He threw for 3,342 yards (ninth in the country) and 22 touchdowns while earning the Missouri Valleys Player of the Year award. 5 William & Mary at No. Look for Miller to again be one of the countrys best tight ends this season. Before the 2022 high school football season began, we featured 20 running backs expected to be the best of the best in the nation. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound speedster finished the season with over 2,000 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns as South Paulding fell to Gainesville in Round 2 of the playoffs. Ty Son Lawton, Stony Brook 12. Tanner Mordecai had 228 yards on 22-of-30 passing (73.3%) for the Mustangs in that matchup against the Tigers, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. FCS No. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound athlete who also excels at cornerback is still considering his college options. That was certainly true in this year's NFL Draft, when the first running back wasn't chosen until the second day. But this year's crop of backs could make the NFL think again, with a good group of talented ball carriers coming up in the college ranks for the 2022 season. Speaking of accomplishments McLaughlin is dangerously close to becoming the all-division rushing leader in NCAA history. 4 overall small school pro prospect. Now entering his second season with the Bears, he is expected to carry the brunt of the workload on the ground again and, if he stays healthy, could top all of last years marks. These 20, however, are our picks as the best to suit up in the subdivision this year. With the postseason done in some states and nearing completion in many others, we're highlighting some of the top-performing running backs in the nation throughout the season. The 5-foot-10, 205-pounder has rushed for at least 100 yards in all but one game this season (and that one was 10 carries for 90 yards and a TD). Montana States senior running back has practically rewritten the programs record books with his physical, up-the-gut style. Jack Borowsky Jun 28, 2022 6:00 AM EDT This past draft class was a historic one for the FCS level. He guided the Tigers to their first SWAC title since 2007 and their first ever Celebration Bowl appearance behind 3,231 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. Dowdell is approaching 2,000 yards this season and has 23 touchdowns on the ground as he tries to lead Picayune to its second straight state championship in his final high school football season. Ulonzo Gilliam, UC Davis 10. Missouri State is a sneaky pick to make a deep run in 2022 and their star QB is why. @UmbaProductions pic.twitter.com/yMppoqdm8N. Usually, its ill-advised to run trick plays with that little yardage between you and the first down. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) Our analysts have Chubb as the He also added eight carries for 30 yards. FCS: Top 25 Returning Running Backs/Fullbacks In 2022 Share 2 posts GoMocs 28K 4,489 45 8:02 AM - Jun 24 #1 14. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Being the son of Jackson State head coach and former NFL great Deion Sanders comes with its fair share of pressure and Shedeur certainly handled said pressure well during his first collegiate season. No thanks. The Jacks will boast one of the most high powered offenses this season and their big, bruising tight end is one of the main pieces of it. I cannot wait to see what his numbers are in 2022. Jacob Saylors, ETSU 8. During the teams game with top-ranked South Dakota State, the Crusaders executed a running back pop pass for a touchdown. Wilcox keeps piling up Power 5 offers during his dominant senior season. The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder made explosive play after explosive play, totaling 74 catches for 14 TDs and an FCS-leading 1,367 yards. Recruiting season remains in full swing, and Kentucky is in the mix for yet-another touted running back prospect. Cory Woodroof. Mark Evans II, OT - Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Richmond is adding some offensive firepower to complement its strong defense. Tucker Kraft, TE - South Dakota State. He was an All-American in each of the last two seasons for the Paladins and was a member of the SoCons First-Team All-Conference squad in 2021. Watch Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins best plays from 120-yard game vs. Pittsburgh Steelers during Week 14 of the 2022 NFL season. Joe DeLeone and Sean Anderson highlight the top running backs for 2022 in FCS Football. Last time out, the Cougars were defeated by the Washington Huskies 51-33. The Cats have zero commits at the position in the '23 class as of Dec. 9. Battling the Cats for the 5-foot-11, 209-pounder is West Virginia, Kansas State, Louisville, Tulane, East Carolina and Michigan State. He has 2,238 yards rushing with 31 touchdowns on 10.3 yards per carry as Malvern's playoff run continues. He had a 481-yard, five-touchdown game in an October win over Rains. A former tight end turned offensive lineman, Mauch has fantastic speed and slide around in the trenches. Ifanse's 3,461 career rushing yards are the most of any returning running back and he rushed for 1,623 yards the second-most in the FCS last year. More impressively, Ifanse showed he can carry a heavy workload averaging 115.9 yards per game on 280 carries. He completed 265 of his 420 passes last fall and currently holds a career completion percentage of 64%. Jason Shelley guided the Bears to the playoffs last year behind 3,789 yards of total offense, the most of any returning quarterback in the subdivision. 2. Marcus Knight, Montana 9. Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects. Ifanse has been a top RB in the FCS for years with numerous postseason accolades and records to his name. Ranking him in the top five might not be a popular pick, but what do I care? At 61" 220 pounds, Hall has great size for the position, combined with above average athleticism. Holly has put together his third straight 2,000-yard season on his way to becoming the career leading rusher in Louisiana high school football history. Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb didn't quite live up to his lofty fantasy projection in Week 13. In 2022, he enters his senior season as the third-best running back in the FCS. A tremendous accomplishment for the 5-foot-9 speedster from North Carolina. We rank them in this summer position breakdown series. Zach Evans. This 5-foot-10, 202-pound machine is just a few games away from becoming the all-time leading rusher in Montana State history. Photo via Bishops Twitter/@D_Bishop2004. Sign up for the For The Win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. He ran for 1,347 yards and nine touchdowns last year including a monster 228-yard game against Merrimack. The Oregon commit has not one but two 98-yard touchdown runs this season. National Signing Day is set for Feb. 1. Shepherd can throw the ball as well, passing for 1,341 yards and 15 more touchdowns. Davis was superb in the FCS Playoffs as he ran all over UC Davis, Sacramento State, and Villanova. December 10, 2022 2:33 pm ET. Visit ESPN to view College Football stat leaders for the current and previous seasons He was the runner-up for the Jerry Rice Award last year, the award given to the top freshman at the FCS level. He fits the mold perfectly of what NDSU likes on their line; a big mauler that can easily put defenders in their place. Hunter It makes him an absolute joy to watch. Knox had six 400-yard rushing games this season, breakinga national high school record previously held by Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry. Ole Miss ranked in the top 10 of total offense in college football a year ago, but lost a ton of 1. So now youre starting to see what this kid can do and what a monster hell be with even more touches and having developed into a better player with more speed, power, and so much else. The 66, 295-lbs tackle earned the Missouri Valleys Offensive Lineman of the Week accolades three times last year and helped SDSU to several impressive wins. UCAs Darius Hale is a do-it-all running back. At Southern Arkansas, he bowled over offensive linemen en route to 19.5 TFLs and eight sacks. Jakob Herres, Richmond (transfer from VMI). The big-time playmaker will need to create some more massive runs to become the all-time leader, but Im betting on this kid to do it. If he can put together another productive season then that draft buzz will pick up greatly. He has touchdown receptions of 58, 73 and 87 yards on his resume. He even nearly had a 1,000-yard season as an eighth-grader. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder led the FCS with 15 receiving TDs, was third with 87 receptions, and finished eighth in receiving yards (1,145). Kentucky recently made the final four for another 3-star RB in Jamarion Wilcox. Hes a threat out of the backfield whether it be in the running game or the passing game. The 66, 266-lbs tight end looks to play a vital role in North Dakota States bruising offensive scheme and build on a season in which he saw career bests in receptions (17) and receiving yards (193). #ExperienceElevated pic.twitter.com/Tr6Lo5vRmS. He averages nearly 18 yards per catch and led the entire WAC/ASUN last fall with 125.2 yards per game. Here are 20 running backs who stood out on a national level this season, Ethen Knox racking up the rush yards for Oil City football. The bowl matchup is December 17, 2022, starting at 7:30 PM ET, airing on ABC.The Mustangs played the Memphis Tigers in their most recent game, winning 34-31. Raphael had his ninth 100-yard game of the season Friday to help Naples keep its state championship hopes alive. 13. College football is a whole lot more than just the FBS. With last years national leading rusher Strong now gone, it will be Davis show on the ground and the junior could be in for his best season thus far. All of that earned him the coveted Jerry Rice Award, given annually to the FCS best freshman player. He led all running backs in PPR points per game (23.4) through those eight weeks. Up the middle goes @IsaiahIfanse to give @MSUBobcats_FB the 23-13 lead over EWU! The Fresno State Bulldogs and the Washington State Cougars meet for the LA Bowl on December 17, 2022, with kickoff at 3:30 PM ET, airing on ABC.The Bulldogs head into the matchup after winning 28-16 over the Boise State Broncos in their last outing on December 3. Cody Mauch looks to continue a tradition of NDSU big boys making the jump to the NFL. After an 1,800-yard, 26-touchdown regular season on the ground, Brunell kept rolling in the playoffs, leading is team to an undefeated season and a state championship. #SCTop10 #AxeEm#RaiseTheAxe pic.twitter.com/qGvpQxoHyb. Raphael comprises half of one of the most dynamic running back tandems in the country along with Isaiah Augustave. Shepherd commands one of the nations few surviving true triple option attacks and he does so to near perfection. At number five, we have a machine a touchdown machine named Darius Hale. Janke will be a major contributor on the Jacks offense again this year and is a mere nine yards away from eclipsing the 2,000 yard career receiving mark. Nic Baker was listed as sophomore in 2021 (thanks in part to the Covid season) but he showed the resolve of an upperclassman, starting in all 13 of SIUs games and leading the team to an 8-5 record and a trip to the playoffs. 9. Cornist officially visited Lexington on Nov. 11, just 10 days after was offered. Gipsons 3,142 career receiving yards are the most of any returning FCS player this season as are his 30 receiving touchdowns. It wasnt long ago that Jaleel McLaughlin was tearing up defenses in Division II at Notre Dame College. Joe DeLeone and Sean Anderson highlight the top running backs for 2022 in FCS Football. He received a slew of national and conference honors for his efforts in 2021 and, if last season was any indication, Kraft will likely be the FCS best tight end again this time around. Cornist is set to announce his commitment on Dec. 21, the first day of early signing period. FCS playoff-record 129 points scored in UIW-Sacramento State shootout. 2022 will be David Walkers first at the FCS level, having dominated the D2 stage last season. Top 15 running backs Former NFL rushing leader and NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew will survey all running backs and rank his top 15 each week of the 2022 The Wildcats are expected to be a top-contender for the talented Ohio running back. Gipson earned numerous All-American honors and will get plenty more this preseason. Oh, and he created touchdown runs of 86 and 90 in those contests. Hale has sick speed and very quick moving legs that help him accelerate at a high level. Holly will be playing for LSU next season. Hunter Luepke, FB - North Dakota State. The 2022 FCS season draws ever closer and this year, as per usual, looks to feature some very dynamic offensive players. The Janke brothers are a sight to behold for South Dakota States offense but Jaxon is the main catalyst on the outside. I love his movement and stellar strength as well. Pierre Strong Jr. stole much of the spotlight for the Here are our national SBLive Sports 2022 all-stars at running back. 1. 5. College football's transfer portal for the 2022-23 season opens on Dec. 5 for players to officially enter and explore their options for the upcoming year. Knoxville running back DeSean Bishop is back on the market after de-committing from Coastal Carolina Tuesday night. His 2022 ADP hits inside the top-20 RBs. He put together big numbers against tough competition despite giving up some carries to sophomore star Anthony League. 7. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder can only be described as a vicious tank with unlimited fuel. The Golden Lions saw two players eclipse the 500-yard rushing mark last season and Evans on the line was a big reason why. He aided greatly in SDSUs run to the national semifinals. Missouri State has improved its roster talent with some help from transfers as it has quickly gone from an MVFC afterthought to a playoff contender. Im expecting Kevin Daniels to blow up in 2022. Alex Ramsey (FB), The Citadel 11. NFL running back rankings 2022. How About This: A win at James Madison in October improved Villanovas all-time record against top-five opponents to 18-13 (.581). Its going to be crazy. Ranking the top 10 quarterbacks in 2022 NFL Draft. Janke played in and made at least one reception in all 15 of the teams games, hauling in five touchdowns. Gindorff has 38 career receptions for 448 yards and 11 touchdowns. 11. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder caught 66 passes for 1,110 yards and eight TDs. Henderson had 184 carries for 1,729 yards and 23 touchdowns entering Los Alamitos' semifinal game against Mater Dei, which he was limited in because of injuries. My favorite CFB moment was witnessing UCLA comeback from 34 down against Texas A&M. Pierre Strong Jr. stole much of the spotlight for the Jackrabbits in 2021 but his teammate Isaiah Davis made just as much of an impact. He has the most yards of any returning running back and finished second in the country last year in that category. Williams missed Hannibal's quarterfinal loss Saturday because of an injury. Hes played in 38 contests over five seasons and has helped paved the way for a Chattanooga rushing attack that averaged over 200 yards per game in 2021. Luepke was monumental in the Bisons championship run last year, scoring three touchdowns in the dominating title game win and earning the championships Most Outstanding Player. Herres is a matchup nightmare at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, and he earned several All-SoCon and All-American honors at VMI. This is a guy who ran for 229 yards on 19 carries vs. Southern Utah and another 280 yards on 28 carries vs. Cal Poly. The NFL draft experts have already taken notice of a few and several others look to make a name for themselves this fall. Sanders had nine games in which he threw for multiple scores and three in which he threw for over 300 yards. In his two years with UC Davis hes caught 39 passes for 581 yards and seven touchdowns, becoming a mainstay on the offense. The Top 5. Darius Hale has a bright future ahead of him, and its perplexing to me that hes not in the FBS. Dupree followed up an impressive sophomore year (1,607 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 7.0 yards per carry) with an even bigger junior year. Youre going to witness another phenomenal season from a South Dakota State back. Herres is a matchup nightmare at That to me was interesting, especially after seeing he had some notable offers including Houston, his first offer. Some think SFAs Xavier Gipson could be the first receiver since Cooper Kupp to take home the Walter Payton Award and its not a stretch to say when you look at his numbers. The Cougars' most recent outing ended in a 35-26 win over the Stanford Cardinal. (Be sure to check out our Top 20 defensive players in the FCS rankings here). Ifanse will often make defenses look silly by side-stepping them and proving to be too slippery to tackle. This year hell look to be the leader up front for what shapes up to be one of the countrys best units again. Then in 10 games in the fall of 2020, he recorded 52 more receptions for 841 yards and nine TDs, earning HERO Sports Sophomore All-American honors. The haters will be the same ones talking up Daniels elite play all season long once they see him dominate. The 5-foot-11 back from Central Arkansas scored on the ground 17 times as a true freshman. He recorded 72 catches for 1,165 yards (7th in the FCS) and five TDs, earning All-MVFC Second Team honors. The 40-year-old former running back originally from Rockland County played at Notre Dame and signed with the Giants, but never played for them after an off-season injury. 2023 NFL Draft Top Prospects First Look: Quarterbacks 1 CJ Stroud, Ohio State 6-3, 218 2 Bryce Young, Alabama 6-0, 194 3 DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson 6-4, 250 4 Cameron Ward, Washington State 6-2, 223 5 Kedon Slovis, Pitt 6-3, 205 6 Phil Jurkovec, Boston College 6-5, 214 7 Brennan Armstrong, Virginia 6-2, 212 8 Tyler Van Dyke, Miami 6-4, 224 Sheesh! I have written about CFB since I was 14 and my favorite thing to do is give under-the-radar athletes the recognition they deserve. Jul 6, 2022 Its never too early to look at rankings ahead of the 2022 fantasy football season. I am a diehard UCLA fan that has enjoyed (?) The Mocs tied a program record last season with just nine sacks allowed and you can bet Curtis was a major player in that feat. He puts on a show every single week, so make sure you tune into watch this Penguin thrive. He displays excellent vision as well. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder is one of seven finalists for South Carolina Mr. Football, and he's still uncommitted for college. The 5-foot-11 Western Michigan commit scored the lone touchdown to send undefeated Wyoming there on a 59-yard scamper. Top Five Running Backs in the FCS July 26, 2022 Liam Blutman College football is a whole lot more than just the FBS. Its more than the Alabamas and the Georgias of the world. Last season was when Gipson stepped into being a top-tier FCS wide receiver. Through nine games as a junior, he ran for 1,362 yards and 27 scores and grabbed 33 passes for 424 yards and seven scores. If he stays healthy this year, he shapes up to be the best FCS running back in the nation. Tune in for takes on North Dakota States Hunter Luepke, Montana Statess Isaiah Ifanse, South Dakota States Isaiah Davis, Sacred Hearts Malik Grant, Northern Arizonas Kevin Daniels, Central Arkansass Darius Hale, SEMOs Geno Hess, Youngstown States Jahleel McGlaughlin, Missouri States Otis Weah, and Montanas Marcus Knight. He was a key part of the Jacks postseason run, and he looks to carry that momentum into 2022 where hell be the undisputed workhorse back. While Walker is a worthy challenger, Breece Hall currently sits atop the 2022 NFL Draft running back class. If he stays healthy in 2022, he will most likely be a key player for UA Pine-Bluff yet again. David Montgomery For three seasons in Chicago Montgomery has been a workhorse. It looks impossible to tackle Davis as he carefully navigates his way through tacklers with precisely placed steps, insane balance, and an explosive burst paired with that nasty toughness and killer stiff-arm. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 18. Scott was named to the All-MVFC First Team and earned HERO Sports Sophomore All-American honors. The Wildcats are certainly in the market for running backs, as Chris Rodriguez is preparing to enter the NFL Draft, while Kavosiey Smoke and Mike Drennen II are entering the transfer portal. Additionally, Hall sprinted to a 4.39 40 time at 511 and 217 pounds and posted an astounding 40 vertical. Kevin Daniels is a straight up mad man. 7. Ailym Ford, Chattanooga 7. The 2022 FCS championship semifinals are here, and four teams remain in the fight to lift this year's trophy. He rushed for 17 touchdowns last season and recorded two 100-plus yard games including a monster 253-yard performance against Lamar in Week 8. Breece Hall, Iowa State Breece Hall is likely the most complete running back in the class, totaling over 3000 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Jaleel McLaughlin is like a magician; one second hes there in the backfield, and the next hes pointing up to the sky in the end zone. DeMorat tied a Fordham school record when he tossed six touchdowns in the Rams victory over Bucknell. Tune in for takes on North Dakota State's Hunter Luepke, Montana States's Isaiah Ifanse is the best running back in the FCS, plain and simple. Top Running Backs for FCS Football in 2022 | FCS Football Podcast - YouTube Joe DeLeone and Sean Anderson highlight the top running backs for 2022 in FCS Football. He has since taken an OV to ECU and will be in East Lansing this weekend, visiting Michigan State. He has next-level talent, and Josh Buchanan ranks him the No. Shepherd is perhaps the FCS most well-rounded offensive player. 8,074, a mark set by Nate Kmic of Mount Union about 11 years ago. 98. Of course, highest fantasy floor running back is like being the tallest little person. Nolan Henderson | Delaware; Tommy Mellott | Montana State; Trae Self | Stephen F. Austin; Carson 20. Ifanses 3,461 career rushing yards are second most in school history and his 1,623 rushing yards last year set a single-season record for the Bobcats. 4 Montana State Preview. In total hes played in 35 contests. 72 RB in the 2023 class by 247Sports Composite, Cornist was the Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,629 yards on 181 carries with 27 touchdowns for Winton Woods. However, Holy Cross drew up the perfect formation, and the gamble paid off big time. He averaged over 14 yards per reception in 2021 and earned All-Big Sky Second-Team honors. I think hes a heck of a lot more than just a touchdown machine. Isaiah Davis, RB - South Dakota State. The 6-foot-1 back first caught my eye in last years opener at Colorado State where he displayed a big time stiff-arm and JUICE. Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) September 4, 2022 : Here are the most exciting HBCU players, right now, after the 1st month Edge rusher John Pius, William https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/12/holy-cross-crusaders-running-back-pop-pass-trick-play-touchdown-fcs-quarterfinals-south-dakota-state, FCS quarterfinals continued to provide on Saturday, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Jonathan Taylor, Colts (5-10, 226 pounds) Taylor has parlayed his prolific play at Wisconsin into the complete durable package in the Hes got such an intriguing blend of power and agility. In this summer series, well take the Top 25 approach and rank the best returning players at every position. Rated as the No. After rushing for 288 yards and five touchdownsFriday in a quarterfinal win, the Buffalo commit has 3,228 yards and 51 touchdowns this season. Hes one of the most talented players in the FCS. Hester has 46 touchdown runs and is just 33 yards short of a 3,000-yard season heading into the state semifinals this weekend. 198 carries for 1,015 rush yards and those 17 touchdowns on the ground is an incredible base to work off of. Mauch was part of the offensive line that wore down Montana State in last years FCS championship and helped bring another title home for the Bison. Of the returning QBs this season, Baker is behind only Missouri States Jason Shelley in total passing yards from a year ago. The undefeated Crusaders certainly didnt get to where they are this season playing it safe all of the time. Udinski was a three-year starter at VMI from 2018 to the spring season, setting multiple school passing records. Isaiah Davis, RB - South Dakota State. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds with good hands and agility after the catch, Janke has emerged as a top NFL prospect in the FCS. Baker set a program record for passing yards in a single season with 3,231 and had the second most touchdown throws for the Salukis in a season with 27. Byars has been a wrecking ball this season, approaching 2,500 yards and 40 touchdowns on the ground as undefeated Lake Creek barrels toward the state championship game. The Boise State Broncos and the North Texas Mean Green will play in the Frisco Bowl on December 17, 2022, with kickoff at 9:15 PM ET, airing on ESPN.The Broncos were defeated by the Fresno State Bulldogs 28-16 in their most recent outing. A Weekend in Oxford: A Razorbacks Fans Experience for Arkansas vs Ole Miss at The Grove, 2022 Colt Brennan Trophy Preseason Watch List, Mapping Out Your College Football Weekend: Conference Championship Edition, The Transfer Portal CFB Names 2022 Colt Brennan Award Finalists, Sun Belt Summary: 2022 East Division Wrap-Up, Best of the Month in the 2022 College Football Season November, Sun Belt Summary: 2022 West Division Wrap-Up. One of the best offensive lineman in the country is undoubtedly Mark Evans II out of Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Oh, and his stellar 2021 in which he scampered for 1,623 rush yards on 280 carries was good enough for a record as well the most rushing yards in a single season at Montana State. Holy Cross should keep this trick play in its back pocket for next season. 10. Holy smokes, what a season for the five-star prospect Henderson, who was piling up Division I offers even before he put on a statistical show this season. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) Here is your running back HERO Sports is the go-to website for FBS and FCS football news, analysis, and predictions. Sanders was just getting warmed up last season and is set to make a bigger splash in 2022. Gambling problem? Luepkes senior run with North Dakota State shapes up to be his most successful yet. 10. He led the Jacks in receiving last year with 1,176 yards, averaging over 16 yards per catch. He toted the ball 240 times last year (20 per contest) and theres no reason to expect anything different this year. The FCS and Central Arkansas have a terrific back with exciting potential. He caught 52 passes for 934 yards and seven TDs as a HERO Sports Freshman All-American. Josh Buchanan ranks him the No. Knox also scored 41 rushing touchdowns and had six interceptions on defense. Krafts size and strength make him one of the best tight ends in the country and his durability is second to none, playing in all 15 of the Jacks games last year. A recent flip from UCLA to Georgia, Robinson is just shy of 2,000 yards rushing this season, including one of the biggest games in the country with 476 yards and eight touchdowns in a September win over Mater Dei Catholic. Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama, 6-2, 225 pounds. Jake Haener had 184 yards on 17-of-27 passing (63.0%) for the Bulldogs in that matchup against the Broncos, with one touchdown and no interceptions. UIW had one of the best FCS offenses last season. Grimes earned multiple All-American accolades, including HERO Sports (Second Team), Stats Perform (Second Team), and the Associated Press (Second Team). 1. He went over 3,000 yards for the season and finished with 35 rushing touchdowns after an overtime loss Friday in the state semifinals. Sperling finished the 2021 season with 2,934 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns, and he's already surpassed those totals as a senior. In this summer series, well take the Top 25 approach and rank the best returning players at every position. Garret Greenfield anchors an SDSU offensive line that allows for such prolific results. Despite receiving an invite to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl last year, Noah Gindorff opted to return to the NDSU for another run this year after suffering an injury in the playoffs last winter and thats excellent news for the Bison. A very productive season when you consider his battle with injury and the fact he was behind Strong on the depth chart. Tune in for takes on North Dakota State's Hunter Luepke, Montana States's Isaiah Ifanse, South Dakota State's Isaiah Davis, Sacred Heart's Malik Grant, Northern Arizona's Kevin Daniels, Central Arkansas's Darius Hale, SEMO's Geno Hess, Youngstown State's Jahleel McGlaughlin, Missouri State's Otis Weah, and Montana's Marcus Knight, Joe DeLeone and Sean Anderson highlight the top running backs for 2022 in FCS Football. Isaiah Davis has proven himself as a legit threat with the ball in his hands, as evidenced by yards per carry marks of 8.5 and 7.4 in two seasons. Tyler Lavine totaled 64 rushing yards on 25 carries (2.6 yards per carry), scoring two touchdowns on the ground. Castles is a solid blocker in the ground game as well. The Williams might be one of the most decorated running backs in Missouri history before he's done. An All-MVC Honorable Mention last time out, he is primed for an even better 2022. He also had five tuddies in the Cal Poly game. The FCS quarterfinals continued to provide on Saturday with an amazing trick play on fourth down for Holy Cross. Furmans Ryan Miller has steadily been improving throughout his career and now is looking to peak in 2022. Hes no stranger to catching the ball either. But hey, I made sure to remember his name and maybe Id see his name again in a few years. Its more than the Alabamas and the Georgias of the Dowell fell just 156 yards short of the all-time single-season Tennessee rushing record held by Jalen Hurd, finishing with 3,201 rushing yards. He had 72 catches for 1,091 yards and eight TDs in 2019, 80 receptions for 978 yards and eight TDs in the spring (eight games), and 47 catches for 500 yards and five TDs last season (eight games). 2. Perhaps no player is more valuable to their team than NDSUs bullying fullback Hunter Luepke. He racked up 138 yards and 3 TDs on FOUR catches!That's 34.5 yards per catch. Here are the returning FCS quarterbacks who just missed the cut. Please watch this dude turn runs of three to four yards into massive gains that leave defenses crying and questioning how they got tasked with facing the FCS version of Derrick Henry. The Jackrabbits of South Dakota State will not miss a beat on the ground this season despite losing a star in Pierre Strong Jr. to the NFL. You might know me from @NoContextCFB ! A two-time recipient of the Pioneer Leagues Offensive Player of the Year, he had three games last fall in which he threw for at least four scores. I vividly remember seeing Hale, a three-star recruit and 247s 105th-ranked running back, signed to Central Arkansas. Isaiah Ifanse has been a bulldozer for the Bobcats since arriving in 2018. Last season Miller hit career bests in receptions (43), yards (749) and touchdowns (seven). Grimes was a major factor in that and proved to be hard to cover, both in his route-running and his abilities after the catch. He averaged 10.7 yards per carry and found the end zone 40 times in 12 games. Holy Cross running back Tyler Purdy took the handoff on 4th-and-1 and found a wide-open tight end in Sean Morris. Greenfield has experience at both right and left tackle (although his expertise lies on the right side), starting 14 games last year. Isaiah Ifanse, Montana State. For his 66, 233-lbs size, he has tremendous athleticism and is one of the more fluid movers at the position. One season later, though, Grant is one of the best returning running backs in the nation. Fordhams Tim DeMorat was one of the more unsung quarterbacks in 2021 and some forget that he was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. Davis, though, was instrumental in the playoffs for South Dakota State, notching a career mark of 217 rush yards and a score in the Jacks opening round win over UC Davis. Ifanse did all that while missing some games to injury as well. Hes handled over 20 touches per game over each of the last two seasons, giving him one of the highest floor fantasy options at running back. The SMU Mustangs and the BYU Cougars will meet for the New Mexico Bowl. Taylen Green threw for 175 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions on 17-of-38 passing (44.7%) for the Broncos in that matchup against the Bulldogs. Which 20 players, though, are the best? Jakob Herres, Richmond (transfer from VMI) Richmond is adding some offensive firepower to complement its strong defense. The Montana State legend does lethal damage on defenses with exquisite footwork, agile lateral moves, and toughness fueled by determination. College football's transfer portal for the 2022-23 season opens on Dec. 5 for players to officially enter and explore their options for the upcoming year. He finished unofficially leading the nation in rushing yards with 3,705. He ran for over 1,000 yards on 199 carries in 2021 but also caught 15 passes for over 100 yards. The Jackrabbits have one of the flashiest offenses in the game right now but its sometimes easy to forget where all those fireworks start. UK will have just two scholarship RBs JuTahn McClain and La'Vell Wright available in its upcoming Music City Bowl matchup against Iowa on Dec. 31. Davis rumbled for 701 yards and eight touchdowns, numbers that were actually down from his freshman season last spring as he was hampered by injuries. Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? He led Lincoln to a thrilling win Friday in theSan Diego Section Open Division championship game. If so, here are the top 25 RBs you'll want to monitor early in your 2022 fantasy football draft: 1. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (Bye Week: 14) Taylor was a fantasy owner's dream in 2021. The 23-year-old had a whopping 42 carries inside the 10-yard line. Joe DeLeone and Sean Anderson highlight the top running backs for 2022 in FCS Football. He immediately made the offense more explosive over the top. The Top 5. Herres is reuniting with former VMI quarterback Reece Udinski, who transferred to Maryland for the 2021 fall season and is now at Richmond. Through and through, hes the most dangerous receiver in the country right now. Last fall, he ran for over 800 yards and led the FCS in total rushing touchdowns (23) finishing ahead of dominating running backs like Pierre Strong and Quay Holmes in that category. Purdys 27-yard touchdown strike helped give the Crusaders the lead midway through the second quarter. Luepke has rushed for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns on his career but has also caught 24 passes for 5 scores through the air. Odds & lines subject to change. 6-0 / 210. UK is considered one of the frontrunners for the tailback. He helped guide the Pioneers to the playoffs last season and is looking for an even deeper run this time around. Xavier Shepherd is the countrys most dynamic signal caller and hes a perfect fit for what Kennesaw State wants to do: run the ball and run it a lot. Kevin Daniels rushed for 229 yards for @NAU_Football this past week, which was the most in #BigSkyFB this year#ExperienceElevated pic.twitter.com/bsLuTaLteh. Daniels turned 185 carries into 1,146 rush yards and seven touchdowns in 2021. 9 overall small school prospect. Castles is one of the few FCS tight ends already receiving some draft clout. Check it out here. Hansen and Roncalli missed out on a state championship, but he's already broken the school's career rushing record with 4,427 yards. What a run by Isaiah Davis! Holy Cross with the perfectly executed RB pop pass on 4th & 1 from the 27-yard line for a TD! Sacred Heart likes to use Grant often. Being at the Rose Bowl for that historic moment is something Ill never forget. Miller averaged 17.4 yards per catch last fall, second best among tight ends at the FCS level. He went 2. He owns the coveted collegiate production, having rushed for 1,400+ yards and 20+ touchdowns in each of the last two seasons. The Mean Green are coming off of a loss to the UTSA Roadrunners by the score of 48-27. Scott was a huge get in 2021, transferring in from Central Michigan. Smith is a bruising runner who's had some huge games this season en route to piling up 2,795 yards and 45 touchdowns this season. Garret Greenfield, OT - South Dakota State. Another year, another 2,500-yard-plus season for Brown, who rushed for2,757 yards and 38 touchdowns as a junior and is on his way to eclipsing at least that yardage mark this season. Predicting The Transfer Portal: Where Will They Go? Sports Illustrated also offers insight, information and up to the minute details for gamblers. Isaiah Ifanse is on his way to the NFL, and I cant wait to see what this FCS star does in his final season of college ball. https://thetransferportalcfb.com/author/liamblutman/, The Jackrabbits of South Dakota State will not miss a beat on the ground this season despite losing a star in, At number five, we have a machine a touchdown machine named, Creating Fun Hypothetical Offenses with the Transfer Portal, NoContextCFB's Memes of the Week - Week 14. Trey Cornist a 3-star RB out of Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati has released his top seven schools, including the Wildcats as a contender: Battling the Cats for the 5-foot-11, 209-pounder is West Virginia, Kansas State, Louisville, Tulane, East Carolina and Michigan State. Elijah Dotson, Northern Colorado (transfer from Sac State) 13. The only running back ahead of him was Pierre Strong Jr. with 18. Antonio Gibson is facing a major uphill battle for maximum upside that hes virtually hands-off in the first five rounds. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Some of this seasons offenses in the FCS shape up to be deadly. NDSU only allowed 17 sacks all last season and Mauch was part of the line that kept the QBs so upright. The Top 25s are coming in hot as the 2022 FCS season nears. While what happens on the field and how things finish at the end of the season is what really matters, preseason rankings give fans an idea of what teams and players they should keep an eye on. He recently decommitted from Iowaand has almost two dozen Power Five offers. CJ Turner, Southeastern Louisiana University, 5. The two have combined for over 2,500 rushing yards this season, but Raphael has just over 1,500 of them while averaging 13.7 yards per carry. Please check your email for a confirmation. UK is considered one of the frontrunners Oh well. Get unlimited access to our best features. Whats perhaps most impressive, however, is his ability to find the end zone on any given play. Hes currently playing at the tackle position but he has the versatility to shift over to center if need be. Tucker Kraft is a wrecking ball catching passes over the middle and had a breakout campaign last year, hauling in 65 passes for 780 yards and six touchdowns. Pendergrass just missed the 2,000-yard mark as a junior. Crews put up some eye-popping numbers in his senior season, racking up 1,938 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns while averaging 12.8 yards per carry. An in-depth look at the best prospects on the FCS level heading into the 2022 season. This kid is GOOD, and hes severely underrated at the FCS level. One of the most electrifying signal callers in the FCS last season was freshman phenom Shedeur Sanders. He goes 85 yards to the house to give the Jackrabbits a 4 point lead with 5:41 to play.SAM HOUSTON STATE 17SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 21 pic.twitter.com/95M8g48u8z. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Hes now coming into his final season with the hopes of another career year. The number to beat? Joe DeLeone and Sean Anderson highlight the top running backs for 2022 in FCS Football. Pendergrass has been unstoppable this season, as the 6-foot-3 Baylor commit has posted over 3,000 yards on the ground along with 37 touchdowns. Youll be seeing another Jackrabbit running back find his way into the NFL as well. 19 1 1. Best high school running backs in the nation at the end of 2022 football season Here are 20 running backs who stood out on a national level this season Mike Swanson Nov TheTop 25sare coming in hot as the 2022FCSseason nears. After what's been an up-and-down season, Jonathan Taylor could end up being a fantasy savior in the playoffs. (: @313clips) pic.twitter.com/HBXQWNuj9F, Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 10, 2022. If it aint broke, dont fix it. In the fall of 2021, McLaughlin totaled 1,139 rushing yards on 175 carries. 1 Again: South Dakota State Coach John Stiegelmeier is 2022 Eddie Robinson Award Recipient 17 hours ago Craig Haley FCS Idaho QB Gevani McCoy Selected as 2022 Jerry Rice Award Recipient as FCS Freshman Player of the Year 2 days ago Craig Haley FCS FCS Quarterfinal-Round Playoff Preview and Prediction: Samford at North Dakota State When he gets a head of steam, hes as tough as they come to bring down. He sits at 6,567 right now and shows no plans of slowing down. Despite battling an injury in 2021, he was able to rack up 701 rush yards and seven touchdowns on 95 carries. The FCS quarterfinals continued to provide on Saturday with an amazing trick play on fourth down for Holy Cross. Emmanuel Henderson Geneva County (Hartford, AL) Noah Gindorff, TE - North Dakota State. Ifanse is closing in on another historic mark as well: hell become the schools leader in most 100-yard games on the ground when he does it twice this season, putting him at 18 for his career. FCS Podcast: Season Preview, Realignment Talk, Transfer Portal Pros & Cons w/ Zach McKinnell, 2022 FCS Playoffs: Semifinals TV Schedule, 2022 FCS Playoffs: Quarterfinal Predictions, FCS Playoffs: No. Grant hauled in 10 passes for 130 yards and two scores in 2021 as well. Standing at 64 and weighing in at 295 lbs, Evans is a force to be reckoned with in the trenches. Also a Feldman Freak, Walker recorded a 4.82 40, 35 vertical jump, and a maximum bench of 485 pounds at 63 and 260 pounds. That adds up to 38 total scores, the most of any returning player this year. That experience will serve the Jacks extremely well as Greenfield enters his final season. Gipson has been an elite target since his freshman season in 2019. Nick Singleton Governor Mifflin (Reading, PA) RB. Darius Hale is LEGIT. The BIG night for Darius Hale continues as he takes it up the middle for 69 yards and a score for @UCA_Football #BearClawsUp | @darius4hale | #ASUNFootball pic.twitter.com/CW39TtIff2. mediocrity year after year. The 5-foot-10 speedster rushed for 2,636 yards, averaging over 13 yards per carry and scoring 47 touchdowns. Gipson has tremendous speed and a knack for getting open which gets him a lot of looks on the outside. I sure didnt expect to be writing about him as a top five back in the FCS already though, my goodness. Honorable Mention:Austin Peays Drae McCray, Cornells Thomas Glover, Delawares Jalyn Witcher (transfer from Presbyterian), Eastern Illinois Isaiah Hill, Eastern Washingtons Freddie Roberson, Florida A&Ms JahMarae Sheread, Idahos Hayden Hatten, Merrimacks Jacari Carter, Norfolk States Justin Smith, Rhode Islands Kahtero Summers (transfer from Saint Francis), Sam Houstons Cody Chrest, Villanovas Jaaron Hayek, 13. DeMorats 31 passing touchdowns ranked seventh nationally and his 3,214 yards came in 12th. During the The hefty 328-lbs Curtis is an immovable force up front and came away with the SoCons First-Team All-Conference honors a year ago. 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