Ranking This Year's Draft Class of Running Backs

There has been a big difference between the rookie campaign of last year's top running back selection, Adrian Peterson, and the rookie year of 2006's top running back selection, Reggie Bush. Peterson was rookie of the year in 2007, and he finished second in rushing despite missing several games. Reggie Rush, on the other hand, was average at best in the rushing game and prevailed more as a receiver and punt returner than as a feature back.

So what will be the fate of the running back selected as the first RB of the 2008 NFL Draft? Who will be the first running back selected in this year's draft?

Here are the top running back prospects and their rankings. Enjoy!

1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas, 6'2", 212 pounds - I think that there is very little question who the best running back in the nation is. McFadden was the likely candidate to be the top RB entering the 2007 college football season, and he remains the top candidate after the 2007 college football season. We all know about the speed (4.4 40-yard dash), the size (6'2", 212 pounds), and the comparisons (Eddie George), but putting that all aside, just look at the game tape. This man ran roughshod over the best defensive conference in the entire nation. He even broke records with 300+-yard-rushing game in the SEC! On top of that, he has outstanding versatility where he essentially quarterbacked the offense at times by executing the option and even throwing passes at times. Some scouts are worried about this upright running style and the shots that could leave him vulnerable to at the next level. But Eddie George had no problem staying on the field with the same running style, so it should not deter any team from drafting him.