College Football Breakout Running Backs (2025)
Leverage these backs for futures, fantasy drafts & early season prop lines
We’re on our second position for breakout players for the 2025 CFB season! Once again, I’m trying to stick with running backs who haven’t truly broken out at this point. We do have some big names on this list, but I’m expecting these options to be drastically better than they’ve been in the past.
If you haven’t yet, check out my other Breakout articles:
Breakout Wide Receivers (2025)
Enjoy the list, and subscribe [for free] above so you don’t miss out on any posts!
Justice Haynes & Jordan Marshall (Michigan)
Michigan ran a bit of a 1A/1B backfield with Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards last season. I’m expecting a similar situation with Haynes acting as the 1A option and Marshall playing a significant role as his backup. This is also what the coaches have suggested throughout the offseason.
Hayne has flashed incredible potential through 2 seasons at Alabama. He owns 616 yards and 9 touchdowns on only 104 carries. He also flashed some receiving skills, posting 17 receptions for 99 yards last season.
The transfer was never given a major role in the Alabama offense, as Jalen Milroe was the focal point with Jam Miller operating as the RB1. He flashed with 102 yards and 1 touchdown on only 4 carries against Western Kentucky. He also posted 79 yards and 1 touchdown on only 8 carries in a tougher matchup against Missouri.
Haynes already flashed for his new team, drawing the start for the Blue Team in Michigan’s Spring Game. He posted 51 yards on only 6 carries. He also recorded a 26-yard run on those limited carries.
Marshall didn’t perform as well as Haynes in the Spring Game, but I’m more encouraged by the fact that he strictly played the first quarter, showing he’ll immediately slot in as the 1B option in this offense.
The sophomore saw very limited work throughout his freshman season until the bowl game. He posted 100 yards on 23 carries against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Granted, he wasn’t playing all of Bama’s starters, but he also wasn’t backed by all of Michigan’s starters.
Michigan is going to feature an outstanding offensive line, and they’re going to rely heavily on their run game this season. Haynes is the clear breakout option and lead back, but Marshall comes with tremendous upside in this system as well.
Both running backs should see a drastic increase in production this season.
Dylan Edwards (Kansas State)
Edwards flashed promise as a freshman at Colorado before transferring to Kansas State. As a sophomore, he posted 546 yards and 5 touchdowns on only 74 carries behind workhorse DJ Giddens. He added 19 receptions for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air. That wasn’t all for the versatile back, though, as he recorded 438 yards and 1 touchdown on 25 total returns.
Edwards was given the reins to the offense against Rutgers in the Rate Bowl. He dominated with 223 yards and 3 touchdowns on 20 touches. His big-play ability is second-to-none, and he’ll see a bigger workload with Giddens in the NFL.
The junior was clocked over 23 mph in Spring. There are also reports that he added weight, and Kansas State is comfortable with him being the next workhorse running back. Furthermore, there have been reports that the Wildcats want to specifically get him the ball in space, adding to his overall upside.
We’ve consistently seen Kansas State produce high-end, elite running backs. Deuce Vaughn and Giddens are both in the NFL, and they’ll be remembered as two elite college running backs. Edwards has an incredible ceiling because of his ceiling, and he’s likely to step into the workhorse role that has produced multiple elite backs in the past.
Mark Fletcher Jr. (Miami)
Fletcher performed extremely well when sharing the duties early in his Miami career. He posted 514 yards and 5 touchdowns on 105 carries while splitting carries with Henry Parrish Jr., Donald Chaney Jr., and Ajay Allen as a freshman. He took a step forward as a sophomore, recording 607 yards and 9 touchdowns on 112 carries behind Damien Martinez.
Martinez is off the the NFL, leaving Fletcher to take over as the starting running back for Miami this season. He’s reportedly in the best shape of his career this Spring, and he’s getting plenty of work now that he’s healthy.
There is the question of Jordan Lyle, who flashed undeniable upside last season. He’s going to play a solid role behind Fletcher, but the veteran should have the edge for touches.
It’s also important to note that the Hurricanes aren’t likely to rely on Carson Beck the same way they did Cam Ward. Does Beck have the upside to be the focal point of the offense? Absolutely. Should we anticipate that he comes in and performs at the level Ward did last season? Absolutely not.
Instead, Miami should put a larger focal point on their rushing attack with Fletcher being the top option. It isn’t out of the question that he could see 200+ carries this season, and he’s a quiet option to record 1,000+ yards and 10+ touchdowns.
Jahiem White (West Virginia)
White feels a bit like a cop out here. He’s already enjoyed an elite college career through two seasons, but it’s about to get drastically better.
White owns 1,686 yards and 11 touchdowns on 257 carries across 25 games. He also boasts 24 receptions for 247 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. His best individual game was 279 yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 touches against Cincinnati.
So why is White expected to be drastically better this season? Opportunity.
Through his first two seasons, he’s split carries with CJ Donaldson, who’s out-carried him in both seasons. Rich Rodriguez has taken over as head coach, and he reportedly wants to feature one bell-cow running back.
White’s efficiency has to drop on more touches, but he can still be an elite option. The only major factor potentially stopping him from being a top running back in the NCAA is a potential injury.
If White stays healthy this season, he could be a top-5 running back in college football.
CJ Baxter (Texas)
I was absurdly high on Baxter last season before he was injured. He essentially missed the entire season after recording 659 yards and 5 touchdowns on 138 carries as a freshman. He also posted 24 receptions for 156 yards in his freshman season.
There’s so much hype around Arch Manning that everyone seems to be forgetting the rest of the team. Steve Sarkisian is comfortable giving a huge workload to his running back, and Baxter could lead the way this season.
The Longhorn gave Tre Wisner 270 touches with Jaydon Blue and Jerrick Gibson combining for 257 touches. This isn’t a situation where Baxter has to take over Wisner’s role to find an elite role for himself. We’re actually at the point where Wisner almost certainly will be locked into a major role this season.
Although there have been all positive reports of Baxter recovering well from his injury and being ready for their opener, Texas isn’t likely to give him 20+ touches per game early in the season. This is a situation where I expect his talent to force him onto the field, though.
As the season progresses, Baxter’s role should continue to grow. He’s far too talented to stay on the bench, and he boasts more than enough upside to record 1,000+ total yards and 10+ total touchdowns.
Nate Fraizer (Georgia)
When a freshman running back leads a Georgia backfield with other proven talent, you take notice. Frazier posted 756 yards and 8 touchdowns on 145 touches last season. The majority of that came on the ground, but he does boast some receiving potential.
Overall, we saw Fraizer slightly edge out Trevor Etienne in touches and production last season. It’s important to note that the freshman played in 13 games while Etienne only played in 10. Still, it’s something you immediately note for a title contender.
Fraizer flashed against high-end opponents last season, including Florida and Clemson. His most impressive game came against UMass, though. Although the competition was light, he posted 136 yards and 3 touchdowns on 21 carries.
Georgia added Josh McCray in the transfer portal, and they reported want him as the “thunder” to Frazier’s “lightning.” The sophomore is in a situation where he could find 200+ touches this season, though, and he should make a massive jump, as most freshmen do.
If Georgia is willing to give a freshman running back a major workload, I’m likely jumping on him as a breakout candidate for his sophomore season.
Conclusion
These players aren’t listed in any type of order, but here is my order of confidence in terms of breakout potential for the season:
Jahiem White (West Virginia)
Dylan Edwards (Kansas State)
Nate Frazier (Georgia)
Justice Haynes (Michigan)
CJ Baxter (Texas)
Mark Fletcher Jr. (Miami)
Jordan Marshall (Michigan)
If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe [for free] at the top of it! I’ll be posting my breakout wide receivers next Saturday, followed by tight ends. You won’t want to miss them, so make sure you’re subscribed!