Running back is undoubtedly a position that is becoming devalued in the NFL. That hasn’t stopped teams from selecting ball carriers in the first round of the NFL Draft year after year, though. The 2013 NFL Draft will be no different.
2013 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings
Running back is not quite as valuable a position as it once was in the NFL, but ball carriers still tend to find their way into the first round. Check out our running back rankings to see which players could come off the board early in the 2013 NFL Draft.
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The senior class is headlined by Clemson's Andre Ellington, who has been hot and cold to start the season. At his best, he displays outstanding agility and straight-line speed to burn. UCLA's Jonathan Franklin and Stanford's Stepfan Taylor have emerged at the top of the senior class as well, seemingly bypassing Montee Ball, Christine Michael and Knile Davis.
Marcus Lattimore is still the cream of the junior crop and the best draft-eligible running back. He is still working his way back to form after a knee injury ended his 2011 season. Eddie Lacy of Alabama and Joseph Randle of Oklahoma State follow Lattimore in the our rankings, while Mississippi State's LeDarius Perkins has caught our eye and could rise up the list.
The complete running back rankings are below. Seniors and juniors are listed separately, as we are still unsure which players are going to declare for the draft.
SENIORS
| 1. Andre Ellington | 5'10, 190 pounds | Running back | Clemson Prospect notes |
| 2. Jonathan Franklin | 5'10, 205 pounds | Running back | UCLA |
| 3. Stepfan Taylor | 5'11, 208 pounds | Running back | Stanford |
| 4. Kenjon Barner | 5'11, 195 pounds | Running back | Oregon |
| 5. Christine Michael | 5'11, 213 pounds | Running back | Texas A&M |
| 6. Montee Ball | 5'11, 212 pounds | Running back | Wisconsin Prospect notes |
| 7. Dennis Johnson | 5'9, 213 pounds | Running back | Arkansas |
| 8. Rex Burkhead | 5'11, 210 pounds | Running back | Nebraska Prospect notes |
| 9. Knile Davis | 6'0, 228 pounds | Running back | Arkansas |
| 10. Chris Thompson | 5'8, 187 pounds | Running back | Florida State |
| 11. Ray Graham | 5'9, 195 pounds | Running back | Pittsburgh Prospect notes |
| 12. D.J. Harper | 5'9, 205 pounds | Running back | Boise State |
| 13. Jordan Hall | 5'9, 194 pounds | Running back | Ohio State |
| 14. Mike Gillislee | 5'11, 209 pounds | Running back | Florida |
| 15. Onterio McCalebb | 5'11, 173 pounds | Running back | Auburn |
| 16. Isi Sofele | 5'8, 200 pounds | Running back | California |
JUNIORS
| 1. Marcus Lattimore | 6'0, 218 pounds | Running back | South Carolina |
| 2. Eddie Lacy | 6'0, 220 pounds | Running back | Alabama |
| 3. Joseph Randle | 6'1, 200 pounds | Running back | Oklahoma State Prospect notes |
| 4. Le'Veon Bell | 6'2, 244 pounds | Running back | Michigan State |
| 5. Spencer Ware | 5'11, 225 pounds | Running back | LSU |
| 6. Silas Redd | 5'10, 200 pounds | Running back | Southern California |
| 7. Alfred Blue | 6'2, 220 pounds | Running back | LSU |
| 8. Cierre Wood | 6'0, 215 pounds | Running back | Notre Dame |
| 9. LaDarius Perkins | 5'10, 190 pounds | Running back | Mississippi State |
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