Editor’s note: This is the third installment of Dane Brugler’s 2027 NFL Draft Summer Scouting series. Previous ranking: Wide receivers | Defensive tacklesThough the 2027 draft class might not have a true superstar running back prospect on the level of Jeremiyah Love, the upcoming crop of players at that position looks much deeper than this year’s class throughout the early rounds — and that includes multiple potential first-rounders.Who are the running backs to watch this season?(Note: An asterisk represents draft-eligible underclassmen. Heights and weights are what NFL teams currently have on file for each player, per league sources.)1. Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss (5-10, 205)*Best trait: Explosive athleticismLacy does multiple things at a high level. He is a loose runner with widescreen vision to find run lanes and the decisiveness to hit holes with timing. For a lighter back, Lacy is also a competitive finisher, using his balance to bounce off would-be tacklers.But the foundation of Lacy’s production is his explosive run style. He has the make-you-miss athleticism to leave defenders off balance and unable to match the burst in his strides. This clip from last season’s South Carolina tape illustrates exactly that:Kewan Lacy vs. South CarolinaDane BruglerMust improve: Cutting out fumblesThere are a few details about Lacy’s game that scouts are watching for improvement in 2026, including his ball security. He fumbled three times last season — not a disastrous number, but a few of those miscues were costly, including a scoop-and-score by Georgia in the College Football Playoff.2027 NFL Draft outlookA Dallas native, Lacy picked Missouri over Alabama and Ole Miss out of high school. After a nondescript freshman season with the Tigers, he hopped into the portal and ended up with the Rebels, for whom he finished top-three in the FBS in rushing yards (1,567) and rushing touchdowns (24). Lacy scored a touchdown in 14 of 15 games last season and led all FBS running backs in carries that resulted in a first down or touchdown (83).The NFL desires several different qualities at the running back position, but above all, the league covets ball carriers who create explosive plays. Lacy (who turned 20 this summer) is arguably the most explosive back in college football. Though not on Love’s level as a prospect, Lacy has first-round talent.2. Jadan Baugh, Florida (6-0, 228)*Best traits: Burst, fluidity and strengthBaugh is a unique athlete for his size — that’s obvious. But his run style goes deeper than simply being bigger or quicker than others. His fluid, bursty cuts are very uncommon for a 230-pound back. Combine that with his body armor and contact balance, and he becomes a very difficult player to bring down.It isn’t just his physical traits, either. Baugh shows the patience and feel to quickly calculate tackling angles before breaking off sharp lateral cuts, making it tough for defenders to answer. Throw on tape of Baugh against Texas or Tennessee or just about any other opponent from last season, and you will see examples of his burst, fluidity and run strength.That combination was most evident during his 266-yard performance against Florida State in the 2025 season finale:Mark Fletcher vs. South FloridaDane BruglerMust improve: Getting back up to full speedBaugh shows an impressive ability to decelerate and cut to make defenders miss, but there is a lag in his acceleration once he slows and then smashes the gas pedal. It isn’t necessarily a speed issue, because he can outrun pursuit when he has a runway, but Baugh needs a moment to rebuild his speed. That delay can give defenders a chance to recover and track him down. He had only one carry of 25-plus yards last season (and it went for 26 yards).2027 NFL Draft outlookSome in the comment section were surprised to see Baugh early in my way-too-early 2027 mock draft back in April. But I feel even better about it after watching more tape of him. A three-star “athlete” out of high school, Baugh eventually became Florida’s lead back as a true freshman and played like one of the top backs in the country as a sophomore last season.Baugh is a uniquely gifted runner. His cutting athleticism, contact balance and proximity awareness are outstanding, and his pass-catching and blocking skills also play in his favor. He caught 33 passes without a drop last season — some rudimentary dump-offs, but also several targets away from the line of scrimmage (see his wheel route touchdown versus Tennessee).3. Ahmad Hardy, Missouri (5-10, 212)*Best trait: Tackle-breaking balanceThe main takeaway from 2025 tape of Hardy is that trying to tackle him looks miserable.A short, compact athlete, he runs with the physicality and strength to keep his feet beneath him, absorb contact and shed tackle attempts. Hardy not only has the physical characteristics with his piston-pumping legs, but also the competitive grit to power through defenses.With his toughness and contact balance, Hardy was born to be a running back — a truth that translates to any level of football.Ahmad Hardy vs. South CarolinaDane BruglerMust improve: Receiving skillsHardy had a grand total of six catches for 22 yards (3.7 yards per catch) last season, which left evaluators guessing how he might handle more targets. Will he be comfortable with a more diverse running back route tree? Will more targets mean more drops?Proving that he can be productive in the screen game would be a solid baseline for Hardy to maximize his draft grade.2027 NFL Draft outlookA small-town, horse-riding, Mississippi native, Hardy had the high school stats to be a high-level recruit, but he was overlooked and started his college career at Louisiana-Monroe. After earning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors with 1,351 yards in 2024, Hardy no longer found himself flying under the radar. He transferred to Missouri and flourished with 1,649 rushing yards as a sophomore (No. 2 in the FBS last season).Hardy doesn’t have the speed of Lacy or even Baugh, but he led the SEC in carries of 10-plus yards (43) and 20-plus yards (17) last season, as he relied on his tempo and tackle-breaking skills to create chunk plays in the Tigers’ outside zone scheme. Although not a one-to-one comparison, some of his runs give flashbacks of Nick Chubb because of his contact balance.There isn’t a massive gap between the first three backs on this list. However, Hardy’s outlook for the 2026 season is somewhat uncertain after he was shot in the leg at a concert in May. He underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery, but his full recovery timeline is unknown.4. Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami (6-2, 226)Best trait: Flashes of Derrick HenryI don’t know if we will ever see another running back quite like Derrick Henry, but Fletcher gives off similar vibes with his patience at the line and downhill run style.Though not quite as big as Henry, Fletcher has linebacker size and runs with outstanding physicality. He uses long strides to eat up grass in the open field, and can also collect his feet and make weaving cuts to be more than just a battering ram. NFL coaches will love his run approach.Mark Fletcher vs. South FloridaDane BruglerMust improve: Tall center of gravityFletcher is built tall and runs tall, which gives defenders an opportunity to cut him down at the legs. He makes an earnest effort to drop his pads, helping him absorb contact and maintain his balance, but Fletcher can be more consistent using his body structure to its full advantage.2027 NFL Draft outlookOriginally committed to Ohio State in high school, Fletcher wanted to stay closer to home and flipped to the Hurricanes. Part of a rotation his first two seasons, he became Miami’s lead back in 2025 and averaged 14.1 carries per game in the regular season. He then came alive during Miami’s run through the College Football Playoff, averaging 126.8 rushing yards and 6.8 yards per carry against Texas A&M, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Indiana.Fletcher won’t wow with his speed or burst, but he is a good athlete for his size, and he trusts his vision to lead him to daylight. As last season progressed, he ran with increasing decisiveness and became more confident in his strengths as a runner. If that continues in 2026 and he improves as a pass catcher and blocker, Fletcher will continue to earn fans around the league.5. Justice Haynes, Georgia Tech (5-10, 208)Best trait: Staying behind his pads with widescreen visionHaynes has a natural feel for the running back position. He sees the line of scrimmage well and makes timely reads to maximize each carry. He also consistently stays behind his pads while keeping his legs churning to spin off contact and grind out tough yards.Oklahoma had one of the best run defenses in college football last season, allowing only 2.39 yards per carry (second best in the FBS). But Haynes ripped off 6.6 yards per carry against the Sooners, including a 75-yard scamper on which he showed the vision to find the cutback on the counter:Justice Haynes vs. OklahomaDane BruglerMust improve: Short-area creativityThough he is controlled in his cuts, Haynes is average in terms of suddenness, which limits his ability to set up and make defenders miss in the open field. He has the speed to gallop away from pursuit (like in the clip above) but relies more on vision and tempo to create those breakaway runs, rather than creative burst.2027 NFL Draft outlookA five-star recruit in Alabama’s 2023 class (along with Caleb Downs and Kadyn Proctor), Haynes spent two seasons as a backup for the Tide before transferring to Michigan last season. He rushed for 100-plus yards in six of the seven games he played in 2025 before injuries slowed him down. Haynes considered the NFL before deciding to return to the portal. He ultimately landed back in his home state, at Georgia Tech, for his senior year.Haynes is an easy player to like because of his vision, tempo and balance to maximize what is blocked for him. I have some questions about his short-area burst to create versus NFL speed, but his passing-down skills and reliability with the ball are strong selling points. He will get plenty of carries in Georgia Tech’s pro-style offense, and NFL scouts are hoping he stays healthy.Top 25 senior running back prospects1. Fletcher