NFL Draft 2015: The year of the running back

Unlike recent years, the 2015 NFL Draft will likely feature some big name running backs going off the board early and often.

Marcus Mariota may have won the Heisman and Jameis Winston dominated the headlines, but the true stars of the 2014 college football season were the top-tier running backs. With the college football season all but wrapped up and NFL Draft season approaching, let’s take a look at some of the bigger names at the running back position who will be available for NFL teams to draft come May.

Todd Gurley, Georgia 

Plays like: Marshawn Lynch

Gurley is deceptively large and moves well, both downhill and horizontally. He is a true workhorse who can eat up carries early on between the tackles and keep defenses honest against high-powered passing attacks — similar to what Eddie Lacy does in Green Bay. He’ll be recovering from an ACL tear and may not be ready until August, but he’s a risk worth taking for any team who struggled in the run game in 2014.

Best fit: Atlanta Falcons

Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin

Plays like: Eric Dickerson

Gordon is another big back capable of carrying the load for a team. His burst is similar to that of Jamaal Charles, however, he runs with longer strides and more power than the Kansas City back. His straight-up running style — though a weakness or red flag in the eyes of some scouts — is what reminds me of Dickerson. One of Gordon’s most underrated tools is a brutal stiff-arm he uses to tack on another five or so yards at the end of his runs. He’ll likely be the first back taken in the NFL Draft this year.

Best fit: Oakland Raiders

Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska

Plays like: LeSean McCoy

Abdullah may be the most complete back in the draft. A little on the small side, he makes up for it by running tough between the tackles and using his elite agility to avoid many big hits. If he gets into the secondary, it’s usually lights out for the defense. He wins most one-on-one battle in the open field. What makes Abdullah such a valuable commodity in today’s NFL is his pass-catching ability. He is similar to Matt Forte in that he gives the offense another legit receiving threat without having to put another wide receiver on the field.

Best fit: New Orleans Saints

Tevin Coleman, Indiana

Plays like: DeMarco Murray

Coleman might be the most underrated back in the nation. He was the focal point of Indiana’s offense, with defenses keying on him every week. He still put up elite numbers on his way to being a Doak Walker finalist. He is a smooth runner with great vision and decent size. It was not uncommon to see him running past defensive backs in the open field.

Best fit: Houston Texans

T.J. Yeldon

Plays like: Adrian Peterson

I’ve thought Yeldon was the closest thing we’ve seen to Peterson since the first time I saw him carry the ball at Alabama. He’s probably the most talented runner in college football, but some issues holding the ball as a result of his wild running style and his inconsistency as a pass-blocker limited his use in 2014. He has all of the tools athletically to be one of the greats in the NFL, he just needs to take better care of the football work on his blocking. I suppose that makes him a bit of a project, but one that I would take on in a heartbeat if I were the G.M. of a team who needed help in the running game.

Best fit: Minnesota Vikings

Jay Ajayi, Boise State

Plays like: Steven Jackson

Though not as big as Jackson, he has the same violent running style and the ability to catch passes out of the backfield. Because of that violent style, he often runs out of control and misses holes, having to fall back on his athleticism to fight for yards that were tougher to get than needed. That said, he is a true game-breaker and a three-down back who can help any number of NFL teams immediately.

Best fit: Jacksonville Jaguars

David Cobb, Minnesota

Plays like: Ray Rice

Cobb is a shifty and fluid runner who always seems to break a tackle and find daylight — especially in the red zone. He is a low-to-the-ground runner with decent power and acceleration. There is no one thing that jumps out at you in terms of elite skills, but his consistency and dependability on every down are what make him so valuable. I’m not saying he’ll have the same type of career, but there are times when I watch him run that he reminds me of the great Emmitt Smith.

Best fit: Indianapolis Colts

Others to keep an eye on:

Duke Johnson, Miami

Mike Davis, South Carolina

Cameron Artis-Payne, Auburn

Jeremy Langford, Michigan State

Malcolm Brown, Texas

Next: Who are the greatest RB's in the modern era of college football?