Florida Has the Most Talented Backfield in the SEC

One of the keys to winning a championship is having a productive and reliable running game.  The last two national champions were SEC teams that employed diverse rushing attacks, featuring not only running backs, but quarterbacks and other playmakers as ball carriers, too.

Florida used freshmen Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin and senior running back Deshawn Wynn to keep teams off balance and capture the 2006 BCS title.  LSU won the 2007 title behind several running backs and some spot running by backup QB Ryan Perriloux. 

What SEC team will feature the best running attack in 2008?  The answer has to be the Florida Gators. 

In 2007, the Florida Gators averaged 200 yards rushing per game.  That was good enough for third in the SEC behind Arkansas and LSU.  Georgia, who many view as a great running team, was a distant fourth in the SEC, averaging 33 yards less per game on the ground than third-place Florida. 

I've taken a close look at all four of these teams.  Based on the returning and incoming talent on each team, I've concluded that Florida is poised to dominate the league on the ground. 

Arkansas

First in the SEC last season, Arkansas averaged a ridiculous 286 yards per game in 2007, but they lost two running backs to the NFL and their run-happy coach to Ole Miss.  Bobby Petrino will not use a run-heavy offense, nor will he have the running back talent to duplicate the Hogs' 2007 rushing success.  

Louisiana State

LSU returns a quality backfield from a team that finished second in the SEC in rushing with 214 yards per game.  LSU will have a strong rushing attack this season, but their rushing stats will likely drop as defenses load up on the line and dare their inexperienced QBs to throw.

Georgia

Georgia returns a Heisman candidate running back, Knowshon Moreno, and a great, but currently injured, fullback Brannan Sutherland to a team that finished fourth in the SEC with 177 yards per game on the ground.  Georgia lost 779 yards and 10 TDs with the departure of its second leading rusher Thomas Brown, but they add talented redshirt freshman Caleb King to the mix in 2008. 

Georgia has enough talent in the backfield to be one of the top three rushing teams in the SEC. 

Florida

Florida returns its four leading rushers from a 2007 team that averaged 200 yards per game.  Tim Tebow led the team in rushing yards (895) and proved to be an unstoppable goal line force with his SEC record 23 rushing touchdowns.  Tebow's rushing attempts will likely drop in 2008, but don't expect him to stop running for first downs and touchdowns.

Wide receiver Percy Harvin was second on the team with 764 yards on just 83 carries (9.2 average), and Meyer has promised to keep using him in the backfield in 2008. 

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