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2022 NFL Draft: Who Will Be the First Running Back Selected?
Written by: Devon Platana
Last Updated:
Read Time: 5 minutes
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The 2022 NFL Draft begins in less than three weeks, kicking off on Thursday, April 28 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
As usual, several teams will be looking to improve their offenses with this year’s prospects. While this year’s running back class isn’t as strong as past editions, there are still some intriguing names that could make an NFL impact right out of the gate.
As usual, fans and experts alike are trying to use mock drafts to find out where each of the top running backs will go. However, nothing is set in stone until draft night.
Fortunately, odds from BetOnline Sportsbook help paint a better picture as to which running back will be the first selected at the 2022 NFL Draft.
Odds to Be First Running Back Drafted in 2022 NFL Draft
- Breece Hall, Iowa State (-250)
- Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State (+280)
- Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M (+1500)
- Kyren Williams, Notre Dame (+3500)
- Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama (+4000)
- Dameon Pierce, Florida (+4500)
- James Cook, Georgia (+4500)
- Hassan Haskins, Michigan (+6000)
- Zamir White, Georgia (+6000)
Odds are from BetOnline Sportsbook.
Odds Heavily Favor Hall, Walker to Be First RBs Drafted
While there’s no telling how each running back’s career will turn out, two stand above the rest when it comes to BetOnline Sportsbook’s odds to be the first RB selected: Iowa State’s Breece Hall and Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III.
Hall Favored After Back-to-Back Stellar Years at Iowa State
Few running backs in college football have looked as good as Iowa State RB Breece Hall over the past two seasons. In other words, it isn’t a shock to see him favored at -250 odds to be the first player at his position drafted this month.
The 20-year-old has been close to unstoppable on the ground. In 24 games since the 2020 NCAAF season, Hall has racked up 532 carries for 3,044 rushing yards and a whopping 41 touchdowns.
He’s also been a solid contributor to Iowa State’s passing game, hauling in 59 receptions over the last two seasons for 482 receiving yards and five TDs.
The 6-foot-1, 217-pound RB also has impressive speed for his frame, having run a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Draft Combine. Add on the fact that he has the most broken tackles (194) in college football since 2019 and it’s easy to see why scouts love him.
Hall has also been handsomely rewarded with trophies throughout his collegiate career. He was first-team All-Big 12 in each of the last two seasons. On top of that, he’s also the reigning back-to-back Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Beyond those accomplishments, Hall was named unanimous All-American in 2020 before receiving consensus All-American honors in 2021.
Walker Enjoys Explosive Season After Transfer to Michigan State
Although Kenneth Walker III’s +280 odds aren’t as favorable as Hall’s chances of being the first RB draft, there’s plenty to like about the former’s game.
Walker began his collegiate career at Wake Forest in 2019. He experienced limited opportunities in his time as a Demon Deacon, recording 217 carries in 20 games for 1,158 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.
Looking for a better opportunity and more playing time, Walker transferred to Michigan State for the 2021 campaign. Needless to say, it worked out for the better.
Walker played a total of 12 games for the Spartans last fall, seeing a new career-high of 263 carries. With more opportunities than ever, the Arlington, Tennessee native finished with a personal-best 1,636 rushing yards and 18 TDs while setting the Big Ten record for most missed tackles by an RB (89).
The highlight of Walker’s season was his Michigan State debut in Week 1. He recorded a mind-blowing 264 yards and four TDs on just 23 carries, showing a glimpse of what he’s capable of.
He went on to have a total of eight performances of at least 126 rushing yards en route to winning the Doak Walker Award as college football’s top running back and being named the Walter Camp Player of the Year.
The big thing that separates Walker from Hall is the fact that the latter is a much better pass-catcher. Having said that, any team that walks away from the 2022 NFL Draft with Walker on their roster will be better for it this Fall.
Other Noteworthy Running Backs in NFL Draft
Although Hall and Walker stand above the rest of the other running backs on BetOnline Sportsbook’s odds list, they aren’t the only ones worth keeping an eye on.
Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M (+1500)
Isaiah Spiller has been as consistent as they came throughout his three years at Texas A&M.
He’s suited up in 35 games over that span, recording 2,993 rushing yards and 25 TDs on the ground on 541 carries. He broke at least a tackle in every game last season and was eventually named second-team All-SEC.
Having said that, most experts project Spiller to be a third- or fourth-round pick, which hinders his shot at being the first RB draft. Still, he’ll likely be a solid NFL contributor one day.
Kyren Williams, Notre Dame (+3500)
Kyren Williams looked great as a rookie for Notre Dame in 2020. He was named the ACC Rookie of the Year that season after recording 1,438 total yards from scrimmage and 14 TDs on 246 carries.
Unfortunately, many were disappointed with his follow-up performance in 2021. While Williams wasn't awful last year, he finished with fewer total yards (1,361) on the same number of carries.
It’ll be interesting to see whether an NFL team thinks that he’s already plateaued or if there’s another gear waiting for him at the pro level.
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Devon is a Master of Journalism graduate who joined the sports betting world in 2020. His favorite leagues to cover are the NHL, NBA and NFL, and has a soft spot for fantasy football specifically. Outside of sports, he enjoys the finer things in life like pasta, live music and getting even more tattoos.
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