NFL draft: Top 10 running backs

The Observer’s top 10 running backs available in the 2016 NFL draft:

1. Ezekiel Elliott

College: Ohio State.

Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 225.

Projected round: 1.

Comment: Versatile, every-down back who ran for 100 yards in 22 of 39 games for Buckeyes.

2. Derrick Henry

College: Alabama.

Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 247.

Projected round: 1-2.

Comment: Heisman Trophy winner is huge with good speed, but has a lot of mileage on him.

3. C.J. Prosise

College: Notre Dame.

Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 220.

Projected round: 2.

Comment: Rushed for 1,000 yards last season despite missing several games because of injury.

4. Kenneth Dixon

College: Louisiana Tech.

Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 215.

Projected round: 2-3.

Comment: A physical yet elusive runner, Dixon’s 87 TDs rank second in NCAA history.

5. Devontae Booker

College: Utah.

Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 219.

Projected round: 3.

Comment: Change-of-pace back did not work out at combine or Utah pro day after knee surgery.

6. Paul Perkins

College: UCLA.

Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 208.

Projected round: 3-4.

Comment: Posted back-to-back seasons of at least 1,300 yards, leading the Pac-12 in rushing in 2014.

7. Jordan Howard

College: Indiana

Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 230.

Projected round: 3-4.

Comment: Former UAB back transferred to Indiana after Blazers’ program was shuttered.

8. Alex Collins

College: Arkansas.

Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 217.

Projected round: 3-4.

Comment: Rushed for 1,000 yards each of three seasons at Arkansas, and showed good blitz pickup ability.

9. Kenyan Drake

College: Alabama.

Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 210.

Projected round: 4-5.

Comment: Career backup faced multiple suspensions and off-the-field issues early in career.

10. Jonathan Williams

College: Arkansas.

Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 220.

Projected round: 5.

Comment: Missed 2015 season following foot surgery, but physical, inside runner when healthy.

Panthers’ perspective

Dave Gettleman has drafted a running back late each of the past three drafts, although only one (Cameron Artis-Payne) remains on the roster. The Panthers could stand to start grooming a successor to Jonathan Stewart, who is 29. But given Gettleman’s history, he’ll probably be looking for a value pick at running back on the third day of the draft.

Local connection

Former N.C. State running back Shad Thornton is trying to convince teams he doesn’t have character issues after he was kicked off Wolfpack’s team last fall after a series of off-the-field problems. Thornton has good size (6-0, 217) but ran a slow 40 (4.71 seconds) at the combine. Likely will sign somewhere as an undrafted free agent.

Sleeper

Keith Marshall, a former Gatorade Player of the Year in North Carolina, played behind Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb at Georgia. A torn ACL set him back for nearly two seasons. But Marshall had the fastest 40 (4.33 seconds) of any player at the combine and benched 225 pounds 25 times.

Worth noting

UCLA’s Perkins has strong bloodlines. His father, Bruce, and uncle Don both were NFL backs, and his younger brother Bryce is an Arizona State quarterback. ... Florida’s Kelvin Taylor also comes from good stock: His dad is former Jags and Patriots RB Fred Taylor, who had a 13-year NFL career. ... Kansas State fullback Glenn Gronkowksi spent much of his time at the combine trying to convince scouts he’s not as big a partier as his brother Rob.

This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 5:50 PM with the headline "NFL draft: Top 10 running backs."