2021 NFL Draft: What You Need to Know about These 5 Running Backs
The 2021 NFL Draft, which starts in Cleveland on April 29, presents an opportunity for a new class of college players to realize their dream of playing professional football. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is considered the likely first overall pick, while other potential top picks include Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell and Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons. The following are five running backs who are likely to be selected in the first few rounds of the seven-round draft.
1. Travis Etienne
Listed as the top player at his position in the 2021 NFL Draft class by both CBS Sports and WalterFootball.com, Travis Etienne is a 5-foot-10, 200-pound running back who boasts explosive speed and the ability to gain yards after contact. He has also proven himself to be an effective receiver out of the backfield during his last two seasons with Clemson University. Etienne recorded 1,614 rushing yards and 432 receiving yards and scored a combined 23 touchdowns through 15 games in 2019. He had a career-best 588 receiving yards on 48 receptions through only 12 games in 2020. He had 70 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns in 55 games.
Because he is a smaller runner, Etienne’s power running game isn’t expected to translate as effectively in the NFL. He could, however, be a valuable weapon as part of a team’s passing offense. A two-time top 10 finalist for the Heisman Trophy as the top player in college football, Etienne is projected by CBS Sports to be selected 21st overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
2. Najee Harris
University of Alabama running back Najee Harris is listed as the second-best running back in the 2021 class by both CBS Sports and WalterFootball.com, while the former has him projected as a second-round pick. He’s considerably bigger than Etienne at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds and has similarly improved his receiving abilities in 2020 in hopes of being a three-down back in the NFL.
Harris rushed for 1,224 yards and scored 13 rushing touchdowns in 2019. He improved upon those numbers in one fewer game in 2020 by accumulating 1,387 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. He also caught 36 passes out of the backfield in 2020 compared to 27 in 2019. Moreover, he had 40 rushes of at least 10 yards and led the country in evaded tackles with 42. Given his imposing 6-foot-2 frame, he is also effective as a blocker in pass protection.
“You’ve seen Najee develop himself from being just a runner to being a guy that now understands leverage and running routes and setting up the routes and finishing the catch,” noted former Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley. “I’ve been really impressed with how he’s matured in that phase of the game.”
3. Rhamondre Stevenson
Although he had only 64 rushing attempts in 13 games in 2019, Oklahoma University running back Rhamondre Stevenson made the most of those attempts by averaging an impressive 8 yards per carry for a total of 515 rushing yards. That average was down to 6.6 yards per carry in 2020, but he accumulated more total rushing yards (665) and had more attempts (101) in seven fewer games. He had a standout three-touchdown game in his first game of the 2020 season against Texas Tech and also performed well against rival Oklahoma State. The 6-foot, 232-pound running back is projected to be selected in the mid-rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.
4. Kenneth Gainwell
Despite not playing in 2020 due to concerns stemming from the coronavirus pandemic (he lost four family members to COVID-19), Kenneth Gainwell remains one of the top running backs projected to be selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. The versatile 5-foot-11, 191-pound running back was a redshirt freshman in 2019 and recorded 1,459 rushing yards on 231 attempts for an average of 6.3 yards per carry. He also caught 51 passes for 610 receiving yards and scored a combined 16 touchdowns. Both CBS Sports and WalterFootball.com rank Gainwell as the third-best draft-eligible running back.
5. Chuba Hubbard
After finishing ninth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2019, Chuba Hubbard had a down year in 2020 but is still projected to be among the top running backs selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Oklahoma State running back was one of the premier players in his position during his sophomore season as he accumulated 2,094 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. He also averaged 6.4 yards per carry. That number was down significantly to 4.7 yards per carry in 2020. His average yards per reception was also down from 8.6 to 6.5. There are also questions regarding his effectiveness as a blocker in pass protection.
Nonetheless, Hubbard has good vision and instincts and could become a starting running back in the NFL in the near future. Many scouts prior to the 2020 season projected him as a second-round selection.
