15 Running Backs Who Didn’t Live Up to the College Hype

Every year, college football fans fall head over heels for a running back who looks like the next big thing. But once the NFL spotlight hits, reality sets in, and some of those “can’t-miss” prospects miss by a mile.

Some ran straight into brick walls called “NFL defenses,” others battled injuries, and a few just never found their groove. Today, we are counting down 15 running backs who came out of college with way too much hype—and not nearly enough lasting success.

15. Samaje Perine

Perine looked like a human bulldozer at Oklahoma, but the NFL turned out to be a little less forgiving. Despite some flashes, he never truly lived up to the power-back legend he built in college.

14. Beanie Wells

Ohio State fans thought Wells would be a star from day one, but his NFL journey was more “decent starter” than “game-changer.” Injuries and inconsistency kept him from living up to the enormous expectations.

13. Bishop Sankey

Tennessee thought they stole a future star when they grabbed Sankey, the first running back off the board in 2014. Instead, they got a forgettable stint that left fans wondering what all the fuss was about.

12. T.J. Yeldon

Yeldon had the perfect Alabama resume, but the transition to Sundays was a lot rougher than expected. He had a few decent moments but never became the every-down stud scouts once dreamed about.

11. Andre Williams

After a monster year at Boston College, Williams entered the NFL with a ton of buzz. Unfortunately, he couldn’t replicate the same bulldozing success against NFL defenses and faded fast.

10. Rashaad Penny

Penny dominated at San Diego State and rocketed up draft boards, but his NFL career has been a series of injuries and frustration. He showed flashes but never justified being a first-round pick.

9. LaMichael James

James was electric at Oregon, leaving defenders in a blur, but the magic didn’t follow him to the pros. His NFL career was more of a brief cameo than the starring role many expected.

8. Montee Ball

Ball shredded college defenses at Wisconsin, but his NFL career never even got off the ground. Fumbles, conditioning issues, and off-field problems buried him before he could build any real momentum.

7. Ken Simonton

Ken Simonton was a college football machine at Oregon State, churning out over 5,000 rushing yards and setting records with his consistency. But despite all the buzz, he went undrafted and never played a snap in the NFL—proving that college stardom doesn’t always open pro doors.

6. Darren McFadden

McFadden had freakish athleticism at Arkansas and was billed as a can’t-miss superstar. While he had a couple of big seasons, injuries and inconsistency kept him from ever being the dominant force many expected.

5. Cedric Benson

Benson put up huge numbers at Texas and entered the NFL with sky-high expectations. After a rocky start and some off-field troubles, he eventually found his footing—but nowhere near the level people anticipated.

4. Chris Perry

Perry was a force at Michigan, but injuries absolutely derailed his NFL plans. The talent was there, but availability—and staying on the field—proved to be the real issue.

3. Trent Richardson

Richardson was hyped as a generational running back coming out of Alabama. Instead, he turned into the poster child for “how did this go so wrong?” in record time.

2. Ki-Jana Carter

Carter was the top overall pick in 1995 and looked like the total package—until injuries crushed his NFL hopes almost immediately. He’s still the ultimate “what could have been” running back story.

1. Ron Dayne

Dayne’s dominance at Wisconsin earned him the Heisman, but his “thunderous” running style never worked the same against NFL defenses. Despite years of hype, he wound up being a reminder that college dominance doesn’t always translate.