Ask Farrell: Are there too many five-star RBs in the 2020 class?

The 2020 class is loaded with talented running backs and the rankings reflect that as there are already three five-star running backs, another five-star at all-purpose back in Texas commit Bijan Robinson and now six players that have earned a 6.0 ranking, which means they’re one spot away from five-star status.

That is a lot of running backs high in the rankings and in recent years. When that has happened, it always has not turned out well as some busts have come to light.

So far in the 2020 class, Robinson, Zachary Evans, Georgia commit Kendall Milton and Clemson pledge Demarkcus Bowman have been named five-stars. At the 6.0 level sits Notre Dame all-purpose back commit Chris Tyree and then at running back it’s Auburn pledge Cartavious Bigsby, Miami pledge Don Chaney, uncommitted Jalen Berger, Oklahoma commit Jase McClellan and MarShawn Lloyd, who committed to South Carolina in May.

Rivals was especially aggressive in 2014 where seven running backs or all-purpose backs were given five-star rankings. A few are some of the best young backs in the NFL and others are struggling to stay relevant. In 2015 there were four five-star backs with Damien Harris and Derrius Guice going down as hits, while Jacques Patrick and Soso Jamabo never really materialized.

In what could be considered a very good year at running back in the 2019 class with Alabama’s Trey Sanders, LSU’s John Emery, Penn State’s Noah Cain and Devyn Ford and Michigan’s Zach Charbonnet leading the way, only Sanders earned five-star recognition.

RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK:

Monday: Top 10 revealed | Looking at top of WR class

Tuesday: Rivals100 revealed | MInd of Mike | New five-stars

Wednesday: Rivals250 revealed

Thursday: Position rankings revealed

With rankings at the forefront this week, we ask Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell if we’ve been too aggressive ranking running backs so far this cycle or does he see this group as extra special with a lot of stars in the making?

“I think we’ve been a little aggressive and I can see a couple of our current five-stars falling off. However, I can also see a guy like Bigsby earning a fifth star down the line because he’s so dynamic.

"The biggest question I have about running backs is the size/speed combination. We’ve come to learn that guys who don’t run in the 4.5 and 4.4 range get passed by in the NFL Draft. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t be great college players and emerge at the NFL level, so it’s tricky.

"Running backs are hard to evaluate because it all comes down to durability and staying healthy. A guy like Sanders could bounce back and be a star, or he could have lingering injuries and never get on track. It’s a crapshoot at running back, but I do think this class is loaded with good ones.”