Scouting the pro prospects: Running backs

With Reggie Bush off to the NFL, Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson is the class of the position heading into the 2006 season, although there are numerous others who should enjoy monstrous efforts.

Perhaps most intriguing is the versatility of today's backs. For every one with the prototypical size for the position, the flexibility of the collegiate game is also creating the opportunity for stars to emerge in all shapes and sizes.

Some backs have speed, others have size. Adrian Peterson has the whole package. (Getty Images)

Big backs are back en vogue, with Louisville's Michael Bush and Rutgers' Brian Leonard leading the pack. Smaller runners continue to post incredible numbers. Northern Illinois' Garrett Wolfe and Michigan's Mike Hart, for example, appear poised to compete for conference rushing titles.

An in-depth look at the country's top 10 running backs, as well as several others to keep a close watch on:

1. Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
6-2, 218 pounds, Jr.

Some feel Peterson would have been the top back in 2006 even if Bush had remained at USC for his senior season.

Peterson signed with Oklahoma as an elite prep talent, and it didn't take him long to live up to the hype. As a true freshman, he finished with an OU-record 1,925 rushing yards despite starting just eight games. He finished second in the Heisman voting, the highest ever for a freshman.

Peterson was hampered by an ineffective passing offense and injuries in 2005. With quarterback Jason White graduating, Rhett Bomar led the Sooners -- and opposing defenses were able to crowd the line of scrimmage. That slowed Peterson considerably, and a nagging ankle sprain was even more bothersome. It caused Peterson to miss all or more than half of four games, but he still led all Big 12 backs with 1,024 yards and once again earned consensus all-conference honors.

He possesses a spectacular combination of size, speed and strength, and is a natural, fluid runner who can change directions easily. The main concern is the state of the offense with Bomar kicked off the team.

2. Kenny Irons, Auburn, 5-11, 202, Sr.

Kenny Irons, Aub. (Getty Images)

When Auburn lost Ronnie Brown and Carnell "Cadillac" Williams to the NFL, opposing SEC teams must have shared a collective sigh of relief. But Irons stepped into the void and earned first-team All-SEC honors.

A transfer from South Carolina, Irons averaged 5.05 yards per carry while rushing for 1,293 yards and 13 touchdowns. In his first year as the starter, he led the SEC with 109.5 rushing yards per game during the regular season and 117.6 (941 total) in conference matchups.

NFL scouts are intrigued with Irons, who will only have two real seasons of strain on his body, having rushed only 66 times during his first two seasons with South Carolina. More important, Irons has good quickness and agility in the open field. Perhaps not surprisingly considering his surname, Irons also plays with power and proved to be a tough, durable runner in '05.

3. Michael Bush, 6-2, 248, Louisville, Sr.

Michael Bush (Getty Images)

Bush has an incredible combination of size, speed and pure athleticism. He has the power as an interior runner that one would expect for a back of his size but shows remarkable agility and breakaway speed for such a big man. He earns comparisons to great backs who happen to be big -- such as Jerome Bettis and, to a lesser extent, T.J. Duckett -- rather than big guys who play running back, like Brandon Jacobs.

Bush was named first-team All-Big East after setting the school record for rushing touchdowns with 23 and points scored with 144. He scored two or more touchdowns in nine consecutive games, and led the nation in scoring during the regular season with an average of 16.0 points per game in 2005. Not only did he lead the Big East in rushing, but in all-purpose yardage as well, thanks to shockingly soft hands (48 receptions over his career, 640 yards, two touchdowns).

A versatile athlete, Bush spent his senior season of high school playing quarterback after seeing action at running back, wide receiver, defensive back, linebacker and defensive end over his career.

4. Kenneth Darby, Alabama, 5-11, 225, Sr.

Kenneth Darby (Getty Images)

Darby is quietly one of the more exciting running backs in the country. Perhaps because of the attention paid to former Tide quarterback Brodie Croyle and his role in Alabama's resurgence last season, not enough coverage was given to Darby and his spectacular 2005 campaign.

The first-team All-SEC performer rushed for 1,242 yards, marking the sixth-best single-season performance in Alabama's storied history. This came on the heels of Darby's breakout '04 season, in which he posted 1,062 rushing yards in only five starts. With another season, Darby not only has a chance to become the first back in Crimson Tide history to run for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, but also eclipse Shaun Alexander (3,565) as the school's career rushing leader.

Despite his size, Darby isn't a physical runner. He is tough and will fight for yardage, but is best working the outside and occasionally as an inside runner, not the other way around. He has incredible quickness and the vision to see holes before they open. Once in the open field, Darby can make defenders miss. He also shows good hands and recognition as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 48 passes over his three seasons with the Tide.

5. Marshawn Lynch, California, 5-11, 215, Jr.

Marshawn Lynch (Getty Images)

Lynch, who first exploded onto the scene as a true freshman backup behind J.J. Arrington, might be the nation's most explosive big-play artist. While Arrington was busy racking up a 2,000-yard season in 2004, Lynch finished with 628 on only 71 carries (8.8-yard average).

Lynch's average was bound to fall as his attempts rose in 2005. It further suffered when he was hampered by a finger injury that made holding the football difficult. As the injury healed, however, Lynch's numbers increased. By the end of the season he had 1,246 yards and 10 touchdowns, and despite the slow start, Lynch's average remained a gaudy 6.4 yards per carry.

He also appeared to get stronger as the season wore on, finishing with more than 100 yards in six of his final eight games, including a 194-yard, three-touchdown effort against BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. The junior has great quickness and can accelerate past defenders in Cal's wide-open offense.

6. Lorenzo Booker, Florida State, 5-11, 195, Sr.

Lorenzo Booker (Getty Images)

Booker led the team in rushing yards (550), rushing touchdowns (four) and had the longest run from scrimmage (58 yards) in 2005, but was actually more effective in '04. That season, he and Leon Washington combined to form an awesome 1-2 punch that accumulated 1,838 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Of those totals, Booker produced 887 yards and four scores.

Booker has obvious talent, but hasn't yet shown the toughness and physicality needed to become a feature back at the collegiate level, much less the NFL. He does have the height to add mass and strength and could enjoy a breakout season now that Washington is off to the NFL.

Booker's strength is his elusiveness in the open field. He also has the speed to turn any play into a big one. He is a naturally gifted player who could enjoy a breakout '06 season if the passing game is able to keep defenses from loading the box to stop him.

7. Brian Leonard, Rutgers, 6-2, 235, Sr.

Brian Leonard (Getty Images)

A two-time, first-team conference selection, Leonard is still underrated because he is technically a fullback. He has the frame to play fullback at the next level, but has too much athleticism and versatility in the running and receiving departments to be defined as a traditional lead-blocker. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano long ago recognized Leonard's unique talents and certainly does not limit him.

A Doak Walker Award candidate in 2004 and '05, Leonard's 230 points are second and his 2,306 rushing yards sixth on Rutgers' all-time list. He finished last season tied for second in the Big East in receptions per game (4.45), fifth in all-purpose yards (105.8 per game) and scoring (8.2 ppg) and seventh in rushing.

Leonard isn't the bullish interior runner Mike Alstott was, but is a similar versatile athlete who would be misused if just asked to block. Leonard might be the best running back most D-I college football fans haven't seen yet.

8. Darius Walker, Notre Dame, 5-11, 200, Jr.

Darius Walker (Getty Images)

Walker is a young, productive back who used his deceptive speed to the outside to become the first Irish back to rush for more than 100 yards in each of the first four games of a season. Walker finished with 1,196 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns as Notre Dame's go-to runner in 2005. He also chipped in 43 receptions for 351 yards and another two scores.

Walker entered the 2005 season as the Irish's leading rusher, having produced 786 yards and seven touchdowns as a true freshman. Still, some questioned his explosiveness and consistency, as he had only two games of 100 or more yards in '04. Walker increased that to seven last season.

Walker is a talented runner NFL scouts will be looking at, but he lacks the timed speed to be a consistent breakaway threat. He gets himself in trouble when he outruns blocks and loses patience diving into the line of scrimmage before the holes reveal themselves. But Walker is extremely versatile and is being utilized well in this offense, as the passing game opens opportunities for the running game instead of the other way around.

9. Tony Hunt, Penn State, 6-0, 225, Sr.

Tony Hunt, PSU (Getty Images)

Lost amid all the hype that followed Michael Robinson and the Penn State offense last season, as well as Paul Posluszny and that terrific Penn State defense, was a burly running attack featuring Hunt.

At his size, Hunt isn't an elusive runner -- but he doesn't have to be. Conjuring memories of former Ohio State Heisman winner Eddie George, Hunt is a punishing runner with just enough speed to turn the corner.

Originally signed as a wide receiver, Hunt has taken to the position and enters 2006 looking to become the ninth Penn State runner to lead the team in rushing in three consecutive seasons. He earned second-team Big Ten honors last season as he broke out with 1,047 yards and an eye-popping 6.0 yards per carry.

10. DeShawn Wynn, Florida, 5-11, 232, Sr.

DeShawn Wynn (Getty Images)

Wynn is one of the more innately talented backs in the country but has yet to put together the breakout season he seems so capable of producing.

He looked like he could emerge as Florida's top back entering the 2004 season, but Ciatrick Fason mended fences with then-coach Ron Zook and rode a monster junior campaign into the NFL's fourth round. Wynn emerged from a talented group of backs in '05 to become the starter, leading the team with 621 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Still, over the past two seasons he has been hampered by groin and shoulder injuries that have limited his overall effectiveness.

Wynn is a stocky, strong interior runner with better speed to the outside than generally given credit for. He has a Travis Henry-like build and can punish defenders when he wants to. Wynn appears to have all of the measurable needed to develop into one of the top backs in the country, but he struggles to remain at 100 percent and hasn't yet enjoyed the consistent success needed to move into the upper echelon.

Others to watch

Garrett Wolfe (AP)

Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois, 5-7, 174, Sr.: The most dominant runner in D-I football over the past two seasons, Wolfe remains relatively unknown because of the attention heaped on Reggie Bush and Peterson. Wolfe took the "Triple Crown" of the MAC as a sophomore in 2004, winning the rushing yardage (1,656), scoring (21 touchdowns) and all-purpose yardage (2,004) races. Wolfe was on pace for even bigger numbers this past season before a knee sprain knocked him out of three games. He finished with 1,580 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, and had more 200-yard rushing games (three) than games held to less than 100 (two) while healthy. Wolfe obviously lacks the prototypical size for the next level, but has legitimate quickness and speed. Some will also question Wolfe's level of competition, but he rushed for a combined 393 yards and four touchdowns against two Big Ten opponents, Michigan and Northwestern last season.

Courtney Lewis (Getty Images)

Courtney Lewis, Texas A&M, 5-11, 205, Sr.: Lewis burst onto the scene in 2003, earning Freshman All-American honors with 1,024 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Though he has continued to lead the Aggies in rushing each of the past two seasons, his numbers (742 yards in '04, 723 in '05) have tailed off. Lewis has good quickness in the hole, showing the burst to bounce things to the outside and turn the corner. He has the speed to separate from defenders, but isn't a true speed demon. Lewis struggled with nagging injuries last season and missed the spring workouts in an effort to focus on his academics.

Mike Hart, Michigan (Getty Images)

Mike Hart, Michigan, 5-09, 195, Jr.: Hart enjoyed a monstrous true freshman season in 2004 when he rushed for a conference-best 1,455 yards and nine touchdowns and earned first-team Big Ten honors, as well as Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades. He struggled with injuries throughout the '05 season, limiting him to 662 yards and four touchdowns. When healthy, Hart displays good burst to the outside and a physicality and toughness on the interior that belie his lack of prototype size. Perhaps most intriguing to scouts was that during his dominant freshman campaign, Hart had only one fumble in more than 300 touches. Hart is expected to be back at 100 percent in '06, but will have to stay healthy to hold of super sophomore Kevin Grady, among others.

Tyrone Moss, Miami (Getty Images)

Tyrone Moss, Miami, 5-9, 235, Sr.: Miami has turned out NFL running back after NFL running back, and Moss is likely the next one. Despite his frame, Moss isn't the bulldozer one might expect. He does play with solid power for the position and fights for extra yardage. He also shows good elusiveness and some speed to the outside, though he isn't a true breakaway threat. Moss has patiently waited his turn to star for the Hurricanes and was enjoying a productive campaign as their starter last season (701 rushing yards, 12 TDs) before tearing an ACL in his left knee and missing the final four games. An offseason incident also resulted in Moss being suspended for the season opener against Florida State.

Lynell Hamilton, San Diego State, 6-1, 220, Jr.: The 2003 Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year, Hamilton eventually returned to form in 2005 after missing the '04 season with a severely broken ankle. Though he struggled with a nagging hamstring injury throughout much of '05, Hamilton rushed for 819 yards and nine touchdowns. Perhaps most interesting to NFL scouts was that Hamilton showed grit in playing through the injury and healed as the season went on. In fact, he rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his final three contests.

Albert Young, Iowa, 5-10, 207, Jr.: Statistics can often be manipulated to prove an argument, but there are a couple of particularly eye-popping numbers that begin to show Young's worth to the Iowa program. In 2004, a bevy of injuries robbed the Hawkeyes of their running backs, leaving the team with the second-worst statistical rushing game of any team in D-I football. Last year, Young, coming back from the torn ACL that robbed him of the '04 season, helped Iowa finish 35th in the country. Young was the Big Ten's top rusher in conference play (1,002 yards). As a redshirt sophomore, Young finished with 1,334 rushing yards, coming through with seven consecutive 100-yard performances to finish out the season. He totaled eight 100-yard performances, double the previous Iowa record for 100-yard games in a single season.

Antonio Pittman, Ohio State, 5-11, 195, Jr.: While most of the acclaim goes to quarterback Troy Smith or receiver Ted Ginn, Pittman could hold the key to Ohio State's national championship hopes in 2006. Though a little lighter than typical for the position, Pittman has demonstrated the toughness for interior running and speed and quickness for the outside. Pittman rushed for 1,331 yards last season, coming through with an impressive 5.4 yards per carry and seven touchdowns. Perhaps most intriguing was Pittman's flair for the dramatic. Not only did he eclipse the 100-yard mark seven times, he enjoyed some of his greatest success against his biggest foes, including game-winning scores against Michigan and Notre Dame.

Jon Cornish, Kansas, 6-0, 210, Sr.: Cornish is an intriguing blend of size, speed, power and vision who enters the 2006 season with zero career starts. However, he was voted the 2005 Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Jayhawks with 780 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Cornish also chipped in 15 receptions for another 138 yards. He is a bit of a glider, but has the speed to turn the corner and can lower his shoulder and plow for extra yardage as an interior runner. Cornish remains a raw prospect -- he had a combined four rushing attempts before last season. That said, he shows natural ability and will be looked upon as the full-time starter in 2006. He is Canadian-born and was drafted in the second round of the CFL draft.

Rob Rang is a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.