The Big 12 is loaded with talent, and the running back position is no exception.
From upperclassmen such as OSU's Ollie Gordon II and Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks to up-and-comers such as West Virginia's Jahiem White and Iowa State's Abu Sama III, there are plenty of lethal ball carries in the conference.
Here are the rankings for every projected starting running back in the Big 12.
Big 12 running back rankings for 2024 season
16. Cam Cook, TCU
Sophomore Cam Cook is now TCU's lead running back following the departure of Emani Bailey, who ran for 1,209 yards and eight touchdowns last season before going pro.
The potential is there for Cook. He's a former four-star prospect who has good patience, and he runs with strength.
But Cook only recorded 16 carries for 58 yards last season. And while he'll have every opportunity to show what he can do in a lead role moving forward, he's too unproven as of right now to be higher on this list.
15. Parker Jenkins, Houston
Parker Jenkins contributed right away for Houston as a freshman last season.
The former three-star prospect ran the ball 99 times for 464 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 15 passes for 81 yards.
Jenkins gets the edge over Cook on this list because he has some experience in a lead role. Still, it'll be difficult for him to fully shine in the run game alongside dual-threat quarterback Donovan Smith.
14. Dallan Hayden, Colorado
Redshirt sophomore Dallan Hayden is another young running back who's looking to prove himself.
Hayden began his career at Ohio State, where he ran the ball 111 times for 553 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman on a 2022 team that dealt with injuries in the backfield. He then appeared in three games last season and finished with 19 carries for 110 yards and one touchdown.
Hayden now plays for Colorado, which ranked last in the Pac-12 in rushing yards per game last season (68.9). He'll look to take some pressure off of quarterback Shedeur Sanders and the Buffaloes' passing game.
13. Dominic Richardson, Baylor
Dominic Richardson, a McGuinness graduate, spent the first three years of his career with OSU before he transferred to Baylor last season.
Richardson ran the ball 125 times times for 519 yards and one touchdown as a junior with the Bears. He also caught 21 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown.
There's an argument for Richardson to be slightly higher on this list. But the senior's production will be limited next season as he shares touches with Richard Reese and Dawson Pendergrass.
12. Micah Bernard, Utah
Micah Bernard recorded 106 carries for 533 yards and four touchdowns as a junior in 2022, but he suffered an off-the-field injury after the first game of last season that sidelined him for the entire campaign.
Bernard is now back in the mix. And while he's a veteran ball carrier who can provide steady production, he'll have the share touches with Jaylon Glover.
Utah will also surely air the ball out more with quarterback Cameron Rising, who missed all of last season due to a knee injury. Because of those factors, it's best to temper expectations for Bernard's comeback campaign.
11. LJ Martin, BYU
LJ Martin recorded team highs of 109 carries, 518 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns as a true freshman last season.
It was a good showing by the former three-star prospect, all things considered. BYU had one of the worst offensive lines in the Big 12, and the team ranked second-to-last in the conference in total rushing attempts (360).
Martin is a strong runner who excels at shedding tackles, and he has the chance to be a breakout player in his second season as the lead back. But he'll need more touches and more help from his offensive line.
10. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona
Arizona entered the offseason in desperate need of a running back after it lost its top three rushers.
Introducing Jacory Croskey-Merritt, a New Mexico transfer who ran the ball 189 times for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior last season. He earned an All-Mountain West second team selection for his strong play.
Of course, competing in the Big 12 will be a bigger challenge. But Croskey-Merritt is a do-it-all back who should have an immediate impact with the Wildcats.
9. Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Arizona State's offense ranked last in the Pac-12 in yards per game game (322.3) and points per game (17.8) last season.
But one of the rare bright spots was Cam Skattebo. The Sacramento State transfer ran the ball 164 times for 783 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior.
Skattebo is 10th among all active FBS and FCS running backs in career rushing yards (2,681) entering this season. He'll also be leaned on heavily by the Sun Devils, who are expected to start redshirt freshman Sam Leavitt at quarterback.
8. Jahiem White, West Virginia
Jahiem White made a strong first impression as a freshman last season.
White ran the ball 109 times for 842 yards and four touchdowns. The former three-star prospect showed a remarkable playmaking ability, and he even earned an All-Big 12 honorable mention.
White must split carries this season with CJ Donaldson, another explosive sophomore, and quarterback Garrett Greene is also heavily involved in the run game. Still, White will be electric enough to stand out from the crowd.
7. Abu Sama III, Iowa State
Despite only starting in two games as a freshman last season, Abu Sama III looked extremely promising.
The former three-star prospect recored 84 carries for 614 yards and six touchdowns. His average of 7.3 yards per carry set a program record for a single season.
Sama will lose some touches next season to fellow sophomore Carson Hansen. But now that Sama is a starter, he's a legitimate breakout candidate.
6. Corey Kiner, Cincinnati
Corey Kiner established himself as Cincinnati's go-to running back last season.
Kiner ran the ball 192 times for 1,047 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. It was a breakout campaign by a player who only ran the ball 160 total times for 686 yards and seven touchdowns in his first two seasons, which he split between LSU and Cincinnati.
The Bearcats leaned on the run game last season, and that should be the case once again as they sort out a quarterback battle between Brendan Sorsby and Brady Lichtenberg. Look for Kiner to capitalize with another strong showing.
5. DJ Giddens, Kansas State
DJ Giddens emerged as the successor last season to Deuce Vaughn, who racked up the second-most career rushing yards in program history (3,604) before going pro.
Giddens ran the ball 223 times for 1,226 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore. He also caught 29 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns, and he earned an All-Big 12 honorable mention.
Colorado transfer Dylan Edwards will surely get a fair share of touches. But the lead back is undoubtedly Giddens, who has earned a top-five spot on this list.
4. RJ Harvey, Central Florida
UCF only went 6-7 (3-6 Big 12) last season as one of the conference's newcomers, but RJ Harvey gave the program reason for optimism.
Harvey earned an All-Big 12 honorable mention as a redshirt junior with 226 carries for 1,416 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also caught the ball 19 times for 238 yards and two touchdowns.
Harvey is dangerous with the ball in his hands. But with the addition of Toledo transfer running back Peny Boone and Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson, two players who'll also be involved in the run game, it'll be difficult for Harvey to top his 2023 numbers.
3. Devin Neal, Kansas
Devin Neal has been a source of consistency for Kansas.
The Lawrence, Kansas, native ran the ball 180 times for 1,090 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore in 2022. He then earned an All-Big 12 second team selection last season with career highs of 203 carries, 1,280 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.
Former Moore star Daniel Hishaw is another good back on the depth chart, and a healthy quarterback Jalon Daniels should also contribute to the run game. But a little crowdedness has never slowed Neal down, and that likely won't change this upcoming season.
2. Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
Tahj Brooks was in and out of Texas Tech's starting unit throughout the first three years of his college career, but that changed last season.
Brooks started in all 13 games, and the senior ran the ball 290 times for 1,541 yards and 10 touchdowns. He became just the fifth player in program history to rush for 1,500 yards in a season, and he earned an All-Big 12 first team selection.
Brooks gets the slight edge on this list over Neal because the backfield isn't as crowded at Texas Tech. He's primed for another stellar campaign.
1. Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
No surprise here.
Ollie Gordon II ran the ball 285 times for a nation-leading 1,732 yards as a sophomore last season, and he ranked second in rushing touchdowns (21). He was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, a unanimous All-American, the Doak Walker Award winner and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award winner.
Gordon isn't just the best running back in the Big 12 entering this season. He's the best running back in the nation and a Heisman Trophy candidate.
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