Big 12 running back power rankings: How does TCU’s Cam Cook stack up against Ollie Gordon, Devin Neal?

While the Big 12 has been known for its quarterback and Air Raid style offenses, over the last few years the conference has quietly become an elite running back conference.

From past stars like Bijan Robinson, Deuce Vaughn and Kendre Miller to current ones like Ollie Gordon and Devin Neal, the Big 12 is full of top notch ball carriers.

Gordon will obviously top this list after being named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year for Oklahoma State last season, but while he’s the headliner there are a number of 1,000-yard backs looking to usurp him this season.

The Star-Telegram continues its power rankings of position groups across the Big 12. For running backs, the rankings are based heavily on a team’s starting running back, but having a quality number two was also factored:

1. Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State

Breakdown: The former Euless Trinity standout had a monster season with 1,732 yards and 22 total touchdowns for the Cowboys last season as Oklahoma State stunned everyone by making a run to the Big 12 championship game. Gordon was a unanimous All-American, the Doak Walker Award winner and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award winner. Gordon’s place at the top is secure and he could be a first round pick in next year’s draft with another big season.

2. Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech

Breakdown: The gap between the running backs two through four is extremely small, but Brooks gets the edge after finishing second behind Gordon in rushing last season with 1,538 yards and 10 touchdowns. Brooks is more of a bruiser than a speedster, but he still has some wiggle to his game and was one of the leaders in broken tackles a season ago, earning first team All-Big 12 honors. Another big season could see Brooks soar up the program’s record book.

3. Devin Neal, Kansas

Breakdown: Neal has a strong argument for No. 2 after having back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons for the Jayhawks. Unlike Brooks and Gordon, Neal isn’t the only focal point of the rushing attack as Kansas had dual-threat quarterbacks Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean plus Daniel Hishaw Jr. also had over 100 carries last season. Even while sharing the load Neal rushed for 1,280 yards and 16 touchdowns while also adding more than 200 receiving yards.

4. RJ Harvey, UCF

Breakdown: If you don’t know who Harvey is, then it’s time to do a little homework. The Knights struggled in their first season in the Big 12, but Harvey flourished as he finished third in the conference in rushing behind Gordon and Brooks. Neal got the edge simply for doing it two straight years against Big 12 competition. Harvey rushed for 1,416 yards and 16 touchdowns for UCF last season averaging over six yards per carry.

5. DJ Giddens, Kansas State

Breakdown: The Wildcats brought in one of the top transfer running backs last season in Florida State’s Treshaun Ward to replace the legendary Vaughn and while Ward was productive, it was Giddens who emerged as K-State’s No. 1 rusher. Giddens rushed for 1,226 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns last season with six games of at least 100 yards or more. Ward is now at Boston College and the Wildcats brought in Dylan Edwards from Colorado to be a secondary back.

6. Jahiem White, West Virginia

Breakdown: White hit the ground running in his first collegiate season as he was the Mountaineers’ leading rusher with 842 yards and four touchdowns on just 109 carries. White led the league in yards per carry at 7.7 yards and also led West Virginia in all-purpose yardage with 1,086 total yards as he earned Freshman All-American honors from multiple publications. White split carries with CJ Donaldson who also returns for another season and Donaldson had 798 yards and 11 touchdowns. The dynamic duo is a good mix of explosiveness and physicality plus they have a dual-threat quarterback in Garrett Greene.

7. Corey Kiner, Cincinnati

Breakdown: A former LSU transfer, Kiner became just the 20th running back in Cincinnati history to rush for 1,000 yards last season as he piled up 1,047 and five touchdowns. What made Kiner’s season more impressive is the fact that defenses loaded up the box to stop him on every down with the Bearcats having one of the worst passing offenses in the conference. With better quarterback play, Kiner could improve upon his numbers.

8. Cameron Skattebo, Arizona State

Breakdown: There weren’t many bright spots on offense for the Sun Devils last season outside of the versatile Skattebo. A Sacramento State transfer, Skattebo proved he could thrive at the Power Five level with 783 rushing yards, 286 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns. Skattebo is another rusher that had to do more with less as Arizona State’s passing game left much to be desired. Skattebo will try to top 1,000 yards as the Sun Devils transition to the Big 12.

9. Abu Sama, Iowa State

Breakdown: Another young rusher that had a strong freshman season, Sama had the third-most rushing yards for a freshman in program history with 614 yards and six touchdowns despite only starting the final two games of the season. His 7.3 yards per carry average also set a new school record and Sama also had a game where he rushed for 276 yards against K-State last year. With a bigger role and more consistency, Sama could be a 1,000-yard rusher.

10. Micah Bernard/Jaylon Glover, Utah

Breakdown: Bernard has been a steady contributor at Utah with 12 starts in 39 games. Bernard had two straight 500 yard seasons in 2021 and 2022, but he missed 11 games last season. A healthy Bernard should form a nice core with Glover, who was second on the team with 562 yards and two touchdowns. Utah will have a more balanced offense with a healthy Cam Rising at quarterback and with Ja’Quinden Jackson gone that means more touches for both Glover and Bernard.

11. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona

Breakdown: After losing its top three rushers, the Wildcats hit the transfer portal hard to find replacements. Enter Merritt, who is coming off a prolific season at New Mexico where he rushed for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns including back-to-back 200 yards game to close the season. As a sixth-year senior Merritt is closer to his ceiling and there will be a jump in competition at the Big 12 level.

12. Dominic Richardson, Baylor

Breakdown: Richardson lands at this spot when you also include his teammates Richard Reese and Dawson Pendegrass. The trio rushed for a collective 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns despite having limitations with the passing game. Richardson led the way with over 500 yards, but the one with the most upside may be Reese. In 2022 he rushed for 972 yards and 14 touchdowns on 198 carries, but Reese had just 66 carries last season.

There are players behind the Bears’ group that may have more upside, but Baylor’s experience can’t be denied.

13. Dallan Hayden, Colorado

Breakdown: The portion of the rankings mostly includes younger players looking to take on a bigger role or veterans looking to bounce back. Hayden showed tremendous upside in 2022 with Ohio State as he rushed for over 500 yards and five touchdowns when star running back TreVeyon Henderson dealt with injury. Hayden played in just three games last season to preserve his redshirt and will now contend to be the lead back with the Buffaloes. Colorado has beefed up its offensive line and knows it must be more balanced to protect Shedeur Sanders.

14. LJ Martin, BYU

Breakdown: The Cougars had one of the league’s worst offensive lines and passing games last season, but Martin was able to manage 518 yards and five total touchdowns in 10 games. Martin had a season-high 93 yards against Texas Tech. With better support the sophomore could make a push towards the top-10.

15. Parker Jenkins, Houston

Breakdown: Another young rusher, Jenkins led the Cougars in rushing as a freshman with 464 yards and three touchdowns. Houston relied a lot on Donovan Smith as a rusher as he had nearly 40 more carries than Jenkins, but with new head coach Willie Fritz taking over Jenkins should see more touches and could build on a promising freshman season.

16. Cam Cook, TCU

Breakdown: Cook’s placement here isn’t an indication of his talent, it’s all about experience. The former four-star recruit appeared in nine games last season for the Horned Frogs, but only had 16 carries. Learning behind Emani Bailey was valuable for Cook as he was one of TCU’s standouts during spring practice. TCU has had a 1,000-yard rusher in two straight seasons and Cook will have ample opportunity to be the third straight tailback to accomplish that feat.

With less than 20 carries last season, Cook may be more talented than a big number of the list, but he has to prove it before he can rise up the rankings. His backups Trey Sanders and Trent Battle also only rushed for a little over 200 yards last season. TCU won’t finish at the bottom of the power rankings, but someone has to be last right now.