Peterson is one of the last of an endangered species - the feature back. He runs upright, which combined with his injury history, makes for the only real blemish on his resume. Peterson was born to carry the ball 25 times a game and demoralize a defense in the 4th quarter.

The list of possible true feature backs begins with Peterson and ends with Lynch. Marshawn does not have Peterson's punishing style or breakaway speed, but he's almost as natural with the ball in his hands. Lynch's vision and balance are outstanding, and he's got the mindset of a runner who can put the team on his back.

Reggie Bush and Sean Payton have laid out the blueprint of exactly how Booker should be used in the pros. Booker can be split out wide, he can be lethal in the return game, and he's a threat to take it to house at any time. Lorenzo may not be on the field for every snap, but he will make as many game changing plays as any back in this class.

Listen to the 20 minutes we spent talking to Lorenzo

Leonard won't show up often on SportsCenter's Top Plays, but he will help his team win games, plain and simple. His versatility will have his offensive coordinator drooling. Leonard's attitude as a proven, dedicated winner and leader will also instantly elevate the units he's part of.

Listen to the talk with Brian at the Senior Bowl

Hunt can almost match Booker and Leonard in number of uses, but he's not nearly as dynamic. The best comparison I've heard is the recently arrested and fired Richie Anderson, another Nittany Lion great. Hunt will get the job done as a third down and short yardage back, but I'm not sure he'll make the kind of the plays that translate to W's.

It's been a rough year for Irons, who was considered a strong Heisman contender in August. Irons was banged up all season, and is just now returning to form, but it won't be enough to return him to the first round tier than some had him in when the season started. Irons does run and play very hard and will be a quality change of pace/backup, and could even excel with the bulk of the work in a zone blocking scheme, but for the most part, he's an ordinary back.

Listen to the talk with Kenny at the Senior Bowl

It's hard to gauge Pittman's stock. On one hand, he benefitted greatly from being in one of the best offenses in the country. The combine has confirmed that his speed and quicks are legit. He has shown that he can run inside, but Pittman lacks the receiving and blocking to be an everydown back.

Jackson may not go on the first day, but he could still outproduce many backs above him on this list. Jackson runs with determination and explosion. He emerged out of a crowded and talented Nebraska backfield this year, but his record is pockmarked by shoulder injuries and a lack of a true body of work at the college level.

The team that drafts Bush will be taking a chance. Taking a chance that his broken leg, which would set off airport metal detectors, will fully recover. Taking a chance that he will learn to run mean, turning his mass into a weapon. Taking a chance that he will flourish running inside in much smaller holes than he saw at Louisville. His size/talent combo makes him worth the risk.

3/21 Update:: Michael Bush has had a second surgery on his injured leg.

Quote(Louisville football sports information director Rocco Gasparro):: Gasparro said that Bush told him last night that the surgery had gone well and that he expected to be released today. “It’s something he could have put off, but it’s something he thought he needed to do,” said Gasparro, who also spoke to Bush on Monday. “A new rod was put in to help the bone grow where it wasn’t healing properly.” Gasparro said Bush thought this surgery would “help him heal quicker and be ready possibly by the time training camps start.”

Bradshaw won't carry the load in the NFL, but he's a shifty, slippery back whose vision and burst combine for a killer instinct when he sees a hole.

Like Brian Leonard, Snelling is equally comfortable as a tailback and a fullback. Unlike Leonard, teams will see him as a fullback that can also catch passes and run the ball in short yardage instead of a tailback that can also line up as a lead blocker. Snelling's blue collar attitude assures that he'll be a quality addition to any offense.

Wright's latent upside should make him an attractive second day pick at RB. He's just getting out of the shadow of a devastating knee injury that robbed him of almost two full years of his college career. Wright returned in a big way last year, ranking in the top 10 rushers in the NCAA. He's a grinder who will get the tough yards inside.

Michael Bush's injury was Kolby Smith's opportunity, and Smith made the most of it. He's another back whose main asset is his versatility, especially if he can add the weight and adopt the attitude to play some fullback. He'll make for a competent backup RB even if he doesn't.

Listen to the talk with Kolby at the Senior Bowl

I just can't get that excited about Walker. He's not big enough to bang inside, and he's not explosive enough to be a scatback. His success in college will get him drafted, but it'll be an uphill fight for him to find a natural role in the NFL.

Young would rank higher on this list if he could have stayed healthy during his college years. He could be valuable in a one-cut zone blocking scheme running attack, and punt returns are also in his toolbox. Young projects nicely as a third down/backup RB if his body holds up.

Clayton is also representing Ramonce Taylor and Gary Russell in the "talented, but troubled" category. His disciplinary problems followed him from Florida State to Kansas State. He very well could go undrafted, but he's got the burst and vision to be productive if given the chance.

Listen to the talk with Thomas at the Senior Bowl

Wynn has all the tools to rank in the top 10, if not top 5. Too bad he's never turned those gifts into production. Wynn is big and fast enough to be a lethal inside runner, but he prefers to dance. Between injuries, inconsistent effort, and just plain bad play, I can't get behind the idea of Wynn succeeding in the NFL.

Chris Henry's combine numbers are sensational. Few RBs in this class can hang with him athletically. Too bad that's all he has going for him. Henry is a project, but he could pay off if he lands on a team with a position coach that can tear him down and show him how to use his natural physical advantage. He had only a few flashes of brilliance in an otherwise ho-hum college career. Henry will go much higher than this, but I'm not optimistic about his future.

It's a real shame that Moss has not gotten his burst back after a torn ACL in 2005, because he's one of the more natural RBs on this list. His instincts and approach to the game make him worth a late pick or priority free agent contract, but backup seems to be his ceiling in the NFL.

Listen to the talk with Tyrone at the Shrine Game

Wolfe's production dictates that he will get drafted, and he really should be higher on this list. I just can't shake the skepticism about a less shifty version of Darren Sproles, who doesn't return kicks, being worth much in the NFL.

Worth Mentioning:

Ronnie McGill, North Carolina, 5'11 213 - This powerful runner could stick if he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in the last game of his college career

Nate Ilaoa, Hawaii, 5'9" 245 - A bruiser with burst, but it's hard to project him because he played in a pass happy offense.

Jon Cornish, Kansas, 6'0" 206 - Cornish can do everything well enough to be a backup/special teamer, but he'd be better served playing in his native Canada, where he was a 2nd round draft pick.

Danny Ware, Georgia, 6'0" 225 - Ware was a promising starter as a true freshman, but injuries and a crowded backfield kept from living up to expectations.

Justin Vincent, LSU, 5'11" 219 - Like Ware, Vincent's career has been stuck in a ditch on the side of the road after a blazing freshman year. He seems to have lost his burst.

Paul Mosley, Baylor, 6'3" 240 - Mosley is eerily similar to Brandon Jacobs. He might be a diamond in the rough because he was misused this year in Baylor's spread offense.

Ramonce Taylor, Texas College, 5'10" 195 - Taylor is a dynamic all-purpose talent, but he still doesn't seem to taking football as seriously as he should be.

Listen to the talk with Ramonce at the Texas Vs. The Nation Game

Gary Russell, Minnesota, 5'11" 229 - Extremely productive at Minnesota, Russell showed up out of shape and not resembling the back he used to be at predraft activities.

Listen to the talk with Gary at the Texas Vs. The Nation Game

Arkee Whitlock, Southern Illinois, 5'9" 205 - This low-to-the-ground shifty RB once started over Brandon Jacobs.

Justise Hairston, Central Connecticut State, 6'1" 220 - Hairston had a terrific Hula Bowl, and really impressed me when I talked to him in El Paso at the Texas Vs. The Nation game. Ive heard an unconfirmed report of an outstanding workout for an NFL team that included 40 times in the high 4.4s

D.D. Terry, Sam Houston State, 6'1" 196 - Terry is a recent LB to RB convert. He showed breakaway speed in Texas Vs. The Nation practices and ran a 4.4 at his pro day.

Jackie Battle, Houston, 6'2" 235 - Battle's pro day numbers (4.42 and 4.43 40, a 41" vertical, 10'11" broad jump, 4.11 short shuttle, 6.51 3 cone) turned heads and will get him drafted, but he was unimpressive at the Shrine Game practices.

Alonzo Coleman, Hampton, 5'10" 207 - I keep seeing Coleman's name as a small school sleeper at RB, and he had a good combine, but he ran small at the Shrine Game practices and did not stand out the way his combine numbers would lead you to believe he would.

Kenneth Darby, Alabama, 5'11" 211 - It's almost unthinkable that Darby's stock could fall from first day to possible undrafted free agent in one season, but it has. He's got no real above average tools coming off a subpar year and hasn't pulled out of the tailspin in the postseason.

Marcus O'Keith, Cal, 5'11" 190 - This speed merchant was stuck behind likely 2007 first rounder Marshawn Lynch and future draft pick Justin Forsett. He might have some latent upside.

Clifton Dawson, Harvard, 5'10" 214 - Dawson is not a game breaker, but he could make a roster with his special teams contributions. He also has the option of going North - he was selected in the 6th round of the CFL draft.