This year's class of running backs is deep, talented and versatile. Whatever a team is looking for in a back for their scheme, they'll be able to find it somewhere in this class. There will be Day 3 picks who are key contributors in the NFL in 2023.
Top 5 running backs to watch at the Combine:
1. Bijan Robinson, Texas, 6-0, 220
Robinson is the No. 1 back in the class and someone who displays great elusiveness, vision and power. He rushed for 1,580 yards (6.1 average) and 18 touchdowns this past season and also averaged 16.5 yards per reception. He's a true three-down back at the NFL level and a likely immediate impact player.
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama, 5-11, 204
Gibbs is a very patient and productive runner. He really excels in space with his speed and is terrific in the passing game. He might be the best receiving back in this class. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry over the course of his three-year career at Alabama and caught 79 passes for nearly 1,000 yards the last two seasons. He'll be an impact player as a pass catcher out of the backfield early in his career.
View photos of the running back prospects who were invited to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
Pittsburgh running back Israel Abanikanda (2) makes a long run for a touchdown against Virginia Tech during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Texas A&M running back Devon Achane (6) carries the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. A&M won 23-21. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Auburn running back Tank Bigsby (4) carries the ball as he gets around Alabama defensive back Eli Ricks (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Illinois running back Chase Brown (2) runs with the ball against Michigan State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet (24) runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Southern California running back Travis Dye (26) scores a rushing touchdown against Washington State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Louisville running back Tiyon Evans (7) runs with the ball for a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Clemson, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Mississippi running back Zach Evans (6) runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Troy in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs (1) carries the ball against Kansas State during the first half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Oklahoma running back Eric Gray (0) carries as UTEP safety Kobe Hylton (2) defends in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Northwestern running back Evan Hull, right, runs for a touchdown past Ohio State safety Ronnie Hickman during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim (24) in action against Iowa during the first half an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Minneapolis. Iowa won 13-10. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
Texas running back Roschon Johnson (2) runs upfield during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Dallas. Texas won 49-0. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
North Dakota State fullback Hunter Luepke (44) runs against Montana State during the first half of the FCS Championship NCAA college football game in Frisco, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
UAB running back DeWayne McBride (22) breaks free for a touchdown run during the first half of the Independence Bowl NCAA college football game against BYU in Shreveport, La., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh (6) runs against Ohio State during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
TCU running back Kendre Miller (33) escapes the grasp of Oklahoma defensive back Kani Walker (26) to score a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
East Carolina's Keaton Mitchell (2) breaks the tackle of North Carolina State's Shyheim Battle (25) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Greenville, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Appalachian State running back Camerun Peoples (6) runs past North Carolina defensive lineman Desmond Evans (10) for a touchdown with Appalachian State tight end Henry Pearson (88) following during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday Sept. 3, 2022, in Boone, N.C. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Tulsa running back Deneric Prince runs against South Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Texas running back Bijan Robinson celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Kansas during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (24) runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)
Tulane running back Tyjae Spears (22) runs with the ball during the first half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game against Southern California, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Utah running back Tavion Thomas (9) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
FILE -Texas Tech's SaRodorick Thompson (4) runs to score a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas Tech, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Lubbock, Texas. Ole Miss looks to end a disappointing season on a positive note Wednesday night, Dec. 28, 2022 when the Rebels meet Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl. Texas Tech has a talented running back duo in SaRodorick Thompson and Tahj Brooks. Thompson leads Texas Tech with 670 yards rushing. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson, File)
Syracuse running back Sean Tucker (34) rushes during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
FILE - Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn (22) carries the ball against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Manhattan, Kan. Vaughn was selected to The Associated Press All-America team released Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)
3. Zach Charbonnet, UCLA, 6-1, 224
Charbonnet is a tall, physical runner who excels on inside runs using his power and length to get north and south. He has enough speed to catch the edge and some pretty good elusiveness for a back his size. Pass protection won't be an issue for him. He's coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the Bruins with 27 touchdowns. He averaged 7.0 yards per carry in 2022.
4. Devon Achane, Texas A&M, 5-9, 185
Speed kills in the NFL and Achane has plenty to burn. He doesn't have ideal size to run between the tackles in the NFL, but a good offensive mind will find ways to get him in space and utilize his elite acceleration and speed.
5. Tank Bigsby, Auburn, 6-0, 215
The No. 7 rusher all-time in Auburn school history finished his career with 2,903 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns. He's a very patient runner and is good at getting yards after contact. He didn't do a lot in the passing game for the Tigers, so he'll have to prove at the Combine he has that skillset.
Combine sleeper to watch: Tyjae Spears, Tulane, 5-10, 204
It was too bad Texas running back Roschon Johnson got hurt at the Senior Bowl because I would have liked to see who had the better week between him and Spears. With no Johnson after just one day of practice (broken hand), Spears was the clear No. 1 back in Mobile. Every day it seemed like he'd break off a huge run, which came on the heels of a 205-yard, four touchdown performance against USC in Tulane's bowl win to end Spears' college career.
Lions' need at the position: High
How big of a need this is really depends on whether unrestricted free agent Jamaal Williams returns or not, but I still list it as high. Williams told me in Phoenix at the Super Bowl he wants to come back and is willing to work with the team to make that happen. He's found a home in Detroit and wants to be part of what GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell are building. Williams is coming off his first 1,000-yard season and set the franchise record with 17 rushing touchdowns. He'll be 28 in April.
D'Andre Swift is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He's been dynamic when healthy, but staying on the field has been an issue over the start of his career. Availability is the best ability. Maybe 2023 being a contract year will pull the best out of Swift and he'll live up to his massive potential.
With Williams turning 28 and Swift entering the last year of his contract, the Lions need to start thinking about the long-term future at the position. Some fans might scoff, but taking a player like Robinson at No. 18 could fit best available and need for the Lions. They'll almost certainly look to address it in Day 2 if they don't first address the position in free agency.
Key stat: The Lions had five rushes of 50-or-more yards this past season, their most in a season since 1997. Williams and Swift each had two rushes of at least 50 yards. This marks the first time in Lions history multiple running backs have had multiple 50-yard runs in a single season, and Detroit was the only NFL team this season to do so.
