Ranking college football’s top 10 running backs so far in 2023
Honorable mention
Peny Boone, Toledo
Boone has thoroughly impressed throughout the year for Toledo with 515 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 7.6 yards per tote, and had a 211-yard performance against Western Michigan.
Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
After running for over 10 yards per carry in Texas Tech’s loss to Oregon, Brooks has put together three consecutive 100-yard games for an impressive total of 518 rushing yards on the young season.
Marcus Carroll, Georgia State
Carroll has received more carries than some on this list, but his 583 rushing yards for Georgia State this season are the sixth-most in the nation, while his nine rushing touchdowns are tied for the most in all of college football.
DJ Giddens, Kansas State
Giddens has racked up 423 yards while averaging 6.4 yards per carry this season for Kansas State, and is coming off of an impressive 207-yard, four-touchdown outburst against UCF.
MarShawn Lloyd, USC
USC has one of the best offenses in all of college football led by Caleb Williams, but Lloyd has also been a key contributor, rushing for 433 yards and three scores while averaging 8.3 yards per carry – the second most in the country.
Ismail Mahdi, Texas State
Mahdi has only received 50 carries for Texas State, but has racked up 488 rushing yards while averaging 9.8 yards per carry which is the best among all FBS running backs.
Nate Noel, Appalachian State
Noel’s 651 rushing yards are second in the nation only to Notre Dame standout Audric Estime, as he has run for 100 yards or more in each of Appalachian State’s five games, with one of his best showings coming in a two-overtime loss to North Carolina.
Harrison Waylee, Wyoming
Although he has only played three games this season for Wyoming, Waylee has produced 100-yard rushing efforts in each, putting up 457 yards and three touchdowns as well as an impressive 8.6 yards per carry.
