Honorable Mentions
Jordan Waters (Duke to NC State)
Dylan Edwards (Colorado to Kansas State)
Roydell Williams (Alabama to Florida State)
5.) Rocket Sanders (Arkansas to South Carolina)
Rocket Sanders is going to be a playmaker for the South Carolina Gamecocks this year. In his collegiate career, he has accumulated 2,230 rushing yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, along with 17 rushing touchdowns. His sophomore year was his breakout season, though he dealt with injuries last season. The Gamecocks’ offense struggled to run the football last year, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry and 83.2 rushing yards per game. Rocket Sanders can help improve both of those numbers this season, making life a lot easier for Shane Beamer.
4.) Ja’Quinden Jackson (Utah to Arkansas)
Ja’Quinden Jackson is set to be a major asset for the Arkansas offense in 2024. Over his collegiate career, he has rushed for 1,358 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, and has scored 14 rushing touchdowns. Jackson transitioned from quarterback to running back during his time at Utah, a move that has clearly paid off. Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 229 pounds, he is a dominant force who will create havoc for SEC defenses. Arkansas averaged just 3.6 yards per carry last season, and Jackson’s skills could be key in revitalizing their rushing attack in 2024. Expect him to make a significant impact for Arkansas.
3.) Trevor Etienne (Florida to Georgia)
Trevor Etienne moves from a struggling SEC team to one of the powerhouses in the SEC. In his collegiate career, he has rushed for 1,472 rushing yards on 5.9 yards per carry and adds 14 rushing touchdowns. Etienne moves into one of the better rushing attacks from a season ago. With Carson Beck as his starting quarterback, it should open up a lot of work for Etienne. Last season the Bulldogs average 5.3 yards per carry which was top ten in the country. Trevor Etienne will be a key piece of this offense for the Bulldogs looking to head back to the National Championship.
2.) Damien Martinez (Oregon State to Miami)
Damien Martinez was, in my honest opinion, a top ten running back last season. In his collegiate career, he has rushed for 2,167 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and has added 16 rushing touchdowns. With the Hurricanes in desperate need of a spark on offense, they’ve acquired a running back who can deliver just that.
Consider how good Oregon State’s offense has been over the past two seasons—Martinez was a big reason for their success. Now, he joins a system with a solid rushing attack and a versatile quarterback, which will help create even more opportunities for Martinez to thrive.
1.) Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss to Ohio State)
The best running back to come out of the transfer portal is Quinshon Judkins. In his collegiate career, he has rushed for 2,725 yards and scored 31 rushing touchdowns, while also averaging 5 yards per carry. Adding Judkins brings a new level of threat to the Buckeyes’ offense. While they’ve had decent running backs during the Ryan Day era, I believe Judkins will be the best running back Day has ever had.
Judkins has accumulated just over 3,000 total yards from scrimmage in his first two seasons in college football, and he achieved that against tough SEC defenses. Now, moving to the Big Ten only adds to his value. He’s set to be a workhorse and a beast for Ohio State this season. Judkins is not only the best running back to come out of the transfer portal, but he will also be a top five running back in the country this season.
