Baylor’s Bryson Washington Leads PFF’s Big 12 RB Rankings for 2025

Behind him is West Virginia’s Tye Edwards (82.2 PFF grade), whose four‑star status and NJCAA All‑American pedigree hint at a next-level workload in Morgantown. His presence signals depth and versatility for WVU, especially in a system that will lean hard on the run to balance out passing threats. UCF’s Jaden Nixon (80.9) and Arizona’s Ismail Mahdi (80.3) weren’t far behind—both bring dynamic skill sets to their roles, and their inclusion reflects the off‑ball explosiveness the PFF model captures well.

With LJ Martin (BYU, 80.2) alongside Baylor’s Dawson Pendergrass (79.0) rounding out the list, it’s clear the Big 12 enters the season with a loaded pool of accomplished runners. That’s significant considering the league has lost nine of its top 12 rushers to the NFL, leaving open opportunities for the top returning backs. In Baylor’s case, Washington and Pendergrass combined for over 2,000 yards last season and both posted 5.5+ YPC averages—impressive production by any metric.

What this ranking gives us is a clear baseline: Washington is the bell‑cow and a lock for early‑season “bellcow of the year” chatter, while Edwards, Nixon, Mahdi, and Martin are primed to carry their offenses. That depth could shape tempo‑based schemes and late‑game workloads across the conference.

Now it’s on each coaching staff to translate these PFF grades into first‑down conversions and red‑zone dominance. But at least on film and data, the Big 12’s backfields look ready for an upgraded season.

For continued coverage of Big 12 running backs, portal additions, and season previews, stay tuned in at Heartland College Sports.