1. Thomas Jones, Virginia, 5-10, 216 (4.48 time in the 40-yard dash): Darting runner who explodes into holes, gets quickly into the secondary and possesses the kind of long, straight-line speed to run away from even some of the faster cornerbacks. Low-slung but solidly chiseled, runs with balance and a very low center of gravity. Won't break many tackles, but still tough to knock off his feet. Despite his good vision and nifty feet, not a great cutback threat and usually runs north-south. Not very powerful in the lower body and doesn't punish tacklers, but don't let him get to the corner or he's gone. Never caught more than 28 passes in a season, but adequate receiver on the swing and flat routes. Has never been asked to block much, so must learn that key skill. The more you watch him, the more he reminds you a little of Barry Sanders.

2. Shaun Alexander, Alabama, 5-11 7/8, 218 (4.51): Didn't garner the respect some tailbacks did during '99 season, but scouts love the guy and consider him the best all-around back in draft. He is just very solid in every area. Not a flashy back and won't break the big play, but efficient and technically sound in everything he does. A natural runner with great instincts, has an innate gift for being very patient and setting up his blocks. Tough to overlook a guy who scored 40 times in the last two years. Doesn't have much body lean, though, and doesn't finish off every run strong. Not all that powerful, but somehow shed tacklers and slides out of people's arms. Often runs too high. Good change of direction, but seems to bounce most runs outside and scouts would like to have seen him run more between the tackles. Easily the best receiver among the top backs, can catch passes up the field, over his shoulder and adjusts well to the poorly thrown ball. Has become a better blocker in the past year in blitz pickup situations. Solid character and willing worker.

3. Jamal Lewis, Tennessee, 5-11 5/8, 231 (4.37): Skyrocketed up draft boards after electrifying on-campus workout in which some scouts timed him in low-4.3s and he posted vertical jump of over 40 inches. Prototype combination of size, speed, power and quick feet. Will run through most arm tackles and line of scrimmage. When he gets into secondary, will hunt up even more defenders and try to run through them. Superb burst over 20-25 yards. Despite the pluses, could be a real boom-or-bust player. Had reconstructive knee surgery in 1998 and was never the same player after that. In addition to knee and shoulder problems in '99, never demonstrated much determination. Looked lazy and, frankly, like a guy just trying to not get hurt so he wouldn't undermine his draft status. Only an average receiver and has had fumble problems.

4. Ron Dayne, Wisconsin, 5-10 7/8, 256 (4.58): Leading career rusher in college football has some limitations, but scouts are beginning to warm to him as draft approaches. A massive man who can go into the pile and move it back, his thick body makes it tough for tacklers to wrap him up. Built low to the ground and is like a road-grader if he gets up a head of steam. Doesn't have great balance and can be knocked off his feet if you hit him at the ankles. Workhorse who is accustomed to getting 25-30 carries per game and whose battering ram style erodes a defense in the fourth quarter. Had weight problems in the past and, while he seems to have that under control, a few scouts still worry about his propensity to get too big. Has a lot of carries under his belt and some wonder if all that mileage will catch up to him. For all his size and power, still seems to glide to the hole and, despite seemingly quick feet, seems to be running in quicksand at times. Not much change of direction, pretty much a north-south runner who isn't going to sprint away from anyone in the secondary. Might have to be a "systems" player, a guy whose abilities limit him to playing in a one-back set. He's a tailback in a fullback's body and doesn't block or catch well enough to play the latter position.

5. Travis Prentice, Miami (Ohio), 5-11 3/4, 225 (4.50): Pretty substantial drop-off from the top group of backs to the second tier, but small-school star has emerged as solid but unspectacular prospect who should be able to contribute in backup role as rookie. Doesn't exactly jump off the videotape at you, but makes the kind of consistently solid plays you need to win. Has decent size-speed ratio, but hasn't run as fast for scouts as college coaches claim he can. Primarily an inside runner, but has enough change of direction to hit the cutback lanes and occasionally pop outside and up the sideline. Not very elusive and doesn't break enough tackles. Very durable, can handle a 20-carry workload. Fumbled only one time on more than 900 "touches" over his final three seasons. As with any small-school product, scouts will question caliber of competition against which he played. Has improved as receiver, but still a novice blocker.

6. Trung Canidate, Arizona, 5-10 5/8, 193 (4.44): Best long threat in running back pool, but he will put up a lot of 2- and 3-yard carries before hitting the seam and sprinting 50 yards. That's not a style conducive to success in the NFL, but scouts like him as complementary or change of pace kind of back who can get 6-8 carries per game and maybe hit the home run. In 1997-98, averaged more than 50 yards per touchdown run. Really accelerates to the corner and seems to be able to locate a crease in traffic at times. Can turn the game around in a hurry. Nice vision and cutback skills, but outruns too many blocks and will rarely create his own hole. Small frame and will not stand up to much punishment inside. Not much exposure in passing game, but seems to have nice enough hands. Hasn't returned kicks, but it would be a plus if he could add that to his resume.

7. Sammy Morris, Texas Tech, 5-11 7/8, 221 (4.58): When he played, which wasn't much the last three seasons, split time between fullback and tailback. Probably better suited to latter position. Was redshirted in 1995, and then missed entire '97 season for academic shortcomings and all of '98 on NCAA eligibility suspension. Played through some injuries in '99, but still only logged 140 carries. At least you can make the case he's got fresh legs. Instinctive, slashing runner with versatility, has returned kicks and could fill a lot of roles for a team. Kind of an in-between guy, not big enough for fullback or nifty enough to be an every-down tailback. Lacks speed and isn't going to make tacklers miss. Plays low and with good pad level, when he squares his shoulders he can flash some explosiveness. Aggressive, but not powerful blocker. Surprisingly good hands.

Poor 40-yard times have hurt J.R. Redmond's stock in this year's draft.(Allsport)

8. J.R. Redmond, Arizona State, 5-11 ½, 216 (4.60): Stock has been more volatile lately than anything they are peddling on Wall Street, and currently he is in a deep spiral. Can do a lot of things, including return kickoffs and punts, and catches the ball well. But poor 40-yard times in recent weeks, sometimes in the low 4.6s, are killing him. There's no denying his athleticism or football awareness. But since he is not a heavy-duty back, runs with only modest balance and too often plays with a narrow base, he needs more speed. Plus some scouts have labeled him as "soft" and that's a tag no back wants to carry around. Will slide and wiggle, kind of a "picker" when it comes to finding a hole, likes to freelance a little and get outside his blockers. A good football player who will make someone's roster as a utility player, but a guy with some warts.

9. Curtis Keaton, James Madison, 5-10 3/4, 214 (4.47): Tremendous workout in all phases at Indianapolis combine really caught attention of scouts. Played at West Virginia 1995-97, sat out entire '96 season with meningitis and then transferred after losing starting job to Amos Zereoue. Erased some doubts about playing at Division I-AA level with solid performance in Blue-Gray game and combine workout, and recent on-campus auditions have raised stock. Productive and durable, and has above-average awareness as a runner. Has returned kickoffs, but hands still questionable. On tape, he doesn't look as good in games as he does working out in sweats. Runs hard, it seems, but doesn't explode into defenders or break many tackles. Functional speed much less than his time in the 40 and some scouts have cited his "marginal effort" in doing the detail-type things you need to win. Runs with narrow base and exposes his body to a lot of hits. An intriguing guy, but also one who could go bust on you.

10. Reuben Droughns, Oregon, 5-11 1/4, 215 (4.61): An upright runner who hasn't been nearly as quick or productive since breaking his leg and sustaining ligament damage in his knee late in the '98 season. Tough and willing, an effort player who is going to get the most out of every carry. Problem is, he simply lacks the speed and burst to be anything more than a career backup. Nice size and good enough power. On tape, he flashes nice instincts and change of direction, but his body just doesn't get him where he needs to go quickly enough. Not very nifty, a straight-line runner even when he was healthy.

11. Doug Chapman, Marshall, 5-10, 215 (4.54): Productive, all-around back whose stock is on rise in recent weeks. Doesn't do anything special or eye opening, but does everything well. Has played in an offense where he has been asked to catch the ball and block in the passing game, so that is a plus. Not a great blocker, but a willing and aware one. Good determination, sometimes elusive enough to make a linebacker miss at the line of scrimmage. Lacks breakout speed. As a receiver, adds yards after the catch and knows how to find the creases in the short hook zones. Good enough vision, but lacks balance and struggles to pick up his feet and clear the trash. Gets underpinnings knocked out too easily. Won't back down from anyone.

12. Paul Smith, Texas-El Paso, 5-10 5/8, 220 (4.59): Demonstrated improvement every season in college, versatile enough to give you some snaps at fullback. Slasher who sees the hole well and is powerful enough to move the pile at times. Not terribly gifted, but not just a plugger, either. Has some tunnel vision and will often miss the cutback lane. A short burst through the line, but isn't quick enough to get the corner turned and run away from the secondary. Too upright on some of his inside runs. Good enough hands that he was used in the slot as a receiver, particularly during his junior season. Seems uninterested in blocking and must improve that area. Might be best suited to a one-back offense.

Others: Rondell Mealey (LSU), Ronney Jenkins (Northern Arizona), Dante Hall (Texas A&M), Derrick Foster (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Demario Brown (Utah State), Darren Davis (Iowa State), Frank Murphy (Kansas State), Mike Green (Houston), Matt Keller (Ohio State), Michael Wiley (Ohio State), Marlion Jackson (Saginaw Valley State).

Rising: Marshall's Chapman and Smith of Texas-El Paso have probably moved themselves into the third round at worst, but a tailback getting almost as much attention the past week is Thomas Hamner of Minnesota. He could use another 7-8 pounds on his frame and would be miscast as an every-down back, but Hamner runs hard and catches the ball well. He won't fumble, and has made himself a prospect by doing the little things well.

Declining: Falling almost faster even than Redmond is Virginia Tech underclass back Shyrone Stith, who definitely should have stayed in school another season. Stith is a tough little guy but, at less than 5-feet-8, he can't absorb punishment and is pretty much limited to situational duty. That might even be a stretch, because he doesn't catch the ball well at all. An even bigger problem is he doesn't run well, having been clocked in the mid to high 4.6s.

Intriguing: Savannah State tailback Troy Hambrick is the younger brother of Dallas linebacker Darren Hambrick and is a transfer from South Carolina. He has experienced some off-field and academic problems and those might be taken into consideration. Despite all that, and his lack of big-play ability, Hambrick is a physical runner who attacks defenders and plays with heart. Plus, at 237 pounds, he's too stacked to overlook.

Sleepers: Lloyd Clemons of Michigan State and Chrys Chukwuma from Arkansas don't jump off the tape, but they do enough things well to merit consideration as second-day picks. Clemons had a 5.0-yard average as a senior in spot duty, runs in the mid-4.5s, and catches the ball really well. Chukwuma has never been a full-time starter but demonstrates burst and willingness and might be a player who projects well to short-yardage and goal-line duty.

Specialists: Given the middle- and low-round backs who have come out of Georgia in the past five years (Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary), a player worth a look is Patrick Pass. While he never lived up to his press clippings, Pass has given up baseball this spring to rededicate himself to a career in the NFL, and he is a superb receiver and kickoff return man. He needs to show toughness, however, to scouts skeptical of his unaggressive style. Kentucky tailback Anthony White caught 193 passes the last three years. He runs well after the catch and could be a solid third-down back in the NFL. In a draft bereft of true fullback prospects, 263-pound Deon Dyer of North Carolina is a solid lead-blocker and a player willing to line up on special teams.