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Phil Steele
ESPN Staff Writer
LSU Tigers, Stanford Cardinal, Oregon Ducks lead Phil Steele's top running back depth charts
Editor's note: This article was adapted from Phil Steele's college football preview magazine, which is available here.
Has there ever been a deeper year of star running backs than 2016? You can make the case that Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, Royce Freeman, Nick Chubb and a slew of other RBs could run with any crop of backs in college football's history.
Which school has the best running back unit? Here's how the nation's top 50 running situations break down.
1. LSU Tigers
If the Heisman Trophy were awarded mid-year, Leonard Fournette would have won it by a landslide last season. If the NFL allowed true sophomores to enter the draft, Fournette would have been the top RB taken, as he rushed for 1,953 yards (6.5 yards per carry). Derrius Guice would start for a lot of teams and averaged 8.5 ypc. LSU has three more highly touted running backs in the mix, including true frosh Devin White.
2. Stanford Cardinal
Christian McCaffrey finished second in the Heisman vote and set the NCAA record for all-purpose yards. He rushed for 2,019 yards (6 ypc) and had 645 receiving yards (14.3 yards per catch). Bryce Love is a complete back who averaged 7.8 ypc and is a solid receiver. He can score any time he touches it. Redshirt freshman Cameron Scarlett and true frosh Trevor Speights add depth.
3. Oregon Ducks
Royce Freeman is 230 pounds and rushed for 1,365 yards (5.4 ypc) in 2014 and 1,836 (6.5 ypc, 17 touchdowns) in 2015. Taj Griffin is in the Taser back spot and rushed for 570 yards (7.4 ypc). Kani Benoit had 364 yards (7 ypc), while Tony Brooks-James adds depth.
4. Georgia Bulldogs
Nick Chubb rushed for 1,547 yards (7.1 ypc) in only eight starts (after Todd Gurley got hurt) as a true freshman. He was a Heisman contender in 2015, with 747 yards (8.1 ypc) in six starts before he went down for the year with an injury. Sony Michel took over and in six starts rushed for 1,161 yards (5.3 ypc). True frosh Elijah Holyfield (Evander's son) is added this season.
5. Florida State Seminoles
Dalvin Cook rushed for 1,691 yards, at 7.4 ypc, with 19 touchdowns, despite missing time because of an injury. Jacques Patrick rushed for 162 yards against Syracuse in his one start. Johnathan Vickers, Ryan Green and true frosh Amir Rasul add depth.
6. Oklahoma Sooners
Samaje Perine had 1,713 yards (6.5 ypc) as a frosh, including 427 rushing yards versus Kansas to set an FBS single-game record. Last year, he had 1,349 yards (6 ypc), and the Sooners added Joe Mixon, who had 753 yards (6.7 ypc). Daniel Brooks and redshirt freshman Rodney Anderson add depth. Dimitri Flowers is a top-notch fullback.
7. Baylor Bears
Shock Linwood had 881 yards (6.9 ypc) as a third-stringer in 2013. He had 1,252 yards (5 ypc) in 2014 and 1,329 (6.8 ypc) in 2015. Johnny Jefferson had 1,000 yards (7.4 ypc) as Linwood's backup in 2015. Devin Chafin has 1,261 rushing yards in three seasons, while Terrance Williams had 556 (6.3) as a redshirt freshman. All four return, and the Bears add dynamic redshirt freshman JaMycal Hasty and true frosh Kameron Martin.
8. USC Trojans
Justin Davis had 595 yards (4.6 ypc) in 2014 and then 902 (5.3 ypc) in 2015. Ronald Jones rushed for 987 (6.5) as a true freshman, topping Charles White's school freshman record. Aca'Cedric Ware and true frosh Vavae Malepeai provide depth.
9. Tennessee Volunteers
Jalen Hurd is 240 pounds and rushed for 899 yards (4.7 ypc) in 2014 and 1,288 (4.6) in 2015. Alvin Kamara was originally at Bama but had 1,000 yards as a JUCO in 2014 and 698 (6.5) for Tennessee in 2015. Sophomore John Kelly has 4.4 speed, and true freshman Carlin Fils-Aime adds depth.
10. North Carolina Tar Heels
Elijah Hood ran for only 259 yards (3.9 ypc) as a true freshman but exploded in 2015 as the feature back, with 1,463 yards (6.7 ypc) and 17 touchdowns. T.J. Logan has 1,515 rushing yards (5.5 ypc) and 419 receiving yards (9.9 yards per catch) in three seasons. True frosh Jordon Brown add depth.
11. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Leon Allen had 1,542 rushing yards (5.7 ypc) in 2014 but got hurt early in 2015. He was granted a sixth year and, if healthy, is dangerous. Anthony Wales had 518 yards (6.3) as a backup in 2014 and 1,091 (7.0) in 2015. D'Andre Ferby had 650 yards (4.0) in 2015. This unit has 4,919 (5.4 ypc) career rushing yards and a total of 1,144 receiving yards (8.5 yards per catch).
12. Alabama Crimson Tide
With the history of the Tide producing top RBs, I am willing to overlook the grand total of 281 career rushing yards from this unit. Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough and B.J. Emmons form a very talented trio that will have their yards by the end of 2016-17.
13. Miami Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have three running backs capable of being the feature back. Joseph Yearby had 1,002 yards (4.9 ypc) in 2015. Gus "the Bus" Edwards was going to start last year but was injured. Mark Walton had 461 yards (3.5 ypc) in 2015. Trayone Gray and true freshman Travis Homer provide depth.
14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Tarean Folston had 889 yards (5.1 ypc) in 2014 and was injured for the year in Week 1 of 2015. Josh Adams came on down the stretch in 2015 and had 835 rushing yards (7.1 ypc). Behind them, they have a deep group of highly touted runners.
15. Clemson Tigers
Wayne Gallman had 769 rushing yards (4.8 ypc) as a true freshman. Last season, he rushed for 1,527 yards (5.4 ypc). He has three solid backups in C.J. Fuller, Adam Choice and Tyshon Dye. They also add Tavien Feaster, which makes this a deep and talented group.
ESPN Staff Writer
LSU Tigers, Stanford Cardinal, Oregon Ducks lead Phil Steele's top running back depth charts
Editor's note: This article was adapted from Phil Steele's college football preview magazine, which is available here.
Has there ever been a deeper year of star running backs than 2016? You can make the case that Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, Royce Freeman, Nick Chubb and a slew of other RBs could run with any crop of backs in college football's history.
Which school has the best running back unit? Here's how the nation's top 50 running situations break down.
1. LSU Tigers
If the Heisman Trophy were awarded mid-year, Leonard Fournette would have won it by a landslide last season. If the NFL allowed true sophomores to enter the draft, Fournette would have been the top RB taken, as he rushed for 1,953 yards (6.5 yards per carry). Derrius Guice would start for a lot of teams and averaged 8.5 ypc. LSU has three more highly touted running backs in the mix, including true frosh Devin White.
2. Stanford Cardinal
Christian McCaffrey finished second in the Heisman vote and set the NCAA record for all-purpose yards. He rushed for 2,019 yards (6 ypc) and had 645 receiving yards (14.3 yards per catch). Bryce Love is a complete back who averaged 7.8 ypc and is a solid receiver. He can score any time he touches it. Redshirt freshman Cameron Scarlett and true frosh Trevor Speights add depth.
3. Oregon Ducks
Royce Freeman is 230 pounds and rushed for 1,365 yards (5.4 ypc) in 2014 and 1,836 (6.5 ypc, 17 touchdowns) in 2015. Taj Griffin is in the Taser back spot and rushed for 570 yards (7.4 ypc). Kani Benoit had 364 yards (7 ypc), while Tony Brooks-James adds depth.
4. Georgia Bulldogs
Nick Chubb rushed for 1,547 yards (7.1 ypc) in only eight starts (after Todd Gurley got hurt) as a true freshman. He was a Heisman contender in 2015, with 747 yards (8.1 ypc) in six starts before he went down for the year with an injury. Sony Michel took over and in six starts rushed for 1,161 yards (5.3 ypc). True frosh Elijah Holyfield (Evander's son) is added this season.
5. Florida State Seminoles
Dalvin Cook rushed for 1,691 yards, at 7.4 ypc, with 19 touchdowns, despite missing time because of an injury. Jacques Patrick rushed for 162 yards against Syracuse in his one start. Johnathan Vickers, Ryan Green and true frosh Amir Rasul add depth.
6. Oklahoma Sooners
Samaje Perine had 1,713 yards (6.5 ypc) as a frosh, including 427 rushing yards versus Kansas to set an FBS single-game record. Last year, he had 1,349 yards (6 ypc), and the Sooners added Joe Mixon, who had 753 yards (6.7 ypc). Daniel Brooks and redshirt freshman Rodney Anderson add depth. Dimitri Flowers is a top-notch fullback.
7. Baylor Bears
Shock Linwood had 881 yards (6.9 ypc) as a third-stringer in 2013. He had 1,252 yards (5 ypc) in 2014 and 1,329 (6.8 ypc) in 2015. Johnny Jefferson had 1,000 yards (7.4 ypc) as Linwood's backup in 2015. Devin Chafin has 1,261 rushing yards in three seasons, while Terrance Williams had 556 (6.3) as a redshirt freshman. All four return, and the Bears add dynamic redshirt freshman JaMycal Hasty and true frosh Kameron Martin.
8. USC Trojans
Justin Davis had 595 yards (4.6 ypc) in 2014 and then 902 (5.3 ypc) in 2015. Ronald Jones rushed for 987 (6.5) as a true freshman, topping Charles White's school freshman record. Aca'Cedric Ware and true frosh Vavae Malepeai provide depth.
9. Tennessee Volunteers
Jalen Hurd is 240 pounds and rushed for 899 yards (4.7 ypc) in 2014 and 1,288 (4.6) in 2015. Alvin Kamara was originally at Bama but had 1,000 yards as a JUCO in 2014 and 698 (6.5) for Tennessee in 2015. Sophomore John Kelly has 4.4 speed, and true freshman Carlin Fils-Aime adds depth.
10. North Carolina Tar Heels
Elijah Hood ran for only 259 yards (3.9 ypc) as a true freshman but exploded in 2015 as the feature back, with 1,463 yards (6.7 ypc) and 17 touchdowns. T.J. Logan has 1,515 rushing yards (5.5 ypc) and 419 receiving yards (9.9 yards per catch) in three seasons. True frosh Jordon Brown add depth.
11. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Leon Allen had 1,542 rushing yards (5.7 ypc) in 2014 but got hurt early in 2015. He was granted a sixth year and, if healthy, is dangerous. Anthony Wales had 518 yards (6.3) as a backup in 2014 and 1,091 (7.0) in 2015. D'Andre Ferby had 650 yards (4.0) in 2015. This unit has 4,919 (5.4 ypc) career rushing yards and a total of 1,144 receiving yards (8.5 yards per catch).
12. Alabama Crimson Tide
With the history of the Tide producing top RBs, I am willing to overlook the grand total of 281 career rushing yards from this unit. Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough and B.J. Emmons form a very talented trio that will have their yards by the end of 2016-17.
13. Miami Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have three running backs capable of being the feature back. Joseph Yearby had 1,002 yards (4.9 ypc) in 2015. Gus "the Bus" Edwards was going to start last year but was injured. Mark Walton had 461 yards (3.5 ypc) in 2015. Trayone Gray and true freshman Travis Homer provide depth.
14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Tarean Folston had 889 yards (5.1 ypc) in 2014 and was injured for the year in Week 1 of 2015. Josh Adams came on down the stretch in 2015 and had 835 rushing yards (7.1 ypc). Behind them, they have a deep group of highly touted runners.
15. Clemson Tigers
Wayne Gallman had 769 rushing yards (4.8 ypc) as a true freshman. Last season, he rushed for 1,527 yards (5.4 ypc). He has three solid backups in C.J. Fuller, Adam Choice and Tyshon Dye. They also add Tavien Feaster, which makes this a deep and talented group.