Freshman Fever | Devy Freshman RB Profiles (2025)

In devy leagues, consistently targeting incoming freshman running backs is one of the smartest long-term strategies you can deploy. Unlike quarterbacks or wide receivers, the running back position has a short shelf life; many hit their peak early and decline quickly, especially once they reach expensive second NFL contracts.

Therefore, if you stay aggressive in scouting and drafting freshman running back talent, you can ensure your roster stays young, productive and cost-controlled. This also gives you leverage to sell off older, established backs for elite capital before their value drops,  thus creating a cycle of reinvestment that keeps your lineup fresh and your dynasty window wide open.

Simply put, youth at this position is both a scoring edge and a trade weapon, and this starts with smart stashes of devy freshmen. That’s why I dove into the tape on this year’s top incoming devy freshman ball carriers. This breakdown will help you separate the future studs from the longshots so you can make smarter and more strategic swings when you’re on the clock.

Freshman Fever | Devy Freshman RB Profiles (2025)

Tier 1 – Elite Fantasy Upside & Modern Skill Set

1. Harlem Berry (LSU)

High School Career & Stats:

Harlem Berry was electric at St. Martin’s Episcopal in Louisiana, racking up over 6,000 career rushing yards and 80+ total touchdowns. He dominated at the state level with elite speed and was also a track standout, posting national-level times in the 100-meter dash.

Play Style:

Berry is a pure burner with rare acceleration, capable of hitting top speed in two steps. He thrives in open space and perimeter concepts but shows surprising strength for his size. He’s a dangerous receiver out of the backfield and a nightmare in motion.

Pros:

• Elite top-end speed and burst
• Dynamic receiving threat
• Home-run ability on every touch

Cons:

• Lean build: Needs to add mass
• May not be built for 20+ touch workloads
• Can be overly reliant on speed instead of vision

Devy Outlook:

Berry is the only back in the class with true home-run ability, elite Points Per Reception (PPR) upside and the potential to be a centerpiece of a college offense from day No. 1. His blend of track speed, fluid movement and natural receiving skills gives him a fantasy RB1 ceiling few others in this class can match.

Tier 2 – High-Value Starters With NFL Traits

2. Gideon Davidson (Clemson)

High School Career & Stats:

Gideon Davidson played at Liberty Christian in Virginia, where he was a versatile offensive threat and defensive back early in his career. His production took off when he focused on running back. He flashed with long speed and versatility that Clemson quickly keyed in on.

Play Style:

Davidson is a well-rounded athlete with natural balance and quick feet. He’s explosive in space but also runs with solid pad level and body control. He offers great upside in zone schemes and has the tools to develop into a true three-down back.

Pros:

• Explosive mover with smooth cuts
• Natural hands and a fluid route-runner
• Strong lower body and good balance

Cons:

• Needs refinement in pass protection
• Vision is still developing in traffic
• Slightly behind other top backs in being polished

Devy Outlook:

Davidson has a low-risk, high-reward appeal in devy formats. His athletic traits are elite; therefore, if Clemson gives him early reps, his stock could rise fast. He’s a long-term play with clear three-down potential.

3. Ousmane Kromah (Florida State)

High School Career & Stats:

Ousmane Kromah was a dominant workhorse at Lee County in Georgia, where he showed rare durability and physicality. He posted multiple 1,000+ yard seasons and was a key offensive weapon from his sophomore year onward. Built like a Junior in college, he consistently punished defenders at the second level.

Play Style:

Kromah is a downhill, power-centric back who thrives between the tackles. He runs with excellent pad level and leverage, regularly bouncing off first contact. He is not a burner. However, he has good enough top-end speed to break chunk plays and shows solid one-cut vision in gap and zone schemes.

Pros:

• NFL frame and contact balance
• Physical finisher with violent hands in pass protection
• Good field vision and anticipation for cutback lanes

Cons:

• Lacks elite acceleration or long speed
• Limited pass-catching production
• Needs to prove he can handle shared backfields in a Power-4 setting

Devy Outlook:

Kromah has the safest three-down running back projection in this class. His power and contact balance make him a likely early contributor, and if he proves competent in the pass game, he could be a 250-touch bellcow in college and beyond.

4. Akylin Dear (Alabama)

High School Career & Stats:

Akylin Dear starred at Mississippi’s Quitman High, continuously racking yards with a blend of toughness and vision. He put together multiple 1,500+ yard seasons and was often the focal point of his offense, showing leadership and consistent production.

Play Style:

Dear is a smooth, efficient runner who reads blocks well and doesn’t waste motion. He excels in tight spaces, using subtle footwork and a low center of gravity to make defenders miss. While not a “home run hitter,” he has sneaky burst and deceptive power in his lower half.

Pros:

• Elite patience and vision
• Slippery in traffic, rarely takes big hits
• Well-rounded skill set with receiving upside

Cons:

• Doesn’t have game-breaking top speed
• Slightly undersized for a workhorse role
• May get caught in a committee early at Alabama

Devy Outlook:

Dear is technically refined and instinctive. He’s a smart runner with excellent vision and balance, though his ceiling might be limited by average burst and straight-line speed. If placed in the right system, that can go a long way — even if his upside is more RB2 than fantasy star.

Tier 3 – Rotational or Scheme-Dependent Options

5. Bo Jackson (Ohio State)

High School Career & Stats:

Bo Jackson played in Ohio at Villa Angela-St. Joseph and posted strong rushing numbers despite dealing with injuries throughout his junior year. His combination of size, speed and athleticism turned heads early. Combine that with being a two-sport athlete with a track background, and it speaks to his explosiveness!

Play Style:

Jackson is a north-south bruiser with solid athletic tools. He runs with a purpose, rarely dancing in the backfield, and he thrives in gap-scheme runs where he can build momentum. Despite not being overly shifty, he shows enough lateral movement to make a first defender miss.

Pros:

• Prototypical size and frame: Already 6-foot-0 and 210 pounds
• Downhill power and decisive style
• Physical finisher with solid straight-line burst

Cons:

• Injury history raises some durability flags
• Limited sample as a receiver
• Doesn’t offer the same twitch or upside as others in the class

Devy Outlook:

A downhill bruiser with good size and finishing ability, Jackson may be a short-yardage or early-down grinder in college. He’s physical but limited as a pass-catcher, which may cap his fantasy relevance.

6. Anthony Rogers (Ohio State)

High School Career & Stats:

Rogers played at IMG Academy in Florida and previously at Pike Road in Alabama, producing despite splitting touches in stacked backfields. He made the most of every carry, flashing burst, creativity and reliable hands.

Play Style:

Rogers is a compact, high-energy back with great footwork and burst. He changes direction effortlessly and thrives in space, making him dangerous on outside zone runs and screens. He’s built low to the ground and finishes runs with surprising force.

Pros:

• Great short-area quickness and agility
• Advanced pass-catching skill set
• Low pad level and sturdy frame

Cons:

• Doesn’t have long-strider speed
• Can struggle with inside contact balance
• May need time behind Ohio State’s deep running back room

Devy Outlook:

Rogers is a shifty back who flashes burst and agility, but there are questions around contact balance and frame. While he may thrive in a change-of-pace role, he is unlikely to be a workhorse. I do see long-term PPR flex potential if the usage is creative.

7. Jordon Davison (Oregon)

High School Career & Stats:

Jordon Davison was a multi-year starter at California’s Mater Dei, one of the nation’s premier high school programs. He rushed for over 4,000 yards and was a consistent presence in big-time matchups, thriving against elite competition.

Play Style:

Davison is a bruising, downhill runner with quick feet and exceptional patience. He thrives in power and gap schemes, reading his blocks well and exploding through the hole. While not flashy, he’s highly reliable and difficult to bring down once he gets rolling.

Pros:

• NFL-ready frame and strength
• Excellent between-the-tackles vision
• Consistent and efficient runner

Cons:

• Limited big-play gear
• Doesn’t offer much burst in the open field
• Still developing in the pass-game role

Devy Outlook:

A consistent and powerful runner, Davison doesn’t wow with flash but has a strong foundation. Oregon’s system could mask his lack of big-play ability. Sadly for devy managers, his ceiling feels capped unless he develops as a receiver. He’s a grinder-type Day No. 3 back with spot-start potential.

How Does the 2025 Freshman RB Class Stack Up for Devy?

With all things considered, the 2025 devy freshman running back class quietly stacks up as one of the more exciting groups we’ve seen in recent years. In particular, those devy managers who are looking to restock their pipeline with long-term fantasy assets should be intrigued. Headlined by Berry, a true five-star PPR weapon with game-breaking upside, the class offers a rare combination of top-end talent and functional depth.

Even in Tier No. 2, backs like Davidson, Kromah and Dear bring diverse skill sets – from Davidson’s raw explosiveness to Kromah’s bruising reliability and Dear’s technical polish. It’s a group built for multiple paths to production and a wide range of NFL scheme fits. Even Tier 3 has value, with players like Jackson and Rogers offering upside in specific roles or systems.

When measured against recent devy freshman running back classes, 2025 holds its own and in many ways surpasses both the 2023 and 2024 groups in terms of long-term fantasy outlook.

While it may lack the immediate star power of 2022’s Nicholas Singleton or Quinshon Judkins, the overall balance, versatility and modern fantasy fit of this year’s group make it a strong investment class across devy formats.

That said, if you’re drafting for the future, 2025 is a year to shop for freshman running backs in those mid-to-late rounds.

Check out all our Devy Freshman Fever Profiles: 

• Freshman Fever | Devy Freshman QB Profiles (2025)
• Freshman Fever | Devy Freshman RB Profiles (2025)
• Freshman Fever | Devy Freshman WR Profiles (2025)

Thanks for reading my article on the Devy Freshman Running Backs of 2025! For more Devy and College Fantasy Football content, follow me on Twitter/X @PoshplaysFF.