This one's a little tougher than ranking the QBs in my opinion. Here we go: 1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas (easy choice) 2. Felix Jones, Arkansas It really is amazing how much better Arkansas was at running the ball last year than anyone else. They averaged 5.9 yards per attempt, while the #2 team in the SEC in that stat was LSU at 4.7 yards per attempt. 3. Lamarcus Coker, Tennessee - a whopping 6.4 yards per carry and a big-play man. He also made a few catches, with a good average, but was not a big threat in the passing game. 4. Corey Boyd, South Carolina - didn't get as many carries as some others but put up a 5.0 yards per carry average and over 800 yards rushing last season despite splitting carries and not having a great offensive line. Was excellent in the passing game too. 5. Keiland Williams, LSU - Not that many yards last year, but a very solid 5.7 yard average. If he gets the ball more, he'll put up big numbers 6. Kregg Lumpkin, Georgia - very solid stats last year with almost 5 yards per carry. Numbers are very similar to Corey Boyd's, actually. 7. Raphael Little, Kentucky - Lots of yards, but we're getting into players now who didn't have a very good average. He was below 5 yards per carry. Still very solid though. Also made some hay in the passing game. 8. Brad Lester, Auburn - Very solid numbers in a supporting role, but didn't give Cox a lot of help in the passing game. He had a higher yards/carry number than Kenny Irons though. 8. Jacob Hester, LSU - solid numbers and excellent in the passing game, plus has the versatility to play either fullback or tailback. I personally prefer him at tailback because he's not that great of a blocker. 9. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Ole Miss - don't let the high yardage numbers fool you. He had a relatively low yards per attempt compared to the guys higher than him and was not a threat in the passing game. 10. Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State - He may be underrated here, but he wasn't particularly effective last year because he had no help from his O-line. 11. Cason Jackson-Garrison, Vandy - He may lose his starting spot this year. 12. Jimmy Johns, Alabama - solid power rusher, but has no big-play ability that he's shown so far, and is not a threat in the passing game. Only scored one touchdown last year in a supporting role. If he continues developing (this will be his junior year), he could climb this list. If not, he'll be replaced by someone else. No Florida runner has enough information to gauge ability, as Tebow is a QB and Harvin is a WR.
Arkansas's number is a bit bloated and hard to guage because they were basically the Navy of the SEC last year... A gimmicky run-the-ball all of the time team is always going to have gaudy numbers in yards per rush.
I expect Knowshon Mareno to be Georgia's best running back in 2007. I expect Jacob Hester to be the workhorse for LSU with a group of young backs rotated in until someone defines themselves.
I doubt Hester plays as large a role at RB as he did last season. LSU has much more to work with at that position now.
I agree. Williams would have played more last season if it wasn't for the Clearinghouse. Plus Broussard is said to be looking a lot better. Then we have Murphy. Good lord. Hester will get his touches this year, but it will be more situational than last years.
I think he will have the same kind of year as the last. He might just start catching passes from the FB position instead. It will be very hard for defenses to key on him with all the talent we have at the skill positions. Miles knows he is consistent and can rely on him not to turn the ball over while gaining those tough yards. Plus he is a senior this year and we know Miles will get him his touches because he deserves them and he is dependable. JV was even less dpendable and he still was awarded more touches than he needed, IMO.
1 Darren McFadden, Arkansas 2 Felix Jones, Arkansas 3 BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Mississippi 4 Keiland Williams, LSU 5 Cory Boyd, South Carolina 6 LaMarcus Coker, Tennessee 7 Kregg Lumpkin, Georgia 8 Richard Murphy, LSU 9 Anthony Dixon, Mississippi St. 10 Brad Lester, Auburn 11 Percy Harvin, Florida 12 Tony Dixon, Kentucky
Sorry, but this doesn't make any sense to me. A team that runs the ball all the time is going to have gaudy numbers in yards per rush? Eh eh. They will have a gaudy number in yards per game, but not yards per rush. The more you run and the more opponents can predict you'll run, the lower your yards per rush will be. If anything, it's even MORE impressive that they were able to have not only the yards, but the yards-per-attempt when everyone knew they were going to run the ball most plays.
I would definitely expect him to get some passes out of the FB position, but I really don't see him getting that many touches from the RB position when we are loaded with RB's that have the ability to go the distance on any play. Last year we couldn't find a consistent running back until a freshman stepped up towards the end of the season. This year we are light years ahead of where we were at the RB position last year. With williams and murphy showing big time talent and broussard in better shape it will be hard for hester to get touches. Plus there is RJ jackson and charles scott.
