The 2016 college football season was considered the “Year of the Running Back”. All indications are that the position will be extremely deep again in 2017. The combination of returning stars and incoming talent should make this year’s class of running backs extremely exciting to watch. There are a handful of teams that appear to be particularly deep at the position and it won’t be a surprise when those programs lean heavily on the run this coming year. Here is a look at the five best backfields in college football right now.
Georgia: Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Brian Herrien, Elijah Holyfield, D’Andre Swift
Is there a better name for a running back than D’Andre Swift? The fact that the 4-star recruit might not even see the field in 2017 is a testament to the Bulldogs’ depth at the position. Chubb and Michel are two of the nation’s top running backs and the fact that Georgia can alternate between the two is a tremendous luxury that most teams won’t have. Factor in the presence of the top reserves in Herrien and Holyfield and it’s clear the Bulldogs have the most talented and deepest running back stable in the country.
Alabama: Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough, Josh Jacobs, B.J. Emmons, Derrick Gore, Najee Harris
Damien Harris is back after he ran for 1,000 yards last season. Scarbrough flashed his All-American potential down the stretch last year while Jacobs put up some impressive statistics in garbage time. Those three running backs will lead the way for Alabama in 2017 but their depth beyond that trio is impressive as well. Emmons and Gore could both start at other schools while Najee Harris is the No. 1 overall player from the 2017 cycle. The Crimson Tide has a wealth of riches at the running back position. It will be very interesting to see if Najee Harris earns the chance to show what he can do in 2017.
Oregon: Royce Freeman, Tony Brooks-James, Taj Griffin, Kani Benoit
The Ducks are coming off a disappointing 2016 season but there is reason for optimism heading in to a new year and their running back stable is a big part of the equation. Royce Freeman is coming off a disappointing season but he has rushed for over 4,000 yards in his career and is looking to go out on a high note in 2017. Meanwhile, Brooks-James, Griffin and Benoit have combined for over 1,000 yards over the past two seasons behind Freeman and all three have the potential to contribute at a high level when given the opportunity in 2017.
Penn State: Saquon Barkley, Miles Sanders, Andre Robinson, Mark Allen
Barkley is clearly the star of the show at Penn State where he rushed for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns while recording 28 receptions for 402 yards and four more scores last season. Barkley has Heisman potential heading in to 2017 and the Nittany Lions will give him every opportunity to top his production from a year ago. Meanwhile, Sanders averaged 7.4 yards per carry as a freshman last season and is very capable if needed to take on a bigger load this season. Robinson is also capable of contributing more after he recorded five touchdowns despite limited touches in 2016. Penn State is loaded at the running back position and will likely lean on its backs again with a chance to repeat as Big Ten champions in 2017.
Auburn: Kamryn Pettway, Kerryon Johnson, Kam Martin
A lot of the hype surrounding Auburn heading in to the 2017 season has been centered on the arrival of Jarrett Stidham at quarterback. The Tigers passing attack has been an absolute mess over the years and Stidham has the potential to improve the vertical attack. However, the running game will likely remain the strength of this offense with a strong stable that features Pettway, Johnson and Martin. Pettway is an absolute bulldozer while Johnson is extremely difficult to contain on the edge. Martin is capable of helping to carry the load if either one of the top two backs gets hurt. Stidham should help take some of the pressure off of Auburn’s run game in 2017 but the rushing attack will once again be the strength of the Tigers offense as one of the better stables in the entire country.
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