Joel Klatt's Top Five NFL Draft Running Backs

There seems to be a lot of growing buzz around Oregon running back Bucky Irving as he prepares for the NFL draft.

The latest comes from Fox College Football analyst Joel Klatt. He announced his top five NFL running backs entering the draft which included Oregon’s Bucky Irving.

His list is as follows:

1. Trey Benson (FSU)
2. Blake Corum (Michigan)
3. Jonathan Brooks (Texas)
4. Bucky Irving (Oregon)
5. Jaylen Wright (Tennessee)

In 2023, Irving had 1,180 yards for Oregon and 11 touchdowns. He finished the season averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He also had another 413 receiving yards and 2 more touchdowns. He posted two consecutive 1,000 yard plus seasons at Oregon.

The NFL draft is set to begin on April 25.

Irving Bio via GoDucks.com

Started all 14 games in final season as a Duck, recording second straight 1,000-yard rushing season with 1,180 yards and 11 touchdowns on 186 carries … 1,180 rushing yards ranked 17th in Oregon single-season history, and 6.34 yards per carry ranked seventh … Also added 56 receptions for 413 yards and two touchdowns, leading all FBS running backs in receptions … Multiple receptions in all 14 games, including five games with five-plus catches … An all-Pac-12 first-team selection while tying for third in the conference with 11 rushing TDs and ranking fourth in both rushing yards per game (84.29) and yards per rush (6.34) … The first Oregon running back ever to be named a first-team academic all-American for his work in the classroom … Rushed for 100-plus yards five times while finding the end zone at least once in 10 of 14 games … Rushed for multiple touchdowns against both Portland State and Washington State … No. 2 in the Pac-12 with 33 rushes of 10-plus yards, and one of seven Pac-12 backs with multiple 50-plus yard runs … Ranked third among Pac-12 running backs with a 91.8 rushing grade from Pro Football Focus while earning an 88.2 offensive grade … vs. Portland State (Sept. 2): Averaged a whopping 29.75 yards per carry in the season opener, rushing for 119 yards and two touchdowns on only four carries … Ran for touchdowns of 52 and 56 yards … at Texas Tech (Sept. 9): Rushed 11 times for 38 yards and a touchdown while adding a season-high seven receptions for 50 yards … at Stanford (Sept. 30): Found the end zone for the fourth time on the season, rushing 13 times for 88 yards and a score … First of six straight games with at least one rushing touchdown … at No. 7 Washington (Oct. 14): First of back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, carrying the ball 22 times for 127 yards and a score to go along with six receptions for 34 yards … vs. Washington State (Oct. 21): Scored a season-high three touchdowns against the Cougars, rushing 15 times for 129 yards and two scores while catching three passes for 51 yards and a score … Receiving touchdown came on a career-long 42-yard catch-and-run … at No. 13 Utah (Oct. 28): Scored fourth straight game, carrying the rock 14 times for 83 yards and a touchdown … vs. California (Nov. 4): Rushed 18 times for 89 yards and a score, his fifth consecutive game with a rush TD … vs. USC (Nov. 11): Extended rushing TD streak to six games with 19 rushes for 118 yards and a score … Also caught five passes for 43 yards …  vs. No. 16 Oregon State (Nov. 24): Caught five passes for 17 yards and second receiving TD of the season while also rushing for 41 yards … vs. No. 23 Liberty (Jan. 1): Helped lead Oregon to a dominant win in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl to close Oregon career, rushing 14 times for 117 yards and a touchdown … Long run of 44 yards gave him five 40-plus yard runs on the season.