Summary
College Football video games returned after a massive break withCollege Football 25, and there’s a combination of things that are very similar to the original College Football games, and some serious differences.
One of the things that’s stayed the same isthe value of speed. Having fast players at certain key positions is going to make a consistent difference for your team, and one of those important positions is running back. Some teams have backs that can quite simply fly across the field, and they’ll severely upgrade your running and passing game.
10Brandon Hood
SPD: 96 AWR: 70 OVR: 72 5'10" 185lbs (Colorado University)
While not the top-rated running back on the team, Brandon Hood is the fastest RB at Colorado University. He’s got the best hands in the backfield, making him their biggest threat in the passing game, and combine that with his speed, he can have the ball in open space with regularity.
Hood is also a freshman, meaning he has plenty of time to be a #2 RB and grow. In a year or two, he and their other freshman backup Micah Welch could be a one-two punch, keeping each other fresh and defenses exhausted.
9Jacquex Stuart
SPD: 96 AWR: 82 OVR: 85 5'9" 178 lbs (Toledo)
One of the most impressive backs, Jacquex Stuart is the starting back for Toledo, and could probably be the starting back for quite a few other teams, too. Besides his speed, his acceleration and agility are also off the charts.
He’s a very elusive back with good finesse moves, and is in his prime as a senior. While you aren’t going to get multiple seasons out of him, Stuart is a great back to have if you’re looking to recruit a promising freshman or two for next season.
8Peyton Lewis
SPD: 97 AWR: 68 OVR: 76 6'1" 200lbs (Tennessee)
Another promising freshman to keep your eye on, Peyton Lewis is middle of the pack on the Tennesse RB depth chart when it comes to overall rating, but at the top when it comes to speed. He’s also larger than usual for a back with that kind of speed, at 6'1" and breaking the 200lb mark.
That’s a lot of RB running at you at blinding speed, and considering he’s a freshman, it’ll be exciting to see how Lewis develops. If his development focuses on his awareness and his skill moves, he could be a contender for one of the best backs in the league in a couple of years.
7Jordan Washington
SPD: 97 AWR: 65 OVR: 71 5'11" 180 lbs (Washington)
Another example of a freshman with a lot of time to grow, Jordan Washington has absurd speed, agility, acceleration, and change of direction, all things you may’t teach. His moves need some work, as does his awareness, but for a freshman, that’s to be expected.
He’s got a couple seniors and juniors ahead of him on the depth chart, but give him just a bit of playing time in the early going to keep him developing, and you could have an untouchable back in a couple short years.
6Miles Davis
SPD: 97 AWR: 70 OVR: 71 6'0" (BYU)
Another larger-than-average speed back, Miles Davis is on a BYU roster that does not have a plethora of running backs to choose from, with only three on the team. While he has the lowest overall rating, he has the highest speed by a wide margin, meaning there are things you can do with him you can’t do with either of the other two backs on the team.
Miles is a junior, meaning he doesn’t have a lot of time left to develop, and the reason his overall rating is where it is is because of his awareness and skill moves. Still, if he’s fast enough to make a break for it, he doesn’t have to break tackles, so with some good blocking and schemes, he can still make a big difference.
5Dijon Stanley
SPD: 98 AWR: 67 OVR: 71 6'0" 178lbs (Utah University)
Dijon Stanley has the highest speed in the Utah backfield, and it isn’t particularly close. He’s also the only sophomore on the team, so timing-wise, he’s a prime candidate for the top back-spot in a year or two, once his elders have graduated.
His blind spots are his awareness and his skill moves. If you may get him a little bit of playing and developing time, he could shore up those areas, and be a real threat. He already has good hands, so getting him involved with some short throws might be a good way to get him in space and get some big plays with him right off the bat.
4Chris Johnson Jr.
SPD: 98 AWR: 67 OVR: 76 6'0" 180lbs (Miami)
One of the best freshman on this list, Chris Johnson Jr. hasoutrageous physical abilities, with extremely high speed and acceleration. He’s also on a Miami roster devoid of seniors at the RB position, making it very easy to justify giving him a hefty amount of playing time right off the bat.
With consistent development, Chris Johnson Jr. is uniquely primed to be one of the top backs in a couple of years. Just keep an eye on his carrying rating, because it does start quite low, and could cost you some important drives.
3Rayshon Luke
SPD: 98 AWR: 75 OVR: 80 5'9" 175lbs (Arizona)
One of the most fully put-together backs, Rayshon Luke is the second-best back overall on the Arizona roster, just behind Quali Conley, who’s a senior. With his overall rating and the fact he’s a junior, it’s likely Luke is going to be getting quite a bit of playing time and a lot of touches.
He’s got great speed and is very elusive, putting him in the category of backs who can make a big play out of nothing at all. He’s a great combo with Conley, who’s more of a power back, making for a complimentary backfield between the two.
2Kenan Christon
SPD: 98 AWR: 80 OVR: 81 5'10" 190lbs (San Diego St.)
The eldest RB on the roster, with the highest overall and speed ratings, Kenan Christon is almost certainly going to get the most playing time of the bunch. He’s got elite speed and solid hands, making him a back that can get it done in most situations.
Christon does have solid skill moves, though they aren’t much above average. But, he’s got consistency across the board; he’s a back you know what you’re getting with. And what you’re getting is incredible speed, with very few mistakes.
1Gavin Sawchuk
SPD: 98 AWR: 80 OVR: 86 5'11" 195lbs (Oklahoma University)
Gavin Sawchuk has incredible speed and other intangibles, along with good awareness and very good skill moves. All of this, for a sophomore, means there’s still quite a bit of time for him to continue developing into what could be a Heisman-winning back.
While he’s not the oldest back on the roster, it would be a crime not to start Sawchuk to see how far he can develop before he graduates. To boot, Oklahoma has plenty of other great young backs on the roster with no seniors in sight, meaning they have the possibility of developing into the deepest and most-talented RB room in the country in a year or two.
