The New England Patriots are entering 2026 with a promising duo atop their running back depth chart. But while Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson are roster locks and possibly one of the most exciting one-two punches in the game, the depth behind them is a question mark: the current composition of backups combines for a grand total of 10 NFL games and 77 offensive snaps, all courtesy of Terrell Jennings.
A lack of a clearly-defined RB3, however, presents an opportunity for what is currently
four depth players. One of them is sophomore Lan Larison, who seems like a possible frontrunner to become the No. 3 back based on his spring usage.
Hard facts
Name: Lan Larison
Position: Running back
Jersey number: 34 (w)
Opening day age: 24 (10/11/2001)
Measurements: 5’10 1/2”, 209 lbs, 9 3/4” hand size, 30 1/8” arm length, 73 3/4” wingspan, 4.57s 40-yard dash, 6.93s 3-cone drill, 4.21s short shuttle, 35 1/2” vertical jump, 9’11” broad jump, 21 bench press reps, 7.02 Relative Athletic Score
Experience
NFL: New England Patriots (2025-) | College: UC Davis (2020-24)
A productive dual-threat quarterback at Vallivue High School in Caldwell, ID, Larison flew largely under the radar heading toward the college level. The two-star recruit eventually found his way to UC Davis, where he spent his entire five-year college career and developed into one of the most productive players in school history.
Larison appeared in a combined 50 games as an Aggie, gaining a school record 6,504 all-purpose yards and scoring 52 total touchdowns (plus one passing TD). Productive as a runner, receiver and kickoff returner, he was named All-Big Sky each of his five seasons (first team 2022, 2023, 2024; second team 2020, 2021) and honored as the conference’s offensive player of the year in 2023.
Despite his standout career in Davis, however, Larison did not hear his name called in the 2025 NFL Draft. He signed with the Patriots as a free agent shortly after the conclusion of the seventh round, but was forced to miss his entire rookie season on injured reserve.
Scouting report
Strengths: Standing at just under 5-foot-11 and 209 pounds, Larison combines a low center of gravity with a solid athletic skillset as well as the contact balance and strength needed to break tackles. A “fight for every yard”-type of runner, he initiates contact, plays with a good pad level, and keeps his feet moving to power through defenders. His play strength allows him to compete as a pass protector as well. Despite a lack of size, he showed the power in his upper body to hold his own against players bigger than him, and in his last 26 pass blocking reps between UC Davis and the NFL preseason surrendered just two pressures and zero sacks.
Larison also has shown some good vision and patience, reads his blocks well, and can adapt accordingly when things start to break down or holes begin to open up elsewhere — skills that also serve him well as a receiver and in the return game. He is dangerous in open space and with the ball in his hands, runs routes at a consistent speed, and makes decisive and quick breaks, uncovering quickly against linebackers. He also has natural, fairly big hands as well as the concentration to keep drops at a minimum. In general, he is a versatile player who also had 20 career dropback snaps with 18 pass attempts as a wild card quarterback in college.
Weaknesses: Larison is nothing special as a size/speed athlete, with both his 40 time (4.57s; 46th percentile) and 10-yard split (1.67s; 4th percentile) below average for a running back prospect. His second gear is also lacking, and his yards after contact numbers in college were mostly due to his superior strength and agility rather than his straight line speed; running away from pro-level defenders proved to be more challenging in his lone NFL preseason game even though the sample size is fairly small.
This, however, means that some of the same questions he brought with him to the pro level are still partially unanswered at this point in time. Will he continue to hold up well in pass protection against superior athletes? Will he be able to get open that easily as a receiver? Will his vision and patience still stand out when the holes are smaller and getting shut quickly? Will his ball protection issues — eight career fumbles, including four in 2024 — continue?
2025 review
Stats: N/A
Season recap: One of the most productive players in the FCS during his five-year stay there, Larison went undrafted in 2025 and had to go the free agency route to make it to the NFL. He did not remain on the open market for long, however, and was quickly signed to a three-year deal by the Patriots — one that would allow him to compete for a roster spot behind what was at the time a top-level trio consisting of Rhamondre Stevenson, fellow rookie TreVeyon Henderson, and Antonio Gibson.
Larison made a push for that role early in training camp and preseason, but saw his rookie campaign come to a crashing halt following New England’s first exhibition contest. Larison, who scored a 2-yard touchdown on his 29th and final snap against the Commanders, was diagnosed with a broken foot after the game.
As a consequence, he was sent to injured reserve without the possibility of return on August 10.
The injury put a disappointing end to what had been a promising rookie summer for Larison. He did not make a run at any of the top spots in the running back pecking order, but showed some of the traits that made him an electrifying player in college. He also put up some solid number in his lone preseason game, carrying the ball seven times for 35 yards and a touchdown, reeling in two passes for an additional nine yards, and running a kickoff back 25. He also looked good in pass protection and broke a pair of tackles.
Ultimately, though, forces outside of his control robbed him of a chance to build on that performance. It was nonetheless a somewhat promising start in an admittedly watered-down game.
2026 preview
Position: Change-of-pace running back | Ability: Depth player/Role player | Contract: Signed through 2027 (2028 RFA)
What will be his role? Larison was a jack of all trades on the offensive side of the ball in college, and the Patriots have also used him in a variety of roles since his arrival. With Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson locked into the top two spots on the depth chart, however, he projects as a rotational third option behind them. The 24-year-old has the makings of a change-of-pace back able to contribute both as a between-the-tackles or zone runner on early downs and in the receiving game.
What is his growth potential? Larison’s lack of all-around athleticism might put a ceiling on just how far he can go, but he has a solid foundation to build on. If he and the team can manage to do so, he could become a regular rotational piece in the offensive puzzle in the mold of ex-Patriots Danny Woodhead or Rex Burkhead. In addition, he has some potential to contribute on special teams as well.
Does he have positional versatility? Larison might have an argument as one of the most naturally versatile players on the Patriots’ roster at the moment: he was a high-level producer as both a runner and receiver in college, was used as a package quarterback on occasion, and finished his career at UC Davis with 1,246 kickoff return yards. His preseason debut last summer gave a glimpse of his skillset as a multi-purpose option, and even if it does not fully translate 1-to-1 to the NFL once the game start to matter, New England’s coaching staff seems willing to give him a wide range of responsibilities.
What is his salary cap situation? Entering the second year of his original UDFA deal, Larison currently counts only $8,333 — his fully-guaranteed signing bonus proration — against the Patriots’ salary cap. His $885,000 base salary, meanwhile, will only be added to the mix if he is on the roster after the NFL’s Top 51 offseason rule expires in September. At that point, his combined cap number would be $893,333.
How safe is his roster spot? Even though Larison offers an intriguing skillset and looked promising in his first game action last summer, he needs to look the part during training camp and preseason to make the team. It’s a fairly simple equation, really: if he fails to outperform fellow backs Terrell Jennings, Jam Miller and Myles Montgomery, or finds himself not on the same level as extra depth options elsewhere on the team, he will not make New England’s 53-man roster — promise and versatility be damned.
Summary: Looking at Larison’s skillset, he looks destined to find success in a Josh McDaniels offense. That player type, after all, has a tremendous track record under the veteran coordinator. However, no two players are alike, and while the second-year man feels like a throwback to the days of the aforementioned Danny Woodhead or Rex Burkhead, he needs to show on the field that he can actually perform at an adequate level. There is definitive optimism given that he looked like the Patriots’ RB3 in the spring, but full-padded training camp and preseason reps will show whether he is indeed capable of becoming the next in a prominent line of players.
What do you think about Lan Larison heading into the 2026 season? Will he live up to the promise he showed in college? Will he even make the team? And if so, who? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.
