The running back position seems to be diverging into two paths: big-bodied bruisers who can punish two-high teams, and smaller dynamos who can create explosive plays out of thin air. Most backs fall neatly into either category, and the ones that blend the two get drafted in the top 10.
So far this season, only Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love has threatened the top half of the first round. Penn State's Nick Singleton headlines an intriguing, but perhaps underwhelming, crop of prospects behind him.
One such running back is Michigan Wolverines star Justice Haynes, an Alabama transfer who is thriving in his first Big Ten season. He leads the conference in rushing yards entering Week 6, and as Big Ten play continues, Haynes has a real chance to improve his draft stock.
Haynes is one of the quickest players in the class
Haynes makes his money as an explosive playmaker whose athleticism makes him an efficient rusher. He's currently averaging 8.1 yards per carry, and while that's destined to go down as competition improves, the ability to rip off massive runs sets a high floor for his production.
Further, Haynes craves the opportunity to make defenders miss at the second level. He can manipulate linebackers well to open up rushing lanes, creating footraces that are unfair for defenders. He's more than a home run hitter, too. Haynes is playable between the tackles, giving himself enough consistency to give himself enough snaps to create big plays.
That skill lends itself to strong testing during the pre-draft circuit. Haynes is a safe bet to run a sub-4.45 40-yard dash, and his 10- and 20-yard splits should back up the burst that's on tape.
Justice Haynes may be the best back in the country pic.twitter.com/J6Fg20xO0c
— CFBTalkDaily (@CFBTalkDaily) September 20, 2025
Between the tackles, Haynes isn't without power. There are flashes of real contact balance, and Haynes plays with strong pad level, making him tougher to tackle than his frame would suggest. Neither his footwork nor vision is elite, but he plays with excellent urgency to get downhill in a hurry to minimize negative plays.
Combined with adequate fundamentals, there's a starter-level running back in Haynes's profile. Just how much run he gets will be dependent on his growth on passing downs.
What must Haynes prove down the stretch?
Haynes has two obstacles blocking his path to being a top-50 pick. He is not a big factor on passing downs, and his natural power is a limiting factor.
The former caught 17 passes a season ago and has nine receptions through four games in 2025. That doesn't mean there isn't some passing-down prowess to unlock, but the film doesn't paint a rosy picture. Haynes doesn't have great hands and isn't a preternatural route runner.
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Similarly, Haynes doesn't add much in pass protection. While it's not an overt effort issue, his frame is a limiting factor. This extends to early-downs, too. Haynes struggles to push piles -- despite decent lower-body strength -- and is far more comfortable evading tacklers than running through them.
Generally, smaller backs compensate for a lack of short-yardage strength with passing-down productivity, creating a pathway to playing time. That projection isn't entirely clear for Haynes. Maybe he toes the line between the tackles enough or develops as a receiver as his role expands later in the year. Until then, it's hard to pencil him in as a starter for the 2026 season.
Haynes's NFL projection
Again, the path forward isn't very clear. But Haynes's tendency to turn between-the-tackle runs into house calls cannot be ignored, especially with enough vision and footwork to stick as a starter.
We've seen this profile work before. Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown, a fifth-round pick, entered the league as a part-time explosive rusher before growing into a full-time role in 2024, where he found 54 catches and 360 yards through the air and capitalized on over 200 carries. In 2025, he's looked more like a minor player in a major role, but his job feels safe until it's time for an extension.
Haynes's frame, athleticism, and one-dimensional game are similar, but he also boasts better pedigree and more trustworthy intangibles. That gives me hope that Haynes can be a quality starter in the right offense that allows him to get reliable early-down snaps while growing into a non-load-bearing role on passing downs.
For now, that renders him a third-round prospect on my board with room to boost his stock with quality performances against elite competition later in the year. With Ohio State on the docket and a potential College Football Playoff berth down the line, he shouldn't have any shortage of opportunities.
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