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College Football: Top 10 running backs heading into spring

By Jerran Anderson

Nov 19, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies running back Myles Gaskin (9) rushes past the Arizona State Sun Devils defense for a 45-yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter at Husky Stadium. Washington won 44-18. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies running back Myles Gaskin (9) rushes past the Arizona State Sun Devils defense for a 45-yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter at Husky Stadium. Washington won 44-18. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies running back Myles Gaskin (9) rushes past the Arizona State Sun Devils defense for a 45-yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter at Husky Stadium. Washington won 44-18. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies running back Myles Gaskin (9) rushes past the Arizona State Sun Devils defense for a 45-yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter at Husky Stadium. Washington won 44-18. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

College football saw a lot of running backs leave early for the NFL Draft. But that’s okay, as there’s still a talented crop of running backs returning this spring.

The 2016 college football season was full of talent at the running back position. The season saw two players run for over 2,000 rushing yards and both of them are off to the NFL Draft.

San Diego State Aztec running back Donnel Pumphrey returned for his senior season in 2016, rushing for 2,133 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. He broke Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk’s career rushing record of 4,589 rushing yards, finishing with 6,405 rushing yards of his own. Pumphrey finished 10th in Heisman voting after a strong season with the 11-3 Aztecs.

Texas Longhorns running back D’Onta Foreman was the other 2,000-yard rusher. He ran for 2,028 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns despite the Longhorns’ 5-7 record. Foreman finished eighth in Heisman voting last season for his performance, leading to his early entree into the 2017 NFL Draft.

Foreman joins running backs Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffrey, Leonard Fournette among others to form a strong running back class in this year’s NFL Draft.

But that doesn’t mean 2017 will feature an underwhelming class of running backs in the college ranks. The SEC returns a plethora of running back talent this spring as does the Pac-12 and Big Ten Conferences.

With more games on the way in April, here’s a look at the top 10 running backs heading into spring.

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