Top 5 Running Back Performances of Week 7 College Football: Ashton Jeanty, Kaire Robinson, more

October 16, 2023

Justin's NCAA college football top running backs from Week 7 of the 2023 season. Top RB performers include Ashton Jeanty and Kairee Robinson.

Week 7 of the college football season is over. It was a fun day of football and included some good performances from running backs, with six backs rushing for 150 or more yards. Some of those players are mentioned below, but a quick shoutout to the ones who aren't: Leshon Williams (Iowa) and Marcus Carroll (Georgia State). Rutgers' Kyle Monangai and Toledo's Peny Boone just missed out, with both rushing for 148 yards.

We also saw five running backs rush for three scores. Two of those players are mentioned below. The other three were Arizona's Jonah Coleman, Fresno State's Malik Sherrod, and UNLV's Donavyn Lester. There were a lot of great performances from the running back position this week in college football.

Below are the top five running back performances from Week 7 of the college football season. These are judged through a combination of statistics, fantasy scoring, and game context, with consideration also given based on the team's offensive systems. Let's take a look at this week's top performances.

5. Quinton Cooley - Liberty

Liberty's Quinton Cooley is having a really strong season. Aside from one poor performance against Buffalo that saw him finish with just 37 rushing yards, Cooley has at least 78 yards in every game, including four games with over 100 yards.

He had his best performance of the season against Jacksonville State this week, carrying the ball 28 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns. It was his third 100-yard game in a row.

Cooley, who played sparingly over his first three seasons at Wake Forest, has really broken out this year for the Flames. His 592 rushing yards currently lead all Conference USA players and he ranks fourth in the conference in yards from scrimmage. It's been a great season so far for Cooley and there's still a lot of football left for him to play.

4. Omarion Hampton - North Carolina

Earlier this season against Appalachian State, Omarion Hampton had a breakout performance, rushing 26 times for 234 yards and three touchdowns. But his numbers returned to earth after that, as he failed to rush for 100 yards in three straight games. Maybe that performance was just a fluke?

Or maybe not. Hampton had another monster game this week against Miami, rushing 24 times for 197 yards and two touchdowns. He also added two receptions for 20 yards and a score. The Hurricanes' defense just had no answer for Hampton, who averaged 8.2 yards per carry against a really good Miami run defense.

Hampton's now but to 658 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season for the Tarheels. He's averaging 5.9 yards per carry and 6.2 yards per touch. The sophomore running back is showcasing why he was ranked as a top 15 running back recruit by every major recruiting service coming out of Cleveland High School.

3. Ollie Gordon II - Oklahoma State

In Saturday’s win over Kansas, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II had his third 100-yard game in a row. He carried the ball 29 times for 168 yards and a touchdown in the victory while also adding six receptions for 116 yards and another score.

It was the first time that Gordon had over 100 receiving yards in a game. In fact, his previous career high was 28 receiving yards against Texas last year.

Gordon’s breakout over the last three games has been especially impressive when you look at his first three games of the year. He had just 19 total carries across those three games, including just three carries for 12 yards against South Alabama. But then, a week later against Iowa State, Gordon carried the ball 18 times for 121 yards, his second-highest yardage total at that point in his career. He had 136 yards the next week against K-State, then this 168-yarder. What’s next for Gordon?

2. Kairee Robinson - San Jose State

San Jose State’s Kairee Robinson rushed 15 times for 126 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s win over New Mexico while also adding two catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. It was the third time this season that Robinson has multiple touchdown runs. He's now second in the Mountain West Conference in touchdowns and fifth in FBS.

He’s now tied his career high for rushing scores in a season with 10, the same number he had last year for the Spartans. He’s also on track to surpass last year’s 752 rushing yards; he’s at 471 through the first six games of this season. He’s averaged 6.5 yards per carry this season. In a college football universe where so many players transfer to look for better opportunities, Robinson’s in his fifth season at SJSU.  It’s nice to see a player who’s bided his time having such a strong season.

1. Ashton Jeanty - Boise State

Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty has been a star this season. On Saturday, he had his second 200-yard game of the season, running the ball 31 times for 212 yards and three touchdowns. There have been 13 200-yard games this season from running backs, and Jeanty’s one of just two players with multiple, joining Troy’s Kimani Vidal.

Jeanty has now surpassed his yardage total from his freshman year in half the games. He had 821 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022; he has 868 and 11 this season.

Looking at things from a national perspective, Jeanty is up to second in the country in rushing yards, behind only Vidal. He’s tied with Marshall’s Rasheen Ali for second in rushing touchdowns, behind only Michigan’s Blake Corum. And when you include his receiving scores, he jumps to the NCAA lead in touchdowns from scrimmage and in points scored. If you haven't had a chance to sit down and watch some Boise State football, you've got to do that soon. Jeanty's such a fun player.

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