College Football: Top 15 running backs entering 2018, ranked

LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 30: Running back Lexington Thomas #3 of the UNLV Rebels slips a tackle by linebacker Jamal Scott #42 of the San Jose State Spartans during their game at Sam Boyd Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Akers was the top-ranked high school running back in the class of 2017. Number three on that same list? Georgia’s D’Andre Swift, who went from Philadelphia to Athens to join one of the nation’s best backfields. He showed tantalizing big-play ability in change-of-pace duty behind Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, totaling 771 total yards and averaging a remarkable 7.6 yards per carry.

Now Chubb and Michel have departed for the NFL, so Swift will be the focal point of the Bulldogs’ backfield. Kirby Smart won’t mind that one bit – he allocated a mammoth total of 460 carries to his top three backs in 2017, and if Swift gets half of those, he could put up Heisman-type numbers.

How well he does in filling the shoes of his two departed teammates will be critical to UGA’s aspirations of reaching the College Football Playoff once again. It’s probably safe to assume that the transition won’t be too rough.

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