Big Ten running backs are known to be some of the best in college football. For decades, the conference has boasted elite backs like Eddie George, Ron Dayne, and Saquon Barkley, to name a few. For 2024, the Big Ten is home to what feels like a dozen NFL-bound running backs with two of the best potentially coming from the same school.
We continue our best returning series with the often-overlooked Big Ten running backs. The position may be taking a bit of a back seat in the NFL but in the Big Ten, they are still big parts of the offensive gameplan. For this, we are only looking at players returning to the Big Ten. If a player transferred in (ie, Quinshon Judkins), they will not be included. However, players from the four new West Coast programs can be.
Best Returning Big Ten Running Backs for 2024
5. Jordan James, Oregon
Welcome to the Big Ten, Jordan James. After backing up the dynamic Bucky Irving, James gets his shot in what looks to be an exciting Oregon offense.
Despite being the backup a year ago, James was explosive. He led the Pac-12 with over seven yards per carry and managed 759 yards and 11 touchdowns on the year. Those 11 scores were tied for third in the conference with the two players ahead of him logging significantly more carries.
Heading into the year, PFF recognized James as one of the prime candidates to break out. If he continues his efficient play and can get anywhere close to seven yards per carry again, Oregon will be in a great spot.
4. Nicholas Singleton/Kaytron Allen, Penn State
While the two Penn State backs are different players, they are remarkably similar. The Nittany Lions run the duo almost identically, it’s impressive.
Last year, Kaytron Allen ran for 902 yards and six scores off 172 carries. Nicholas Singleton turned in 752 yards and eight touchdowns off 171 carries. In 2022, the roles were reversed. Allen ran the ball 167 times for 867 yards and 10 touchdowns while Singleton amassed 1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns off 156 carries.
In his career, Allen has just over five yards per carry…nearly identical to Singleton.
While they may be overshadowed by the Ohio State duo, the one-two punch of Allen and Singleton easily ranks as one of the better pairs in the country. If either one had full command of the offense, they could showcase as possibly the best Big Ten running back. As of now, the pair falls in together at fourth.
3. Donovan Edwards, Michigan
Last season was an interesting one for Donovan Edwards. He was nowhere near as efficient with the ball as he was the year before. Heading into the College Football Playoff National Championship, Edwards had 393 yards and three touchdowns off 113 carries. Then, he channeled his 2022 version and turned in a six-carry, 104-yard, two-touchdown effort to bring it home. Those two runs were 41 yards and 46 yards.
He had five games in 2023 where he ran the ball at least 10 times but his season-high was 52 yards. As the number two back, he was a non-factor for most of the year.
His 2022 season is likely closer to what Michigan will get from Edwards in 2024. Despite only playing in 11 games, Edwards ran the ball 140 times for 991 yards and seven scores. Again, he was playing second fiddle but ran the ball at least 10 times seven times. Three of those games featured 20+ carries and he ran for over 100 yards five times.
Now that the offense will run through Edwards, expect his first 1,000-yard effort in 2024.
2. Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
According to PFF, the highest-graded Big Ten running back returning in 2024 is actually Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers. Considering his breakout campaign a year ago, it only makes sense.
In his first three seasons on campus, Monangai ran the ball 171 times for 681 yards and six touchdowns. Then, he took a massive step forward in 2023.
As the lead back for the Scarlet Knights, Monangai ran for 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns off 242 carries. While he may not be an overly threatening receiver out of the backfield, Monangai added eight catches for 78 yards. He finished the year with the most rushing yards in the Big Ten with the second most rushing attempts and scrimmage yards.
Considering the fact that the back who took those top spots is now gone, Monangai has a great opportunity to lead the way again. Rutgers will look for him to convert more touchdowns in what looks to be a promising season.
1. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
The Big Ten is loaded at the running back position and there is a realistic case for any of the top returning players to be the best of the best. As it is, Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson takes the top spot for this year.
When healthy, Henderson has been one of the best running backs in the nation. However, he hasn’t put together a full healthy season since his true freshman season in 2021. In that season, he went off for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Henderson is a dual threat coming out of the backfield. He hauled in 27 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns. Between his rushing and receiving yards, he averaged well over seven yards per touch.
Fast forward to today, he’s been dealing with injuries over the last two seasons. In 18 appearances, Henerson has logged 1,497 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. As a receiver, he managed 257 yards and a touchdown.
Thus far in his career, he’s been a prime case of “when healthy.” He returned for his senior season and will share the backfield with Judkins in an offense that looks to establish the run a bit more. Henderson is considered to be one of the top running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft.
