Latest news with #runningback
Yahoo
21 hours ago
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Georgia's Confidence Surging on Coveted RB as College Football News Drops This Week
Georgia's Confidence Surging on Coveted RB as College Football News Drops This Week originally appeared on Athlon Sports. One of the top running backs of the 2026 recruiting class re-opened his recruitment after verbally committing to the Georgia Bulldogs. Advertisement But On3's Chad Simmons reported Kirby Smart's program is still feeling good about landing running back Derrek Cooper. "There has been a level of confidence in Athens that they can get Derrek Cooper in this class. Miami is stiff competition," Simmons wrote. "The four-star running back has been committed to Georgia before though. We know there is high interest on both sides. "The mother is a key figure in this recruitment and she likes the staff in Athens. Jared Curtis will be in town and he will make his pitch to Cooper, the playmaker from south Florida." Simmons concluded that Georgia is already a top school for Cooper. But with the running back visiting Athens, Georgia this weekend, Simmons wondered if the Bulldogs could emerge the favorite by Monday. Georgia Bulldogs football head coach Kirby Smart© Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images On3 awarded Cooper a four-star rating. The 247Sports composite rankings, though, have Cooper as a five-star recruit. Advertisement The composite rankings also have Cooper as the No. 30 overall prospect in the 2026 class. Cooper posted a picture on X ahead of his weekend visit with the Bulldogs. Cooper is listed as a running back, but on the 247Sports positional rankings, Cooper is included on the list of athletes. On that list, the 247Sports Composite rankings rated Cooper the No. 2 athlete. The five-star recruit is also the No. 2 Florida prospect in the 2026 class. Cooper will play his senior year of high school at Chaminade-Madonna in Hollywood, Florida. Related: Georgia Approaching Staggering 20th Visit With Highly Touted Star: Insider This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
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- Yahoo
Raiders' Ashton Jeanty Reveals All-Time Favorite NFL Running Back
Raiders' Ashton Jeanty Reveals All-Time Favorite NFL Running Back originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Las Vegas Raiders managed just 79.8 yards per game on the ground during the 2024 season, which was the worst mark in the NFL by a decent margin. Advertisement Fortunately, they remedied that with the addition of Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Jeanty recently appeared on an episode of "The Rush With Maxx Crosby" and was asked which legendary running back he prefers: The Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson, or the Vikings' Adrian Peterson. "Imma go LT, just cause he's more like my personal favorite from watching him growing up," Jeanty said. "And I feel like my game could compare to his a little more than AP's." Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2).Candice Ward-Imagn Images Tomlinson terrorized the Silver and Black during his nine seasons in San Diego. He was a six-time All-Pro, a five-time Pro Bowler and even won the NFL MVP award in 2006, which landed him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Advertisement Peterson was also a legendary player that played 15 NFL seasons, the majority of which were in Minnesota. He has seven All-Pro honors and seven Pro Bowls to his name, and he was the NFL MVP in 2012. Neither of these players would be a poor choice, but with Peterson standing at 6-foot-1, and Tomlinson sitting at just 5-foot-10, it is easy to understand why the 5-foot-9 Jeanty resonates with one more. Jeanty had a historic college season at Boise State in 2024, rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns. This earned him a second-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting and an easy grade as a first-round pick. He will be relied on heavily by Raiders head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly as a rookie. Las Vegas also brought in veteran Raheem Mostert this offseason, who led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2023, but he is expected to play a complementary role. Advertisement The Raiders' first game will be against the New England Patriots, who are a relative unknown considering how much roster turnover they had this offseason. This will be Jeanty's first chance to prove that he belongs in conversations with players like Tomlinson and Peterson. Related: Surprising Raiders Rookie is Turning Heads at Minicamp Related: Raiders' Veteran Defender Returns to Practice After Brief Absence This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
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Eagles' Saquon Barkley Resets the Running Back Blueprint
Eagles' Saquon Barkley Resets the Running Back Blueprint originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After the confetti settled from Super Bowl LIX, Saquon Barkley faced a crossroads that has claimed countless running backs throughout NFL history. The numbers were staggering: 345 regular-season carries, 91 more in the playoffs, and 482 total touches — a workload that put him squarely in the danger zone where elite backs traditionally begin their decline. Advertisement But Barkley isn't approaching 2025 like a traditional running back. And that might be exactly what separates him from the cautionary tales of the past. The data surrounding high-workload running backs is sobering. Research shows that players with 370 to 389 carries averaged a 27 percent drop in total yards and a 10 percent drop in yards per carry the following season. Even more alarming, all players with 390 or more carries averaged a 33 percent drop in total yards and an 11 percent drop in yards per carry. For context, Barkley's 436 total carries, including playoffs, place him well above these danger thresholds. Recent examples are everywhere. Todd Gurley's effectiveness plummeted from 5.8 to 4.2 yards per touch after his 348 total touches in 2018. Christian McCaffrey's 403 touches in 2019 preceded two injury-riddled seasons. Even LaDainian Tomlinson saw his dominance fade at age 27, going from 'maybe the best ever' to merely solid in just two seasons after his historic workload. But Barkley isn't following the traditional playbook. Where past running backs might have tried to muscle through with intense offseason regimens, Barkley assembled a brain trust that included head coach Nick Sirianni, running backs coach Jemal Singleton, and Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Edgerrin James. Their message was unanimous and blunt. Advertisement 'It wasn't hard because everyone I trust told me basically to sit my ass down for a little bit,' Barkley said. 'You've just got to be smarter, right? You have your moments where you go in there and you grind, you push it, but the majority of those days is just mobility, conditioning, doing all the things to get your body in shape to perform at a high level. It was a lot of workload, but my body feels great, so that's the most important thing.' This represents a fundamental shift from Barkley's typical competitive nature. He never took it easy during the 2024 season, earning NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors and helping carry the Eagles to a Super Bowl title. But his approach to the offseason has been different. This isn't just about rest—it's about strategic recovery. The focus on mobility and conditioning over pure strength training represents cutting-edge thinking in sports science. Rather than trying to add more muscle or power, Barkley is prioritizing the systems that will help him maintain his explosiveness and avoid the breakdown that typically follows high-carry seasons. Remarkably, last season's massive workload didn't diminish Barkley's efficiency. He set a career-best 5.8 yards per carry and a career-high 52.5 percent rushing success rate. This efficiency, combined with smart recovery, could be the key to bucking historical trends. Advertisement Several factors suggest Barkley might successfully defy the high-carry curse. At 28, he says he feels like he's 'entering my prime' as he heads into his eighth NFL season. That would run counter to what we've seen from other backs over the years, but Barkley is coming off an uncommon season. Despite unprecedented mileage in 2024, he says his body feels great with no lasting effects. Unlike backs who faced high-carry seasons behind struggling offenses, Barkley benefits from the Eagles' elite infrastructure. His rushing average jumped from 3.9 yards per carry in his final Giants season to 5.8 with Philadelphia, proving he's harder to tackle with an elite offensive line and dangerous passing game. Perhaps most importantly, Barkley isn't approaching 2025 with desperation. 'The beauty of it is you have an opportunity to do it again,' he explained. 'That's what the mindset kind of shifts to is learn from it, and even though you had a great year, there are so many plays and so many things I can continue to improve on.' What separates Barkley is his long-term vision. 'The thing that drives me is the same thing that has been driving me since I was a little kid,' he said. 'I want to be the best running back to ever play, or at least one of the best running backs to ever play.' Advertisement Rather than trying to replicate 2024's historic numbers, Barkley is focused on sustainable excellence. 'I didn't go into last year with the mindset of rushing for 2,000 yards,' he said. 'I just try to focus on the little things first, and everything else will take care of itself.' The Eagles organization fully supports Barkley's modified approach, with individualized training regimens for each player. All signs point toward another high-volume campaign in 2025, but the challenge will be balancing preservation with maintaining offensive efficiency. History suggests running backs who carry the ball 345-plus times face inevitable decline. But Barkley isn't just any running back. His revolutionary training approach, combined with superior organizational support and a championship-caliber system, positions him to potentially rewrite the narrative about running back longevity. Advertisement 'It was a lot of workload [last year], but my body feels great, so that's the most important thing,' Barkley said. The statistical curse of high carries is real, but Barkley's mindset and methodology suggest he's planning to shatter it entirely. Related: Eagles Defense Called 'Miles Ahead' of Last Year's Top Unit Related: Why Kevin Patullo Isn't Doomed to Repeat Eagles' 2023 Offensive Collapse This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
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- Yahoo
NFL Analyst Compares Cowboys RB to Lakers' Bronny James
NFL Analyst Compares Cowboys RB to Lakers' Bronny James originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Heading into the offseason, running back was arguably the biggest position of need for the Dallas Cowboys. The team finished 27th in rushing (100.3 yards per game) and lost top back and 1,000-yard rusher Rico Dowdle to the Carolina Panthers in free agency. Advertisement Dallas addressed the position by signing former Denver Broncos second-round pick Javonte Williams and former 1,200-yard back Miles Sanders in free agency, and the team took ex-Texas star Jaydon Blue in the fifth round of the 2025 draft in April. And while the Cowboys' running back room is now crowded with the likes of Hunter Luepke, Phil Mafah, and Deuce Vaughn, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News believes one of those four backs is in a similar situation as one high-profile NBA star. Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn (42) runs with the ball against the New York Giants during the second half at MetLife Mulholland-Imagn Images 'Vaughn is fighting to get on the field,' Watkins wrote. 'Vaughn, if you remember, was the feel-good story of the 2023 draft when picked in the sixth round out of Kansas State. He's played in 14 games since. His father is Chris Vaughn, the Cowboys' assistant director of college scouting. Advertisement 'You can debate whether the Cowboys did this as a favor to Chris, but Deuce hasn't been given an easy road to earn roster spots. He's also understanding of the critiques of that. In some ways you can compare it to Bronny James, LeBron James' son whom the Lakers drafted in the second round last year.' Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) warms up prior to the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images On the surface, the Bronny comparison seems like a bit of a reach. While the Lakers very well may have drafted him as a favor to LeBron, he also played some significant minutes for them last year as a rookie second-round pick, and he clearly factors into the team's long-term plans for the future. Conversely, Vaughn was a sixth-round pick who's seemingly been a fringe roster player every year since he was drafted, and many analysts believe he'll be nothing more than a depth piece on an NFL roster. Advertisement However, the point of nepotism leading to each being drafted where they were is certainly worth pointing out. Travis Kelce Drops Major Hint About Expanding Family With Taylor Swift Related: Travis Kelce Drops Major Hint About Expanding Family With Taylor Swift Related: Chiefs TE Travis Kelce Turns Heads With Dramatic Physical Transformation This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saquon Barkley's Relentless Rise Is Redefining What Greatness Looks Like at Running Back
Saquon Barkley's Relentless Rise Is Redefining What Greatness Looks Like at Running Back originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Saquon Barkley is methodically building one of the most compelling cases for greatest running back of all time, and he's doing it with the quiet confidence of someone who knows exactly what he's chasing. After a historic 2024 season that culminated in a Super Bowl LIX victory, the Philadelphia Eagles superstar has positioned himself in rarified air with achievements that no other player in NFL history has accomplished. Advertisement Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season, becoming just the ninth player in league history to eclipse the 2,000-yard mark. Including the playoffs, he set the record for most rushing yards in a single season with 2,504 yards and became the only player in NFL history to compile over 2,800 scrimmage yards in one season when postseason play is included. His seven touchdown runs of 60-plus yards last season represent an NFL record, with three of those coming in the playoffs—a feat no other player has accomplished over an entire playoff career. 'I don't mean it in an arrogant way. I want to be the best running back to ever play, or at least one of the best running backs to ever play,' Barkley previously told reporters. 'Don't think there's a way you can prove who's the best. But that's always been my motivation.' Through seven seasons, the former second overall pick has accumulated three Pro Bowl selections, an All-Pro nod, the 2018 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and the 2024 AP Offensive Player of the Year award. He's even graced the Madden cover, immortalized by his signature reverse hurdle against Jacksonville. Yet Barkley believes his best football still lies ahead. 'I feel like I'm entering my prime,' he said. 'I just gotta continue to have the mindset of listening to everyone, buying into whatever they want me to do. Whatever they want me to do, try to do it at the best of my ability.' Advertisement The transition from New York to Philadelphia proved transformative. After six seasons with the Giants—where he routinely carried underperforming offenses—Barkley finally landed in an environment that maximized his talents. The Eagles gave him the offensive line, quarterback, and system needed to thrive. The result was a championship run that shattered expectations and redefined what a running back could achieve in today's NFL. A second 2,000-yard season would move Barkley into uncharted territory. No player has ever done it twice. If he pulls it off, it won't just elevate his legacy—it will force a reexamination of what the standard for all-time greatness truly is. That type of sustained production would separate him from icons like Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, and Barry Sanders. 'I think that would be pretty cool,' Barkley said of potentially reaching 2,000 yards again. 'But I didn't go into last year with the mindset of rushing for 2,000 yards. It's kind of just happened. ... I just try to take care of the little things first, and everything else that I want to accomplish, all the things that you have to accomplish to become great, to create your legacy and become a Hall of Fame player, I just try to take care of that, and the rest will take care of itself.' His mindset is clear: greatness isn't declared, it's earned. Barkley blends physical dominance with mental discipline and poise in the biggest moments. His game carries shades of the greats—Jim Brown's power, Walter Payton's versatility, Emmitt Smith's resilience, Barry Sanders' explosiveness—while adding his own signature brand of speed and fluidity. Advertisement What makes Barkley's rise even more remarkable is the era in which it's occurring. In a time when running backs are viewed as interchangeable, he's proving that a transcendent player at the position still matters. Barkley isn't just producing—he's defining game plans and opening up the offense for his teammates. His value, both statistical and intangible, is undeniable. At 28, with a Super Bowl ring secured and more prime years ahead, Barkley is positioned to continue rewriting records and reshaping the running back conversation. His path to the Hall of Fame is well underway—but his sights are set even higher. The greatest running back debate may never yield a definitive winner. But if Barkley keeps playing at this level, his name won't just be in the conversation. It might one day lead it. Related: 'Quiet' Zack Baun Poised For Major Difference with Philadelphia Eagles Related: Backfield Duo Could Define Eagles Offense in 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
