The Top25 Returning RBs in College Football for 2010: Why Mark Ingram Doesn't Top The List

What's the best thing about the current three-year trend of giving the Heisman to a sophomore?

They have to stay in school as juniors.

Well, technically redshirt sophomore Sam Bradford didn't. But Tim Tebow did. And so does Alabama's Mark Ingram, who in my estimation was the second-best running back in college football this season.

As it's widely accepted that Stanford's Toby Gerhart will play on Sundays next season, there's an equal consensus that Ingram returns to campus as the undisputed top tailback in the game.

Alabama's first Heisman winner deserves all the praise he's received. His performance this season was tremendous, and his speech in New York was even better.

However, as you'll see in the coming slides, I value the stock of not one, but two running backs ahead of Ingram in 2010.

No. 25 Robert Turbin - Utah State (Soph)

Not a bad debut season for the little-known Aggies sophomore.

Turbin ranked 21st in FBS with 108 yards per game and scored 18 touchdowns to lead the WAC.

Photo courtesy TrueBlueA.com

No. 24 Jordan Todman - UConn (Soph)

Even with senior Andre Dixon gobbling up 206 carries, Todman still managed to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark in a dozen games for the Huskies, including a 141 yard performance in South Bend.

The sophomore sensation also made 14 trips to the end zone.

No. 23 Daniel Thomas - Kansas State (JR)

Thomas led the Big12 in rushing during his junior season, both in terms of yardage (1,265) and attempts (247).

Kansas State will return four of their five starting offensive linemen, so expect another monster season out of Thomas in 2010.

No. 22 Alfred Morris - Florida Atlantic (Soph)

At this point, you might be wondering if we're still talking about Division I college football.

Alfred Morris' answer is yes, to the tune of 1,392 yards, a school record.

With 158 on the ground in the season finale, he edged Lance Dunbar for the Sun Belt rushing title. We'll see Dunbar in just a few slides.

Photo courtesy fauowlaccess.com

No. 21 Jewel Hampton (Soph) / Adam Robinson (FR) - Iowa

Hard to decide what was more incredible: Adam Robinson’s productivity and ball security as a freshman on short-notice, or the fact that a season-ending injury only cost him two games.

Kirk Ferentz and Iowa have one of the greatest problems in college football next season: Robinson or Jewel Hampton, who was expected to be the starter before an injury cost him his sophomore season.

No. 20 Evan Royster - Penn State (JR)

From a productivity standpoint, Royster’s junior season was a step backwards. But that will prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Nittany Lions, who get a fourth-year running back in 2010 as they transition to the post-Daryll Clark era.

No. 19 Montel Harris - Boston College (Soph)

In their Emerald Bowl preview, SportingNews called Harris "one-dimensional," only to set up the point that "the one dimension is pretty darn good."

Harris carried the Eagles in 2009, with 285 carries and 1,355 yards, the 18th best total in the country.

Boston College brings back all but one lineman, tight end included, in 2010 giving Harris the opportunity to put up even more gaudy statistics.

No. 18 Lance Dunbar - North Texas (Soph)

Nevermind that Dunbar racked up 300 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns.

The only number you need to know is 6.89.

That's the statistic you get by dividing 1,378 yards by just 200 carries.

No. 17 Bryce Brown - Tennessee (FR)

4.5 yards per carry. Nearly 14 per catch. Four touchdowns without a turnover?

Not a bad freshman season by most standards. But Tennessee fans expected more from the highly-touted Brown, and he expected more from himself.

Without Montario Hardesty in Knoxville next season, Brown will live up to his billing as the best football player in his recruiting class.

No. 16 Joe McKnight - USC (JR)

McKnight will be sorting out paperwork, not playing alongside his fellow Trojans in Saturday’s Emerald Bowl against Boston College.

An investigation into whether he improperly used an SUV registered to a Southern California businessman may be just the nudge McKnight needs to turn pro. However, if he’s back, he can be as good as anyone. With all the talent USC has, McKnight just doesn’t get the workload to compete statistically with the other runners in college football.

No. 15 Jacquizz Rodgers - Oregon State (Soph)

His underwhelming Las Vegas performance was matched only by that of his Oregon State Beavers.

A meager 63 yards was a season low.

Yet on the whole, Jacquizz Rodgers built nicely on his breakout debut season in 2008, improving dramatically in total yards, yards per carry, and touchdowns.

If he can sustain that pace in 2010, we could be looking at a Heisman Trophy candidate.

No. 14 Bernard Pierce - Temple (FR)

This might be the highest any Temple Owl has appeared on any Bleacher Report ranking. We'll have to get the research team on it.

Just a freshman, Pierce led the program's resurgence in 2009, bolting for more than 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns.

As Temple continues to build, look to Pierce as the foundation.

No. 13 Darius Marshall - Marshall (JR)

Marshall ranked second in the nation in rushing for most of the season, and still managed to finish in the top-15, despite missing the Thundering Herd's final two games due to injury.

No. 12 John Clay - Wisconsin (Soph)

Assuming the recent Sports Illustrated cover doesn't serve as a jinx, John Clay would be justified if he took offense to being rated this low.

He was the Big Ten's offensive player of the year, recording three three-touchdown games, and the Badger faithful are already thinking Heisman 2010.

No. 11 Donald Buckram - UTEP (JR)

One of the hidden gems in college football, Buckram helps the Miners set a school record 5,144 yards of total offense in 2009. The junior running led Conference USA and ranked fourth nationally in rushing, averaging 132.8 per game. His eight 100-yard games are also a UTEP record.

No. 10 DeMarco Murray - Oklahoma (JR)

Murray is carefully weighing his professional options, after initially saying he would be back in Norman for a senior campaign. Staying healthy has always been his bugaboo, and statistically, he’s not on the same page as most of these running backs. But Murray’s receiving element is phenomenal, and solidifies his position as a top ten back—both in terms of draft stock and ranking among returners.

No. 9 Jonathan Dwyer - Georgia Tech (JR)

Dwyer has openly admitted that the opportunity to win a Heisman and a national championship would sway his decision whether or not to enter the 2010 NFL Draft or return to Georgia Tech.

Dwyer averaged better than six yards per carry on his way to 1,346 yards this season. With quarterback Josh Nesbitt beside him again in 2010, Heisman voters will be faced with the same dilemma as ACC defenders—who do you pick?

No. 8 Noel Devine - West Virginia (JR)

Local reports seem to indicate that Devine is leaning towards a senior season in Morgantown, which is exactly why every set of fingers in the state of West Virginia is crossed this bowl season.

Since Steve Slaton departed, Devine has scared the 1,300 yard mark in back-to-back seasons.

No. 7 Vai Taua - Nevada (JR)

Many would have had their first good look at Taua in the Christmas Eve Hawaii Bowl… had he not been declared academically ineligible.

But as much as Taua’s struggled to hit the books, defenders have had an even tougher time hitting him. His 7.82 yards per carry lead all running backs, and Taua teamed with Colin Kaepernick to form one of the greatest rushing duos college football has ever seen.

No. 6 Kendall Hunter - Oklahoma State (Soph)

You won’t see Spud anywhere among the nation’s leaders, thanks to a slow-to-heal lower leg injury suffered early in 2009. But the Cowboys say Hunter is nearly back to 100 percent in preparation for the Cotton Bowl. If that’s the case, Running Back U will have a former All-American coming back for his senior season in Stillwater.

No. 5 Jahvid Best - California (JR)

Clearly, if he’s back in Berkley (and no, Oakland doesn’t count), he’s as good as there is and a legit Heisman candidate, especially since the Golden Bears' offensive line returns largely in tact.

But after a tough season nearly turned tragic, no one would blame Best for turning pro. If he does, look for Shane Vareen to step right in and continue the Cal running back pipeline.

No. 4 Ryan Williams - Virginia Tech (FR)

Ryan Williams needs just 110 yards in the Chik-fil-A Bowl against Tennessee to break Virginia Tech's single-season rushing record, set in 2003.

He has already tied the ACC's single-season record with 19 rushing touchdowns. And his 1,538 yards and 20 scores overall set new records for conference freshmen.

How'd you like to be Darren Evans right now?

No. 3 Mark Ingram - Alabama (Soph)

What superlatives are left that haven't already been paraded across the ESPN ticker for weeks?

Ingram was deserving of every honor he received this season. No one questions that.

Alabama will have a couple pieces to replace up front this off-season. But with respect growing for Greg McElroy's throwing ability, Ingram's running lanes will still be there in 2010.

No. 2 Dion Lewis - Pittsburgh (FR)

Dion Lewis was one of 11 running backs to finish with more yards than the Heisman-winner in 2008. The Pitt freshman also edged Ingram in touchdowns, and should have been given more Heisman consideration out of the Big East.

The lone caveat for Lewis would be the tread on his tires. 297 carries ranked second among elite backs, trailing only Stanford's Gerhart.

Assuming those under-recruited legs didn't mind the workload, Lewis could become the fourth straight sophomore to take home the stiff-armed trophy.

No. 1 LaMichael James - Oregon (FR)

If not Lewis, it could be James.

Remember that Oregon guy who threw a punch at Boise State? What was his name again?

Oh well, nevermind.

LaMichael James averaged nearly seven yards per handoff this season, and it's only going to get better at Oregon, where every offensive lineman returns next fall to protect Jeremiah Masoli and open shipping lanes for James.

If he didn't play on the West Coast, he'd already be a household name. The Rose Bowl should take care of that, and will also put LaMichael James on track for every accolade available in 2010.