2008 CFN Preview - Unit Rankings ... RBs

CFN 2008 Preview Unit Rankings - Running Backs Ranked 1 to 119

2008 CFN All-Americans

Running Backs

CFN 2008 Unit Rankings
2008 Preview | Offenses | Quarterbacks
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1. Clemson
Folks in places, such as Los Angeles, College Station and Miami may believe otherwise, but no one in the country has a better backfield tandem than Clemson. The front man for is senior James Davis, who returned to school after strongly considering early entry into the NFL Draft. In three productive seasons, the All-ACC first teamer has rushed for 3,130 yards and 36 touchdowns. Davis’ partner in the backfield will again be junior C.J. Spiller, the homerun hitter of the ground game and the Tigers’ leader in all-purpose yards.  At 5-11 and 190 pounds, he’s lethal with a combination of blazing speed and shake-and-bake moves. The only possible shortcoming is that Spiller will join Davis and be off to the NFL after this year, which can sometimes mess with the focus of young athletes in November and December. It’s a reach, but there isn’t much these guys do poorly.

2. Ohio State
Beanie Wells is a superstar, No. 1 overall pick type of back who can carry the Ohio State offense on his back. And he has help. Maurice Wells is a quick runner who can be a good third down back or can be the featured runner from time to time. The star in the making is Brandon Saine, the 217-pound speedster who has good power and jaw-dropping moves. This backfield is deep, fast, big and very, very talented. Both of the Wells can tear off big runs, and Saine has the speed to become one of the Big Ten's most dangerous backs. All they'll need is a little bit of room and they're gone. It doesn't hurt that the three combine to average around 215 pounds.

3. Wisconsin
If it's done right, the Badgers should be able destroy most teams on the ground. Whether it's the thunder of P.J. Hill, the speed of Zach Brown, or the combination of skills of John Clay, the Badgers are beyond loaded. The key will be to blend all the great backs to create a good rotation and to keep Hill fresh for prime time. There's no reason to run No. 39 26 times against Akron or Marshall; he'll be needed for the big boys. There's no wrong answer among the four. Can everyone be kept happy? There are four star backs in place and everyone is going to want work. Considering there are two juniors, a sophomore and a redshirt freshman, this won't just be an issue for 2007.

4. Texas A&M
Finally, junior Mike Goodson will be used like the star running back he's supposed to be. The 6-0, 196-pounder was third on the team with 711 yards and four touchdowns, and has rushed for 1,558 career yards with eight scores, but now he's going to be the featured back in the attack. Senior Jorvorskie Lane wasn't as underutilized as Goodson on the whole, but the former coaching staff made some bizarre decisions not to use the thunderback at times. Originally, he was supposed to slim down and be used even more as a tailback, but he's now up to 285 pounds and realizes his future, and his present, are as a blocking fullback. The coaching staff openly used the word Heisman when referring to Goodson. The plan is to use him as much as possible, let Lane be Lane on the power running plays and used more as a blocker, and get Bradley Stephens a seven-carry-a-game role with some fresh legs. In any combination, this should be the Big 12's best set of running backs.

5. Georgia
There's a slew of great young running back talent to get fired up about, three good fullbacks to use in a variety of situations, and a future top draft pick in Knowshon Moreno. As always, Georgia has more than enough options to fill in the gaps if something goes wrong, and there's no reason the ground game should be anything other than unstoppable no matter who's toting the rock. The only thing missing is a sure-thing No. 2 back with a proven track record, but remember, it's not like Moreno was a proven commodity going into last year. Caleb King will soon grow into a superstar of his own.

6. USC
Even after Emmanuel Moody transferred to Florida, there isn’t a school in the nation that features four backs as talented as the ones in this backfield. The Trojans are basically injury-proof, meaning even if one or two players went on the shelf, the running game would survive. As is the case with many USC positions, Pete Carroll will be forced to do a juggling act to be sure that all of his gifted runners are well fed throughout the season.  It’s going to be a challenge.  While Joe McKnight is the star-in-waiting, Stafon Johnson might actually finish the year with the most carries.

7. Pitt
Pitt gave birth to a new star last fall when it took the wraps off prized recruit LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 1,328 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 33 passes for 244 yards and a score. Already a complete back at 5-11 and 210 pounds, he can pick up the tough yards between the tackles, or bounce outside and make people miss in the open field. Senior LaRod Stephens-Howling is a good No. 2 back, but he’s not a workhorse.

8. Boise State
The ground game tore off 2,404 yards and 35 touchdowns last season, and while everyone of note is back, the potential issues on the line, and a new quarterback, will mean everyone will tee off on the backs. If healthy, Ian Johnson is a lock for 1,000 yards, possibly 1,500, and Jeremy Avery and D.J. Harper are good enough to combine for 1,000 yards no matter what Johnson does.

9. Navy
The backfield will take a step back after losing Adam Ballard, Zerbin Singleton and Reggie Campbell, but with FB Eric Kettani and Shun White, and with Jarod Bryant likely to fill in the second slot back role, the production will keep on coming. This isn't the most talented backfield around, but the rating is based on what they do for the offense leading the nation's leading rushing attack three years running.

10. Michigan State
The potential is there to be far better than even last year when the Spartans averaged close to 200 yards per game on the ground. Javon Ringer is a special talent who could be a sleeper in the Heisman race, and will definitely be in the hunt for the Big Ten Player of the Year if he stays healthy. Andre Anderson is a big-time talent who needs the ball more, and A.J. Jimmerson can certainly carry the mail. Now the backups need to get more experience.

11	Tennessee
12	Northwestern
13	Michigan
14	Connecticut
15	Utah
16	Florida
17	Oklahoma
18	Oregon
19	BYU
20	Nebraska
21	Fresno State
22	Miami
23	Mississippi State
24	LSU
25	Virginia
26	Southern Miss
27	Kent State
28	Penn State
29	UCLA
30	Missouri
31	Arizona State
32	Texas
33	Auburn
34	South Florida
35	Alabama
36	Oregon State
37	Wake Forest
38	Florida State
39	Notre Dame
40	Colorado State
41	Oklahoma State
42	Georgia Tech
43	Colorado
44	New Mexico
45	NC State
46	Nevada
47	Iowa State
48	Northern Illinois
49	Air Force
50	Virginia Tech
51	West Virginia
52	Idaho
53	Purdue
54	Maryland
55	Ole Miss
56	California
57	Arkansas
58	Kentucky
59	Central Michigan
60	Kansas
61	Louisville
62	TCU
63	Washington State
64	Tulsa
65	Arizona
66	Kansas State
67	Louisiana Tech
68	North Carolina
69	Syracuse
70	Minnesota
71	Washington
72	Wyoming
73	Marshall
74	Ball State
75	South Carolina
76	Indiana
77	Akron
78	Arkansas State
79	Iowa
80	Texas Tech
81	Cincinnati
82	Vanderbilt
83	UTEP
84	Toledo
85	Bowling Green
86	San Diego State
87	Boston College
88	Houston
89	Rutgers
90	Illinois
91	Stanford
92	UNLV
93	UL Lafayette
94	Miami Univ.
95	Florida Atlantic
96	UCF
97	Western Michigan
98	Ohio
99	SMU
100	Buffalo
101	UL Monroe
102	Troy
103	Baylor
104	East Carolina
105	Duke
106	Tulane
107	Hawaii
108	Middle Tennessee
109	North Texas
110	Utah State
111	Army
112	Memphis
113	San Jose State
114	Eastern Michigan
115	Temple
116	FIU
117	Rice
118	UAB
119	New Mexico State