RB Rankings

Is there a first round-worthy running back after Clemson's C.J. Spiller? At the moment, it doesn't seem that way.

Spiller is in a class of his own. He has the speed, quickness and agility to be an elusive runner at the next level. He has the strength and determination to fight for the extra yard when he needs to. He can catch passes out of the backfield as well. Simply put, he's a playmaker - and he's worthy of a top-20 pick.

The only other back to generate a lot of first round talk has been Fresno State's Ryan Matthews. He's a big back at 5-11+ and 218 pounds, and he has pretty good speed (he ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at the Combine) and solid strength. Still, he's not at Spiller's level and is not as heralded as some other backs in this draft class. Of course, that doesn't mean a whole lot when it's all said and done. But Matthews is clearly in the second tier on my draft board, and a late first round pick.

Another name to watch is Jahvid Best, the talented Cal running back. When he's on his game, he's equally as explosive as Spiller. He can also catch passes out of the backfield and he's a talented player in the return game. Best isn't someone to call on when you want to run straight up the gut on 3rd and 1, but he could be a nice second round steal for a team.

Other second round backs to watch: Dexter McCluster (Mississippi) and Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech)

Weekend Wrap-up for Week 1

Yes, there's still a handful of games to be played in the opening week, but with the bulk in the books, it's time for THE WEEKEND-WRAP-UP. The "Weekend Wrap-up" will be a regular feature during the college football season. It'll take a look at the draft-eligible players who had big days to bolster their draft stock and bad days to hurt it.

STARS
- USC RB Joe McKnight (Jr) turned in one of the finer performances of his college career, even if it was against San Jose State. McKnight, who came to USC with high expectations but has been largely inconsistent, carried 10 times for 145 yards and 2 scores. He fumbled on his third carry - something he has been prone to do at USC - but dazzled on his touchdown runs, one of them a 54-yard masterpiece in which he made a number of would-be tacklers miss. McKnight didn't open the season as a top-10 back in terms of April 2010 because of his inconsistency, but he opened the season as the #1 RB on the depth chart, and if he can consistently show this skill set, he'll be talked about when the draft rolls around.
- Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant (Jr) is arguably the top draft-eligible receiver in college football, and he wowed everyone with 3 catches for 77 yards and 2 TDs. His numbers weren't gaudy, but his athleticism was. He made a spectacular 46-yard touchdown grab late in the second quarter, blowing past the secondary and diving to make a remarkable catch. Bryant is a big-play receiver with remarkable skills and a knack for making spectacular grabs, which he showcased Saturday.
- Cal RB Javhid Best (Jr) made his case for the #1 RB slot, as did Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer (Jr). Best carried 10 times for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Dwyer had 7 carries for 95 yards and 2 scores - all in the first half - including a 74-yard scoring run on the first play from scrimmage. Both are among the nation's elite draft-eligible RBs, and it'll be interesting to see how this race develops as the season goes along.

STUMBLERS
- Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford (Jr) suffered an injury to his throwing arm, forcing him to sit out the second half of Oklahoma's loss to BYU. More to come in the Week 1 QB Competition update.
- Clemson RB C.J. Spiller (Sr) opened up his season with a 96-yard kickoff return for a TD but was injured in the second quarter and did not return. The injury is not believed to be serious, according to the Clemson athletic department.