The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine begins on Monday, as NFL franchises get a closer look at the players they will be looking to draft in a couple months time.
This year’s draft class is not the deepest when it comes to running backs, and does not have the star prospect of previous years like Bijan Robinson or Breece Hall.
There is still a question mark over whether any running back will go in the first round of this year’s draft, but DAZN takes a look at five who could improve their chances with a strong outing at the Combine in Indianapolis.
Trey Benson
Florida State’s Trey Benson is among the most likely running backs to be taken on the first day of the NFL Draft, if not early on day two.
The 21-year-old has recorded back-to-back consistent seasons in college football, notably improving in the receiving game in 2023 and improving to 15 touchdowns on the season.
Benson is not the shiftiest of rushers and does not shy away from contact, sometimes to his detriment, but of this draft class he has potentially the best chance to be a three-down back.
Bucky Irving
Oregon running back Bucky Irving is one of the smaller backs in this draft class, but he is deceptively powerful for being only 5’10”.
The 21-year-old demonstrated great pass-catching ability in 2023, catching 56 passes on top of his 1,180 yards on the ground for the Ducks.
Irving may be destined for a future as a third-down running back in the NFL due to his threat in the receiving game, but like most in this class the draft capital will have a huge impact.
Blake Corum
One thing stands out when you look at Blake Corum’s college production, and that is the 27 touchdowns he scored in 2023.
It has to be taken into account that Corum was playing in a run-first Michigan team who won a National Championship, but there is no doubting his eye for a touchdown.
The knocks against Corum are his age and size, as at 5’8” he is massively on the smaller side for an NFL running back, and he is already 23 years old.
Audric Estime
Notre Dame running back Audric Estime is an absolute unit, predicted to measure at just under six feet tall and 227 pounds at the NFL Combine.
The 20-year-old took full advantage of being the starter in 2023, rushing for 1,341 yards on 210 carries and scoring a massive 18 touchdowns in the process - the Notre Dame single-season record.
Estime only had 17 catches in 2023, and with NFL teams now relying on their running backs to have good pass-catching ability, that will be an area he will look to shine in at the Combine.
Braelon Allen
Wisconsin Badgers’ Braelon Allen is one of the biggest running backs in the draft and he has only just turned 20 years old.
Allen broke out at just 17 years old, and has continued to grow into the 6 '2″, 245-pound running back he is today.
Allen has scored 11 touchdowns or more in each of the last three years in college, but has not demonstrated the pass-catching ability he may need in the NFL.
That being said, Allen ticks a lot of boxes and if teams want to take a chance on him he is still young enough to develop in areas he currently lacks.
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