Top running back signees in the 2025 class

All but one of the top 50 running backs in the 2025 class — according to the On3 Industry Ranking — have now signed with a college program.

The 23 four or five-star backs in the cycle dispersed to 18 different programs. LSU, Clemson, Ohio State, Oregon and Florida each inked a pair of blue-chippers at the position.

Below are where the top running back prospects in the 2025 cycle signed earlier this month:

1. Harlem Berry — LSU

School: Metairie (La.) St. Martin’s Episcopal
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 17 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “The most electric running back in the 2025 cycle, with the ability to be a game-changer in the passing game. Possesses elite burst and effortless movement skills. Measured in at 5-foot-10, 182 pounds at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. . Transfers his outstanding top end speed onto the field in a functional way. A threat to take it to the house on any touch. A light, springy mover who shifts gears and changes directions at full speed. Displays outstanding vision. Reads blocks and bursts through the line to the second level. The game moves slow for him at the prep level. Runs through contact and shows balance that belies his size. Showcased advanced pass catching skills during the summer prior to his senior season.

…Has the skill level to legitimately line up at receiver. A massive mismatch out of the backfield when covered by linebackers. Registers as a high end athlete with elite speed on the track and in the combine setting. Won state titles in the 100 and 200 meters as a sophomore with times of 10.57 seconds and 21.43 seconds, respectively. Highly productive over his high school career.”

2. Akylin Dear — Alabama

School: Quitman (Miss.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 52 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Tough, skilled runner with a well-rounded skill set for the position. Has plus size, measuring in at around 6-foot, 205 pounds prior to his senior season. Should be able to easily carry 215+ pounds at the next level. A good athlete in the combine setting. A bell cow back on Friday nights as a junior. Displays advanced vision in working between the tackles. Runs with patience, setting up his blocks. Able to change tempo and quickly change gears. Shows a nice burst in accelerating to hit holes as they appear. Comfortable in working within confined spaces. Doesn’t hesitate in getting north-south. Displays outstanding contact balance. Runs through arm tackles and spins out of contact. Strong on contact and plays with a physical edge.

…A solid pass catcher. Saw an uptick in his production as a junior, rushing for over 2,000 yards and 27 touchdowns. Ran track as a sophomore, posting a personal best of 11.20 seconds in the 100 meters. Has some tightness in his lower body that can shorten his stride in the open field, affecting his top gear and long speed. Improvement on that front would improve his ability to pull away at the college level. Has a high floor as an every down back given his well-rounded skill set and looks to be one of the top runners in the 2025 cycle.”

3. Gideon Davidson — Clemson

School: Lynchburg (Va.) Liberty Christian Academy
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 64 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Crafty runner with outstanding vision and spatial awareness. Measured at 5-foot-11..25, 202 pounds at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Added good mass to his frame as a junior. Had a monster junior season while leading Liberty Christian to a state title. Rushed for 2,716 yards and 43 touchdowns at 12.9 yards per carry. Shows advanced vision. Sets up his blocks and plays with spectacular timing with his offensive line. Patient and unhurried when picking his way through confined areas. Sifts through traffic as a runner between the tackles. A very efficient runner with little wasted movement, always seeking to get north-south. Sets up defenders in space and understands angles. Uses his off hand to disarm tackle attempts.

…Solid speed, but doesn’t have an overwhelming initial burst or top gear. Doesn’t play good competition and will almost always win the footrace once in the open field, adding to his gaudy stats. A bit older for the cycle, turning 18 years-old in May of his junior year. Will need to continue developing physically and athletically, but has the requisite skill set to be a productive ball carrier at the Power 4 level.”

4. Ousmane Kromah — Florida State

School: Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 92 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “True every down back with an extremely well-rounded skill set. Has readymade size, checking in at 6-foot-0.5 and around 215 pounds prior to his junior season. Has a unique build with very long arms and a bow-legged gait. A productive workhorse for one of the top high school programs in south Georgia. Averaged over 160 rushing yards per game as a sophomore and junior and 10 yards per carry as a junior. An extremely tough runner who is very difficult to bring down on contact. Trucks and carries defenders at the second level. Not going down with an arm tackle. Shows good burst and play speed and is capable of ripping off long runs with regularity. A plus receiver and one of the more natural pass-catchers among high school running back prospects.

…Even splits out to receiver on passing downs for his high school. A big-time mismatch in the passing game and already runs routes at a high level. Doubles as a good basketball player averaging over 10 points per game as a sophomore for a team that made a deep run in the state playoffs. Older for the class, turning 18 years-old in December of his junior year. Though he projects as one of the top running backs in the 2025 cycle, has the potential to also be a star at other spots.”

5. RB Girard Pringle — Miami

School: Tampa Armwood
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 107 NATL.

Coach’s Take: “He’s definitely an alpha dog,” Armwood High School head coach Evan Davis told CaneSport. “I think he’s really good with his teammates and learning what it takes to be a leader. He’s working with others, encouraging and pushing them to be on the same mental level as him in all aspects of the game.”

“Girard at a young age wasn’t running a 10.5, so when we ran all of our gap schemes and zone schemes between the tackles, he had to understand how to run hard behind his pads. As a sophomore, he would run a power and hit it perfectly. Now with that 10.5 speed he’s developed, he’s running power and making a safety miss, and it’s a 75-yard touchdown. I think he’s extremely explosive and twitchy,” Davis said. “Someone who catches the ball well and he’s not afraid to be physical.”

6. Bo Jackson — Ohio State

School: Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 122 NATL.

Insider’s Take: “Bo Jackson has been one of the best running backs, and all-around football players, in the 2025 class when he is healthy. He was a four-year starter at running back and safety for Villa Angela-St. Joseph. Jackson rushed for 560 yards and 10 touchdowns on 37 carries through three games before suffering a season ending injury in Week Four.” — Lettermen Row’s Mick Walker

7. Alvin Henderson — Auburn

School: Elba (Ala.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 126 NATL.

Scout’s Take: “Alvin Henderson is a historic high school running back in the state of Alabama. Completely dominates the level of competition and has already rewritten the state and national record books. He’s a tough, durable runner, plays with good vision, has natural instincts, breaks tackles at a high level and is a complete workhorse,” Power said. “He takes on a big load but has also consistently run for over 10 yards a carry while being his high school’s entire offense throughout his career.”

8. Shekai Mills-Knight — Ole Miss

School: Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 135 NATL.

Scout’s Take: “The flashes we’ve seen are very exciting and we’re bullish on his translatable skills,” On3’s Charles Power said of Mills-Knight to OM Spirit. “His pure athletic traits and physical traits, he’s a guy who can get downhill, run through contact, tough to tackle and can change direction at a high rate for such a bigger back.”

“This is a get that can pay dividends for Ole Miss,” Power said. “We moved him into the On300 this offseason and his ranking is one of the more volatile ones and has a lot of upside to move up if he plays really well as senior.”

9. JT Lindsey — LSU

School: Alexandria (La.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 147 NATL.

Lindsey on signing with LSU: “I’ve been wanting to go to LSU since I was a baby,” he told The Bengal Tiger. “So it was always a dream, so being able to accomplish one of my childhood dreams is a blessing. And even though we lost our quarterback, I still feel like we can be one of the, if not the, best class to come through LSU.”

10. James Simon — Texas

School: Shreveport (La.) Calvary Baptist Academy
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 149 NATL.

Simon on his commitment: “They made me feel like a big priority from the second they started recruiting me,” Simon told On3. “It was different. They were real. They talked about everything on and off the field. The coaches were helping me with anything that I needed and giving me advice. They weren’t just treating me like a recruit.”

“They can put you in a great position for life after football because of the connections that are in Austin and the people that surround the program,” he said. “I also like the offense. It’s so explosive and the way they use their running backs is great. The way coach Sarkisian talked to me about how he’s going to use me and how he sees me fitting in the offense, it was something I couldn’t say no to.”