The Atlantic Coast Convention delivered one 2025 NFL Draft first spherical expertise out of the backfield. Omarion Hampton is already turning heads for the Los Angeles Chargers. However Hampton swings the door open for a brand new main ACC rusher to emerge this fall.
Hampton’s departure additionally impacts Invoice Belichick. Because the eight-time Tremendous Bowl successful coach will not have the proficient again for his first North Carolina workforce. Belichick does have backfield choices to work with. Together with Benjamin Corridor, who got here through the faculty soccer switch portal from Michigan.
Does Corridor make the minimize right here? In the meantime, which 1,000-yard ACC backs return to fill this record?
The ACC appears to be like extra loaded at quarterback this fall. The record of go dashing returners are deep too within the ACC.
Expertise stays within the backfield for the convention, although. With a few of these guys doubtless becoming a member of Hampton within the league quickly. Listed below are the highest 5 RBs within the convention for ’25.
5. Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami
Mario Cristobal misplaced his personal RB1 to the league. Damien Martinez now will tote the rock for the Seattle Seahawks.
Mark Fletcher Jr. alleviates the loss, although. He is no stranger to crossing the tip zone in reside motion. Fletcher Jr. scored 9 touchdowns because the second backfield choice in 2024. Together with delivering an emotional efficiency towards rival Florida State.
He is a downhill attacker with the ball in hand. Incoming beginning quarterback Carson Beck will love this side, although. Fletcher blows up incoming edge rushers and linebackers on blitz pickups. Fletcher rises as RB1 in Coral Gables.
4. Hollywood Smothers, North Carolina State
The Charlotte native benefitted significantly from his switch out of Oklahoma.
Smothers scored a mixed eight touchdowns in showcasing his versatility. He began within the closing six video games of the common season.
The 5-foot-11 RB recorded two 100-yard video games throughout that span. He additionally delivered a few two-touchdown video games towards Stanford and UNC. NC State will see extra explosion from him this fall as the latest point of interest of the backfield.
3. Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech
Haynes performs an integral function for a vaunted Yellow Jackets floor assault. One which ranked second general amongst ACC groups.
Quarterback Haynes King ignites the bottom sport first. However the all-purpose again sprinkles in his personal explosive nature from there.
The 5-foot-9 Haynes delivered three 100-yard outings and scored 9 touchdowns. He additionally added three receiving touchdowns.
2. Desmond Claiborne, Wake Forest
Incoming head coach Jake Dickert is in wonderful fingers with Claiborne returning. The brand new Demon Deacons head coach returns the highest offensive weapon regardless of the teaching change.
Claiborne is one in all solely two 1,000-yard backs returning this fall. The senior piled 1,049 yards together with delivering 4 100-yard video games.
Dickert will create new methods handy Claiborne the ball because the Deacs are tossing out the gradual mesh system. He is serving to set up an influence unfold assault designed for Claiborne to thrive — and construct off his first 1,000-yard season.
1. Isaac Brown, Louisville
Final 12 months’s freshman Brown would’ve received the ACC dashing title if it weren’t for Hampton or SMU star Brashard Smith. That is as a result of he took third with 1,173 yards.
He additionally tied for fourth with 11 touchdowns. However Brown received over UL followers in shredding convention champ Clemson. Brown wore down the Tigers by hitting 151 yards within the 33-21 upset on Nov. 2.
The sophomore appears to be like like the subsequent greatest RB from “The ‘Ville.” Particularly after producing Jawhar Jordan and Isaac Guerendo.