Cole Tabb doesn't have the rushing totals of college football's busiest running backs, but the Cincinnati back sits clearly at the top of Pro Football Network's CFB RB Impact Grades. His 96.4 ranks first among 382 qualified FBS running backs this season, 4.1 points ahead of Utah's Wayshawn Parker at 92.3.
PFN college football analyst Max Chadwick walked through the top five on PFN's YouTube channel. Duke's Nate Sheppard (91.8), North Texas' Jahiem White (91.5) and Tennessee's DeSean Bishop (91.1) round out the group, and Chadwick argued that Tabb's efficiency is what separates him from the rest.
Tabb isn't on top because of volume. Chadwick's count has the Cincinnati back at 621 rushing yards, which he said ranks only 25th in the country, and nine rushing touchdowns, which he put sixth.
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"But he's so efficient," Chadwick said. He pointed to Tabb's 9.6 yards per carry, which he called the second-best mark in the country, and an elusiveness rating he ranked 24th. He also counted 139 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, and he said the touchdowns tie for third in the country.
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"Cole Tabb, in terms of how efficient he's been, is maybe the best running back in America right now," Chadwick said. He shared the credit with Cincinnati's offensive line and said the run game, Tabb and the blockers together, is a major reason the Bearcats were able to "upset Texas Tech" and become a good Big 12 team.
Parker's 92.3 Impact Grade ranks second among qualified FBS running backs, and Chadwick tied it straight to Utah's record. "Utah is undefeated this year, and a big reason why is this ground game," he said.
By Chadwick's numbers, Parker has 644 rushing yards (19th in the country), 6.3 yards per carry and enough rushing touchdowns to tie for 11th. Like Sheppard, he has done damage as a receiver. Chadwick credited him with 247 receiving yards, which he said ranks fifth among running backs, and four receiving touchdowns, tied with Sheppard for the most in the country.
Chadwick said Parker has produced in an offense that also has what he called "a great quarterback" in Devon Dampier, and that Parker "right now looks like he could be a Doak Walker Award candidate."
The Utes are 7-0 and lead the Big 12 standings. Their next game puts the top two backs on the board on the same field, with Utah visiting Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Sheppard's 91.8 Impact Grade ranks third among qualified FBS running backs. Chadwick judged his season against what Duke lost. He said Sheppard starred as a true freshman alongside Darian Mensah and Cooper Barkate, and that both later left for Miami, which left open the question of whether the sophomore could carry the offense by himself. "He's been even better as a sophomore," Chadwick said.
Chadwick listed 875 rushing yards, which he said rank fifth in the country and third in the Power Four, along with nine rushing touchdowns, tied for sixth. What he likes most is the receiving work. Sheppard has 270 receiving yards, third among running backs by Chadwick's count, and four receiving touchdowns, tied for the national lead.
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Chadwick noted that Sheppard was a three-star recruit coming out of high school, then called him "a bell-cow running back for Duke" and "an absolute megastar." Since Sheppard is only a sophomore, Chadwick added that he "might be the best returning running back in the country" once he returns to school.
White's 91.5 Impact Grade ranks fourth among qualified FBS running backs. Chadwick said White transferred in from West Virginia to fill a roster that lost Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins and Wyatt Young to Oklahoma State. He added that the Mean Green also have a new head coach. North Texas is still 5-2 and second in the American, and Chadwick named White as a big reason.
His numbers for White are 861 rushing yards (seventh in the country), 11 rushing touchdowns (tied for third), 7.4 yards per carry (top 20) and an elusiveness score in the top 35. White also has 250 receiving yards, which Chadwick said ranks fourth among running backs, and two receiving touchdowns.
"I mean he's done everything for this North Texas offense. What a great get for North Texas," Chadwick said. In his view, the program lost one star running back to the portal and found another in it. North Texas hosts Florida Atlantic on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Bishop's 91.1 Impact Grade ranks fifth among qualified FBS running backs. Chadwick said his 957 rushing yards lead the Power Four and rank second in the country, and that his 11 rushing touchdowns tie for third. In Chadwick's view, Tennessee has needed all of it because the quarterback play from George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon "has just not been very good at all."
"They've needed DeSean Bishop to carry this offense, and carry it he has so far," Chadwick said. He called Bishop a Doak Walker Award candidate and said Tennessee's hopes of staying in the playoff race depend on him keeping up that level.
Chadwick also pointed out that Bishop is a former walk-on. That, he said, puts him in the running for the Burlsworth Trophy, which goes to the best former walk-on in college football.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
