Washington Football: 5 reasons Huskies will win 2017 national title

5. The Huskies have several threats in a dangerous backfield

Last year, the Huskies were among the best teams in the nation at putting points on the board. The ground game, led by Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman, averaged nearly 200 yards per game. The duo punched in 17 rushing touchdowns as well, helping finish off drives with hard runs as well as busting big plays out of the backfield.

Gaskin enters his junior year after already building a storied resume in Seattle. Snagging the starting role immediately, he became the first UW true freshman to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. Likely to be picked high in the 2018 NFL Draft, Gaskin enters what is almost certainly his last season with the Huskies. In two years he has already rushed for nearly 2,700 yards and 24 scores.

Coleman is a redshirt senior who broke the school record for yards per carry in a season last year. He averaged 7.5 yards on 118 carries to finish with 852 yards and seven touchdowns. More of a bruising back than Gaskin, Coleman offers a thundering change of pace from the backfield.

In 2017, the Huskies are going to have the advantage of two dependable backs that both have demonstrated the ability to drive the offense on the ground. Even in an era of high-flying aerial attacks, a strong running game is a key ingredient for a championship team in the 21st century.