NFL Draft: 10 best running backs available in 2023

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SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 18: Dylan Hopkins #9 hands off the ball to DeWayne McBride #22 of the UAB Blazers during a game against the BYU Cougars during the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Blazers defeated the Cougars 31-28. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

8. DeWayne McBride, University of Alabama at Birmingham

This is him. The production king of the 2023 class. Baby Larry Johnson. DeWayne McBride.

In three seasons with the Blazers, he racked up over 3,500 yards and 36 (THIRTY-SIX!) touchdowns on 484 attempts. He is coming off back-to-back seasons with over 200 rushing attempts and double-digit scores. On one hand, you could argue that McBride was even more of a centerpiece at UAB than Bigsby was down the road at Auburn, but that gets negated when the offenses are compared. In the case of the Blazers, they knew that they had DeWayne McBride and they just let him punch you in the mouth for four quarters no matter what.

He had 16 games of 100 or more yards over the past two seasons, six of which were 150+, and three with over 200. At 5-foot-11 and 215-pounds, McBride is a nightmare to tackle. If you don’t have time to watch his film, you can find that evidence in the stat sheet. Over 68 percent of his career yards at UAB came after contact.

McBride has great vision and mature patience. He runs with incredible strength and balance. But Poison personified their name when they told us that Every Rose Has Its Thorn, and a couple of things about his game will make you sick. He had nine fumbles in the past two seasons and recorded five catches on 10 targets throughout his college career.

He is one of the premier power backs in the class, but he’s a one-trick pony and needs to take better care of the football.

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