Horseshoe Huddle

Colts Draft: 5 Potential Day-3 Running Backs Who Fit

It makes sense for the Indianapolis Colts to add a running back on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft after tying to address the position in free agency.

Jake Arthur

Clemson running back Will Shipley (1) runs during the fourth quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at
Clemson running back Will Shipley (1) runs during the fourth quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at / Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The Indianapolis Colts are set at starting running back for the foreseeable future, with Jonathan Taylor locked into a three-year extension. If the team is going to devote any more resources to the position going forward, it’s going to be for the backup role/special teams. 

The other backs currently on the roster are Trey Sermon, Tyler Goodson, Evan Hull, and Zavier Scott. Sermon is likely the next man up in the backfield at this moment after posting 160 yards rushing on 4.6 yards per carry in 2023. Goodson, despite the unfortunate end to his season, also performed admirably, rushing for 87 yards on 13 rushes last season. Hull, a 2023 draft pick, only saw the field for a handful of snaps before his season ended due to an injury. 

The Colts could certainly go into next season with this running back depth, but it never hurts to look at more options in the draft. Here are five names to watch on day three of the draft at running back for the Colts:

Tyrone Tracy, Purdue

Purdue running back Tyrone Tracy is a fascinating prospect in this draft class. Initially a wide receiver at the University of Iowa, Tracy switched to running back for his final season at Purdue. The switch paid off in a massive way, as Tracy rushed for 714 yards on 6.3 yards per carry in his final season of play. 

Tracy is a rare prospect that offers upside in multiple areas. He proved last year that he can rush the ball effectively while always having his ability as a receiver in his back pocket (had over 500 yards receiving at Iowa as a sophomore). On top of that, he also showed prowess on special teams, returning a kick for a touchdown last season and making multiple tackles in coverage. 

Tracy is eerily similar as a prospect to Nyheim Hines, a player the Colts’ front office adored back in 2018. The Colts could add a true weapon on day three of this draft by taking Tracy. 

Kimani Vidal, Troy

Now, let’s switch gears completely. Tracy is more of a rotational back with core four upside and explosive potential. Kimani Vidal was a true workhorse back at Troy for the last couple of seasons. He is coming off an insane run over the last two seasons, amassing 2,788 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns over that timeframe. 

He may be a bit small (only 5’7”) but he is an absolute tank at his size. He runs with outstanding power and has a little bit of Zack Moss to his game. On top of being a fantastic runner capable of carrying the load, he is also one of the premier pass blocking backs in the draft, adding to his third down versatility. 

If the Colts want to add another back capable of being a bell cow in the run game behind Taylor, Vidal is the perfect day-three option to target. 

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Will Shipley, Clemson

Another prime day three option for the Colts in this draft is Clemson running back Will Shipley. Shipley is a silky smooth mover who was quite productive over the past three seasons. He has been an effective offensive piece for Clemson since his freshman season, amassing 2,751 yards rushing on 5.2 yards per carry over the last three seasons. 

Shipley has some Jordan Wilkins in his game, where he makes the running back position look easy with his smooth movement and vision. He may not be the most powerful player in the open field, but he knows how to find space to create positive yardage. The additional upside with him is that he can operate as a kick returner as well, averaging over 26 yards per return in his college career. 

Shipley may not be a player capable of carrying the load in the NFL, but he would provide solid depth to any backfield with his vision and feel for the game. 

Isaac Guerendo, Louisville

One of the easier Colts’ fits to identify in this draft class is Louisville’s Isaac Guerendo. Guerendo was a major winner this offseason when it came to pre-draft testing, running 4.33 and jumping 41 inches in the vertical at 221 pounds. Even without looking at a second of film, Guerendo’s traits are enough to warrant a draft selection. 

On film, however, Guerendo is a better back than his uninspiring production suggests. He shows that explosive ability off quite a bit and can be, at worst, a dangerous rotational back and kick returner at the next level. If the Colts want to continue with their trend of drafting historic athletes, taking a local kid in Isaac Guerendo would go a long way. 

Justin Strong, Southern Illinois

Even in a draft class with a super athlete like Guerendo, Justin Strong had perhaps the best pre-draft workout of any running back. He posted a strong 4.46 40-yard dash while measuring out as elite in the vertical (39 inches) and broad (124 inches) jumps as well as the agility drills (4.06-second shuttle and 6.65-second three-cone). Putting up those numbers at 206 pounds is absolutely insane. 

Like Guerendo, Strong struggled to produce at the college level but those traits are absolutely worth taking a flier on. With the new kickoff rule going into place this upcoming season, it may be worth a flier to take a player like Strong just to try him out on that unit. If he gets the hang of it with his traits, he could be an elite producer on teams for the Colts. 

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Jake Arthur

JAKE ARTHUR

Jake Arthur has covered the NFL and the Indianapolis Colts for a decade. He is a member of the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) and FantasyPros' expert panel. He has also contributed to multiple NFL Draft guides.