Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2025 NFL Draft with its position previews. Scott Reynolds continues the previews at the running back position, offering a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need in the backfield.

Bailey Adams then analyzes a detailed list of this year’s top running back prospects while Reynolds provides the annual Pewter Report Bucs Best Bets – the most likely running backs for Tampa Bay to select in Rounds 1-3, and in Rounds 4-7.

What The Bucs Have At Running Back

Bucs RBs Rachaad White and Bucky Irving – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay has four running backs under contract, including three that could start for several teams in Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. The fourth running back is D.J. Williams, an undrafted free agent from Arizona who spent last year on the practice squad. He’s a big, 6-foot, 225-pound back in case the Bucs need a banger. But in reality, Tampa Bay’s running back room is the envy of the league.

Irving, last year’s fourth-round pick, was a rookie sensation who ran for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns with a 5.4-yard rushing average. He supplanted White as the team’s starting running back, but White brings incredible value as a receiving back and a pass protector who is also a very capable runner. Irving is an elusive back with the ability to slip tackles and break tackles, while White, who is entering a contract year, is a glider with good speed in the open field.

But Tucker is the team’s fastest and most explosive back. He came on last year in a 51-27 win at New Orleans in Week 6 when White was out and he topped 100 yards rushing for the first time and scored two touchdowns en route to winning NFC Offensive Player of the Year. He rushed for over 300 yards and averaged a team-high 6.2 yards per carry, while also being Tampa Bay’s best kick returner with a long of 53 yards.

What The Bucs Need At Running Back

Tampa Bay has three starting-caliber backs in Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. It’s very doubtful that the Bucs would draft a running back this year although White is entering a contract year. So if the team wanted to draft a running back it would be to essentially replace White in the 2026 season.

Yet with only six draft picks, if the Bucs are going to add a rookie running back it would likely be with an undrafted free agent.

Top Running Backs In 2025 NFL Draft

*Important Note: These players are NOT listed in the order of Pewter Report’s ranking for them. Rather, the numbers are provided to show you the rough order in which we expect them to come off the board during the draft.

1. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty – Junior – 5-8 1/2, 211 – N/A

The absolute top running back in this year’s class, Jeanty was a runner-up for the 2024 Heisman Trophy after a season in which he ran for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging just under 7.0 yards per carry. He was the driving force behind Boise State’s run to the College Football Playoff, and his 2024 campaign was quite the follow up to a 2023 season that saw him run for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Jeanty is elusive and has exceptional burst, as evidenced by his five touchdowns of 70+ yards in 2024, which tied the single-season FBS record held by LaDainian Tomlinson. But there’s also some power to Jeanty’s game, which he uses well with his speed and remarkable vision. That led him to lead the country with 1,970 yards after contact. Most of his receiving production came in 2023 when he caught 43 passes for 569 yards and five scores, and he had a staggering 374 carries in 2024 and 750 over his three-year career. But that workload won’t keep him from being a top pick in the first round.

Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty Photo by: USA Today

2. North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton – Junior – 6-0, 221 – 4.46

Hampton is the consensus No. 2 back in this year’s class, and he’s coming off a season that saw him set a North Carolina record with 2,033 all-purpose yards. He ran for 1,500+ yards in back-to-back seasons, with 15 rushing touchdowns each year to give him 36 over his three-year career. Despite his 2023 quarterback, Drake Maye, moving on and becoming a top-five pick last year, Hampton still went on to have a bigger year in 2024 and ran for 100+ yards in 10 of the Tar Heels’ 12 games.

At 6-foot, 221 pounds, Hampton has great size and strength, and it translates to the way he runs. He’s an aggressive, downhill runner with great tackle-breaking ability. His 1,222 yards after contact were second behind only Ashton Jeanty, and his 73 missed tackles forced were the sixth-most by any running back in the country, according to Pro Football Focus. His movements can be tight, which may limit his ability to create when the initial lane isn’t there. Still, Hampton could sneak into the back half of the first round. If not, he’s an early second-rounder.

3. Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo – RS Senior – 5-9 1/2, 216 – 4.65

It seems like opinions on Skattebo vary quite a bit. He doesn’t have great speed and takes some time to get going, which could hurt him at the next level. Not only that, but he’s a violent runner, which has its pros and cons. It does him a lot of good, but he’s also taken quite a pounding and the hits have added up. Ball security problems (10 fumbles over the last three seasons) also hurt his profile a bit. But then there’s the eye test, which Skattebo passes. He has a compact, muscular build and runs with a lot of power.

That power led to production, first at Sacramento State and then at Arizona State. He ran for 520 yards and six touchdowns on 9.1 yards per carry at Sac State in 2021, then averaged 7.0 yards per carry in 2022 while rushing for 1,372 yards and seven scores. From there, he transferred to Arizona State, where he ran for 783 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023 before a 1,711-yard, 21-touchdown campaign in 2024. His 170-yard, three-touchdown performance in the Big XII title game and 242 total yards in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal made him a hot name, but it remains to be seen what range he’ll fall in on draft weekend.

4. Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson – Junior – 6-1, 224 – 4.57

Based on his build, Johnson seems like a bruiser type of running back. But there’s some speed and finesse to his game, as he makes cuts well when he needs to and gets going quickly enough to be a problem for defenders. He had 1,060 yards after contact in 2024, and what was perhaps even more impressive was his ball security. He didn’t fumble once in his lone season as a starter at Iowa, and his strong, secure hands translate well to his ability as a pass catcher.

For a Hawkeye offense famous for its struggles to score points, Johnson worked his way up to stardom. In 2022, he ran for 779 yards and six touchdowns on 151 carries (5.2 avg.) before being limited in 2023 by a high-ankle sprain. After rushing for 463 yards and three touchdowns on 117 carries (4.0 avg.) that year, he broke out in 2024 with 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries (6.4 avg.). Johnson is a Day 2 pick.

Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson Photo by: USA Today

5. Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson – Senior – 5-10, 202 – 4.43

One half of the National Championship-winning backfield at Ohio State, Henderson had steady production over his four years with the Buckeyes. It started early, as he ran for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021 while averaging 6.8 yards per attempt. He dealt with some injuries in 2022 and 2023, though he still ran for 571 yards and six touchdowns in 2022 while totaling 926 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground in 2023. Then, in the team’s national title season, he surpassed 1,000 yards again, going for 1,016 and 10 touchdowns while averaging 7.1 yards per carry.

Henderson has an impressive build and accelerates well. He excels both as a runner and a pass-catcher, and his zero lost fumbles over the course of his collegiate career is the stuff of dreams for a running backs coach. Plus, the fact that he put up the type of production he did in 2024 while splitting carries with Quinshon Judkins will do a lot for him in the eyes of NFL personnel considering teams’ general reliance on multi-running back rushing attacks.

6. Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins – Junior – 5-11, 221 – 4.48

Judkins was the other half of Ohio State’s title-winning rushing attack, working alongside TreVeyon Henderson in 2024 after transferring to Columbus from Ole Miss. Judkins is a three-time 1,000-yard rusher over both stops, first rushing for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Rebels in 2022 before following up with a 1,158-yard, 15-touchdown season in 2023. Then, he transferred to Ohio State, where he ran for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns on the way to the Buckeyes’ national championship victory.

Judkins has good size and good burst for that size. It’s his strength and ability to take on defenders that stands out, as he is willing to bring the contact to a defender and finishes his runs well. He’s serviceable as a pass catcher, and while he’s decisive and quick with his movements, he’s not the most explosive back. Judkins is likely another Day 2 pick.

7. Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson – Junior – 5-8, 199 – 4.42

Sampson was only a one-year starter at Tennessee, so it took some waiting on his part before he could become the featured guy for the Volunteers. But that patience proved to be worth it, as he posted an impressive 2024 season that launched him into the Day 2 conversation. He was tasked with 258 carries this past season, and he turned them into 1,491 yards (5.8 avg.) and 22 touchdowns. He led the SEC in rushing, which earned him SEC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC honors.

Sampson is an electric runner, with plenty of chunk plays to show for it. He has an ability to create something out of nothing, which will serve him well at the next level. And even when he wasn’t the lead back for the Vols, he still had a way of finding the end zone. He ran for six touchdowns on just 58 carries in 2022 and found the end zone a total of eight times on 106 carries and 17 catches in 2023. Then, with his 22 touchdowns last year, he finished with 36 total touchdowns in 35 career games.

8. UCF RB RJ Harvey – Senior – 5-8, 205 – 4.40

Only Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton and Tahj Brooks had more rushing yards than Harvey did over the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He ran for 1,416 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per carry in 2023, then rushed for 1,577 yards and 22 touchdowns on 6.8 yards per carry in 2024. He also caught 39 passes for 505 yards and four touchdowns over those two seasons. And all of this production came while UCF had no discernable passing game, meaning he was the focal point of the Knights’ offense and still managed to do a whole lot of damage to Big 12 defenses.

Harvey has a compact frame and has work to do in pass protection, but it can be difficult to remember that he was a quarterback his whole life and is only a few years into playing the running back position. Despite learning on the fly at running back, he shows good patience and an impressive make-you-miss ability. He had 897 yards after contact last season while totaling 69 missed tackles forced, and that followed up a 2023 season in which he had 802 and 74, respectively. You can’t argue with Harvey’s production, and his traits have earned him comparisons to Bucs running back Bucky Irving during the pre-draft process.

UCF RB RJ Harvey Photo by: USA Today

9. Miami RB Damien Martinez – Junior – 5-11 1/2, 217 – 4.51

A big, powerful runner, Martinez plays with a blend of both physicality and speed. He takes a lot of contact. but he’s great with ball security as evidenced by his zero fumbles over 159 carries for the Hurricanes in 2024. His frame also gives him a good basis to work with in terms of developing as a pass protector, but he didn’t get a whole lot of opportunities to show his pass-catching ability with just 32 catches over three years between Oregon State and Miami. His lack of special teams experience also stands out, as he may need to step into that kind of role early in his career as a projected mid-round pick.

More than anything, it’s Martinez’s production across his two collegiate stops that stands out. He was nearly a 1,000-yard rusher as a freshman All-American at Oregon State in 2022, running for 982 yards and seven touchdowns on 161 carries (6.1 avg.). He then ran for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns for the Beavers in 2023 before transferring to Miami and putting up another 1,000-yard campaign. In 2024, he averaged 6.3 yards per carry on his way to 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns.

10. Kansas State RB DJ Giddens – RS Junior – 6-0, 212 – 4.43

Giddens works his way through traffic extremely well. He has great vision and good wiggle, which helps him thrive in space. He’ll get himself into trouble by running too upright and may face a reality check when facing NFL defenses as a result. It does help that he has a solid track record as a receiver, with 58 catches for 679 yards (11.7 avg.) and four touchdowns over three seasons at K-State. Not to mention, his background as a grinder is evident, as he went from a zero-star recruit to a back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher for the Wildcats.

After running for 518 yards and six touchdowns on 89 carries (5.8 avg.) in 2022, Giddens got a heavier workload in 2023 and ran for 1,226 yards and 10 touchdowns on 223 carries (5.5 avg.), with his tape against UCF being a major standout in that season. Against the Knights, he ran 30 times for 207 yards and four touchdowns while catching eight passes for another 86 yards. Then, in 2024, he made it back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with a 1,343-yard, seven-touchdown campaign, and that was even without a bowl game, as he opted out of K-State’s Rate Bowl win over Rutgers.

11. Kansas RB Devin Neal – Senior – 5-11, 213 – 4.58

Neal is yet another standout in a 2025 Draft class full of talented Big 12 running backs. He was a four-year starter for Kansas, first running for 707 yards and eight touchdowns on 158 carries (4.8 avg.) in 2021 before three straight 1,000-yard campaigns to finish his tenure with the Jayhawks. He ran for 1,090 yards in 2022, 1,280 in 2023 and 1,266 in 2024, finishing his impressive career in Lawrence with 4,343 yards and 49 touchdowns on 760 carries (5.7 avg.). He had back-to-back 16-rushing touchdown seasons in 2023 and 2024, too, so he’s no stranger to the end zone.

Neal runs with good vision, and while he’s not a speedster, he has good stop-start ability and displays good patience to let running lanes develop. He also had only two fumbles over his final 502 carries at Kansas, which running back coaches at the next level will love. Where Neal needs work is with his pass protection, as he was up and down in that department during his college career. And while his patience as a runner is often a plus, he can sometimes be too patient, something he’ll have to rein in against faster NFL defenses.

12. Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten – Senior – 5-9, 206 – 4.32

The fastest running back at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, Tuten did a lot for his stock with a 4.32-second 40-yard dash in Indy. He’s a shorter back at 5-foot-9, but he is built well with the frame he has. That, combined with his blazing speed, earned him a spot on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” and that lines up with what you can see on tape. When he can find space on the outside, he’s a big play waiting to happen. It also helps that he has special teams experience (and success), with a 23.8-yards-per-kick-return average in college and two return touchdowns.

Tuten began his career at North Carolina A&T, where he broke out as a sophomore in 2022 with 1,363 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 6.6 yards per carry. From there, he transferred to Virginia Tech, where he was a two-year starter. After running for 863 yards and 10 touchdowns on 5.0 yards per carry in 2023, he finished his collegiate career with a 2024 season that saw him run for 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns on 6.3 yards per attempt. Tuten also caught 91 passes for 892 yards and nine touchdowns over his four-year career.

Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten Photo by: USA Today

The Best Of The Rest

13. Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II – Junior – 6-1, 226 – 4.61

Gordon’s stock has plummeted from where it was after the 2023 season. One of the best running backs in college football during the 2023 campaign, his 2024 began with a DUI and what followed was a relatively disappointing follow-up to his All-American sophomore season. After running for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2023, he ran for 880 and 13 in 2024. His 21 carries of 20+ yards in 2023 fell to six such carries last year, too. Overall, he has a good build and impressive open-field burst, but he can run too upright and is overly patient at times.

14. Texas RB Jaydon Blue – Junior – 5-9, 195 – 4.38

Another one of the fastest backs in this year’s draft class, Blue ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis, which trailed only Bhayshul Tuten’s 4.32. Stuck behind Bijan Robinson and Jonathon Brooks in his first two seasons at Texas, Blue broke out with 1,098 total yards in the Longhorns’ 2024 run to the College Football Playoff. He ran for 730 yards and eight touchdowns while hauling in 42 passes for 368 yards and another six touchdowns. He’s an explosive player, but his body type will limit his ceiling in the NFL. Regardless, he’ll be a productive cog in a multi-back system.

15. Georgia RB Trevor Etienne – Junior – 5-9, 198 – 4.42

Trevor Etienne, the brother of Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, began his career at Florida, where he had back-to-back 700+ yard seasons before transferring to rival Georgia in 2024. With the Bulldogs, he ran for 609 yards and nine touchdowns on 122 carries (5.0 avg.). He dealt with a rib injury late in the 2024 season, and that coupled with a suspension for the season opener due to reckless driving and underage possession of alcohol charges (later dismissed after he pleaded no contest) limited his production during his lone season in Athens.

Georgia RB Trevor Etienne Photo by: USA Today

16. Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai – RS Senior – 5-8, 211 – 4.60

By the end of his Rutgers career, Monangai trailed only Ray Rice for the most rushing yards in program history. He ran for 3,221 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and rushing for 27 touchdowns, including 13 in 2024. He has quick feet and uses his smaller stature well, slipping through blockers and finding space to work with. A two-time team captain, Monangai is dependable and proved he could handle workhorse duties. He had zero fumbles in his career, and while he wasn’t asked to do a lot as a receiver, he showed reliable hands when called upon.

17. SMU RB Brashard Smith – Senior – 5-10, 194 – 4.39

Smith is a converted wide receiver who has impressive long speed. He had 19 plays of 20+ yards in 2024, which ranked top five among FBS running backs. His speed and natural feel for finding space also makes him a good fit as a return man, which he has experience with. He averaged 24.4 yards per kick return in college and had a 98-yard return touchdown to his name. After modest production as a receiver in his three years at Miami, Smith ran for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns after transitioning to running back for SMU in 2024.

18. Auburn RB Jarquez Hunter – Senior – 5-9, 204 – 4.44

Hunter is a dense back who is a weight-room stud, and that shows on tape. He’s a tough guy to bring down, something his SEC-leading 6.4 yards per carry speaks to. He has issues in pass protection and some ball security issues popped up from time to time, but Hunter is a guy who has played a lot of football over his four-year career with the Tigers. He ran for 593, 668 and 909 yards in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively, before breaking out with a 1,201-yard campaign in 2024.

19. Oregon RB Jordan James – Junior – 5-9 1/2, 205 – 4.51

James, who played with Bucs running back Bucky Irving at Oregon, is built low to the ground and uses that to his advantage with his running style. He has good vision and runs with a lot of toughness, though his make-you-miss ability can be spotty. He worked well as a complement to Irving in 2023, then proved plenty capable of being the lead back in 2024 with 233 carries for 1,267 yards (5.4 avg.) and 15 touchdowns. He finished with 31 rushing touchdowns over three years with the Ducks.

Oregon RB Jordan James Photo by: USA Today

20. Texas Tech RB Tahj Brooks – RS Senior – 5-9, 214 – 4.52

There is a whole lot of tread on Brooks’ tires, something that can be looked at in a positive light or with a more negative spin. Over five years in Lubbock, he totaled 879 carries, including 290 in 2023 and 286 in 2024. But it’s impossible to argue against his production, as he ran for 1,541 yards in 2023 and 1,505 in 2024 while totaling 4,560 over five seasons with the Red Raiders. His contact balance and overall durability are huge pluses, and while he’s not a pure speed back, he’ll be a good change-of-pace back in some team’s running back room.

Bucs Best Bets – By Scott Reynolds

Rounds 1-3: Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo

The Bucs are the envy of the league with three very talented running backs in Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. The only argument one could make about possibly drafting a running back would be that White is entering a contract year. Yet Tampa Bay feels like Tucker has the potential to be a starter in the league. As a result, the Bucs only met with a handful of running backs at the NFL Scouting Combine – and all were informal visits. Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo was one of them.

Drafting a running back on Day 3 makes more sense for Tampa Bay, but if the Bucs are enamored with Skattebo they’ll likely have pull the trigger in the third round. Skattebo is a bowling ball of a runner at 5-9, 219 pounds. He breaks tackles and showed plenty of make-you-miss ability last year rushing for 1,711 yards and 21 TDs while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He also caught 45 passes for 605 yards (13.4 avg.) and three TDs. Imagine how fun of an addition Skattebo would be to the Bucs backfield?

Rounds 4-7: Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten

Virginia Tech’s Bayshul Tuten had a tremendous showing at the NFL Scouting Combine that really upped his stock. Viewed as a late Day 3 prospect before going to Indianapolis, Tuten blazed a 4.32 time in the 40-yard dash and proved to be the fastest back at the Combine. That included an incredibly fast 1.49 10-yard split. Then he posted a 40.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump to show how explosive of a back he is. Tuten ran for 2,022 yards (5.7 avg.) and 25 touchdowns over his two seasons at Virginia Tech.

Tuten has a nice mix of speed and power with good hands and also returns kicks. He had a 94-yard touchdown and a 99-yard touchdown in 2023 as a junior. It’s doubtful that the Bucs draft a running back with Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. But adding a multi-dimensional back like Tuten on Day 3 could be tempting if the team has addressed its needs defensively early in the draft.