While many college football fans may know running backs throughout the country, there are many that fly under the radar. That’s why we’re shining a spotlight on the FCS. These are the FCS running backs that you need to know in 2021.
Pha’leak Brown – Illinois State
Brown rushed for 271 yards and 1 TD this spring, while also hauling in 9 passes. Expect a big fall season from him.
Irvin Mulligan – Wofford
Mulligan rushed for 342 yards and 2 TDs this spring. Remember the name.
Jay Stanton – Samford
Stanton rushed for 479 yards and 6 TDs this spring. He’s also a receiving threat, hauling in 15 passes.
Kyle Glover – Kennesaw State
Glover rushed for 278 yards and 2 TDs along with 1 receiving TD this spring in four games.
Dejoun Lee – Delaware
Lee is an outstanding player. He was phenomenal this spring. He rushed for 564 yards and 6 TDs and caught 16 passes for 119 yards.
DaMonta Witherspoon – Murray State
Witherspoon played really well, rushing for 501 yards and 5 TDs. Can’t wait to see how he does this fall.
Devin Wynn – Furman
Wynn is one of the top RBs in the FCS. In his career, he’s rushed for 2,468 rushing yards and 25 TDs and caught 30 passes for 353 yards and 3 TDs.
Coy Williams – Davidson
Williams has great vision and it shows during his play. In 2021, he rushed for 408 yards and 6 TDs.
Brian Snead – Austin Peay
Snead the former 4
and Ohio State Buckeye rushed for 522 yards and 4 TDs last season and caught 5 passes for 24 yards.
Ramon Jefferson – Sam Houston
Jefferson was a key piece to the Bearkats spring National Championship run. He rushed for 752 yards and 7 TDs and had 37 receiving yards.
Tyson Alexander – Jackson State
Alexander was fun to watch last season. He rushed for 377 yards and 1 TD and caught 5 passes for 17 yards.
Justin Covington – Villanova
Covington is one of the top RBs in the CAA. This spring in four games he rushed for 309 yards and 6 TDs.
Josh Davis – Weber State
Davis is one of the best RBs in the FCS. In his career, he’s rushed for 2,884 yards and 21 TDs. He’s a huge receiving threat as well, hauling in 65 passes for 385 yards and 2 TDs.
Garrett Owens – Duquesne
Owens rushed for 411 yards and 5 TDs this spring in 5 games. He also added 7 receptions for 84 yards and 1 TD.
Kavon Samuels – Butler
Samuels rushed for 395 yards and caught 28 passes for 220 yards.
Julien Gums – Nicholls
Gums was spectacular this season. He rushed for 467 yards and 8 touchdowns and also caught 6 passes.
Pierre Strong – South Dakota State
Strong was a key piece to the Jackrabbits’ success this spring. He rushed for 707 yards and 3 TDs and caught 20 passes for 178 yards and TD.
Alonzo Booth – EKU
Booth had a big season in 2020. He rushed for 708 yards and 7 touchdowns and caught 10 passes for 115 yards and 1 TD. Remember the name!
Gary Quarles – Alabama A&M
Quarles is a name to remember. Last season in four games he rushed for 318 yards and 4 TDs and caught 8 passes for 92 yards and 1 TD.
Donnavan Spencer – SIU
Spencer transfers into SIU this season from WCU. This past season he was absolutely incredible rushing for 718 yards and 6 TDs and catching 20 passes for 131 yards. In his career, he’s rushed for 2,079 yards and 20 TDs
Isaiah Davis – South Dakota State
This past season Davis was a highlight reel. He rushed for 818 yards and 10 TDs, averaging 8.5 yards per carry. He also caught 7 passes for 107 yards.
Dylan Sparks – Davidson
This spring Sparks rushed for 476 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Geno Hess – SEMO
Hess was on the 2019 All OVC Newcomer team. In his career he’s rushed for 767 yards and 7 TDs.
Tirek Murphy – Rhode Island
Murphy a former 4 and Purdue transfer has an opportunity to be a big time player for the Rams. Murphy is a strong, physical runner.
Kevin Brown Jr – Rhode Island
This spring as a Freshman Brown Jr had a breakout game vs Villanova, rushing for 141 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also rushed for 48 yards vs Albany and 67 yards vs Delaware.
Ezra Gray – Alabama State
Gray was sensational last season. He showed excellent vision and quickness, rushing for 436 yards and 3 TDs while also catching 10 passes and having 185 Kick Return yards.
Narii Gaither – Gardner Webb
Gaither rushed for 349 yards and 3 touchdowns this spring, while also catching 11 passes for 70 yards and 1 TD.
Jordan Younge-Humphrey – Stetson
Humphrey rushed for 359 yards in four games last season, averaging 6.5 yards per carry.
Devon Starling – Tennessee State
Starling rushed for 647 yards and 3 touchdowns this spring. Can’t wait to see the progression he has made working with Head Coach Eddie George.
Jaleel McLaughlin – Youngstown State
McLaughlin is a phenomenal athlete with extraordinary quickness and athleticism. This spring he rushed for 697 yards in 5 games and had 7 touchdowns.
Percy Agyei Obese – JMU
Agyei-Obese is one of the best RBs in the FCS. In his career, he’s rushed for 2,374 yards and 29 touchdowns, while averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
Otis Weah – North Dakota
Weah was one of the top performers this spring in the FCS. Last season, he rushed for 730 yards and 9 touchdowns. He’s got the strength to run defenders over and quickness to leave defenders in space.
Quay Holmes – ETSU
Holmes is one of the top players in the SOCON and one of the top RBs in the FCS. This spring he rushed for 640 yards and 8 TDs, while averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
Robert Washington – Valparaiso
Washington, a former Charlotte and ODU transfer, was the MVP for Valpo this spring. He rushed for 653 yards and 5 TDs and had one receiving TD.
Dan Adeboboye – Bryant
Adeboboye has rushed for 1,307 yards and 10 TDs in his career, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He also has 20 receptions.
Jonathan DeBique – LIU
DeBique rushed for 337 yards and 2 TDs this spring in three games. Expect a big fall season.
Scooter Adams – Northwestern State
Adams is a big time talent. He really caught my attention this spring with his elusiveness and ball carrying skills. He rushed for 681 yards and 7 TDs and also had 18 receptions for 149 yards.
Karl Mofor – Albany
In four games last season, Mofor rushed for 460 yards and 2 touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 85 yards and 1 TD.
Kevin Brown – Incarnate Word
Brown was one of the top players in the spring FCS season. He was a do-it-all running back who rushed for 775 yards and 5 touchdowns and caught 21 passes for 205 yards and 2 TDs.
Juwon Farri – Monmouth
Farri was outstanding this spring. He rushed for 520 yards and had 10 TDs in just four games.
Julius Chestnut – Sacred Heart
Chestnut was in most people’s opinions the top RB in the FCS this spring. He was a machine who carried his team each week. He rushed for 855 yards and 9 TDs, averaging 6.9 ypc and caught 8 passes for 171 yards and 3 TDs.
Korey Bridy – VMI
Bridy was a key piece to the spectacular run the Keydets had this spring. He rushed for 344 yards and 4 TDs and caught 15 passes for 68 yards and 1 TD. Remember the name!
Tyler Hoosman – UNI
Hoosman really caught my attention this spring. He runs with authority and has the vision to find the best lanes. This spring he rushed for 375 yards and 6 TDs and 27 receiving yards.
Hunter Luepke – NDSU
Luepke is a Fullback. He’s a 6’1″ 250-pound wrecking ball. He excels at blocking and runs with authority. Last season, he rushed for 458 yards and 6 TDs and had 1 receiving TD.
Uriah West – Jacksonville State
West was one of the top RBs in the FCS last season. He rushed for 687 yards and 8 TDs and caught 17 passes for 195 yards and 1 TD.
Lan Larison – UC Davis
Larison had a breakout spring season. The Freshman rushed for 327 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Tamarick Pierce – EWU
Pierce is a big time player. This spring he rushed for 462 yards and 5 touchdowns and caught 8 passes for 35 yards. In his career he has 23 rushing TDs.
Kierre Crossley – UAPB
Crossley was the 2017 Southland Freshman of the Year. Last season he rushed for 508 yards and 4 TDs and caught 16 passes for 109 yards. Crossley transferred to UAPB for the 2021 Fall season.
Ty Son Lawton – Stony Brook
Lawton is a player I’ve always enjoyed watching. This spring he rushed for 268 yards and 3 TDs in four games. In his career he’s rushed for 916 yards and 10 TDs.
Rayquan Smith – Norfolk State
Smith is a player I’ve been following and been a big fan of for years. In 7 games in 2019 he rushed for 430 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He also caught 11 passes for 141 yards. Expect a big 2021 season!!!
Kevin Johnson – Norfolk State
Johnson has rushed for 468 yards in his career with 8 touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He’s also caught 13 passes for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns.
C.J. Freeman – Campbell
Freeman is a former South Carolina Gamecock. In his career, he’s rushed for 363 yards and 2 TDs, averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
Bryant Barr – Campbell
Barr is a player to watch for this Fall. In his career he’s rushed for 348 yards and 5 touchdowns and caught 6 passes for 95 yards.
Ryheem Skinner – Tarleton State
Skinner rushed for 687 yards and 6 touchdowns last season in 6 games, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
Quali Conley – Dixie State
Conley rushed for 400 yards and 4 touchdowns last spring in 5 games, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He also caught 14 passes for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Aaron Dykes – Richmond
Dykes has rushed for 692 yards in his career, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. He has 6 rushing TDs and also contributes in the passing attack with 23 receptions for 245 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Malachi Imoh – William & Mary
Imoh is a dynamic player with elite athleticism and versatility. Last spring in two games as a Freshman he rushed for 148 yards and 3 touchdowns and also caught 3 passes for 22 yards. Expect a big fall season.
Jerodd Sims – Southern
Sims is only a sophomore and is showing how much talent he has already. This spring he rushed for 176 yards and 3 touchdowns and caught 6 passes for 74 yards and 1 TD.
Devon Benn – Southern
Benn rushed for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns last spring in five games.
Andrew Cunningham – Missouri State
Cunningham is a JUCO Transfer who has big expectations. He’s a slasher with home run ability, go check him out this Fall and remember the name.
Joshua Samuel – Jacksonville State
Samuel is a WKU Transfer. In his career for the Hilltoppers he rushed for 656 yards and 1 TD and averaged 5.2 yards per carry.
Celdon Manning – Missouri State
Manning rushed for 269 yards and 4 touchdowns last spring and caught 13 passes for 143 yards and 1 TD.
