” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/USATSI_27367318.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/USATSI_27367318.jpg”> The Minnesota Vikings historically have struggled to run the football consistently to this point in the Kevin O\u2019Connell era.<\/p>\n 2025 was widely considered their most successful season in that department, but still, Minnesota 23rd in rushing yards (1841), 18th in rushing touchdowns (15), and 11th in yards per carry (4.5). With the team still very much a middle of the pack group in the rushing department despite some revamps to the offensive line last year, the Vikings could be looking to change things in their running back room.<\/p>\n One way the Vikings could try to do that is through the 2026 NFL Draft<\/a>. Here are the top five running backs Minnesota could pick up in the first three rounds this April.<\/p>\n ” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/USATSI_27707681.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/USATSI_27707681.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/USATSI_27707681-788×525.jpg” alt=”2026 NFL Draft” > It\u2019s a long shot, especially now that the Vikings finished their season at 9-8, but Jeremiyah Love<\/a> could be an option if a miracle happened and he fell into the late teens this spring. Love brings a little bit of everything out of the backfield. He\u2019s fast, shifty, balanced enough to bounce off tacklers, and he can be a receiver.<\/p>\n He might not quite have the athletic repertoire of a Bijan Robinson, but Love was one of the most highly productive players in all of college football over the past two years, totaling 2,497 yards rushing and 35 touchdowns since 2024. There\u2019s a very strong chance that he ends up in the top 10 of this spring\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n ” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/USATSI_27279639_168394844_lowres.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/USATSI_27279639_168394844_lowres.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/USATSI_27279639_168394844_lowres-788×525.jpg” alt > Jonah Coleman is one of my favorite players that I\u2019ve watched from this draft class so far. The man is a bowling ball at the running back position at 5\u20199\u2033 and 228 pounds, and that makes him a very difficult player for opposing defenses to tackle.<\/p>\n Coleman absorbs contact with the best of them, and his balance will be a very attractive trait to NFL teams this spring. He won\u2019t blow anyone away with top end speed, but there isn\u2019t anything Coleman doesn\u2019t do well. He is very patient behind the line of scrimmage, is a great workhorse back, and he can also contribute in pass protection and as a receiver. He caught 31 passes this past season with the Washington Huskies.<\/p>\n Coleman can certainly contribute at the NFL level, but because of his lack of top end speed, he likely will be available for the Vikings in the second or even third round.<\/p>\n ” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_27695374_168394844_lowres.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_27695374_168394844_lowres.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=525,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_27695374_168394844_lowres.jpg” alt> It\u2019s been awhile since Nebraska has had a high end running back, but Emmett Johnson changed the tides in the backfield this season for the Cornhuskers. He became the first Nebraska running back with 1000+ yards since Devine Ozigbo in 2018. <\/p>\n Johnson thrives in zone running schemes, and he was one of the most explosive playmakers out of the backfield in all of college football this season. His 36 carries of 10+ yards tied for sixth in the FBS. If the Vikings want someone who can help in the passing game too, Johnson might be their guy after leading all running backs in the FBS with 46 receptions.<\/p>\n At 5\u201911\u201d and 200 pounds, Johnson has a sturdy frame to along with outstanding breakaway speed and ability to change directions on a dime. He needs to get better as a blocker if he wants to truly help an NFL passing game, but he can be a difference maker in an NFL offense this year. <\/p>\n ” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_27657004_168394844_lowres.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_27657004_168394844_lowres.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_27657004_168394844_lowres-788×526.jpg” alt > While Jeremiyah Love stole much of the spotlight at Notre Dame this past year, Jadarian Price should not be overlooked heading into this draft. In an offense that had a top Heisman candidate in Love, Price still managed to get 120 carries in 2024 and 113 carries in 2025. <\/p>\n There\u2019s a reason for that: Price is a very effective player. Every movement Price makes in the backfield seems effortless and entirely intentional. He has a terrific ability to make cuts in the blink of an eye, leaving defenses with virtually no time to react, or he\u2019ll be gone.<\/p>\n That being said, there are some questions that could impact his placement in the draft. We\u2019ve never seen him be a lead running back at the collegiate level, which is a very unique position for a player who is widely considered to be a Day 2 selection. He could also have some trouble staying on the field on third downs, particularly in passing situations. He only caught 15 passes over the course of his three years at Notre Dame. There were also some fumble concerns this year with three of them all near the goal line.<\/p>\n ” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_27704106_168394844_lowres.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_27704106_168394844_lowres.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=526,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_27704106_168394844_lowres.jpg” alt> Like Coleman, Kaytron Allen has a very sturdy frame that keeps his legs churning through defenders. Of his 1303 rushing yards this season, 792 of them came after contact. That was the 16th-most in all of the FBS this past year.<\/p>\n Allen (5\u201911\u201d, 229 pounds) has been a very productive player at Penn State since he arrived in 2022, totaling at least 167 carries in all four of his seasons with the Nittany Lions. He\u2019s proven time and time again that he can be a workhorse, and a very explosive burst allows him to get to the second level of a defense in a hurry.<\/p>\n However, he also lacks that true home run speed like Coleman. However, unlike Coleman, Allen also has struggled as a receiver, which may force him off the field on third down passing situations. In 2025, he caught 18 passes for just 68 yards. That very likely will cause him to fall into the third round this spring.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s Note: Information from Pro Football Focus<\/a> helped with this article.<\/em><\/p>\n Josh Frey is a senior writer at both PurplePTSD.com and VikingsTerritory.com, with a fascination for the NFL Draft. To … More about Josh Frey<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n <\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\nFootball Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame<\/h2>\n
Nov 29, 2025; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs with the football during the first quarter against Stanford Cardinal safety Che Ojarikre (22) at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Football Jonah Coleman, Washington<\/h2>\n
Oct 4, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) carries the ball against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Football Emmett Johnson, Nebraska<\/h2>\n
Nov 28, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson (21) runs against Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Zach Lutmer (6) during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Football Jadarian Price, Notre Dame<\/h2>\n
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price (24) celebrates with wide receiver Malachi Fields (0) after a Price touchdown in the first half of a NCAA football game against Syracuse at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in South Bend.<\/p>\n
Football Kaytron Allen, Penn State<\/h2>\n
Nov 29, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) reacts after a rushing touchdown during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
\n![\"Football](\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5c2ce0cb2e694ccf2217bece24becce8f90e2260871f6247e74f69c59fd93c9c?s=70&d=mm&r=g\")
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