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Ranking the Top 10 Group of Five Running Backs Entering the 2015 College Football Season

By Caleb Calhoun

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Oct 25, 2014; Huntington, WV, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd running back Devon Johnson (47) rushes the ball in the fourth quarter against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Marshall defeated Florida Atlantic 35-16 and Johnson finished with four touchdowns. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports

Johnson’s numbers could have been incredibly more impressive, but he missed a game and got dinged up toward the end of last year and saw them tail off. Still, he had 100-plus rushing yards in nine of his first 10 games and 91 yards in his other game.

That included a 272-yard game.

And going into next year, things are changing. Imagine the yards Johnson will put up when he starts to get more carries, and that will happen.

Remember, Johnson was the second-most important guy in the backfield last year. Now, with Cato gone, the pressure and expectations are heaped on him to be the main man, and the fact that he is No. 1 on this list shows he is worthy of being believed in. Now it is up to him to prove me right.

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1

Devon Johnson

Senior, Marshall Thundering Herd

This is like taking a step back in time. Devon Johnson is the size of a fullback with his 6’1″ 243 pound frame, and he looks like that with his frame and moves when he has the ball. But he has been extremely productive for the Marshall Thundering Herd in Doc Holliday’s system, which is why he gets the top spot on this list of Group of Five running backs.

Johnson had 1,767 yards last year on 206 carries for an amazing average of more than eight and a half yards per carry, shouldering the heavy load to take pressure off Rakeem Cato all of last season. He also had 17 touchdowns along with six receptions for 121 yards and another two touchdowns.

Johnson’s numbers could have been incredibly more impressive, but he missed a game and got dinged up toward the end of last year and saw them tail off. Still, he had 100-plus rushing yards in nine of his first 10 games and 91 yards in his other game.

That included a 272-yard game.

And going into next year, things are changing. Imagine the yards Johnson will put up when he starts to get more carries, and that will happen.

Remember, Johnson was the second-most important guy in the backfield last year. Now, with Cato gone, the pressure and expectations are heaped on him to be the main man, and the fact that he is No. 1 on this list shows he is worthy of being believed in. Now it is up to him to prove me right.

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