If you are a fan of the power ground and pound running game, or even the spread the field and beat the defense with your speed rushing attack, then the 2008 Southeastern Conference football season is defiantly for you. In the SEC this season, with the down year on quarterbacks, the running game will dominate on offense.
Even with the loss of Arkansas's Darren McFadden, who is arguably one of the greatest SEC running backs in history, Felix Jones, Kentucky's Rafeal Little, LSU's Jacob Hester, USC's Cory Boyd, and Ole Miss's Benjarvus Green-Ellis, the SEC still returns an impressive list of backs in 2008.
By far, the best returning back in the SEC this season is University of Georgia's Knowshon Moreno, who is in a class of his own. He ran all over defenses last season as a redshirt freshman for 1,334 yards and he will only get better in 2008.
Tennessee's Arian Foster will return for the Vols in '08 and will be just behind Moreno in rushing. Foster ran for 1,193 yards and 12 TD's with 39 catches for 340 yards receiving. Foster will become Tennessee's all time leading rusher midway through 2008, barring injury. He only needs 685 yards to pass Travis Henry on the Vols all-time list.
Kentucky returns a plethora of talent in the backfield with Derrick Locke, Tony Dixon, and Alfonso Smith at the running back spots. This backfield is one of the fastest to ever come through Kentucky, with both Derrick Locke and Alfonso Smith running 4.2 forty yard dash's at UK's pro day. Also, Moncell Allen is Kentucky's power back, so to speak, and can punish defenses with his size, standing 5'7 and weighing 225lbs. Also, look for quarterback Curtis Pulley to rack up a lot of yards on the ground with his speed. This will be the Cats main offense, and this backfield will produce.
Mississippi State returns Anthony Dixon. Last season, Dixon ran for 1,066 and accounted for 16 of the Bulldog's 30 touchdowns scored by the MSU offense last season. If he can produce like he did last season or maybe even more, look for him to lead the Bulldogs to their 2nd straight bowl game.
LSU has two good backs returning in Keiland Williams and Charles Scott. Williams, who will more than likely get the majority of carries for the Tigers, averaged an amazing 6.8 yards per carry in 2007. Also, don't forget about the quick little speedster in Trindon Holliday.
Auburn returns two good backs in Brad Lester and Ben Tate. Lester ran for 530 yards and 3 TD's after missing nearly the first half of the season. Ben Tate led the Tigers with 903 yards rushing in 2007.
The Alabama Crimson Tide returns Terry Grant. Grant set the Alabama freshman rushing record with 891 yards rushing. Also, the Crimson Tide returns good consistency in the backfield with Glen Coffee. Grant is still 'Bama's big play threat in the backfield.
The Gamecocks in South Carolina lost its leading rusher in Cory Boyd. But they aren't hurting that bad. They return Mike Davis, who rushed for 518 yards in 07 while getting carries behind Boyd. He has more than enough talent to take over the role.
7 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Michael Shibley about 1 year ago
I really like Dixon at MSU. If he can get some help in the O-line and a passing attack, he could rack up some nice yards.
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Maury Billingsley about 1 year ago
i think cordera is gonna have a break out year as long as he stays healthy he has the o-line and 1st team all american michel oher blocking for him and then jason cook at fullback also pathing the way for him jason was a big part of benjarvus's back to back 1,000 yard seasons just big hopes for the rebel season
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Marcus Eagle about 1 year ago
Great article. I've got Knowshon Moreno at the end of the year in the top 5 for heisman.
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Thomas Brown about 1 year ago
Goodson!
Lane!
McKnight!
Devine!
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Jordan Coleman about 1 year ago
Devine and McKnight are the best out of those. They are 2 of thr best in the nation along with Moreno IMO.
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Nic Gulas about 1 year ago
Wow, what a homer thing to do. Just comment on the SEC backs since thats the point of the article.
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Nic Gulas about 1 year ago
Terry Grant will be much more effective this season than he was last season. He suffered from a sports hernia most of last season, hence the reason his production took a hit in the second half of the sesaon. No exact date is known for when the hernia occurred, but it was before the end of Sept. However, he is healthy once again and solidified his starting role in spring practice once again.
And remember, Grant was the big name freshman SEC back for the first three weeks before Knowshon showed up.
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