6 running backs to watch at 2026 NFL combine, led by Jeremiyah Love
· Yahoo Sports
The NFL Scouting Combine is where running backs get to test their game speed against the stopwatch and see if they're elite or merely very, very fast.
Each year, a crop of bellwether tailbacks descend on Indianapolis to prove they have the strength, agility and acceleration to thrive on Sundays. Jonathan Taylor proved he was more than just a Wisconsin workhorse by dusting off a 4.39-second 40 back in 2020. Chris Johnson made himself a first round pick out of East Carolina by showing off his 4.2-second 40 time.
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There's more to a player's combine performance than just the 40. They'll have to prove they have the lateral agility to thrive against linebackers, the strength to hold up in pass protection and, in interviews with coaches and executives, the awareness to understand the playbook and how to adjust on the fly.
Who stands to boost their stock the most when the running backs step into the spotlight February 28?
6 running backs to watch at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
1 and 2. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Love got his flowers, but Price could have been an All-American if he weren't sharing time with college football's top tailback. As a result, Notre Dame could produce the first *and* second running backs off the board this April.
Love averaged nearly seven yards per carry the last two seasons, placing third in the Heisman vote after the 2025 season after scoring 21 touchdowns in a dozen games. He's explosive and patient, combining elite vision with track star speed and lightning-quick jump cuts.
Price isn't as elusive but is a powerful finisher through contact, shucking off arm tackles and getting upfield for tough yards. While Love's place in the pecking order is set, Price can win over scouts by proving he's got 4.4-second 40 speed and the frame to take over as a lead back after playing RB1b the last two seasons in South Bend.
3 and 4. Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, Penn State
The Nittany Lion platoon combined for more than 1,800 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2025. In 2024? 2,200-plus yards and 20 touchdowns, albeit in three more games thanks to the College Football Playoff. Singleton was the more explosive back in 2024, but that script flipped in 2025. Each has proven he can handle double-digit touches on a weekly basis; they've only missed a single game between them over the last three seasons.
Singleton is bigger and faster, pairing what could be 4.3-second 40 speed with a 225-pound frame. Allen is more fundamentally sound as a runner, avoiding the inconsistency that could sap Singleton's powers thanks to heightened patience and vision behind the line. That means Singleton is more likely to be a workout star, but Allen could still find his way to a high-profile Day 2 pick -- and potentially be the second back selected at this year's draft.
5. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
Johnson has a compact frame and elite agility that led to more than 120 rushing yards per game as a senior. That should stand out when it comes to on-field drills, but he's more than just a dynamic runner. 2025 saw him thrive in the passing game, hauling in 46 catches to emerge as a yard-churning safety valve and creator of third-and-manageable situations down the line. Questions remain about his breakaway speed, which means his 40 time could significantly influence his draft stock.
6. Eli Heidenreich, Navy
Heidenreich will take the field with the running backs, but his pro future may be as a hybrid wideout who can also line up in the backfield. While he won't be a high profile pick, a big showing at the combine could be the difference between being drafted and signing as a priority undrafted free agent. A lack of explosiveness and top-line speed raises questions about his ability to separate from coverage on Sundays. If he can dust off above-average agility and run in the 4.4-second range in the 40, he'll push his way up teams' wish lists.
Which running backs were invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine?
Who else will have the chance to showcase these skills in 2026? Here are the running backs expected to take part in drills February 28, in alphabetical order.
- Kaytron Allen, Penn State
- Max Bredeson, Michigan
- Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest
- Jonah Coleman, Washington
- CJ Donaldson, Ohio State
- Rahsul Faison, South Carolina
- Eli Heidenreich, Navy
- Roman Hemby, Indiana
- Robert Henry Jr., UTSA
- Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
- Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- Seth McGowan, Kentucky
- Jam Miller, Alabama
- Le'Veon Moss, Texas A&M
- Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
- Adam Randall, Clemson
- Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh
- Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
- J'Mari Taylor, Virginia
- Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
- Noah Whittington, Oregon
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 6 running backs to watch at 2026 NFL combine, led by Jeremiyah Love