College Football 2017: Ranking each conference by its running backs
By Dana Becker
5. Plenty of name value down south
Georgia’s Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, Alabama’s Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough, and Texas A&M’s Trayveon Williams and Keith Ford all form impressive duos in the SEC.
Despite splitting carries, Chubb ranks first in the conference in rushing with 688 yards and Michel sits seventh with 492. Both have battled injuries during their stay together in Athens, but the seniors are healthy and have scored 14 combined touchdowns.
Tennessee’s John Kelly has been the lone bright spot for Butch Jones and the Vols, rushing for 552 yards and scoring eight touchdowns.
Like Chubb and Michel, Harris and Harris are focal points to the Crimson Tide offense along with quarterback Jalen Hurts. Harris, a junior, has 625 yards with nine touchdowns and Scarbrough, a junior, has 359. The group also includes freshman Najee Harris, who has 232 yards.
Williams and Ford have been unable to match their Week 1 output, but still have racked up almost 800 yards on the ground and scored 12 touchdowns.
Mississippi State’s Aeris Williams has been able to grow with each passing week, sitting fourth in the league with 523 yards. He is tied with Kentucky’s Benny Snell, Jr., who has six touchdowns to lead the Wildcats.
Florida’s offense finally seems to be clicking with freshman Malik Davis carrying the rock. Davis has 506 yards and is averaging almost seven yards per carry.
Missouri’s Damarea Crockett has been slow to get on track, with the same being said for LSU’s Derrius Guice. Both were running near the front last season for their respective teams.