The 2025 NFL Draft has a very deep running back class, and there is a chance 30+ RBs could be selected this year (30 RBs are currently listed in the top 300 on consensus big boards). The only other draft to post 30+ RBs in the modern cap era (2011-present) was the 2017 NFL Draft. That draft featured RBs who went on to have productive NFL careers such as Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, James Conner, Jamaal Williams, and Aaron Jones. One thing that remained constant across all these running backs was how their athleticism and balanced usage in college found them a successful role in their future NFL scheme.
Understanding Basic Run Schemes
There are two core run schemes of note, Gap and Zone, with a subcategory labeled Man blocking. These schemes stem from the different philosophies of run blocking. A running back’s understanding of the blocking schemes can enhance their running vision and creativeness within the scheme.
For definition purposes, “Man,” is blocking straight ahead to the defender in front of you or near you. These plays feature no pulling lineman. An example of a Man blocking run concept would be “Duo”. Duo is notable for usually having two double team opportunities at the line of scrimmage. This sample play is an example of “Duo”.
Notice how the LT and LG here initially go to double the DT. The OC and RG go to double the other DT. All other linemen are blocking directly the assignment in front of them.
Notice how the LBs are initially unblocked, it is the duty of the extra doubling lineman in this to recognize when to chip off their initial block to block the LBs as the play progresses.
The LT (#70) does just that and picks up the Linebacker to seal the hole for the RB to run through.
11p DUO from tight bunch with jet motion pic.twitter.com/kucT7M95X6
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) August 11, 2022
In Zone blocking, lineman flow in tandem and work specific double teams. Inside Zone can feel like a more vertical play while Outside Zone creates a stretch on the front side and a wall on the back side. This is a sample play of Outside Zone.
As the play evolves you can see a double team on the nose tackle from the RG (#66 Compton) & C (#50). Notice how the C is still looking up field as the Middle linebacker reacts to the play. The difference here is you can see the RB is targeting his path at the edge currently being guarded by LT Trent Williams (#71).
As the play evolves #50 gets second level to block the linebacker. Notice now how as the play evolves, a cutback opportunity presents itself due to the fact the left side of the line is able to move their defenders.
Zone running plays (especially Outside Zone) can really reward athletic runners who are able to adjust on the fly and show their athleticism. Having great “vision” means identifying where there are cutback opportunities to increase net yardage on the play.
19 Clip pic.twitter.com/ewAgQQMiQc
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) August 8, 2022
A Gap run is the other core run scheme. Gap can give the notion of Man blocking but isn’t always straight ahead. On the front side of the play, linemen use leverage to block down the line while working back to line backers. A majority of Gap run schemes feature a pulling lineman from the back side to create a numbers advantage on the side of the run. This sample play, Counter, is a good example of a Gap scheme play.
We can at the snap that the C (Kelce #62) and TE (Stoll #89) pull to create a numbers advantage on the left side. The LG (Dickerson #69) blocks the defender shading in the A Gap. The LT (#68 Mailata) and left TE (#81 Calcaterra) double on the DE in the C Gap leaving the Edge unguarded, momentarily. 
The Edge gets picked up by a pulling Kelce and the right TE (Stoll) becomes the lead pull blocker for the RB to follow behind.
Stoll makes the sealing block on the safety leading to a big gain.
Pretty counter rep pic.twitter.com/0iL8MKFUWE
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 24, 2023
League Usage
Overall, Zone runs are a more common run play at both levels of play given the simplicity of blocking assignments and the ability to showcase athletic runners. The usage of Inside/Outside Zone differs by level. NCAA tends to use a higher percentage of Inside Zone vs. Outside Zone plays than the NFL does. From a Man/Gap play perspective the NCAA also employs a higher number historically of Counter run plays than we see at the NFL level. What is interesting is the change in Man/Gap vs Zone usage by season in the NCAA as more teams are turning to higher degree of balanced sets of Gap schemes looks. This is likely because Gap scheme plays give a numbers advantage and can help with any talent disparity.
Put simply, if you are an offense that is going against a bigger defensive front than yours, then having a numbers advantage in blocking can help alleviate this disadvantage. At the NCAA level, creating more of a numbers advantage on pulling plays can create a lot more success than disciplined NFL fronts who are more skilled at spilling into the box.
Overall, since 2018 to present we’ve seen teams decline their usage of Zone running scheme at the FBS level by 12% on average with the Sun Belt, Big Ten and Mountain West being among the biggest shifts in usage. Teams like UNLV featuring the “Go-Go” offense are showcasing many different pre-snap looks (including 2 RBs often on one side of QB) and pin/pull run plays that puts teams in a blender). Having a numbers advantage on run plays can help schools “out-scheme” more physical fronts as previously mentioned.
Here were some of the example teams that used the highest percentage of rushing schemes in 2024:
NFL
- INSIDE ZONE: Commanders, Eagles, Cowboys
- OUTSIDE ZONE: Falcons, Niners, Texans
- MAN/DUO: Rams, Bills, Bengals
- POWER: Chiefs, Colts, Ravens
NCAA
- INSIDE ZONE: Duke, Colorado, South Carolina
- OUTSIDE ZONE: Iowa, Kansas, Cincinnati
- MAN/DUO: Miami (FL), Ole Miss, Vanderbilt
- POWER: New Mexico, Stanford, Tulane
College To Pro
Now that we have a basic understanding of different running schemes, how it translates to the next level can be an important scouting mechanism in determining a player’s fit for a future team. Success in a scheme at the college level can mean an entirely different thing when placed in a new scheme at an NFL level. This is where a conversation around a player’s traits and characteristics can supersede his production given it showcases that they may be scheme agnostic. Given our high-level usage rates, it isn’t surprising to see the translation of Zone and Man/Gap usage percentage by collegiate RB to main consistent as they move into the pros. NFL offensive coordinators are great at identifying what their players do well at and find play calls to best suit that skill set.
Better to have Broad Experience or Be a Scheme Fit?
Given that most players come from a primary Zone running system in college, the mix of play concepts is important to understand their usage or “scheme fit”. To represent the notion of “scheme fit”, we used an entropy calculation on percentage of runs from both NCAA (Outside Zone, Inside Zone, Gap, Man) and NFL. From that if you had a higher entropy score (meaning a more balanced usage across many different run concepts”) than the median, you were deemed to be a balanced runner.
Those less than median were deemed to be in an offense that chose to use that player for a singular concept more often or they were in an offense that used one run concept more often. Generally, those coming from a diverse offense had a better time finding a role in the NFL given their experience. An example of this is Kenneth Gainwell. He’s been tasked with primarily running Inside Zone in the NFL (and as a great pass catcher) but in college he ran all types of concepts (given the talented backfield at Memphis at the time) with his highest usage in a Gap running play. Kyren Williams is also another good example. He’s been tasked with a lot of Man run schemes looks in the NFL whereas in college he was balanced across with Inside Zone being his primary play call. Finding a specific role in mind for a player with a broad tool set can be valuable for their performance at the next level.
Future Class
This upcoming draft is led by Ashton Jeanty and for good reason. He leads the class in total rushing yards per rush and yards after contact over his collegiate career while being bottom 10 in yards before contact per carry. He also is top 3 in usage diversity with his primary run being an Outside Zone call. Jordan James, TreVeyon Henderson, and Devin Neal saw a high degree of diversity in their run calls in college but also benefited in getting good push from their offensive line. Bhayshul Tuten saw low yards before contact, high yards after contact and was used in a balanced fashion during his collegiate career. He could represent a runner destined to shine at the next level.
The 2024 NFL season showcased the resurgence of the RB position in the NFL. We saw players switching teams and instantly having success (Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs). We saw newcomers to the NFL find their groove in a new scheme (Bucky Irving, Tyrone Tracy Jr.). As the NFL trends to a having a higher degree run scheme mix look for more Gap/Zone schemes to be used interchangeably in seasons ahead.
