4. Ayo Adeyi, North Texas RB
Adeyi was unbelievable for the Mean Green in 2023. An unranked recruit out of high school, Ayo has proven his worth at the collegiate level and much more after three seasons. 2023 was Adeyi’s first season as true RB1 and he took full advantage.
The Mansfield, Texas native ran for back-to-back 100-yard games at three different times this season, good for 1,017 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the year. The 5-7 workhorse only seemed to gain strength as the season went on, finishing the year with 132 and two scores in a win over UAB.
3. Nate Noel, Appalachian State RB
The start to the 2023 season was one to remember for Noel. The junior running back uncorked for a whopping five straight games of over 100 rushing yards. His best performance came against in-state rival UNC where he went for 127 and two touchdowns, followed by 193 and a score the following week against ECU, another in-state opponent.
Noel is outstanding in space, but also possesses great balance and vision in a crowded backfield. Expect the junior transfer to be highly sought out by top teams around the country heading into 2024.
