Some thoughts on the 2009 RB's:
Chris Wells - Has the size and production you look for. What he lacks is quickness, burst, and all-around explosiveness. I think he will be a starter in the NFL, but he might be closer to Anthony Thomas than Adrian Peterson. I just don't see the top shelf physical gifts of a high first round pick. He isn't explosive in the same way that LT/ADP/McFadden/Bush were.
Knowshon Moreno - Good back who does a lot of things well. I like his burst, instincts, power, and tenacity. He has a pretty good build and is probably my early favorite from this class. That said, he looks more like a mid-late first round talent than a true difference maker. Kind of a cross between Laurence Maroney and Marshawn Lynch.
DeMarco Murray - Dynamic speed and big play skills. Scores pretty high on the "wow" factor. The big question with Murray is he can he be an everydown guy in the NFL? He looks and runs a bit light. He seems to have decent balance, but I think leg drive is one of the most important qualities in a pro back and I'm not sure how high Murray scores on that metric. My attitude right now is that he's a 2nd-3rd round talent who could rise over the next 12 months.
CJ Spiller - Sick jukes and speed. If you want to talk strictly about upside and star potential, I think Spiller belongs in the conversation. But there are a lot of question marks. Power? Instincts? Size? His running style involves a lot of starting-and-stopping. I'm not sure how well that will translate to the pro game. Overall, an enigma. I'm intrigued by the potential.
James Davis - Good all-around back, but he doesn't have any special qualities. Power, quickness, speed, and size are all ordinary. A 2nd-4th round pick who is probably best suited to a backup role at the pro level.
LeSean McCoy - Excellent burst and instincts. Big-time production on a weak offensive football team. Big time recruit out of high school. A lot of onlookers are very high on his potential. I've read that he definitely has his eyes on the 2009 draft despite only being a second year college player. My main concern here is a lack of bulk and power. McCoy is a bit like Reggie Bush. He'll dazzle you with his moves, but he might not have the leg drive you look for in a workhorse.
Keiland Williams - First round tools. Good size and speed. Adequate quicks. Doesn't always run hard, but has power. Good production when he's gotten opportunities and was a big time recruit out of high school. I like his skills. I'm not so sure about his instincts and intangibles. He sometimes runs soft and indecisive. A bit of an underachiever, but LSU has a history of neglecting their talent. Williams should be a top 100 pick and could vault all the way into the top 30 with a big year or a strong postseason.
Stafon Johnson - Johnson was a five star recruit out of high school and has beaten out a slew out elite prospects for playing time. He'll play the LenDale White role for USC this year and should grow into a pretty solid NFL prospect. He's a strong runner with quick feet for a big back. Good instincts and toughness. Deceptive speed, but not a home run hitter and not truly explosive. Lacks a second gear. Might not have the burst of a pro starter. Combine will go a long way towards determining whether or not he's a franchise back at the next level. His playing style should translate well to the pro game if his physical gifts are up to par.
Tough to sort these guys out right now. We'll know a lot more after their 2008 seasons and their combines. My early tiered rankings:
1. Knowshon Moreno
2. Chris Wells
3. LeSean McCoy
4. Stafon Johnson
5. Keiland Williams
6. CJ Spiller
7. DeMarco Murray
8. James Davis
Other names to consider: PJ Hill, Tyrell Sutton, Javon Ringer, Arian Foster