College Football Predictions: Power Ranking The Big 12 Running Backs

The Big 12 is home to many offensive playmakers: strong, explosive players capable of changing the entire complexion of a game in a single play.

The most intriguing of all offensive skill positions in the Big 12 is, arguably, the running back position.

Many are primary weapons for their offense and play an integral role in how much success their team ultimately achieves.

With six teams finishing with at least eight wins last season expect the Big 12 to once again remain competitive.

Here are the projected starters for each team and where they could finish this season within the Big 12.

12. Toben Opurum: Kansas

Kansas running back Toben Opurum showed plenty of promise last season.

Opurum had a decent freshman campaign finishing with 554 rushing yards and nine touchdowns for the Jayhawks.

This season the 6'2", 235-pound Opurum should be featured in more than short-yardage situations which could throw off opposing defenses.

Kansas finished 101st in rushing offense last season and need to take pressure off of sophomore quarterback Kale Pick, who is taking the reins of running the Jayhawk offense.

However, teams may be targeting Opurum as Kansas lost its most prolific passer in school history, Todd Reesing.

Do not expect Opurum to have a major breakout season in 2010, as he needs a prolific passing offense to present itself first before he can play up to his full potential.

11. Rodney Stewart: Colorado

Rodney Stewart leads nine returning offensive starters for Colorado this year and will attempt to lead the team to improve on its disappointing 3-9 mark from last season.

The 5'6", 175-pound blur ran for 804 yards and nine touchdowns for the Buffaloes last year.

Nine starters return to the Colorado offense this season, including Stewart and junior quarterback Tyler Hansen so Stewart could be in for another solid campaign.

Stewart had five games of at least 100 yards rushing, a feat he wishes to improve on if Colorado is to improve its winning total from last year.

The entire offensive line returns so Stewart should be able to use his speed and agility to run through blockers and away from defenders.

Look for Stewart to possibly flirt with the 1,000 yard rushing mark, but it may not translate into more wins for Colorado.

10. Jay Finley: Baylor

After an injury plagued junior season last year, Jay Finley should be completely healthy and ready to contribute to a young Baylor offense.

After rushing for 865 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008, Finley missed three games last season and only carried the ball more than 10 times a game on four occasions.

Seven starters return for the Bears, including Finley and quarterback Robert Griffin who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the third game of the season last year.

A healthy Griffin will be the focal point of the Baylor offense which, in turn, should provide plenty of opportunities for Finley to exploit opposing defenses.

Finley has the speed and athleticism to pose problems for defenses as well as spread the field for the passing attack.

If Baylor wants to reach its first bowl game since 1996, its offense and defense must play to the best of its ability and that starts with Griffin and Finley.

9. Tre' Newton: Texas

Tre' Newton will have a new quarterback, sophomore Garrett Gilbert, who nearly led an improbable upset for the Longhorns in last year's national championship.

Newton, who fought nagging injuries and had to miss two games, finished last year with 552 yards and six touchdowns while splitting carries with Fozzy Whittaker.

He should see more carries this season, like Whittaker, as Texas coach Mack Brown will try to ease Gilbert into the quarterback position to ensure a solid development.

At 6'0", 200 pounds, Newton has a nice blend of speed and power to become a featured back for Texas, something that needs to present itself for the Longhorns.

With only five starters returning on offense, Newton may need to mature quickly as he could become one of the leaders on offense for Texas.

The Longhorns proved last year that they can play for a national championship without a solid running game, but if Newton improves his play, Texas could win a national championship.

8. Christine Michael: Texas A&M

Christine Michael, along with quarterback Jerrod Johnson and running back Cyrus Gray, are one of the most dangerous backfields in college football and will look to put the entire Big 12 on notice this season.

Michael rushed for 844 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games in his freshman season.

The 5'11", 206-pound sophomore has a perfect combination of blazing speed and raw power to become a premier playmaker in the Big 12.

Despite only five offensive starters coming back this season, the Aggies boast, perhaps, the most talented receiving corps in school history.

If Johnson can spread the defense with his strong arm and accurate passing, Michael and Gray can breakdown the front four of the defense with their physical play.

If Texas A&M can build on its fifth ranked offense from last year, it would be up to the defense to help the Aggies become a serious threat in the Big 12 South.

7. Baron Batch: Texas Tech

New head coach Tommy Tuberville and offensive coordinator Neal Brown will incorporate Baron Batch more into the high-flying Red Raider offense.

The 5'11", 205-pound senior rushed for 884 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, including eight touchdowns in Texas Tech's final five games.

Despite Batch's impressive numbers from 2009, Texas Tech finished 115th in the nation in rushing, largely in part of how much focus is put on the passing aspect of the offense.

Quarterback Steven Sheffield will more than likely lead the Red Raider offense this year, but with every skill position player returning, the fourth-ranked offense from last season should be even more potent.

This will provide Batch with the opportunity to take advantage of a defense more concerned with stopping the aerial attack than containing Batch and the running game.

If the rushing attack can improve dramatically, look for Texas Tech to average at least 40 points per game and truly test the defense of its Big 12 counterparts.

6. Derrick Washington: Missouri

Derrick Washington hopes to have saved his best season for last as the senior running back returns for one more chance at a Big 12 Championship.

Washington had a breakout season in 2008 finishing with 1,036 yards and 17 touchdowns.

His numbers decreased last season as he finished with 865 yards and only 10 touchdowns.

The 6'0", 225-pound Washington seemed to rediscover his quickness and agility over the spring practices and may have found his 2008 form.

With gunslinger Blaine Gabbert returning at quarterback, Washington could find himself with favorable matchups throughout the season as defenses will be focused on stopping the 14th ranked passing offense from last season.

A two-dimensional offense only means good things for the Tigers and they could very well find themselves in the hunt in the Big 12 North.

5. Roy Helu: Nebraska

Roy Helu has the potential for another stellar season for Nebraska as it continues to break the glass ceiling that is the Big 12 Championship.

He finished last season with 1,147 yards and nine touchdowns and will provide solid running for an offense that brings back eight starters from last season's campaign.

Helu may see an increase in carries over the first few games as senior quarterback Zac Lee may still be getting accustomed to playing again after undergoing arm surgery in the spring.

The 6'0", 215-pound senior battled nagging injuries last year, but alongside fellow I-back Roy Burkhead, Helu should give the Cornhuskers the ability to wear down opposing defenses.

Nebraska finished the season 99th in total offense, an issue that must be addressed given the tremendous amount of success the defense has achieved over the past two seasons.

If Helu and Nebraska can address the concerns that surround the offense, Nebraska will be an extremely difficult team to beat in the Big 12.

4. Alexander Robinson: Iowa State

Senior running back Alexander Robinson will attempt to help Iowa State make a major impact in the Big 12 North.

The 5'9", 186-pound Robinson has tremendous speed and he used it to his advantage, rushing for 1,195 yards and nine total touchdowns last season.

His offensive production has steadily increased throughout his first three years at Iowa State.

He was and will remain the focal point of the offense along with senior quarterback Austen Arnaud.

Robinson will have an experienced offensive line to run behind, as four of five linemen return this year.

With Robinson leading nine offensive starters returning in 2010, Iowa State will look to improve its 73rd ranked offense from last season to try to push Nebraska and Missouri in the Big 12 North.

3. Kendall Hunter: Oklahoma State

Kendall Hunter is one of only four starters returning on the offensive side of the ball but that will not stop him from making a huge impact, if he can stay healthy.

The 5'8", 190-pound speedster rushed for 1,555 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2008 before an injury ravaged season last year caused Hunter to miss five games

He is now healthy and should provide junior quarterback Brandon Weeden with a dangerous weapon.

A big problem for Hunter could be that center Lane Taylor is the only member of last year's offensive line returning.

Hunter will have to use his blazing speed and sheer athleticism to make big plays for the Cowboys.

Hunter will need to regain his 2008 form if the Cowboys want to improve their 9-4 mark from last season and prove to the country that they are possible contenders in the Big 12.

2. DeMarco Murray: Oklahoma

DeMarco Murray hopes to lead Oklahoma back to the top of the Big 12 and to national prominence, if he can stay healthy.

He has had nagging injuries throughout his amazing collegiate career.

After posting a 1,000 yard season and finishing with 14 touchdowns in 2008, the senior running back, however, had a let down rushing for only 705 yards and eight touchdowns.

The 6'1", 214-pound Murray has tremendous athleticism and blazing speed, which should amount to a first-round draft pick in next year's NFL Draft.

Murray and the Sooners should improve its 23rd ranked offense from last season, with several other key playmakers returning on that side of the ball.

The fact that Oklahoma finished with an 8-5 record last season without former Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford shows how talented the Sooners are.

If Murray can regain his 2008 form, Oklahoma could easily be in discussions to play for a national championship.

1. Daniel Thomas: Kansas State

Daniel Thomas will once again be the primary option on offense and will look to eclipse his impressive numbers from last year.

The slick senior finished 2009 with 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns, including gashing Texas A&M for four touchdowns alone.

Quarterback Carson Coffman finished last season with sub-par numbers so expect Kansas State to implement more of the offense onto the legs of Thomas to take pressure off the senior quarterback.

The 6'2", 228-pound Thomas is an explosive threat every time he touches the ball and could be even more dangerous this season.

A very experienced offensive line return four starters from last season and should provide Thomas with the blocking he needs to make game-changing plays.

Injuries plagued the Wildcats last season and the team cannot afford for Thomas or any offensive lineman to go down.

If they can avoid the injury bug, Kansas State will have an athletic, up and coming team.