Top 10 running backs in the updated 2024 On300 rankings

The high school football season is well underway, and top recruits around the country have been putting on stellar performances on the gridiron. Many of the best running backs in the 2024 cycle have already made their college decisions, including all of the top 10.

The 2024 cycle features one prospect — Nathaniel Frazier — rated as a five-star in the 2024 On300, while each of the 11 highest-ranked recruits in the position group all rank within the top 150.

Let’s assess the top running back prospects in the senior class:

1. Nathaniel Frazier — Georgia commit

School: Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
On3 Ranking: No. 19
Scouting Summary: “Nathaniel Frazier is a dynamic every down back with projectable size and home run ability. Measured in at 5-foot-10 and around 210 pounds in the summer prior to his senior season. Has some of the best long speed among top running backs in the 2024 cycle, running a wind-legal 10.77 mark in the 100 meters as a junior. Carries that speed over to the field where he displays arguably the best burst among 2024 running back prospects. Explodes through the hole and consistently defeats defenders’ angles as an outside runner. Has the long speed to pull away once in the open field. Runs with outstanding pace.

“…Makes defenders miss at a high rate, with lateral agility. Side-steps tacklers in confined spaces. Runs with high-level contact balance. Stays grounded on contact and spins out of tackles. Dangerous in the screen game and has upside as a pass catcher given his showings on the camp circuit. Transferred to powerhouse Mater Dei as a junior and split carries in a talented backfield. Does not have the workload or production of most other top running back prospects, but is highly efficient. Rushed for 693 yards and eight touchdowns on 61 carries (11.4 yards per carry) as a junior. More of a skill set evaluation than a pure high school football resume builder heading into his senior season.”

2. Jordan Marshall — Michigan commit

School: Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller
On3 Ranking: No. 35
Scouting Summary: “Jordan Marshall is a well-rounded running back with few holes in his game. Has a developed, stout build at over 5-foot-10.5, 200 pounds. Posted an electronically-timed 4.53 second electronic 40-yard dash at Under Armour’s Ohio camp. Registers as a plus athlete in other athletic tests. Showed marked improvement with his speed over the course of his junior year, running multiple sub-11.0 second times in the 100 meters, highlighted by a 10.74-second mark. A decisive runner. Hits creases and gets downhill quickly. Strong on contact. Bounces off defenders and runs through arm tackles at the second level. Shows some moves to make defenders miss in space.

“…Effective at running between the tackles and to the perimeter. Showed solid long speed as a junior and should make advances in that area as a senior if his track times are any indication. Very productive and reliable as a junior, rushing for 1,961 yards and 30 touchdowns at 8.0 yards per carry. An effective pass catcher. Productive receiver with 364 yards and four touchdowns as a junior and looks natural catching the football in the camp setting. Has some tightness in his movements and can improve fluidity as he tends to gear down some when changing directions in games. A player who maximizes his talent and may be more developed than some others at this stage for that reason.”

3. Jordan Lyle — Ohio State commit

School: Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas
On3 Ranking: No. 42
Scouting Summary: “Jordan Lyle is a refined, efficient running back with a well-rounded, translatable skill set as a rusher. Measured at around 6-feet, 185 pounds prior to his junior season. Looks to have added some mass since that time. A natural runner. Shows high-level lateral agility, vision and contact balance. Reads his blocks well. Shows quick feet in working through the line. Understands angles and sets up second level defenders.

“…Tempos his runs. Bounces off tackles and is hard for linebackers and defenders to bring down. Has an array of moves to force missed tackles. Shows solid speed in the open field but is not a blazer when it comes to the top end. Worked in a split backfield for South Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas as a junior. Was very efficient in his carries, rushing for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns on just 91 carries (11.2 yards per carry). Will need to continue adding mass to his frame. Does not have quite the workload or raw production of most other blue chip backs entering his senior year as a good chunk of his yardage came in a handful of games.”

4. Taylor Tatum — Oklahoma commit

School: Longview (Texas)
On3 Ranking: No. 51
Scouting Summary: “Taylor Tatum is a downhill, one-cut back with burst and three-down ability. Has a good build for the position, checking in at over 5-foot-10 and over 200 pounds prior to his senior season. Registers as a strong athlete in the combine setting with his speed stacking up well among his fellow top backs. Area champion in the 200 meters as a junior, with a personal best of 21.70 seconds. Plays in an offense that is often under center, lining up in a deep backfield. Turned in a productive junior season against good competition in Texas, rushing for 1,840 yards, 33 touchdowns at 8.9 yards per carry. Shows a notable initial burst, exploding to the second level.

“…Excels in running outside concepts. A natural long-strider with a light-footed, bouncy gait. Runs through contact at the second level. Lowers his shoulder on contact and keeps his legs moving. Has some subtle moves to sidestep defenders. A good receiver in both camp settings and in limited opportunities on Friday nights. Attacks the ball and makes grabs with his arms extended. Looks natural in running routes out of the backfield. At his best when he can get a runway due to his longer stride. Can improve lateral agility, but made some strides in that area as a junior. Also can continue shoring up his ball security. Younger for the class with a late April birthday.”

5. Kedren Young — Notre Dame commit

School: Lufkin (Texas)
On3 Ranking: No. 71
Scouting Summary: “Kedren Young is a big, explosive back with a violent run style. Has readymade size with a thick build. Measured at 5-foot-11 and north of 225 pounds in the offseason prior to his senior year. Posted an 11.18-second mark in the 100 meters as a sophomore, showing good speed for a prospect of his size. A bully as a between-the-tackles runner. Drags defenders on contact. Bounces off of tackle attempts. Fights to gain yards. Shows very good contact balance and some hip fluidity in making lateral movements at the second level. Pairs that physicality with the long speed to pull away in the open field. Also physical in pass protection. Rushed for 1,666 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior. Will need to increase his per carry efficiency (7 yards per carry as a junior) to be in line with most top running backs.”

6. Kevin Riley — Miami commit

School: Northport (Ala.) Tuscaloosa County
On3 Ranking: No. 75
Scouting Summary: “Kevin Riley is a consistent between-the-tackles runner that has excellent balance and body control. Has the footwork to dance in and out of traffic as well as the hip fluidity and reactive quickness in order to make defenders miss in space. Vision is tremendous and possesses the necessary burst and acceleration in order to explode through gaps and contact to reach the second level. Possesses the forward body lean and pad level in order to finish runs and consistently fall forward on contact.

“…Has the second gear in order to pull away from most defenders at the next level but not a consistent home run hitter. Will need to add weight throughout his frame in order to be a 3-down back at the college level and beyond but should be able to carry the weight with ease. Comfortable enough pass catcher of the football to function as a receiving option but not someone who has a lot of reps with route running and working at the line of scrimmage. Very high floor prospect who could develop into a 3-down player at the next level after adding the necessary weight in order to become a bell cow for a collegiate offense.”

7. Kam Davis — Florida State commit

School: Albany (Ga.) Dougherty
On3 Ranking: No. 104
Scouting Summary: “Kam Davis is a rocked-up running back prospect that runs with violence and has nimble feet for someone with his physique. Measures in at 5-foot-9.5, 200 pounds. Jumped a 29.5-inch vertical and a 9-foot-1 broad jump during the spring camp circuit prior to his junior season. Excellent ability to make defenders miss in a phone booth. Possess tremendous leg drive and the ability to pull through arm tackles. Lacks ideal top end speed, more of a doubles guy than a homerun threat. High floor prospect who will always be a pain to bring down between the tackles. One of the top baseball prospects in the country who has top-tier MLB draft potential.”

8. Dwight Phillips — Georgia commit

School: Mableton (Ga.) Pebblebrook
On3 Ranking: No. 112
Scouting Summary: “Dwight Phillips is an all-purpose back with true game-breaking speed as one of the very fastest prospects in the 2024 cycle. Measured at around 5-foot-10, 175 pounds in the off-season prior to his senior year. Has elite speed as a sprinter in track and field. Won the Georgia 7A state title in the 100 meters as a sophomore with a 10.43-second mark. Followed that up with a second place showing as a junior with a scintillating 10.24 second time. 40-yard dash has been clocked in the 4.2’s by college staffs. Transfers the high-end straight line speed to the field. Primarily plays as a running back in spread sets out of the shotgun.

“…Uses his speed to beat defenders to the edge. More of a one-cut downhill runner between the tackles. Easily pulls away from defenders once at the second level. Has shown solid receiving skills out of the backfield and in 7-on-7. Will need to continue adding mass and strength to his smaller frame to be an every down back. May end up as a change-of-pace type who can move around in different roles at the college level. Can increase his production to be on par with most blue-chip backs. Has very strong athletic pedigree with his father being an Olympic gold medalist in the long jump.”

9. Caden Durham — LSU commit

School: Duncanville (Texas)
On3 Ranking: No. 114
Scouting Summary: “Caden Durham is a big-play runner with home-run speed along with a compact build that allows for an every down role. Measured at a shade under 5-foot-9 and around 195 pounds prior to his senior season. Has continued to fill out his compact frame. One of the fastest running backs and overall skill players in the 2024 cycle. Consistently runs the 100 meters in the 10.5-second range with wind-aided times as low as the 10.2’s. Finished 3rd in the state finals as a junior with a 10.53-second mark. Also ran a personal best of 21.54 seconds in the 200 meters. Transfers that speed over the field with ease, where he is one of the more prominent home-run hitters in the cycle.

“…Blows past defenders at the second level, winning the foot race on every occasion. Rips off long touchdown runs with regularity. Wastes little time in getting downhill. Works to hit the hole as quickly as possible. Shows the ability to read his blocks and make cutbacks behind the line when necessary. Shows good contact balance, using his lower base to bounce off of contact. A solid receiver out of the backfield who is dangerous on wheel and angle routes. Highly productive as a junior while leading his team to a state title in Texas’ highest classification. Rushed for 1,960 yards and 36 touchdowns on 210 carries (9.3 yards per carry). Can continue working on his run maximization and lateral agility. While he has good mass, may be limited from a growth potential perspective due to his shorter stature. Young for the class with a May birthday.”

10. Jerrick Gibson — Texas commit

School: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
On3 Ranking: No. 117
Scouting Summary: “Jerrick Gibson is a highly explosive, twitched up running back prospect. Physically developed and advanced heading into his junior season. Checked in at 5-foot-10.5, 190 pounds with a rocked up build. One of the more explosive 2024 prospects in the combine setting, registering an electronically-timed 4.57-second 40-yard dash, 40.3-inch vertical and 10-foot broad jump. Moves at a different speed than many of his fellow top running backs. Carries that burst and twitch over to the field. Shows the play speed to rip off chunk runs. Also catches the ball fairly well, but can continue to improve in that area. Moderately productive as a sophomore while playing for a team with a losing record. Transferred to IMG Academy prior to his junior season. Older for the cycle, turning 17 years old during his sophomore season.”