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Players Making the Move to P4, RB Edition

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With quarterbacks out of the way, we continue to name notable players making the jump to Power Four, this time running backs. Last season, nine of the top 20 rushers in the nation were from Group of Five conferences. Now this season, many of them are playing at Power Four schools. Here are the best running backs making the move to Power Four, each representing a different conference.

New Running Backs in P4

Other Running Backs Making the Move:

ACC

CharMar Brown, RB, Miami

Miami, now without quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez, looks to build a new tandem. They return backup running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and promising sophomore Jordan Lyle, but they also add one of the FCS’s best freshman running backs last season, CharMar Brown.

Brown, a redshirt freshman at North Dakota State last season, helped the Bisons win their 18th FCS title. He would rush for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. In the championship game, Brown ran for 77 yards and a game-sealing touchdown with 2:14 to go in the game. He would receive the Jerry Rice Award, given to the best freshman in FCS.

Now, Brown joins a loaded backfield in Coral Gables. He will be competing for the job this season, but this transfer is more of a long-term move. Time will tell if his success will correlate to the FBS level.

Big XII

Kanye Udoh, RB, Arizona State

From being picked to finish last in the Big XII to taking Texas to double overtime in the Peach Bowl, Arizona State shocked everyone last season. This season, their quarterback, Sam Leavitt, and standout receiver Jordyn Tyson return to Tempe, but their leader, Cam Skattebo is now in the pros. It won’t be easy to find another guy who works as hard as Skat. But their transfer Kanye Udoh might be just as tough.

Udoh transfers from Army, so he is used to running the ball, but will have to get used to an offense that doesn’t use the triple option. For two years, he ran for the Black Knights, putting up over 500 yards as a freshman and over 1,000 yards as a sophomore. In the end, he totaled 11 career rushing touchdowns, ten of those from last season. He averaged 6.2 yards a carry, the 16th best in all FBS in 2024. His role was slightly overshadowed by Bryson Daily, who had over 100 more carries than Udoh.

Now, Udoh joins an Arizona State team that isn’t under the radar anymore, as they are ranked 11th in the nation. Arizona State ran the ball 591 times last season, which isn’t Army’s 764 attempts, but still, Udoh’s role should be significant. Against FBS teams, Udoh is 0-4, but he did run for over 100 yards in Baton Rouge. His first Power Four game with the Sun Devils will be in Starkville on September 6 against Mississippi State.

Big Ten

Makhi Hughes, RB, Oregon

Oregon is coming off one of its best seasons in recent memory, but it all ended so abruptly when they were beaten badly in the Rose Bowl. Following the loss, starting running back Jordan James left for the pros, leaving a big hole in the backfield. They return backup running back Noah Whittington, who is a senior. To compete with Whittington and help out new quarterback Dante Moore, the Ducks brought in the seventh-highest-ranked running back in the portal, Makhi Hughes.

Hughes is one of the many Tulane players making the move to Power Four this season. He elected to stay with Tulane last season when Coach Willie Fritz left for Houston, helping Coach Jon Sumrall make an American Conference Championship game. Hughes has put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, finishing ninth in 2023 and tenth in 2024. Last season, he ended with 15 touchdowns, eight more than his total in 2023.

Now with the Ducks, Hughes will have to take a lot of the pressure off Moore and Whittingham. Expect Hughes to benefit outside of the backfield, as his receiving yards will likely see an increase. James’ last season had just over 209 yards, so expect Hughes to be right around that number.

SEC

Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri

Missouri has become a true underdog when it comes to the transfer portal. Over the past three years, they have brought in guys like wide receiver Theo Wease Jr., offensive lineman Cayden Green, and first-team All-American running back Cody Schrader. Last season without Schrader, the Tigers brought in running backs Marcus Carroll from Georgia State and Nate Noel from Appalachian State. This season, Missouri has brought in a running back who will be in Columbia for more than one season, Ahmad Hardy.

Hardy, a redshirt freshman last season for Louisiana Monroe, led all freshmen in rushing yards with 1,351. This would put him 12th in the nation. He would have two 200-yard games, both on the road. On top of yards, he ended with 13 touchdowns, which was tied for the most in the Sun Belt. He would go on to receive Sun Belt freshman of the year.

Now with Coach Eliah Drinkwitz, Hardy becomes the top running back in Columbia. Hardy will have to help either junior quarterback Sam Horn or Penn State transfer quarterback Beau Pribula, who is a senior. No matter who the quarterback is, Hardy will be the number-one back, but will his game relate to the SEC? Against SEC opponents, he has 90 total rushing yards, 60 of those at Auburn. Still, his explosive play style makes Missouri a threat in the running game.

All of these running backs are making the move to Power Four as they look to replicate their previous success and successors. All four of these guys, and the others mentioned above, could be the nation’s rushing leader, but time will tell.

The next position to be covered is receiver, so be on the lookout for that.

Main Image: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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