As we enter Week 3 of college football action, we now have some big movement on the freshmen running backs as we start conference play across the NCAA. For those who hit four or five completed metrics by the end of the season, we get some better NFL & NCAA producer odds. Those who get it done early often become some of the fun risers we see down the road.
First up, we have three players who are essentially locks to be done in a week or two. Damon Ferguson has come on strong for Pitt while Turner has been out. He may have cemented himself as a regular feature each week and is a great handcuff if not. Jamal Rule has been a regular lead back for Nebraska and isn’t slowing down. Rule already has 42 total touches for 411 yards and 6 TDs.
The last name here is Qwantavius Wiggins for Georgia State, a late decommit from Wisconsin. He had a slow ramp-up over the past two weeks but became a regular and leading feature for the team while fighting UCF in a high-scoring matchup. Georgia State’s conference slate could let this big-fish, small-pond scenario play out for a back with feature-size upside.
3/5 METRICS SUCCEEDED
The next group of names has all hit 3/5 of the metrics, with progress made on the remaining two categories. With touchdowns being the most flukey, it really comes down to how much the teams trust these guys to be involved in the receiving game. Hiter should have no problem meeting his components; meanwhile, I believe Brown & Anderson will do just enough to meet their two parts. Mallory, I am not quite sure because he is used in late blowouts, which is typically time for the ground game.
2/5 & 1/5 METRICS SUCCEEDED
I decided to group the next two tiers, as we want these guys to keep pushing higher. Of these guys, I am not stressing on Crowell, Deuce Lawrence, and Brian Bonner. Ene is an interesting category as a relevant freshman for a new FBS program, so I am just monitoring for now as he operates behind a veteran option.
Legend Bey still getting stuck behind Jakobi Jackson and Isaiah West is starting to stress me out some for long-term outlooks. Journee Tonga for BYU has also caught my attention as a watch-list name. If he or a later BYU freshman can establish themselves, we may have a future system play. I have no big hopes for Sanoe (7 carries for 8 yards and 2 TDs, yuck), White, or Hebert.
THE BEST OF THE REST
For this top group of those with zero metrics met currently, these nine names are the most high-profile. I expect a healthy Derrek Cooper to continue building. KJ Edwards will not be here next week, and Amari Latimer is steadily finishing his out. The rest we will see as matchups play out, but I have faith that USC and Notre Dame may look to work their dudes in some.
In this second group, I don’t have a lot of high hopes, even if a guy like LaMarcus Bell gets more blowout snaps. He is so far down the current roster that I rather see the room in spring of 2027. BYU, as I said, is kind of in flux after LJ Martin in 2027, so I am watching Eka and Tonga from above to see if either becomes RB2 and possibly RB1 next year.
Finally, below are the last nine names I felt were worth setting up a graphic for in this week’s article. The others with graphics made who were left out include: Cedric Kouemi, Kaj Baker, Caleb Wynn, Josiah Lucas, NaKeem Powell, Juntavious Harris, Cooper Crosby, Arthur Lewis IV, Max Warner, Preston Hatfield, Crew Davis, and Evan Hampton.
