Rivals Rankings Week: Who will finish as top RB?

So much has been said about the value of the running back position when it comes to the NFL Draft, but there is still a place for high-caliber backs in the first round, and there is certainly a place for them near the top of the Rivals250.

With four running backs between No. 39 and No. 51 in the Rivals250, the national recruiting analysts – Adam Friedman, John Garcia, Adam Gorney, Cole Patterson and Greg Smith – give their takes on which one will end the rankings cycle as the No. 1 running back.

UPDATED 2024 RANKINGS: Pro-Style QB | Dual-Threat QB | All-Purpose Back | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Defensive Tackle | Strongside Defensive End | Weakside Defensive End | Outside Linebacker | Inside Linebacker | Cornerback | Safety | Athlete

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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK

Sunday: Who should be No. 1?

Monday: Five-star countdown | Meet the new five-stars

Tuesday: Rivals 250 released | Ten prospects on the verge of five-star status | Gorney's thoughts

Wednesday: Offensive position rankings released | QB rankings spotlight | RB rankings spotlight | WR/TE rankings spotlight | OL rankings spotlight

Thursday: Defensive position rankings released | DL rankings spotlight | LB rankings spotlight | DB rankings spotlight

Friday: State rankings released

Saturday: Rankings Roundtable

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This is a really tough call because I really like all four of the top-ranked running backs, but if I had to call the race for No. 1 right now I'm going with Jordan Marshall. He seems like the best combination of size (6-foot, 200 pounds), power, speed, quickness and elusiveness.

Marshall runs behind his pads, can run through defenders and has the patience to wait for running lanes to reveal themselves. He can throttle down to let defenders run by him and get right back to full speed in a flash. Marshall has a long, powerful stride but still has the crisp footwork to navigate tight spaces.

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There's something to be said for owning the moment, and Kameron Davis has done it when asked at just about every stop since he entered high school. Of course, he plays quarterback on Friday nights so the pure rushing sample isn't on the same plane. It isn't unprecedented, especially with great second- and third-level prowess, which Davis has to his name.

Otherwise, there is some reliance on offseason events for the fit of the evaluation, where Davis has shined in every setting. He is compact, powerful, yet fluid and quite comfortable in the passing game. The long speed may not be head-turning, but the classic frame and skill set pair with a modern ability to set up defenders and that should keep Davis at the head of the conversation.

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I definitely don't think Kameron Davis should be penalized because he also plays quarterback in high school and quite honestly he's probably not taking as many direct hits as some of these other running backs.

But after all is said and done through their senior seasons – and especially the all-star events – I'm picking Jordan Marshall as the No. 1 back in the country.

The high four-star Michigan commit from Cincinnati Moeller runs with such incredible vision and patience. He can turn on the jets to run by people, he can go inside or outside, he brushes off arm tackles and Marshall is always churning out extra yards.

Is he a five-star? That's to be determined (leaning probably no), but once we see him more on a national level it's going to become clearer that he's the best in a group with a lot of quality at the top that is still feeling itself out in the rankings.

Taylor Tatum is my pick to end the cycle as the No. 1 running back in the 2024 class. The Longview (Texas) rusher totaled 1,889 yards and 33 touchdowns for a powerhouse program in East Texas against high-level competition in the Lone Star State. He pairs his 5-foot-10, 205-pound frame with impressive quickness and long speed.

Tatum features an intriguing athletic profile that includes running track and shining on the baseball diamond. He has proven to be a bell cow back on the high school level and has some untapped potential as a receiver for colleges to tap into. We bumped Tatum up in the latest Rivals250 update, but he can rise even higher as the cycle moves forward.

Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and USC are the programs heavily in the mix for the four-star.

There isn’t a five-star among the running backs right now, but the position doesn’t lack depth. There is a strong argument to be made for several top running backs in the 2024 class, but Taylor Tatum is my pick here.

The Longview (Texas) standout is well-built, he runs with patience and can make players miss. He accounted for 1,891 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns as a junior. The USC-Michigan-Oklahoma battle for him will be one to watch.