2011 CFN Preview - Unit Rankings, RBs

CFN 2011 Preview Unit Rankings from top to bottom - Running Backs

Preview 2011 - Unit Rankings

Running Backs

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2011 CFN Preseason Rankings  
1 to 5 | 6 to 10 | 11 to 20 | 21 to 30 | 31 to 40 | 41 to 50
51 to 60 | 61 to 70 | 71 to 80 | 81 to 90 | 91 to 100 | 101 to 110 | 111 to 120

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CFN 2011 Unit Rankings
- Offenses | Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Receivers | Offensive Lines
- Defenses | Defensive Lines | Linebackers | Secondaries  | Special Teams  
- Preview 2011 | 2010 Unit Rankings

Note: This is based on talent, returning starters, and skill. It’s not necessarily based on what the final total offense statistics will be.

1. Oregon
If there’s a more talented collection of running backs in America, it’s probably playing in the NFL. Oregon ranked fourth nationally in rushing and averaged almost six yards a carry for good reason—it’s flush with depth and mercurial speed up and down the depth chart. LaMichael James is a returning is a returning All-American and Doak Walker winner, the backup, Kenjon Barner, would start for at least 90 other programs, and the freshmen had their choice of destinations coming out of high school.

2. Auburn
If Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb can both stay healthy, they should put up big numbers, but they have to prove they can do it for a full season and with everyone keying on them. The spotlight is on, and they have a lot of production to fill with the loss of Cam Newton. They’ll be great, Tre Mason will play his role, and the Tigers should be among the SEC’s leaders in rushing.

3. Alabama
The starting threesome in the Bama backfield is as good as any in America ... even without Mark Ingram. There’s NFL talent, speed, power, and the ability to crank out big yards no matter who’s handling the ball. Trent Richardson will be the workhorse, but he doesn’t need to be with other phenomenal options ready to handle the work whenever needed. The only question mark is proven full-season production, and while the numbers will still be there, losing a leading rusher like Ingram is still a negative.

4. TCU
TCU might not have the brand name running backs that other top programs do, but it can boast one of the deepest rotations in college football with the three top runners back and a slew of tremendous prospects waiting in the wings to show what they can do. The team ran for 3,415 yards and 41 touchdowns last year, and while the quarterbacks will be a factor in the equation, there’s enough depth and talent at running back to do most of the heavy lifting. Consider it a stunner if Ed Wesley, Matthew Tucker and Waymon James don’t combine for over 2,000 yards.

5. Wisconsin
Wisconsin always plugs in very good backs and the production always comes, and Montee Ball and James White have the talent and potential to continue to crank out huge yards. The two should combine for well over 2,000 yards, but more backs will be used to keep everyone fresh. Jeffrey Lewis and Melvin Gordon will see time, and the opportunities will be there for others to step up and star when given a shot. As always, consider it a shock if Wisconsin doesn’t finish in the top 15 in rushing, and with more of a running quarterback in Wilson, being in the top ten is possible.

6. Texas A&M
The ground game isn’t going to be the second banana next to what should be a terrific passing attack. Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael are too good to not feed the ball to at least 35 times a game, but the unit also needs to develop some reliable and quality backups for the near future. Gray is a high-character guy and a leader, and while his role might be diminished a bit after carrying the load at the end of last year he’s not the type who’ll sulk in any way. Michael and Gray have the potential to each be 1,000-yard backs depending on how the offense operates.

7. Arkansas
Knile Davis had Doak Walker potential and could've been a threat for 2,000 yards. Now that he's out, the depth kicks in. This is one of the deepest backfields in America, and it’s a big group that can move. While the spring wasn't that great, and the loss of Broderick Green and Davis hurts, this should still be one of the team's biggest strengths. While the passing attack gets all the headlines, the running game doesn’t get ignored. No, the numbers aren’t there compared to the top rushing teams, but going back to the Louisville days, Bobby Petrino’s teams always run effectively. It’s not exactly going to be back to the days of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, but the Hogs are loaded with talented backs who can carry the workload.

8. South Carolina
As long as No. 21 is healthy and rolling, South Carolina will be special. The team can battle for another division title if Marcus Lattimore has a mediocre year, or gets hurt, but forget about winning the SEC championship without him. The key will be getting more out of the reserves. No. 2 rusher Brian Maddox is gone meaning Kenny Miles has to go back to his 2009 form. Lattimore might be the nation's best running back, and he raised the Gamecock offense to another level on his own.

9. Florida State
From tailback to fullback, the Seminoles return intact from last season and bring back their top three ground-gainers. The backfield will boast a nice mix of veteran talent, placing the pressure on the coaching staff to use each weapon wisely and keep everyone happy. None of the trio averaged less than 5.7 yards a carry, fueling the ACC’s fourth-ranked running game. Figure there to be some kind of a committee approach with Chris Thompson, Jermaine Thomas, and Ty Jones, with at least one of the promising rookies sitting out as a redshirt. The ‘Noles are likely to go with the hot hand, making it unlikely one back will be in the starting lineup from wire-to-wire.

10. Washington
If Chris Polk’s shoulder problems don’t flare up, Washington will boast its best backfield in years. To help keep him fresh, the staff plans to spread the carries around a bit more, a luxury it’ll have with the depth and talent that’s currently at its disposal. With backups like Jesse Callier and Deontae Cooper, the Huskies won’t need the workhorse, Polk, to shoulder the entire load. On the other hand, if he starts off 2011 the way he finished 2010, he could rush for considerably more yards on fewer carries.

COULD EASILY BE IN TOP TEN

Air Force	M-West
Army	Ind
Boston College	ACC
Clemson	ACC
Florida	SEC
Georgia Tech	ACC
Kansas State	Big 12
LSU	SEC
Michigan	Big Ten
Michigan State	Big Ten
Mississippi State	SEC
Navy	ind
Nevada	WAC
Ohio State	Big Ten
Oklahoma	Big 12
Ole Miss	SEC
Stanford	Pac-12
Temple	MAC
Vanderbilt	SEC
Virginia Tech	ACC

SOLID, WILL BE A POSITIVE

Arizona State	Pac-12
Arizona	Pac-12
Boise State	M-West
BYU	Ind
California	Pac-12
Cincinnati	Big East
Colorado	Pac-12
Connecticut	Big East
Fresno State	WAC
Georgia	SEC
Houston	C-USA
Illinois	Big Ten
Iowa	Big Ten
Louisville	Big East
Maryland	ACC
Miami	ACC
Missouri	Big 12
Nebraska	Big Ten
North Texas	Sun Belt
Northern Illinois	MAC
Notre Dame	ind
Oklahoma State	Big 12
Oregon State	Pac-12
Penn State	Big Ten
Pitt	Big East
Purdue	Big Ten
San Diego State	M-West
SMU	C-USA
South Florida	Big East
Southern Miss	C-USA
Tennessee	SEC
Texas	Big 12
Texas Tech	Big 12
UCF	C-USA
UCLA	Pac-12
USC	Pac-12
Utah	Pac-12
Utah State	WAC
Virginia	ACC
Wake Forest	ACC
Western Kentucky	Sun Belt

AVERAGE

Baylor	Big 12
Arkansas State	Sun Belt
FIU	Sun Belt
Indiana	Big Ten
Iowa State	Big 12
Kansas	Big 12
Kentucky	SEC
Louisiana Tech	WAC
Minnesota	Big Ten
NC State	ACC
North Carolina	ACC
Northwestern	Big Ten
Rice	C-USA
Rutgers	Big East
Syracuse	Big East
Toledo	MAC
Tulane	C-USA
Tulsa	C-USA
UTEP	C-USA
West Virginia	Big East

NEEDS WORK

Ball State	MAC
Duke	ACC
Florida Atlantic	Sun Belt
New Mexico	M-West
Troy	Sun Belt
UAB	C-USA
Washington State	Pac-12
Western Michigan	MAC

A PROBLEM

Buffalo	MAC
Central Michigan	MAC
Colorado State	M-West
East Carolina	C-USA
Idaho	WAC
Kent State	MAC
Marshall	C-USA
Memphis	C-USA
Middle Tennessee	Sun Belt
New Mexico State	WAC
Ohio	MAC

THE BOTTOM TEN

Akron	MAC
Bowling Green	MAC
Eastern Michigan	MAC
Hawaii	WAC
Miami Univ.	MAC
San Jose State	WAC
UL Lafayette	Sun Belt
UL Monroe	Sun Belt
UNLV	M-West
Wyoming	M-West

CFN 2011 Unit Rankings
- Offenses | Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Receivers | Offensive Lines
- Defenses | Defensive Lines | Linebackers | Secondaries  | Special Teams  
- Preview 2011 | 2010 Unit Rankings