up being a good value compared to where he would have gone with a full season of tape; pretty long injury history; ACL/MCL in 2024 and ankle in 2025; like his game, just wouldn’t give up much for him due to injury hx (R7) 🚩

⭐RB Robert Henry Jr., UTSA

Short (5-9) but relatively thick (195), play speed is quick and fast, though his combine performance suggests a lack of long speed (4.52 with a 1.62 split); great explosion numbers though (37-inch vertical, 10-4 broad; 151 carries, 1,045 yards (6.9 avg.) with 9 TDs; added two more via reception; has a ton of juice but no brakes; does not wait for blocks to develop and runs past blockers who are out in front of him; total lack of patience, but there is talent; good vision, decent power; had six runs of over 70 yards last year; UTSA was TAMU’s ‘soft opener’ in 2025 and he torched them for 177 yards (11.1 avg.) and a pair of touchdowns in the loss; biggest concern is can he pass protect (R7)

RB Terion Stewart, Virginia Tech

5-9, 222-pound bowling ball; nickname is “The Bully” if that tells you anything about his game; best power back in the class, but power is most all he has; real good feet and short-space movement; crazy contact balance; a little concerned about him getting met in the backfield as a pro, takes a pause to survey space at times; he’s flat out slow but legit looks like Earl Campbell on some runs; shoulder thumps do not take him down, he bounces off; averaged an amazing 4.97 yards after contact last year; due to his play style, he has dealt with shoulder and lower body injuries; played in only 10 games last year; like the idea of him as a limited-rep back who closes games out with power running (R7) 🚩

NOTABLE RUNNING BACK DNWs

RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State ⬤

RB Kaelon Black, Indiana: 5-11, 210 and runs hard; one of the JMU players Cignetti brought with him for the championship run; Black split carries with fellow draft-eligible Roman Hemby; does not have high end on-field speed; is a good pass catcher; surprises defenders at times with the shake he can throw before he point of attack; good receiver and a pretty natural player overall; doesn’t have a ton of burst but does get to top speed quickly; has good vision; is a downhill runner and his best trait is power; could be RB3; Dolphins 30 visit (R6/DNW) ⬤

RB Seth McGowan, Kentucky (R6/DNW) ⬤🚩

RB Roman Hemby, Indiana (R7/DNW)

THE SCHEDULE

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Greg Creese