The ACC’s Best Returning Running Backs in 2026. We continue our best returning players’ series with a look at the ACC’s top running backs.
Several of the ACC’s projected top teams return significant talent in the backfield, making the race for the conference title fascinating. The top three rushers project to be among the best running backs in college football, and a youthful crop of honorable mentions will step into larger roles.
The ACC’s Best Returning Running Backs in 2026
Honorable Mention
- Jayden Scott (5-10, 215): Scott enters his third season with NC State as a preseason Second-Team All-ACC selection (Athlon). After being a change-of-pace back who complemented Hollywood Smothers, Scott is expected to take over the lead role next season. He recorded 106 carries for 595 yards and four scores, along with 15 receptions for 132 yards last season. The Stockbridge, Ga., native proved he could take over games, as seen when he broke free for 196 rushing yards against Georgia Tech. Now it’s about building more consistency.
- Ja’Kyrian Turner (5-9, 180): Turner started five of 12 games for Pitt as a first-year player, producing 745 yards and seven touchdowns on 140 carries. Similar to Jayden Scott, Turner burned the Georgia Tech defense, erupting for 201 yards and a score. His 201 yards on the ground were the most by a Pitt freshman since Qadree Ollison (207 vs Youngstown State) in 2015. Can he have another breakthrough season?
- Kendrick Raphael (5-11, 200): Raphael transfers from Cal to SMU, giving the Mustangs a reliable contributor. Through three seasons (Cal, NC State), Raphael has 377 carries for 1,677 yards and 17 touchdowns in addition to 382 receiving yards and a score. For an SMU team with ACC title aspirations, adding Raphael to the roster will help balance the Mustangs’ offensive attack.
- Marcellous Hawkins (5-10, 223): Hawkins is a preseason Third-Team All-ACC selection per Athlon. In 2025, Hawkins tallied 118 carries for 749 yards and a touchdown for an average of 6.3 yards per carry. He was limited to individual drills and did not participate in the spring game, but is still likely to slot in as the top tailback at Virginia Tech.
The Top Three
3. Nate Sheppard, Duke
Nate Sheppard had a phenomenal first season at Duke, earning Second Team All-ACC recognition along with a Freshman All-American nod by The Athletic. Sheppard produced a conference-high 1,418 yards from scrimmage in 2025 and ranks as the No. 7 returning running back according to Pro Football Focus. A balanced back who changes speed and direction at a high level, Sheppard has the potential to have back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns. While Raphael, Turner, Scott, and Hawkins all have high ceilings, the divide is clear in the ACC, making Sheppard a safe No. 3.
2. Isaac Brown, Louisville
Isaac Brown agreed to a new deal this offseason with Louisville, preventing him from entering the transfer portal. Brown has elite breakaway speed for a running back and can score on any given play. Despite missing the final four games of the regular season due to injury, Brown recorded six 100-yard rushing performances. One area he needs to improve is pass protection, as he finished 2025 with a 23.7 pass-blocking grade per PFF. If Brown can clean up pass protection errors, he could be the best running back in the ACC next season.
1. Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami
Mark Fletcher Jr. set the College Football Playoff record with 507 rushing yards over the course of Miami’s postseason run. Fletcher is the complete package, a three-down back who punishes defenders with his physicality. There is a real argument for Fletcher to be ranked as the best running back in all of college football due to his size at 6′-2″, 225 pounds, and ability to carry a team on his back. With another successful season, Fletcher could hear his name called in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Main Image: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images
