Pro Football Focus grades top five running backs in Week 1

Pro Football Focus has ranked the top five running backs from Week One of the college football season using its grading system. The rankings only take numbers from Power Five running backs into account, providing each with a scaled number to put next to their performance.

Week One saw major upsets and a handful of top-25 clashes as fans returned to the stands in full force across the country for the first time. College football’s top running backs put up big numbers and set the bar high in PFF’s running back rankings. The list of top performers in Week One featured a pair of SEC running backs playing in a new offense and the newest Pac-12 star.

Here are PFF’s top five running backs from a loaded schedule in Week One.

Top 5 running backs in Week 1

5. Ricky Person Jr., NC State

NC State kicked off its season on Thursday night with a 45-0 win over South Florida. Person Jr. earned an 83.9 grade from PFF. He ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries but was not the leading rusher on his team. That honor went to Zonovan Knight, who finished with 163 yards and a touchdown.

4. Bijan Robinson, Texas

PFF provided Robinson with an 84.8 grade after his impressive debut in Steve Sarkisian’s offense. Texas won 38-18 over Louisiana to start the season. The sophomore running back put up 176 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against a top-25 opponent.

3. Zach Charbonnet, UCLA

Charbonnet had a breakout performance in Week 0 against Hawaii, running for 103 yards and three touchdowns on just six touches. He continued his run of success against LSU this week. The Michigan transfer received an 87.3 grade, rushing for 117 yards and a touchdown with a touchdown in the upset win.

2. Tiyon Evans, Tennessee

Evans starred in his Tennessee debut after transferring from junior college this season. Tennessee won 38-6 over Bowling Green in the first game under new head coach Josh Heupel. Evans received an 87.8 grade for rushing 116 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown.

1. Tank Bigsby, Auburn

Bigsby was the only running back in Week One to surpass 90 in PFF’s grading system, scoring a 91.6. The Auburn star ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries. He also caught one pass for 19 yards in a 60-10 win over Akron.