The Best Running Back Tandems in College Football for 2010

When I was thinking about the criteria for the three best running back tandems in college football, I decided to exclude QBs that run. It's not that Joshua Nesbitt of Georgia Tech or Jeremiah Masoli of Oregon aren't great runners, but they play quarterback, and I am looking at running backs specifically. I want tandems where when the first string RB goes out, there's virtually no loss when the second RB comes in.

What teams do I think have the three best RB tandems in the country for 2010?

1) Alabama Crimson Tide

How can you leave off the team with the Heisman Trophy winner in RB Mark Ingram. Ingram rushed for 1,658 yards last year and 17 touchdowns. He's as physical a runner as you'll find in the country. He not only is powerful, but he's faster than you think.

If Ingram doesn't get you sophomore Trent Richardson will. Last year Richardson had 751 yards on 145 carries with eight touchdowns. Richardson is considered more talented than Ingram by some. He was more highly rated coming out of high school.

2) Virginia Tech Hokies

The Hokies have unreal talent returning in their backfield. When 1,000-yard rusher Darren Evans went down with an ACL injury last year, Virginia Tech just threw in freshman Ryan Williams who gained 1,655 rushing yards.

Williams is such a fluid runner. He can cut back and get into the open field with ease. Not only will the Hokies have Williams, but they also get Evans back. He had 1,265 yds running in his freshman year of 2008. He doesn't have break away speed, but he's a strong inside runner. Frank Beamer never had it so good.

3) Wisconsin Badgers

The Badgers feature the Big Ten's offensive player of the year RB John Clay. Clay had 1,517 yards running last season with 18 touchdowns, and is perfectly suited to Wisconsin's physical pounding rushing offense.

Behind Clay is another bowling ball of a runner. Freshman Montee Ball had 391 yards on 98 carries in 2009. When Clay sat in the third quarter of the Champs Sports Bowl against Miami, the Badgers didn't miss a beat. Ball had 61 yards running. Ball also had a strong spring game, with over 70 yards on the ground and two TDs.

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