Magnificent Seven: College Football's Top Running Backs

Our debut list showcased the best quarterbacks in college football this season(and not everyone was pleased).

Today, it's time to talk about the best running backs in the game. Some are names that we've come to know.

Others just burst onto the national scene. We even had one team have three 1,000 yard rushers in the same season.

Is your team's running back one of the 'Magnificent Seven'? Let's find out...

7) Ryan Matthews: Fresno State

Stats: 213 Attempts, 1,491 yards, 7.0 yards per carry (YPC), 14 TD, 9 100-yard games
Best Game: 9/18 vs Boise State 19 carries, 234 yards, 3 TD

If he was at USC, we would be hyping him as one of the best backs in all of college football.

It's a shame Ryan Matthews has to play in the shadows of the Silicon Valley in Fresno.

Nonetheless, this Bulldog has been one on the ground this season. Perhaps he can get some more love in 2010 when fully healthy.

6) Dion Lewis: Pittsburgh

Stats: 250 Attempts, 1,446 yards, 5.8 YPC, 14 TD, 8 100-yard games
Best Game: 10/16 @ Rutgers 31 carries, 180 yards, 2 TD's
And the scary thing is, he had three straight games under 100 yards otherwise he'd be higher ranked.

Bad news, Big East. He's only a freshman. Dion Lewis has run roughshod over foes this season for the Panthers. Not bad for a guy who had to fill the shoes of current Eagle RB LeShawn McCoy.

He has a chance to be a preseason Doak Walker favorite in 2010 with strong showings against Louisville Saturday and a bowl game.

5) LaMichael James: Oregon

Stats: 215 Attempts, 1,476 yards, 6.9 YPC, 14 TD, 9 100-yard games
Best Game: 12/3 vs Oregon State 25-166-6.6-3 TD

I waited till for The Cival War on Thursday night to make this list. And then LaMichael James decided he wanted to be on the list.

We've seen this script before. Star player gets hurt/suspended; unknown rookie gets the shot and keeps the job.

LaGarrette Blount's punch gave him the chance to be the featured back. He doesn't plan on giving up that title anytime soon.

This redshirt freshman has the goods to be the Pac-10's best for the next three seasons.

4) Mark Ingram: Alabama

Stats: 221 Attempts, 1,429 Yards, 6.5 YPC, 12 TD, 7 100-yard games
Best Game: 10/17 vs South Carolina 24-246-10.3-1 TD

There's no question who is the engine behind the Crimson Tide offense. He burst on the national scene with 150 yards versus Virginia Tech.

The 246 yard showcase against the Gamecocks cemented him as a Heisman contender. Ingram has that combination of speed, power, and vision coaches drool about.

He has perhaps one more year to make his wares before cashing in at the next level.

3) Ryan Williams: Virginia Tech

Stats: 268 Attempts, 1,538 yards, 5.7 YPC, 19 TD, 9 100-yard games

Ryan Williams thought his time to shine would be 2010 or 2011. He's not complaining about the chance got due to starter Darren Evans tearing his ACL.

Williams set single-season school records for rushing yards and touchdowns. The thought of a Williams-Evans combo running wild in Blacksburg spells bad news for the ACC.

2) CJ Spiller: Clemson

Stats: 912 rushing yards, 440 receiving yards, 855 return yards, 16 total TD's

His first touch this season was a 96-yard kickoff return for six. That was a sign of things to come for this senior.

Every time he touches the ball, he can take it in the end zone. Clemson's C.J. Spiller has been the ultimate home-run threat this season.

He's scored in every game this season (only non-QB to do so). Note to opponents in the NFL, DO NOT KICK TO THIS MAN!!!

1) Toby Gerhart: Stanford

Stats: 311 Attempts, 1,736 yards, 5.6 YPC, 26 TD, 10 100-yard games
Best Game: 11/7 vs Oregon 38 carries, 223 yards, 3 TD's

I remember as a young kind hearing of Touchdown Tommy Vardel of famed Cardinal lore. Next thing you know, here comes Touchdown Toby.

He leads the nation carries, yards, and touchdowns while not losing a fumble. Gerhart did all of this with a redshirt freshman at QB.

In November alone, he averages 185 yards and three scores. In my book, he is the elite of the elite running backs in college football in 2009.

Special Recognition: Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott

2009 showed the true power of the Pistol offense. For the first time in FBS/Division I-A history, one school produced three 1,000 yard rushers.

Also, they are only the fifth school to have two straight years of two 1,000 yard rushers. Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott were two-thirds of this historical triple threat (QB Colin Kaepernick also had 1,000+ yards on the ground).

These two combined for 2,379 yards and 19 TD's for the Wolfpack.

Best of The Rest

Jacquizz Rodgers: Oregon State (255-1,377-5.4-20 TD)
Short in stature (listed at 5'7), but supreme on skill. The Beaver sophomore will continue to give Pac-10 foes fits finding him and catching him.

Anthony Dixon: Mississippi State (257-1,391-5.4-12 TD)
Being a 1,000 yard rusher in the SEC is hard enough. Doing it with everyone knowing you're getting the ball is even harder.

Donald Buckram: Texas-El Paso (259-1,594-6.2-18 TD)
Houston is still having nightmares about this junior (262 yards, 4 TD in 58-41 win). Did have his struggles against teams with respectable defenses?

Jonathan Dwyer-Georgia Tech (197-1,236-6.3-12 TD)
Being the "fullback" in a triple option offense takes its toll. Not for the 2008 ACC Offensive Player of the year. Solid campaign has team in position for conference title.

Hope you enjoyed another edition of the Magnificent Seven. This weekend we will give you our top wide receivers, defensive players, coaches, and games of the year. Let the debating begin!!!