NFL Scouting Combine 2016 participants: Running backs

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) breaks away from Clemson Tigers safety Jayron Kearse (1) to score a touchdown in the first quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

Here are the running back participants for the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Running back is one of the most important positions on the field. If it weren’t for running backs, quarterbacks’ careers would be considerably shorter and you wouldn’t have seen Peyton Manning take home the Lombardi Trophy from Super Bowl 50.

However, running backs’ shelf lives are much shorter than most positions as the average back probably plays until around the age of 30 before either seeing a decline in production or just deciding to retire. See: Marshawn Lynch.

This year’s crop of running backs is solid and there are plenty of guys who could fill the role for an organization that needs a franchise back. Some are more underrated than others, but the list of NFL Scouting Combine participants at the position is quite loaded.

Here is who will be on hand in Indianapolis from Feb. 23-29, according to ProFootballTalk.com:

Peyton Barber, Auburn
Devontae Booker, Utah
Tra Carson, Texas A&M
Alex Collins, Arkansas
Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State
Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech
Kenyan Drake, Alabama
Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
Tyler Ervin, San Jose State
Josh Ferguson, Illinois
Glenn Gronkowski (FB), Kansas State
Derrick Henry, Alabama
Quayvon Hicks (FB), Georgia
Jordan Howard, Indiana
Andy Janovich (FB), Nebraska
Devon Johnson, Marshall
Daniel Lasco, California
Tre Madden, USC
Keith Marshall, Georgia
Paul Perkins, UCLA
C.J. Prosise, Notre Dame
Wendell Smallwood, West Virginia
Kelvin Taylor, Florida
Shad Thornton, North Carolina State
Soma Vainuku (FB), USC
Dan Vitale (FB), Northwestern
DeAndre Washington, Texas Tech
Brandon Wilds, South Carolina
Jonathan Williams, Arkansas

There are a couple of standouts on this list who look to be higher draft picks — possibly even some going in the first round.

Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry helped lead the Alabama Crimson Tide to the national title and will be highly sought-after as junior prospect. Ezekiel Elliott could have been a Heisman front-runner, but he was inconsistent at the end of the year. Watch for his name early on as well.

Devontae Booker, Jordan Howard, C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams all have a lot to prove, but I believe could be serious sleepers in this class. Don’t overlook the class of 2016’s running back prospects, because there are some serious diamonds in the rough.

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