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2013 NFL Draft: Running Back Rankings

We've talked about the prospects this week, now it's time to rank them.

US PRESSWIRE

There isn't an elite running back prospect that's worthy of a top 10 pick in this draft. No Trent Richardson, Darren McFadden, Adrian Peterson or LaDainian Tomlinson. There probably isn't even a Knowshon Moreno, Ryan Matthews, C.J. Spiller or Marshawn Lynch as a top-20 pick.

What the 2013 RB class consists of is that next tier; that tier where talent meets draft slot and creates value. This is a very deep class; Comparable to the 2008 RB class that produced McFadden, Chris Johnson, Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles, Matt Forte and even Jonathan Stewart, Rashard Mendenhall and Peyton Hillis.

I didn't know how talented this class was until I finished my evaluations on over 30 prospects and started ranking them. Having watched games of every player on this list totaling over 45 hours, I feel very confident in my rankings. With that said, Draft season is more fun with respectful debate.

RANK PLAYER HT/WT SCHOOL PROJECTION SCORE
1. Giovani Bernard 5'9" 205 lbs North Carolina Late 1st-Early 2nd 6.76
2. Andre Ellington 5'11" 200 lbs Clemson 2nd Round 6.70
3. Eddie Lacy 5'10" 238 lbs Alabama Late 1st-Early 2nd 6.68
4. Johnathan Franklin 5'10" 195 lbs UCLA 2nd/3rd 6.56
5. Joseph Randle 6'1" 216 lbs Oklahoma State 3rd 6.50
6. Ray Graham 5'9" 192 lbs Pittsburgh 4th 6.43
7. Zac Stacy 5'8" 215 lbs Vanderbilt 4th 6.42
8. Montee Ball 5'11" 216 lbs Wisconsin 4th 6.41
9. Dennis Johnson 5'9" 215 lbs Arkansas 4th/5th 6.40
10. Kenjon Barner 5'10" 188 lbs Oregon 4th/5th 6.18
11. Christine Michael 5'11" 223 lbs Texas A&M 4th/5th 6.09
12. Stepfan Taylor 5'11" 218 lbs Stanford 4th/5th 5.93
13. Le'Veon Bell 6'2" 235 lbs Michigan State 5th 5.87
14. Latavius Murray 6'3" 223 lbs UCF 5th/6th 5.86
15. Cierre Wood 6'0" 210 lbs Notre Dame 5th/6th 5.86
16. D.J. Harper 5'10" 205 lbs Boise State 6th/7th 5.82
17. Mike James 5'11" 220 lbs Miami 6th/7th 5.80
18. Mike Gilislee 5'11" 210 lbs Florida 5th/6th 5.78
19. Marcus Lattimore 6'0" 220 lbs South Carolina 5th/7th 5.76
20. Kerwynn Williams 5'9" 185 lbs Utah State 6th/7th 5.66
21. George Winn 5'11" 210 lbs Cincinnati 6th/7th 5.63
22. Miguel Maysonet 5'9" 205 lbs Stonybrook 7th/UDFA 5.61
23. Montel Harris 5'10" 206 lbs Temple 7th/UDFA 5.59
24. Stefphon Jefferson 5'11" 210 lbs Nevada 7th/UDFA 5.57
25. Jawan Jamison 5'8" 200 lbs Rutgers 7th/UDFA 5.56
26. Theo Riddick 6'0" 200 lbs Notre Dame 7th/UDFA 5.56
27.




28. Michael Ford 5'10" 216 lbs LSU 7th/UDFA 5.31
29. Robbie Rouse 5'9" 190 lbs Fresno State 7th/UDFA 5.24
30. Rex Burkhead 5'10" 215 lbs Nebraska 7th/UDFA 5.21

*Others I viewed but couldn't get a conclusive analysis: Michael Dyer, Knile Davis, Spencer Ware, Trabis Ward, Chris Thompson and Ontario McCaleb.

Note: I think 20-25 backs could be drafted and the last 10-prospects on my board all bring one interesting skill, but don't have the complete package. They're low-risk developmental prospects that offer upside at a low price.

You can follow Joe Goodberry at @JoeGoodberry.