Back in 2017, when Sean McVay first took over the Los Angeles Rams, the running backs getting the reps were big men. Todd Gurley and then CJ Anderson were backed up by Malcom Brown, all 225+ lb. In 2020, the trend towards smaller backs began and with few exceptions, carries on to this day.
Darrell Henderson started it and was quickly followed by Xavier Jones, Raymond Calais, and Mekhi Sargent. In the Super Bowl winning 2021 season, L.A. did step up with Sony Michel (lasted only that season) at 215 lb. and was soon followed in 2022 by Cam Akers at 217. Kyren Williams was also added in that draft and quickly supplanted Akers. Since then only 238 lb. Royce Freeman has broken the 210 lb. barrier amongst the likes of Ronnie Rivers, Zach Evans, Blake Corum, and Cody Schrader.
Maybe it’s time for McVay and the Rams to consider returning to a big bruiser at running back. The 2025 NFL Draft offers these nine prospects, all over 225 lb. and up and down the draft board. All were invited to the NFL Combine.
Kaleb Johnson – Iowa – 6’ 225 lb.
Only 21 after three college seasons. Played in 34 games with 22 starts and totaled 3400+ all-purpose yards between rushing, receiving, and kickoff returns. In 2024, Iowa had a below par passing attack and stopping Johnson meant shutting down the Hawkeye offense. He still ran for 1537 yards.
Patiently presses the line of scrimmage and then has the vision, quick feet, and burst to hit the hole. Gliding runner who gets up to speed very quickly and reads blocks well in space. Not a pure power runner, more of a sneaky power. He’s shiftier, gets behind his pads, and keeps his feet churning. His contact balance lets him slide/bounce off tacklers rather than road grade over them. Has build up speed in the open field, was timed at 21.2 mph last season. Didn’t run a myriad of pass routes, mostly screens, swings and check downs. Like so many college backs, he needs work on throwing punches rather than shoulders in pass blocking.
Played in similar run scheme as the Rams use, lots of mid/inside zone and it suits his style. I grade him as a mid/late Round 2 prospect. In 2024, Johnson had 21 20+yard runs, six at 40+, and nine touchdown runs of 25+ yards. It will be interesting to see if his explosive runs can translate to the NFL game.
Ollie Gordon – Oklahoma State – 6’ 1” 233 lb.
Had a 2023 season to remember, unanimous All-American and winner of Doak Walker Award as college football’s top running back. The true sophomore totaled 1732 yards on 285 totes and 39 catches for 380 yards to go along with 22 scores. His numbers dropped in 2024 to 880 yards rushing and 179 receiving. He battled a nagging leg injury during the middle of the season and the Cowboys offensive line struggled through a rebuild.
Powerful linear runner with patience to follow blocks, vision to anticipate/locate holes and the burst to get through them. More of a one-speed back who doesn’t make sharp changes of direction. Very tough to bring down when he gets up a head of steam. Adequate blocker who chops and chips well, but too often throws a shoulder instead of punching with his arms. Good hands catcher and tracks the ball well on wheel routes, but not a nifty runner to navigate traffic, needs a little space to get going.
Gordon was a four-star recruit out of high school and will be 21 years-old as a rookie. I grade him as a late Round 4 prospect. His best time was 19.40 mph at the Senior Bowl, where he had a good week and showed his potential as a dual threat, running and receiving.
Raheim Sanders – South Carolina – 6’ 225 lb.
The biggest takeaway from Sanders is his heart, he has really shown a stellar work effort to come back from major injury. His stock was soaring after his first two seasons at Arkansas, but a knee injury shut his 2023 year down early. After coming back from that, he experienced a significant shoulder injury, one that took complex bone graft and muscle/tendon transfer to repair. In 2024, he battled ankle woes.
Man-sized frame, reports vary on his weight from 225 to 240 lbs. Better fit I think, to an outside zone run scheme. His play style is versatile, equal parts power and speed. He needs a little space to get started, but he has the vision to find holes, put his foot down and go north-south. He is capable of big plays, but too often likes to bounce it outside and I’m not sure this will play in the NFL. While he still lives up to the “Rocket” nickname and was timed at 21.3 mph last year, his lateral quickness likely won’t let him constantly get around the dege.
Still only 23 and over a year past the most severe injury, where do we project Sanders? When healthy he’s shown success and big play ability at the SEC level. Before understanding the breadth of his injury, I rated him an early/mid Round 5 pick. But obviously, injury problems in each of the last three seasons, particularly the shoulder issue, has to be of major concern.
Tahj Brooks – Texas Tech – 5’ 9” 229 lb.
Experienced (56 games with and productive Big12 running back. Part of a rotation for his first three season before breaking out for 2855 yards and 24 touchdowns in his final two. Inked his name towards the top of Texas Tech and Big12 record books.
Blocky build with a stout lower half, low center of gravity, and good contact balance. Not a true downhill power runner Brooks has very quick feet and good stop/start ability. Uses jump cuts and plus lateral agility to dodge breakthrough tacklers. His quick movements create difficult tackling angles and arm tackles are shrugged off. Quicker than fast, but has the short area burst to bounce it outside. Long speed is average, ran 18.29 mph at the Shrine Bowl. Very good ball security. Strong blocker with a good wide stance and uses his hands/arms well. Catches with soft hands away from his body, but mostly targeted on swings and check downs.
Had a strong workout week at the Shrine Bowl, where he impressed with his explosive quickness, blocking and receiving. I grade him as a mid/late Round 5 prospect, but will be watching closely to how he tests at the Combine.
Damien Martinez – Miami – 5’ 11” 226 lb.
Another 21 year-old true junior. Consistent producer from the PAC12 to the ACC, averaged over 1000 yards per season and over 6.0 yards per carry on both coasts. Scored 25 times. Reportedly had only two fumbles over his college career.
Other than his stellar natural power, what stands out is his patience to press the line of scrimmage, find the hole and then use his lateral agility to reach that hole, which may be three gaps down. From there, he puts that foot down and explodes downhill behind his pads. Very good traits for a run scheme like the Rams use. Once to the second level, he shows some shiftiness, but power is really where he wins. I read other reviews that say his long speed is only average, but 17.8% of all his runs have went for 10+yards. In high school, he timed a 11.37 100 meters and recorded 21.2 mph at the Senior Bowl.
Originally I had him graded as later round pick, but the more film I watch, the higher I raise him. He could easily rise into Round 3. Since the season’s end he’e been working at a running back training facility and it showed at the Senior Bowl, where consensus reports were that he upgraded his pass blocking technique and receiving skills.
JaQuinden Jackson – Arkansas – 6’2 225 lb.
Interesting prospect, with a versatile background. Four-star quarterback recruit signed with Texas and didn’t play. Transferred to Utah and over three seasons, transitioned from QB, to RB/ST before settling in as the feature back in 2023. Transferred again, to an Arkansas program that was very QB-centric in its rush attack and contributed 790 yards on the ground and 15 touchdowns.
Still very young in his running back career. Jackson’s a bit of a tweener, not a true power back although strong enough to break arm tackles, nor quick enough and lacking the long speed to be playmaking threat. He does have quick feet and good vision, the read option run game does not show off his traits like a more downhill scheme would. Didn’t offer a lot in the passing game, but he appears athletic enough to be trained. Not much pass blocking at Arkansas, but he has the requisite size and physical demeanor.
I have Jackson on the cusp of a draftable grade. His film from Utah is so much more loose and explosive. I don’t know if it’s added weight or the beatdown of SEC football. He does offer some traits that could be developed, but it might come down to his special teams prowess as to whether he can make a 53 or not. There are just so many mid-pack running backs this year that I stand above him.
Kalel Mullings – Michigan – 6’ 2” 232 lb.
One year production wonder. Four-star recruit at linebacker in 2020, didn’t line up as a running back until 2022. Logged 1201 yards on 235 carries with 16 touchdowns over 28 games and four starts at running back. Added only eight catches for 67 yards through the air.
North-South runner with aggressive play style. You have to get pads on Mullings to break his stride, if not, he keeps his legs churning to chop through arm tackles. Has the vision to find holes at the point of attack and downhill burst to get through them. Appears on film to have decent long speed. Struggles when forced to turn laterally and loses momentum. He’s a downhill bruiser, not an open-field runner. Has the size and demeanor to block in the NFL, but doesn’t add much as a receiver.
Physical specimen that runs like you would an ex-linebacker to, through defenders, not around them. Does have the added value of a special teams player. His ceiling is that of short yardage runner and special teamer. I rate him a late Round 7 prospect. He’s big and fairly athletic, but will still need much development and polish for the pro game, particularly as receiver.
Phil Mafah – Clemson – 6’ 238 lb.
Productive power back who showed his toughness in 2024 by playing through a preseason shoulder injury that would require surgery after the season. He racked up 1115 yards and eight scores. Over four season’s, he amassed 2889 yards rushing and another 309 receiving with 28 touchdowns.
Adequate burst and good build up speed, was timed at 20.6 mph in his final season. If the hole is there, even a sliver, Mafah will hit it hard and can be a handful to tackle when he gets to the second level. He has a high-cut build and isn’t really a “push the pile” power back, he needs a bit of space, more akin to the way an edge rusher turns speed to power. Appears to have good hands, but was used almost exclusively in the flats as a check down option. Not as good a blocker as you would expect from a player of his size and physical play style.
Big, powerful runner suited as part of a committee who specializes in short-yardage and wearing down the opposition. Doesn’t appear to offer much value out of the backfield as a receiver. I have Mafah on the edge of being draft worthy, late Round 7. Other draft projections have him going as early as Day 2 (Rounds 2 and 3).
Anthony Tyus – Ohio – 6’ 226 lb.
After three season’s at Northwestern, Tyus transferred to Ohio for more playing time and parlayed the move into a productive season, MAC Championship, and Bowl berth. As a senior, he charted 1215 yards rushing and caught 16 passes for another 137, accounting for 11 scores.
Athletic, one-cut runner with well put together frame. Runs with a higher style, will need to improve on getting behind his pads at the pro level. Good feet for change of direction. When he puts his foot down and squares up, he can be a powerful downhill runner. Appears to have adequate burst through holes and good long speed to break it outside when the middle is jammed up. Physical blocker who bangs into defenders and although he didn’t get a lot of work catching the ball, catches away from his body and tracks well.
While I don’t have a draftable grade on Tyus, he’s a big, fast prospect with plenty of tread on his tires. In the right offense, his combination of football IQ, athleticism, and physicality could be put to use. Whether or not he can perform on special teams might make the difference,
What about a bruiser for the Rams change of pace back?
The Rams already have three small backs under contract, both with very similar traits. It’s true that Williams, Corum, and Schrader all run tough and have shown a nose for the end zone. But thinking logically, a big, powerful back would be an upgrade in short yardage and near the goal line. No need for motion and subterfuge, put a hat on a hat and drive block in front of a bursty bruiser. That may seem like an oversimplification, but it’s not, it’s a football tried and true proposition.
Do you think any of these prospects could add value to the Rams run game?
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