College Football Player Rankings: Ashton Jeanty headlines On3 Impact Top 10 RBs after Week 7

Week 7 of the college football season continued to show the outstanding quality of play at the running back position during the 2024 season. Some of the nation’s best runners once again had massive performances on the big stage.

With that in mind, On3’s experts took another look at their Top 10 running back rankings, reworking the list and making some changes following the weekend’s action.

There has been some movement, with some of the backs in the middle of the rankings shifting around. But the headliner remains the same: Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.

In any case, let’s take a look at the updated Top 10 rankings for the running backs following Week 7.

1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

College football’s best back turned in his highest workload of the season on Saturday in a win over Hawaii with a super late kick time. Jeanty carried it 31 times for 217 yards and scored a rushing touchdown. He also caught three passes for 20 yards and another score.

That puts his season numbers into the stratosphere. Jeanty already has 1,248 yards rushing and 18 total touchdowns, and he’s becoming even more of a threat in the passing game of late. Dangerous.

2. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

Hampton put together his fifth straight game with at least 100 yards rushing, but unfortunately for him the Tar Heels suffered a fourth consecutive loss anyway. Hampton finished the game with 18 carries for 137 yards, while also adding four catches for 12 yards.

On the season he has accounted for 901 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, while also contributing 20 catches for 135 yards. Hampton has been as consistent as they come at the running back position.

3. Jordan James, Oregon

James faced extraordinarily difficult competition this week in a game against No. 2 Ohio State, but he was more than up to the task. James managed to run 23 times for 115 yards and a touchdown, pacing Oregon’s ground game in a huge win over the Buckeyes.

It was the Oregon running back’s third straight game with at least 100 yards on the ground, while it was his fourth straight game with a touchdown. He’s scored in all but one game this season, while his total yardage has now eclipsed 700 yards.

4. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa

All the Iowa running back does is find the end zone, something he’s done in every single game this season. In fact, Johnson has scored multiple touchdowns in all but one game this year.

On Saturday it was a three-touchdown performance. Johnson had 21 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He also had three catches for 22 yards and a receiving touchdown. Most importantly, Iowa downed Washington convincingly, by a 40-16 score.

5. Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech

Brooks had a bye week with Texas Tech, which is 5-0 on the season and looking to make some serious noise in the second half. Brooks has been a huge part of that as a consistent force out of the backfield.

He has eclipsed 100 yards in every game this season, while scoring in four out of the five contests. Brooks is coming off a game in which he logged 21 carries for 128 yards and three touchdowns. He did, however, lose two fumbles in the game.

6. DJ Giddens, Kansas State

For a back who has produced as much as Giddens on a weekly basis, it’s a little surprising that he’s only found the end zone three times this year. But the stats show a back who is getting the job done at a very high level.

Giddens had a 182-yard outing against Colorado in a tight 31-28 win, adding two catches for 38 yards. He has averaged 7.3 yards per carry this season, totaling 786 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

7. Quinson Judkins, Ohio State

The Ohio State running back lost a fumble in the game against Oregon, a costly mistake in a game in which he was completely bottled up. Judkins has been a monster against most opponents, but he was held to just 23 yards rushing on 11 carries — though he did add a rushing touchdown.

On the season, Judkins has tallied 491 yards rushing and six touchdowns, while also contributing seven catches for 67 yards. It’s the ability that gets him on this list; he’s elite when he’s firing on all cylinders.

8. Kyle Monangai, Rutgers

The Rutgers running back continues to get a massive amount of touches, having logged at least 20 touches in every game so far this season. In a lopsided loss to Wisconsin, Monangai had 19 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown, as well as one catch for five yards.

On the season, Monangai has already gotten to 135 carries, with 739 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. He has also snagged six receptions for 31 yards on the year.

9. Dylan Sampson, Tennessee

Sampson was limited to just 4.1 yards per carry against Florida and was quiet in the early going before hitting a groove late. He finished with 27 carries for 112 yards and three touchdowns, while also catching two passes for seven yards.

The Tennessee back has been capable of handling a large workload all season long. He’s scored in every game, already up to 15 rushing touchdowns on the season. That’s good for second in the country.

10. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

Singleton hasn’t topped the 100-yard mark in a game since Sept. 7, and he didn’t have a huge impact in a 33-30 overtime win over USC. But he did catch a touchdown pass, despite being limited to 26 yards on 10 carries.

So far this season Singleton is averaging 6.9 yards per carry and 11.3 yards per reception. He has 434 yards rushing and three touchdowns, as well as 10 catches for 113 yards and three touchdowns.