Florida Has the Most Talented Backfield in the SEC

Nick The Only by Analyst Written on August 23, 2008
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Starting running back Kestahn Moore had only 580 yards but averaged more yards per carry than the heralded Bulldog, Knowshon Moreno.  Return specialist/running back Brandon James was fourth on the team with 133 yards on limited carries, but Meyer has said that James will have a more prominent role in 2008.

To this already talented and diverse backfield, Florida adds four excellent running backs.  Southern California transfer and former Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Emmanuel Moody, will definitely see some playing time and could capture the starting running back role. 

Along with Moody, the Gators add freshman speedster Jeffrey Demps and  both Mon Williams and Chris Rainey will return from injury.  Jeff Demps is a football player who just happens to have track speed.  He is the fastest American teenager ever, after running a 10.02 second 100 meter dash this summer.

Mon Williams was a 4 star recruit who may have started ahead of Moore in 2007 if he did not suffer a season ending injury.  Williams has great size and speed.

Of all the running backs, Chris Rainey may see the most time.  It is no secret that Urban Meyer has speed greed.  Jeff Demps is a blazer, but Rainey is even faster and he has a year of college conditioning, weight-training and playbook-studying under his belt. 

Rainey has been highly praised by Meyer and has become somewhat of a legend on campus after he beat Demps in an impromptu 40 yard dash.  He also reportedly beat WVU running back Noel Devine in a 40-yard dash when both were still playing for their Florida high schools.

If you take a team that managed to average 200 yards per game without a feature running back and add in four quality running backs, you've got a very dangerous running game.  Florida will use their deep and diversely talented backfield to lead the SEC in rushing in 2007. 

With a little help from their defensive counterparts, Florida's diverse backfield could lead the team to an SEC championship and a BCS title birth. 

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written on August 23, 2008 Preview/Prediction

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