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College Football: Top 30 breakout candidates for 2018 season

By Connor Muldowney

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass during the second half against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass during the second half against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

San Diego State has ranked inside the top 15 in rushing, on a yards per game basis, in each of the last three seasons. They’ve committed to running the ball at an extraordinary rate, and why wouldn’t you when you’ve had the level of talent the Aztecs have had at the running back position.

Donnel Pumphrey ran for 2,133 yards in 2016, the same season backup Rashaad Penny ran for 1,018 yards of his own. Penny churned out 2,248 yards on the ground last year while Juwan Washington produced a modest 759 yards rushing.

This one isn’t rocket science. As long as Rocky Long is the head coach, the lead running back for San Diego State is going to compete for the national rushing title. That’s going to mean 250+ attempt and a strong chance at crossing the 2,000-yard mark. For a player that wasn’t on anyone’s radar last season, that should make for a pretty good year.

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