College Football 2011: Power Ranking the Top 10 Most Explosive Running Backs

Even in the era of wide-open passing attacks, running the football effectively still helps win college football games.

If you can move the ball on the ground, you not only can put points on the board, but you also have a better chance of controlling the game.

The following 10 players are the most explosive running backs in college football (Sorry Denard Robinson. QBs aren't included on this list).

When the games start in less than two months, keep an eye on these playmakers.

10. Bobby Rainey: Western Kentucky

Once again, the WKU Hilltoppers will enjoy giving the ball to Bobby Rainey and watch him chew up yards.

Last year, as a junior, Rainey carried the ball an amazing 340 times for 1,649 yards and 15 TDs,

Some might question his ability to run against top defenses. Rainey put that talk to rest in the first game of the 2010 season when he had 155 yards against Nebraska.

Rainey gets better as they game goes on—he averaged an extra yard per carry after halftime.

Check out how he accelerates passed defenders into the end zone.

9. Isaiah Pead: Cincinnati

Isaiah Pead has strung together three great seasons for Cincinnati, but the Bearcats are hoping that he has saved his best performances for his last season on campus.

Pead has averaged 6.6 YPC so far, gaining over 2,000 yards and 15 TDs since he started to lace them up three years ago.

Last season alone, Pead had four games of at least 140 rushing yards with his best games against Miami of Ohio (10 carries for 197 yards, 1 TD) and Rutgers (31 carries for 213 yards and four TDs)

See why many people think that Isaiah Pead will be the best back in the Big East in 2011.

8. Chris Polk: Washington

Chris Polk has gradually been making his way to the top end of the college running back list.

Last year, he had what many consider a break out year as a sophomore, rushing for 1,415 yards (5.4 ypc) and 9 TDs.

Polk grabbed headlines in the 2010 regular season finale against cross-state rival Washington State when he piled up 284 yards on 29 carries and 2 TDs.

See for yourself what the Huskies opponents will be up against this fall when Polk gets the ball.

7. Roy Finch: Oklahoma

Sooners head coach Bob Stoops was no doubt sad to see DeMarco Murray finish his time at Oklahoma, but he is ready to see what Roy Finch can do in 2011.

Finch may be one of the most elusive and explosive runners that OU has had in some time.

He seems to be instantly at full speed and he cuts sharper than virtually anyone in the country.

Because of a preseason injury, Finch missed the first five games of the 2010 season.

But he made an impact by rushing for 92 yards the first time that he put on the Crimson and Cream. 

With four of five offensive linemen returning, watch for Finch to have a very nice sophomore year.

6. Knile Davis: Arkansas

Knile Davis had a break-out sophomore season in 2010 and the Razorbacks are looking for even more from him as a junior.

Davis ran the ball 204 times for 1,322 yards (6.5 ypc) and 13 TDs.

Davis came up BIG in big games.

He had 176 yards and 3 TDs against Ole Miss.

Davis rolled up 187 yards in an overtime win against Mississippi State.

He rambled for 152 yards against a nasty LSU defense, and 139 versus Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl.

5. Ronnie Hillman: San Diego State

Ronnie Hillman was not only one of the best freshman RBs of 2010, he was one of the best ball carriers of any class.

As a freshman for the Aztecs, Hillman ran for 1,532 yards (5.8 ypc) and 17 TDs.

In his third game as a collegian, he reeled off 228 yards and 2 TDs at Missouri.

Among others, Hillman had another outstanding game (with the same number of yards) in the Poinsettia Bowl against Navy.

Watch Hillman's acceleration, speed and agility. 

4. James White: Wisconsin

James White started his college football career with a BOOM.

At 6.7 YPC as a freshman, White helped the Badgers offense dominate games and their opponents in 2010.

White had a monster game against Austin Peay, scoring 4 TDs while gaining 145 yards on only 11 carries.

White also rolled up 181 yards in the Big House in Ann Arbor as the Badgers beat Michigan on the road.

Here's a big TD that White scored to put the Badgers game against Ohio State on ice.

If White can put up similar numbers or better in 2011, Wisconsin will be in the thick of things when it comes to BCS bowl games

3. Trent Richardson: Alabama

With Mark Ingram's departure from Tuscaloosa to the NFL, Trent Richardson will finally get to become the full-time, featured RB for the Crimson Tide.

Richardson has been the perfect partner to the 2009 Heisman Trophy award winner, but now he will get to be the Man.

Last year, as a sophomore, Richardson ran for 700 yards on only 112 carries (6.3 ypc) while scoring 6 TDs.

He torched Joe Pa and the Nittany Lions in the second game of last season for 144 yards.

Check out this YouTube video of a ESPN piece that shows why Richardson gets it done on Saturdays.

2. Marcus Lattimore: South Carolina

Marcus Lattimore had an exceptional freshman year for the Gamecocks.

Lattimore set South Carolina's single-season touchdown record (17) and freshman rushing record with 1,197 yards during his terrific 2010 season.

Lattimore was selected as SEC Freshman of the Year honors from the league's coaches and the Associated Press.

He totaled 1,609 all-purpose yards, the most on the Gamecocks' roster.

In his second college game, Lattimore gave the South Carolina faithful a preview of things to come by running over Georgia for 182 yards and 2 TDs.

Here's just a taste of what Lattimore can do and will do in 2011.

1. LaMichael James: Oregon

Watch LaMichael James.

He is a human highlight reel that happens to be the most explosive back in college football.

Last year, James rushed for 1,731 yards, the highest in the nation with 21 rushing TDs. In doing so, he broke the Pac-10 sophomore season record for yards gained on the ground

James had three games where he amassed more than 200 rushing yards (Portland State - 227 yards on 14 carries and two TDs; Stanford - 257 yards on 31 carries with three TDs; USC - 239 yards on 36 carries and three TDs)

He finished third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy and he received the Doak Walker Award for being the top RB in the nation.

As long as James is doing his thing for the Ducks, Oregon will be one of the most most potent offensive teams in the nation.