NFL draft: Will there be a first-round RB this year?

Regardless of what happens between the Colts and Trent Richardson, Indianapolis still needs a running back. Dan Herron performed admirably late in the season, but with Richardson's uncertainty, Ahmad Bradshaw's legal concerns and Vick Ballard's durability, there are plenty of questions surrounding the Colts' backfield.

Will the Colts take a running back in the first round? One hasn't been selected since Trent Richardson went 3rd overall to Cleveland, and well, we know how that turned out.

USA TODAY Sports' Gary Mihoces is in Indianapolis this week for the NFL Scouting Combine and provides us with a closer look this year's running back class and whether or not one, or maybe more, can break into the first round at the end of April:

With Georgia's Todd Gurley on the mend from knee surgery, Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin did his part Saturday at the NFL scouting combine to become the first running back selected in the first round of the NFL draft since 2012.

Gordon, 6-1, 215 pounds, ran for 408 yards in a single game last season against Nebraska. Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, one of his tests was the 40-yard dash.

Gordon was unofficially timed by the NFL Network in 4.52 seconds and 4.53 in his two attempts. By comparison, Seattle Seahawks rushing star Marshawn Lynch ran a 4.53 at the combine.

In drills running around cones, Gordon showed the quick feet that helped him run for 2,587 yards and 19 touchdowns last season as Wisconsin.

He wasn't called upon often as a receiver last season (19 catches, 153 yards and three touchdowns), but he showed his receiving skills in drills Saturday. In a short pass drill, he made a quick cut and caught the ball cleanly away from his body. He adjusted to the ball and hauled in a longer pass of about 35 yards.

The Indianapolis Colts, who hold the 29th pick in the draft, need a running back.

With uncertainly going into next season about Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, DeMarco Murray of the Dallas Cowboys and Lynch in Seattle, those teams could be in the market for a running back, too. Minnesota has the No. 11 pick. Dallas will draft 27th and Seattle 31st.

Gurley, who watched the on-field tests and drills in a sweat suit, had surgery in November to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

He participated in just one combine test – the bench press. He did 17 repetitions with 225 pounds. Gordon did 19 reps, which was the average for running backs at the combine last year.

Gurley declined to let team doctors examine his knee on the advice of his doctor, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. Gurley did undergo MRIs and will return to Indianapolis for a medical recheck before the April draft.

Gurley and Gordon are the two running backs with first-round potential.

Ameer Abdullah of Nebraska, also in the top group at 5-9, 205 pounds, was timed in 4.61 and 4.62 in the forty.

The fastest 40-yard dash time for a running back was 4.43 seconds by Jeremey Langford of Michigan State. The 6-0, 208-pounder is the 11th ranked running back, according to NFLDraftScout.com.