Rivals Rankings Week: Breaking down the 2025 RBs
NEW POSITION RANKINGS: Pro-Style QB | Dual-Threat QB | All-Purpose RB | Running Back
The updated 2025 Rivals250 has been released and now it’s time to break down each position. We continue with the running backs by looking at four big storylines moving forward.
RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Sunday: Who should be No. 1?
Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Meet the new five-stars
Tuesday: New Rivals250 released | Gorney’s thoughts | Biggest risers
Wednesday: Offensive position rankings | Breaking down the QBs | Breaking down the RBs | Breaking down the WRs/TEs | Breaking down the OL
Thursday: Defensive position rankings
Friday: State rankings
Saturday: Rivals Rankings Roundtable
SHOULD THERE BE MORE THAN ONE FIVE-STAR?
Jordon Davison lost his fifth star; Harlem Berry kept his. That means there is only one five-star running back in the 2025 class and while we have drawn back on how many players at that position get that highest ranking, there could still be some handed out after the all-star events.
Auburn pledge Alvin Henderson put up video game numbers during his time at Elba, Ala., and rushed for more than 10,000 yards in his career. Clemson pledge Gideon Davidson, Alabama commit Akylin Dear, Ole Miss commit Shekai Mills-Knight and others are highly ranked and still under consideration.
Berry, who committed to LSU in January, has proven to be the best – and most electric – running back in the class whether running between the tackles, to the outside or catching the ball out of the backfield.
He’s a five-star. The question in the closing months of the 2025 class is whether there’s another one among the running back group.
HENDERSON TAKES OVER THE NO. 1 SPOT
When working on rankings, one of the most deceiving things we can do is solely rely on stats to form our opinions of players. While it’s an important consideration, so much more goes into ordering the players at every position and projecting them to college and then the NFL Draft.
But when it comes to Alvin Henderson, it’s impossible to not consider the numbers. He’s not playing elite competition in rural Alabama but he’s still averaging more than 13 yards per carry and he’s had 3,124 yards and an insane 55 touchdowns this season.
There is an argument that he’s had a lot of carries during his high school career and that’s not necessarily a good thing for running backs as they get into college and the NFL. But he’s so productive, he has speed to the outside, he’s tough to tackle and even if he was playing better competition, he’d still be elite.
There is a little Bijan Robinson to his game and so while he’s not a five-star at this point he’s definitely under consideration.
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FLIP WATCH HEADED TOWARD SIGNING DAY
Just like every position, running back is not immune to flips right before National Signing Day and there are a handful of players who have been taking visits and could make a move in the coming weeks.
Florida State pledge Byron Louis was at Florida last weekend hanging around with new Florida commit Tramell Jones and others. Anthony “Turbo” Rogers just backed off his Alabama commitment as Ohio State and Georgia have been in hot pursuit.
Jamarion Morrow from Memphis (Tenn.) Melrose has been committed to Missouri since June but Georgia and Texas A&M have now entered the picture. And USC commit Daune Morris out of Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Oakland has Tennessee knocking down his door.
Those are just some of the main running back flips to watch in the closing weeks.
LSU LOADING UP AT THE POSITION
Harlem Berry is the marquee running back in the 2025 class, the lone five-star and a game-breaker with extraordinary speed. He was compared with Reggie Bush by the USC coaches during a recruiting visit. The Metairie (La.) St. Martin’s Episcopal standout won the Fastest 40 at the Rivals Five-Star this past summer. He’s fast.
But he’s not the only talented running back in LSU’s class.
Four-star JT Lindsey from Alexandria, La., is also shooting up the charts. He had more than 1,700 yards with 26 touchdowns as a junior and has had a nice senior season as well.
Lindsey runs with speed and power. He can lower his shoulder and lay defenders out. He has an incredible burst at the second level and he cannot be caught.
The season has fallen off a cliff for LSU, losers of three straight, but running back recruiting is coming on strong with Berry and Lindsey coming to Baton Rouge.
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