College Football 2012: Grading Every Team's Running Backs for Next Season

Trent Richardson, LaMichael James, C.J. Spiller, Mark Ingram, Darren McFadden, Adrian Peterson, Reggie Bush—those are just a few of the many star running backs that we've seen come through the college ranks in recent years. 

Every year, new star backs always seem to emerge, and 2012 should be no different. 

Last season, we saw backs like Trent Richardson, Montee Ball, David Wilson, De'Anthony Thomas, Lamar Miller and Henry Josey all enjoy breakout campaigns and firmly stamp their names on the college football map. 

While the sport is losing many of its big-name backs from 2011, there are still plenty of intriguing rushers returning for 2012 that should be in store for huge years next season. 

Wisconsin's Montee Ball, who finished fourth in the Heisman voting last year, will likely be the most talked-about back this offseason, but there are plenty of other returning rushers who appear to be on the verge of stardom in 2012. 

So which teams have the running backs that you need to watch out for next season?

Well, here's a look at how each FBS team's running backs stack up for 2012.

LSU Tigers: A+

LSU will have the deepest and most talented backfield in the country for the 2012 season. 

The Tigers welcome back four stud backs—Spencer Ware, Michael Ford, Kenny Hilliard and Alfred Blue—who all bring something different to the table and who are all capable of breaking through any defense that's put in front of them. 

Ware and Ford, who each topped over 700 rushing yards in 2011, will be the leaders of the crew once again, but the real player to watch could be Hilliard, who averaged 5.4 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns last season. 

With one of the top offensive lines in the country lining up in front of them, all four backs should have plenty of room to do severe damage to opposing defenses in 2012. 

Wisconsin Badgers: A+

Montee Ball shocked pretty much everybody when he announced that he would pass on the opportunity to enter the 2012 NFL draft and instead return to Wisconsin for his senior season. 

After Ball rushed for over 1,900 yards, accounted for 40 total touchdowns and came in fourth in the Heisman voting this past season, most simply assumed that he had nothing left to prove in the college ranks. However, Ball will now be looking to build on his success from 2011 when he returns to lead the Badgers offense next season. 

It will be tough to replicate the kind of gaudy numbers that he put up during Wisconsin's run to the Rose Bowl last year, but Ball proved in 2011 that he has the type of toughness, playmaking ability and durability to get the job done on a consistent basis. 

Ball will once again team up with James White, who ran for 713 yards and scored six touchdowns last season, to give the Badgers one of the best running back duos in the country for 2012.

With Ball and White both back, don't be surprised if Wisconsin is able to finish No. 1 in the Big Ten in rushing offense yet again next season. 

Oregon Ducks: A

Rarely does a team lose a running back the caliber of a player like LaMichael James and proceed to have a better rushing attack the following season. However, don't be shocked if Oregon has a similar output next season to the 299 yards on the ground per game that the Ducks averaged last season.

With explosive and speedy weapons like De'Anthony Thomas and Kenjon Barner joining dual-threat quarterback Bryan Bennett in the backfield next season, there's no secret that Chip Kelly will be looking to run all over opponents in 2012.

Thomas and Barner, who combined to amass 1,594 yards of offense last year, will form one of the best and most dynamic rushing duos in the country for next season.

If both backs play up to their potential, Oregon won't just be in the race to make it back to the Rose Bowl; they'll be right in the hunt to make it down to Miami for the BCS championship game.  

Oklahoma State Cowboys: A-

Oklahoma State didn't seem to have much trouble finding a replacement for Kendall Hunter last season, as his successor, Joseph Randle, stepped in and became a breakout star in 2011. 

Even though Oklahoma State was predominantly a passing team, finishing fourth in the country with 595 pass attempts, Randle still managed to run for over 1,200 yards and score 26 touchdowns.

With QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon both gone, the 6'1'', 191-pound sophomore will now become the focal point of the offense for 2012. 

It should be interesting to see if Randle, along with fellow sophomore Jeremy Smith and freshman Herschel Sims, can do enough to keep the Cowboys in contention for another Big 12 title next season.

Arkansas Razorbacks: A-

He's back!

After missing all of last season with a severe ankle injury, Knile Davis, who was the most productive running back in the SEC in 2010 after rushing for 1,322 yards, will be back and ready to go for the 2012 season.

Davis looked like he was going to be one of the conference's elite offensive playmakers in 2011 before falling victim to a freak preseason injury last August.

Now, after spending months rehabilitating, the powerful 6'0'', 226-pound junior will be looking to show fans and NFL scouts what they were missing last year. 

Davis will be joined by Dennis Johnson and Ronnie Wingo Jr. to give the Razorbacks one of the deepest and most talented backfields in the country next season. 

QB Tyler Wilson may have to find some new receivers besides Cobi Hamilton and tight end Chris Gragg to throw to next season, but he should greatly benefit from Davis returning to the Arkansas backfield. 

If Davis can replicate his success from 2010, Arkansas should be right in the hunt for the SEC championship next season. 

South Carolina Gamecocks: A-

South Carolina actually did a pretty good job without star RB Marcus Lattimore, who went down with a knee injury in the middle of last season. Still, it was obvious that the Gamecocks were missing their big bruising back. After rehabbing for the past few months, Lattimore should be back in the lineup and ready to go in 2012.

The 6'1'', 232-pound sophomore has only played in 20 games in his college career, but he's still been able to amass 2,609 yards of total offense and score 30 touchdowns. 

The former 5-star recruit is one of the most talented and physically imposing players in college football, and if he can get his knee right, he should be able to inflict plenty of punishment on SEC defenses in 2012. 

Lattimore will be joined in the backfield by junior Kenny Miles and freshman Brandon Wilds, who both did an admirable job filling in for him last season. 

TCU Horned Frogs: A-

One of the big questions that will be asked around the Big 12 this offseason is, does TCU have the athletes to compete with the big boys in their new conference?

We'll have to wait a few months to find out the answer, but one position where the Horned Frogs look stocked and ready to go for the climb up in competition is at running back. That's where TCU has three proven backs in Ed Wesley, Matthew Tucker and Waymon James, who all look like they should be able to go toe-to-toe with Big 12 competition next season. 

All three split carries equally in 2011, and they combined to run for over 2,300 yards and 24 touchdowns. 

James was the most consistent last year, but Wesley and Tucker seem to be the most physically gifted. 

It will certainly be interesting to see how the talented trio fares against Big 12 competition in 2012. 

Don't be shocked if they turn out to be a lot more effective than some fans from the established conference powerhouses are predicting.

Alabama Crimson Tide: B+

Trent Richardson's gone! Oh no, what's Alabama going to do?

Well, I'll tell you what the defending champs are going to do: The Tide are going to plug Eddie Lacy in and watch him hopefully run wild like he did last season, when he averaged 7.1 yards per carry.

Lacy may not be the type of star that Richardson or his predecessor, Mark Ingram, were, but the 6'0'', 220-pound sophomore is a big, physical and powerful back who should excel running behind an offensive line that could be considered the nation's best next season. 

With Jalston Fowler, Dee Hart and incoming 5-star recruit T.J. Yeldon helping him out, Lacy will be the leader of a running game that should be one of the most potent in the SEC in 2012. 

Cal Golden Bears: B+

Cal RB Isi Sofele turned out to be one of the biggest surprise players in the Pac-12 last season.

Sofele stepped in for the departed Shane Vereen and managed to outproduce his more heralded predecessor, as he ran for over 1,300 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 2011. 

WR Keenan Allen may get most of the preseason publicity this summer, but Sofele should play just as integral of a role in Cal's offensive success in 2012. 

The 5'8'', 190-pound junior will team back up with former JUCO standout C.J. Anderson to give the Bears one of the conference's top rushing attacks for next season. 

Clemson Tigers: B+

After waiting behind C.J. Spiller and then Jamie Harper for his first two years at Clemson, Andre Ellington finally got the chance to prove his worth in 2011, and he certainly made the most of it.

Ellington ran for over 1,100 yards and scored 11 touchdowns in his first year as a starter, and he proved to be a vital weapon for the explosive Tigers offense. 

The 5'10'', 190-pound junior will be helped out by the fact that the Clemson offense has a variety of different playmakers, including QB Tajh Boyd and WRs Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins, as they should occupy defenses' attention and provide Ellington with more room to run next season.

Ellington will be joined in the backfield once again by Mike Bellamy, a talented former 5-star recruit, who has the chance to be Clemson's next great back if he can stay focused on and off the field. 

Michigan Wolverines: B+

Michigan could have the best quarterback-running back rushing combo in the country for 2012, with Denard Robinson and Fitzgerald Toussaint. 

Last year, Toussaint broke onto the Big Ten scene, rushing for over 1,000 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. That may have only been a glimpse of what he's actually capable of, though, as Toussaint looks like he'll be right in the hunt for the Big Ten rushing title in 2012. 

The 5'10'', 195-pound sophomore will once again be joined in the backfield by experienced veteran rusher Vincent Smith, who averaged 5.9 yards per carry last season. 

Michigan State Spartans: B+

Michigan State may be losing running back Edwin Baker a year early to the NFL, but the Spartans will be bringing back one of the best running backs in the country, Le'Veon Bell. 

Last year, Bell totaled over 1,200 yards of total offense and accounted for 13 touchdowns.

With Baker gone, he'll be asked to produce at an even higher rate in 2012. 

The 6'2'', 237-pound sophomore should be strong enough and durable enough to handle another big workload, though.

With Larry Caper spelling him when needed, Bell should be able to make a legitimate run at the Big Ten rushing title next season, and he could help the Spartans finally break through and win a conference championship in 2012. 

North Carolina Tar Heels: B+

After missing his entire first season with an ACL injury, North Carolina RB Giovani Bernard came out and didn't miss a beat in 2011, as he looked exactly like the highly rated recruit that Tar Heel fans were so excited to see before the injury.

This past season, Bernard totaled 1,615 yards of offense, scored 14 touchdowns and put constant stress on opposing defenses all season long.

The 5'10'', 205-pound freshman is the type of offensive weapon that has to be accounted for on every snap, and he will be the main key to North Carolina's offensive success next season.

The Tar Heels will have to replace big power back Ryan Houston, but A.J. Blue seems like he should be a perfect complement to the smaller, quicker Bernard for 2012.

Nebraska Cornhuskers: B+

Rex Burkhead seems to be the type of back that's perfectly suited for Nebraska's power run offense.  

Burkhead may not be the most explosive back in the country, but he's got the strength, toughness and the willingness to consistently pound it inside the tackles, which he showed in his first year as a starter in 2011.

The 5'11'', 210-pound junior bulldozed his way for 1,357 yards on the ground and scored 17 touchdowns this past season, as he proved to be a more-than-capable replacement for Roy Helu. 

Oklahoma Sooners: B+

No one could have predicted the type of success that Dominique Whaley enjoyed in 2011, as Whaley rose from relative obscurity to become the Sooners' top rusher, averaging 90 yards on the ground per game. 

The 5'10'', 197-pound junior only played in seven games before going down for the year with an injury, but his impact was fully felt. 

If Whaley can stay healthy for a full season in 2012, there's no telling what he could be capable of, as he rejoins Roy Finch and Brennan Clay to give Oklahoma one of the best backfields in the Big 12 for next season. 

Penn State Nittany Lions: B+

After a breakout campaign in 2011, Penn State RB Silas Redd now looks ready to emerge as one of the Big Ten's premier backs next season.

Last year, Redd ran for 1,241 yards, the fourth-best total in the conference. 

The 5'10'', 209-pound sophomore is a strong, durable back who can carry a heavy workload, which is something he'll have to do once again for the Nittany Lions in 2012.

Penn State loses last year's second-leading rusher, Stephfon Green, but sophomore Curtis Dukes and incoming 3-star recruit Akeel Lynch should provide plenty of help for Redd next season. 

Pittsburgh Panthers: B+

Pittsburgh's offense turned out to be a big disappointment during Todd Graham's one season at the helm in 2011, but there was one player who still shined, and that was RB Ray Graham. 

Last year, Graham was one of the leading rushers in college football before a knee injury robbed him of the final five games of 2011. Even though he only carried the ball 164 times, Graham still managed to finish with 958 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns. 

The 5'9'', 195-pound junior may not be the most intimidating back in the country, but he's certainly one of the most explosive, and he possesses deceptive strength and power for his small frame. 

Judging from what new coach Paul Chryst was able to do with Montee Ball at Wisconsin last season, it seems that if Graham can fully recover from his knee injury, he's definitely going to be the front-runner to win the Big East rushing title in 2012. 

Stanford Cardinal: B+

It's not going to be easy for Stanford to replace three of their key offensive pieces—QB Andrew Luck, OG David DeCastro and OT Jonathan Martin—who will all be first-round picks in the 2012 NFL draft. But the Cardinal will be able to rely on RB Stepfan Taylor next season. 

Because he happened to play in the same backfield as college football's most talked-about star, Taylor has been one of the most overlooked players in the country these past two years. But there's no questioning the type of under-the-radar impact that Taylor has had for the Stanford offense.

The 5'11'', 208-pound junior rushed for 2,467 yards and scored 28 touchdowns over the past two seasons, and he'll be asked to be an even bigger workhorse now that Luck is gone. 

Taylor has shown that he has the strength and durability to handle a heavy workload, and he should have no problem stepping up and being the bell-cow back that Stanford needs him to be in 2012.

Tyler Gaffney and Anthony Wilkerson will both be back to help spell Taylor, and it will be interesting to see how incoming 4-star recruit Barry Sanders fits into the equation next season.

Texas Longhorns: B+

Malcolm Brown arrived in Austin amid a lot of fanfare as a highly touted 5-star recruit, and he certainly didn't seem to have much trouble living up to expectations early on, as he led the team with 742 rushing yards as a freshman in 2011. 

The powerful 6'0'', 217-pound freshman is one of the most physically gifted running backs in the country, and with Joe Bergeron and incoming 5-star recruit Johnathan Gray spelling him when needed, he should have no problem staying healthy and fresh in 2012. 

The trio of Brown, Bergeron and Gray should form one of the most diverse and effective backfields in the country next season. 

Arizona State Sun Devils: B

Since QB Brock Osweiler left school early to declare for the 2012 NFL draft, RB Cameron Marshall will now have to be the focal point of new coach Todd Graham's offense next season. 

After running for over 1,000 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns in 2011, Marshall should have no trouble carrying the load, as the 5'11'', 215-pound junior is the type of sturdy, durable and strong back who can handle a large amount of carries. 

Marshall should pound plenty of Pac-12 defenses in 2012, but he would certainly be aided if a running back like James Morrison or Marcus Washington could step up and help ease some of the burden off of his shoulders. 

Auburn Tigers: B

It seems strange to picture the Auburn offense without running back Michael Dyer, as Dyer was expected to be one of the biggest offensive stars in the country next season after running for over 2,300 yards in his first two years with the Tigers. 

Dyer is now a member of Arkansas State, though, so it's time for Auburn to move on without him. 

It won't be easy to fill the big hole he leaves, but luckily for the Tigers, they have a potential breakout star rusher in Onterio McCalebb.

Last year, McCalebb proved his versatility as both a runner and a receiver, as he totaled 985 yards and scored seven touchdowns in 2011. 

Now, the 5'10'', 170-pound junior will be asked to carry a bigger load. However, he'll have emerging freshman Tre Mason to help him out. 

Mason, a former 4-star recruit, has only touched the ball a limited amount of times so far in his college career, but whether it be as a rusher or a returner, the 5'10'', 190-pound freshman showed last season that he has the type of skill set to one day be able to adequately fill Dyer's shoes. 

With McCalebb and Mason leading the way on the ground in 2012, Auburn could have the type of offense it takes to compete for an SEC West division title next season. 

Florida State Seminoles: B

Florida State's rushing attack was one of the least productive in the country last season, as the Seminoles ranked 104th in the country in rushing offense in 2011.

The good news is that the team welcomes back three tremendously talented runners in Devonta Freeman, James Wilder Jr. and Chris Thompson, and adds one of the top running back recruits in the 2012 class, Mario Pender, to the mix as well. 

Thompson only played in five games last season, but now that he's back to full health, he's got a chance to be one of the ACC's best comeback stories in 2012. 

Freeman and Wilder Jr. are two former highly touted recruits who both have a great deal of potential, but Wilder's future could be in jeopardy after recently being arrested and charged with battery and resisting arrest.

Freeman, who averaged 4.8 yards on just 120 carries last season, could be the real player to watch next season, as the 5'8'', 200-pound freshman could be ready to ascend to star status in 2012. 

Fresno State Bulldogs: B

With a very strong backfield comprised of QB Derek Carr and RB Robbie Rouse returning, Fresno State could be a team that really surprises some people in 2012. 

The offense's success will depend a lot on Rouse's ability to replicate the tremendous production he had last year. The 5'7'', 185-pound junior finished eighth in the country with 1,544 yards on the ground in 2011, and he also added 32 catches for 228 yards and scored 14 total touchdowns. 

Rouse may not be the biggest back on the block, but he proved last year that he's a tough, strong and durable runner who can take control and put the offense on his back. 

After finishing second in the country with 328 carries last season, hopefully, the Bulldogs can find a proper complementary back for Rouse to make sure he stays fresh. 

Former UCLA transfer Milton Knox, a 5'9'', 210-pound junior, could play an increased role in the running game in 2012 after touching the ball just 20 times last season. 

Georgia Bulldogs: B

Former 5-star recruit Isaiah Crowell was forced to come in and immediately become the go-to back for Georgia's offense last season after both Washaun Ealey and Caleb King left the program. 

Although he was an absolutely atrocious pass-blocker, Crowell stepped in and did a fine job toting the rock in 2011, as he finished sixth in the SEC with 850 rushing yards. 

If the 5'11'', 215-pound freshman can keep maturing as a person and developing as an all-around back, the sky could be the limit for him. 

Carlton Thomas and Brandon Harton will both be back to give Crowell a hand in the backfield. Incoming 5-star recruit Keith Marshall will also warrant playing time, and he should battle for carries in 2012. 

Georgia Yellow Jackets: B

Georgia Tech's triple-option offense was once again one of the most productive rushing attacks in the country last year, as the Yellow Jackets ranked second in the country in rushing offense in 2011. 

Coach Paul Johnson used a bunch of different backs to get the job done, as five players totaled over 400 yards on the ground last season, including QB Tevin Washington, who was the team's leading rusher. 

The Yellow Jackets will have to replace Embry Peeples and Roddy Jones, who combined to rush for 939 yards in 2011. However, they will have both Orwin Smith and David Sims back to help lead the way. 

Smith and Sims both ran for over 600 yards last year, and both of them seem like perfect fits for Johnson's unique offensive attack. 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish: B

Notre Dame may have some questions at the quarterback position this offseason, but there's no question about who lead the rushing attack, and that's RB Cierre Wood. 

Last year, the 6'0'', 215-pound sophomore ran for over 1,100 yards and scored nine touchdowns, and he should be in store for an even bigger campaign in 2012.  

Last year's second-leading rusher, Jonas Gray, may be gone, but freshman George Atkinson III has some solid potential, and incoming 4-star recruit William Mahone is the type of strong, well-built back that can do some damage both inside the tackles and in the open field.

Southern Miss Golden Eagles: B

Southern Miss ranked 20th in the nation in rushing offense last season, which is a big reason the Golden Eagles made it all the way to the Conference-USA championship game, where they shocked Houston. 

One of the main reasons that the team was so successful running the ball was the emergence of Jamal Woodyard, who stepped in for the injured Kendrick Hardy and had a breakout freshman campaign. Woodyard accounted for 891 total yards of offense in 2011. 

The 5'8'', 202-pound freshman will join Hardy, as well as returning backs like Desmond Johnson and Jeremy Hester, to give Southern Miss one of the deepest backfields in the country for 2012. 

SMU Mustangs: B

When most people think of a June Jones-led offense, they probably think about a high-flying passing attack, but last year, Zach Line proved that there's room for running backs to shine in Jones' system as well. Line distinguished himself as the top overall running back in Conference USA when he led the conference with 1,224 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in 2011. 

The 6'1'', 230-pound junior is a big, physical and powerful back who has surprising athleticism for his size. 

Look for Line to challenge for his second consecutive Conference-USA rushing crown in 2012. 

Texas A&M Aggies: B

Cyrus Gray was one of the most underrated running backs in the country last season, as he managed to top the 1,000-yard rushing mark and score 15 touchdowns in just 11 games of action in 2011. 

Gray will surely be missed, but if his former backfield mate, Christine Michael, can fully recuperate from a knee injury that sidelined him late in the season and if incoming 5-star freshman Trey Williams turns out to be as good as advertised, the Aggies may just have one of the top rushing attacks in the SEC next season. 

It will certainly be interesting to see how Michael and Williams fare against some of the top defenses in the country in 2012. 

UCLA Bruins: B

Over the last two years, UCLA RB Johnathan Franklin has been one of the most consistent backs in college football, as he has rushed for over 2,100 yards and scored 14 touchdowns during that time. 

The 5'10'', 193-pound junior has the speed and explosion to burst through the hole and get to the second level, and once he gets into the open field, he possesses the agility to shake would-be tacklers. 

With last year's second-leading rusher, Derrick Coleman, gone, Franklin will have to step up and become an even bigger part of the offense in 2012, but sophomore Malcolm Jones, a talented former 4-star recruit, should be able to help him out a lot next season.

USC Trojans: B

Much of the focus surrounding USC this offseason will be on the star passing duo of QB Matt Barkley and WR Robert Woods. However, RB Curtis McNeal will also have a big say in the team's ultimate offensive success in 2012. 

Last year, McNeal ran for over 1,000 yards on just 145 carries—tied for the lowest total out of any back that broke the 1,000-yard mark last season. The 5'7'', 180-pound junior really came on late in the season, and he ended up averaging a whopping 6.9 yards per carry.

McNeal will once again be joined in the backfield by speedy freshman D.J. Morgan to give the Trojans the type of one-two rushing punch that they need to keep the offense balanced enough for a championship run in 2012. 

Utah Utes: B

Utah RB John White IV didn't receive a whole lot of publicity last season, but he was one of the Pac-12's most productive rushers in 2011, as he finished second in the conference with 1,520 rushing yards and scored 17 touchdowns.

White will now enter 2012 as the leading returning rusher in the conference, and the 5'8'', 185-pound junior will once again be the focal point of an offense that could be a lot more dangerous than some people might expect. 

The Utes will need another back to step up and help White next season, and freshman Harvey Langi, a former 4-star recruit, looks like he'll be the one who's called on to help provide a power presence in the backfield in 2012.

Vanderbilt Commodores: B

When running back Warren Norman went down with an injury early on in the 2011 season, Vanderbilt desperately needed a running back to step up and fill the void, and that's just what Zac Stacy did, as he became one of the biggest surprise stories in the SEC.

Stacy ended up rushing for 1,193 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns, and it was bulldozing runs like this one against Kentucky that really helped him get noticed in the conference. 

The 5'9'', 208-pound junior is a stocky, compact power runner who can really wear down a defense. 

With Norman back in the fold, Vanderbilt should have one of the best running back duos in the country for 2012. 

Virginia Cavaliers: B

Virginia might just have one of the best running back duos in the country that no one talks about with Perry Jones and Kevin Parks. 

Jones and Parks combined to rush for 1,624 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2011, and they could be in store for an even bigger year next season. 

Both backs will be worth keeping an eye on, but the real player to watch will be Jones. The 5'8'', 185-pound junior averaged nearly five yards per carry in 2011.

With Jones and Parks both back, Virginia should have one of the top rushing offenses in the ACC next season.

Army Black Knights: B-

Believe it or not, Army actually had the most productive rushing attack in the country last season, as the Black Knights ranked first in the nation with 346 rushing yards per game in 2011. 

To put it in perspective, Army also led the country in rushing attempts, with 740 total carries last year. 

Still, you have to admire the job that the team's top rusher, RB Raymond Maples, did last year, as he ran for over 1,000 yards on just 146 carries, which was the second-lowest total out of any of the 47 backs that topped the 1,000-yard mark in 2011. 

Maples is certainly Army's most valuable offensive weapon, as he averaged 7.3 yards per carry last season.

The 6'1'', 200-pound sophomore will once again be joined by backs like Malcolm Brown and Larry Dixon, who combined to rush for over 1,000 yards between them last season, to help give the Black Knights another highly productive rushing attack for 2012. 

Buffalo Bulls: B-

Since Bernard Pierce has decided to make the wise and understandable choice to move on to the NFL instead of finish off his career at Temple, Buffalo's Branden Oliver will enter the 2012 season as the MAC's leading returning rusher. 

Last year, Oliver came up five yards short of breaking the 1,400-yard rushing mark, as he finished 13th in the nation in rushing. 

The 5'8'', 200-pound back may not have ideal size, but he proved last year that he could handle a heavy workload, as he ran the ball over 300 times, finishing seventh in the country in total rushing attempts. 

If Oliver can display the same type of durability and stamina in 2012, the Bulls will have a great chance to improve on last year's 3-9 record. 

Central Florida Knights: B-

Central Florida had one of the top rushing offenses in Conference USA this past season, as the Knights averaged 168 yards on the ground per game. 

A big reason the running game was so productive was the duo of Brynn Harvey and Latavius Murray, who combined to run for over 1,100 yards and score 11 rushing touchdowns in 2011. 

Harvey and Murray are both juniors who will return to Orlando for one final season in 2012, and this time, they'll be joined by highly touted Miami transfer Storm Johnson. 

The Knights will miss athletic dual-threat quarterback Jeff Godfrey, who decided to transfer in the offseason, but with Harvey and Murray back and with the addition of Johnson, a former 4-star recruit, Central Florida should once again have one of the top rush offenses in the conference next season. 

Colorado State Rams: B-

Colorado State will have to replace starting quarterback Pete Thomas, who decided to transfer to N.C. State after coach Steve Fairchild was fired, but the cupboard certainly isn't bare for new head coach Jim McElwain. 

McElwain may not have a Trent Richardson- or Mark Ingram-caliber of back to work with at Colorado State, but he will have a very intriguing runner in Chris Nwoke. 

Last year, Nwoke ran for 1,130 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry. 

The 6'1'', 214-pound sophomore has a similar powerful build to both Ingram and Richardson, and he should flourish in McElwain's offensive system. 

Connecticut Huskies: B-

Most expected that D.J. Shoemate would be the one to take the torch from departed running back Jordan Todman and become the main man of the Connecticut backfield in 2011. However, after Shoemate was lost for the season with an ankle injury early in the year, Lyle McCombs was able to step in and really show the Big East what he was made of. 

McCombs ended up finishing second in the conference with 1,151 rushing yards.

With Shoemate back to help ease some of the pressure off the 5'8'', 172-pound freshman, McCombs should be able to stay fresh and potentially challenge for a Big East rushing title in 2012 after finishing as the runner-up to Isaiah Pead last season.

Eastern Michigan Eagles: B-

Eastern Michigan quietly had one of the most productive rushing attacks in the country last season, ranking 14th in the nation in rushing offense in 2011. 

The major reason for that was dual-threat quarterback Alex Gillett, who led the team with 736 rushing yards last year, but running backs Javonti Greene and Dominique White played crucial roles as well.

Greene and White combined to rush for 1,263 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2011.

While the team will miss Dominique Sherrer, the Greene and White combination should once again be a big help to Gillett, as the Eagles should have one of the MAC's best running games once again in 2012.

FIU Golden Panthers: B-

FIU may be losing explosive WR T.Y. Hilton, but the Golden Panthers will now be able to rely on another explosive playmaker, RB Kedrick Rhodes. 

Last year, Rhodes stepped into the starting running back role and became one of the star rushers in the Sun Belt, as he ran for 1,149 yards and scored eight touchdowns. 

FIU will miss second-leading rusher Darriet Perry, but Rhodes will likely be one of the early favorites to lead the Sun Belt in rushing in 2012 after an eye-opening campaign last season. 

Florida Gators: B-

Replacing two explosive and ultra-fast offensive threats like Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey certainly won't be easy, but the Florida rushing attack should still be in decent shape in 2012. Versatile weapon Trey Burton and intriguing junior Mike Gillislee should be able to step up and carry most of the load next season.

Burton was underutilized last season, only running the ball 37 times, but with Demps and Rainey gone, he should definitely get more opportunities to carry the ball in 2012. 

Gillislee only ran the ball 56 times last year, but he averaged 5.8 yards per carry and gave glimpses of his enormous potential. 

If Florida can find a quarterback that can keep opposing defenses honest next year, Burton and Gillislee should be able to do plenty of damage in 2012, running behind one of the SEC's best offensive lines.

Houston Cougars: B-

I'm sure it's not going to be easy for Houston to simply replace QB Case Keenum, who shattered most of college football's major passing records during his career with the Cougars. However, the offense will have a potential standout running back to rely on in 2012 to help make the transition from Keenum to David Piland a little easier. 

That running back is Charles Sims, who averaged 7.5 yards per carry, totaled 1,396 yards of offense and scored 13 touchdowns in 2011. Sims is the perfect type of back for Houston's pass-heavy offense, as he's just as capable of a receiver as he is a runner. 

Look for the 6'0'', 205-pound sophomore to become an even bigger part of the offense in 2012. 

Indiana Hoosiers: B-

There wasn't a lot to get excited about at Indiana last fall, as the Hoosiers stumbled their way through an embarrassing 1-11 campaign, one which included losses to Ball State and North Texas. 

Still, there were a few bright spots, and one of them was RB Stephen Houston. 

Houston ran for over 800 yards and scored eight touchdowns in 2011, even though defenses made it a point to try to shut down the run since Indiana's passing attack was so inconsistent. 

The 6'0'', 228-pound sophomore proved that he's tough to bring down, and if QB Tre Roberson can help him out and open up some more defenses next season, Houston should have some more room to do damage in 2012. 

Kansas Jayhawks: B-

A lot is going to change at Kansas this offseason, as new coach Charlie Weis and new quarterback Dayne Crist should add some flavor to an offense that was stale in 2011. Last year, the Jayhawks finished 106th nationally in total offense and 95th in scoring offense. 

There was one player, though, who managed to have consistent success for most of the season, and that was RB James Sims.

Sims totaled 846 yards of offense, and he scored a touchdown in eight different games in 2011, even though defenses were keying in on him for most of the season.

Kansas State Wildcats: B-

QB Collin Klein was the face of the Kansas State offense last season, and he was really the only Wildcat who gained much publicity. But Klein wasn’t the only one doing some heavy lifting in 2011, as RB John Hubert also contributed in a big way for the offense, rushing for 970 yards. 

Hubert may only be 5’7’’ and 185 pounds, but he runs hard and packs a punch when he meets contact. 

The sophomore back helped fans get over the fact that they wouldn't get to see Bryce Brown last year, and now, he'll be looking to make them forget that they even had to worry about losing Brown, as Hubert is prepared to make a run at a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2012. 

Louisville Cardinals: B-

The Louisville offense can go as far as budding star QB Teddy Bridgewater and his talented trio of receivers—comprised of Eli Rogers, Michaelee Harris and DeVante Parker—can take it in 2012, but it would help a whole lot if the Cardinals had a competent running back to help diversify the offense. 

Converted quarterback Dominique Brown seems like he could be the back that's up to the task. Last year, Brown ran for 533 yards and scored five touchdowns and proved to be the team's most dangerous running threat. 

The 6'2'', 221-pound sophomore will once again team up with Jeremy Wright to give Louisville one of the top backfield duos in the Big East for 2012. 

Missouri Tigers: B-

This grade is subject to change if injured running back Henry Josey is able to return to the field for 2012. Right now, though, it seems like the better option would be to let Josey take a redshirt year while he rehabs the devastating knee injury he suffered during the latter part of last season. 

Josey tore his ACL, MCL and patella in a 17-5 win over Texas in mid-November, but he's been rehabbing diligently this offseason, so it remains to be seen whether he'll be back or not. If the 5'10'', 190-pound sophomore can't go, it will be up to junior Kendial Lawrence to pick up most of the slack. 

Last year, Lawrence ran for 566 yards on 119 carries and scored five touchdowns. 

Lawrence will be joined in the backfield by junior Jared Culver and freshman Greg White, who only combined for 27 carries last season. 

It helps that QB James Franklin, who accounted for 981 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground last season, is a dangerous running threat. 

Ohio State Buckeyes: B-

Ohio State has produced some quality running backs in recent years, like Boom Herron, Brandon Saine and Chris Wells, but the 2012 group of backs is one that is shrouded in a bit of mystery.

With Carlos Hyde, Jordan Hall and Rod Smith all returning, there will be plenty of backs in the mix to be the top dog of the Buckeyes backfield for 2012, but none of the three have exactly shown so far that they're deserving of that honor. 

Hyde seems like he's the most talented of the group, but the 6'0'', 238-pound sophomore has only carried the ball 130 times during his first two years in Columbus.

From a strictly scheme perspective, Hall seems like the best for Urban Meyer's offense, but it's likely that all three backs will get their shot during the offseason to win over the coaching staff.

In the end, it's likely that Meyer will use Hyde the most, with Hall and Smith seeing their fair share of carries as well next season. 

The Buckeyes are also welcoming in a pair of 4-star recruits, Warren Ball and Brionte Dunn, who could also challenge for carries next season.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights: B-

After finishing last season ranked 112th in the country in rushing offense, Rutgers will be looking to establish a much more consistent ground game in 2012. 

Luckily for the Scarlet Knights, they have three capable backs in Jawan Jamison, Savon Huggins and Jeremy Deering. While Huggins is the most highly touted player of that group, it was Jamison who made the biggest impact last year, as he toted the rock 231 times for 897 yards and scored nine touchdowns. 

The 5'8'', 198-pound freshman proved that he could be a workhorse for the offense.

With Jamison, Huggins and Deering all returning, the Scarlet Knights should be able to run the ball much more effectively in 2012. 

South Florida Bulls: B-

South Florida fans only got to see former star running-back recruit Darrell Scott in action for one year before Scott made the decision to make the leap to the NFL after the 2011 season. 

Scott was solid as a starter last year, as he ran for 813 yards and scored six touchdowns, but it's not exactly as if he's irreplaceable. 

Junior Demetris Murray proved that he's a versatile weapon who can pound it inside the tackles and catch the ball out of the backfield, as he accounted for 808 total yards and nine touchdowns in 2011. 

Don't be surprised if Murray turns into a surprise star in the Big East next season, as he possesses the size, speed and power that you look for in a prototype back.

Texas Tech Red Raiders: B-

When Eric Stephens went down for the season with an injury after five games last season, Texas Tech's rushing attack went down with him.

The Red Raiders ended up finishing last in the Big 12 in rushing, only averaging 125 yards on the ground per game in 2011. 

With a healthy Stephens back in the fold, that should change in 2012, as the 5'8'', 195 lb. junior should be one of the best backs in the conference.

Stephens is averaging 5.2 yards per carry for his career, and if his knee holds up, he should emerge as one of the top backs in the Big 12 next season. 

Tulane Green Wave: B-

Orleans Darkwa has been one of Conference USA's best-kept secrets over the past two years.

Darkwa topped the 900-yard rushing mark in each of his first two seasons with the Green Wave, and he scored 24 touchdowns during that time.

The 6'0'', 214 lb. sophomore was Tulane's main rushing weapon in 2011, but next season, he should get some more help from freshman Robert Kelley, who averaged 4.5 yards on 74 carries in 2011. 

If Darkwa can keep up the pace he's set so far, the Tulane offense should be better than the one that ranked 97th in total offense last season.

Tulsa Golden Hurricane: B-

Tulsa may be known more for its passing game than its running game, but the Golden Hurricane actually employed a fairly balanced attack last year. The team will likely do the same in 2012, since the top-two rushers, Ja'Terian Douglas and Trey Watts, are both returning. 

Last year, Douglas and Watts combined to run for 1,781 yards.

It's a possibility that both could be in the running to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark in 2012, since Tulsa is likely to focus more on the run next season as the team breaks in QB G.J. Kinne's replacement.

Washington State Cougars: B-

With new coach Mike Leach taking over in Pullman and star receiver Marquess Wilson returning, much of the focus around Washington State this offseason will be on the potentially explosive passing game that the Cougars could employ in 2012. 

That doesn't mean, though, that the offense won't have a ground game to speak of as well, especially since last year's top-three rushers will be back in the mix. 

The big name of the bunch is Rickey Galvin, who returned to the team after missing the 2010 season with a broken arm and ran for over 600 yards on just 114 carries last season. 

Galvin proved that he's dangerous when he has the ball in his hands, and he should only keep getting better now that he has a year of experience under his belt. 

The 5'8'', 172 lb. freshman will once again be joined in the backfield by Carl Winston and fellow freshman Marcus Mason, who combined to rush for 595 yards in 2011.

West Virginia Mountaineers: B-

West Virginia RB Dustin Garrison turned out to be a terrific revelation in 2011, as he ended up leading the team with 742 rushing yards in his first season of action last year. 

Garrison was one of three true freshman backs who got substantial carries last season, with the other two being Andrew Buie and Vernard Roberts. 

The real player to watch in 2012, though, could be Shawne Alston, who averaged 4.3 yards per carry and scored 12 touchdowns in 2011. 

Alston was mainly used in goal-line and short-yardage situations last year, but he's the type of power back that the Mountaineers are going to need to feature more often against the bigger and stronger defenses that they'll see in the Big 12 next season. 

Air Force Falcons: C+

Air Force loses its key running back, Asher Clark, who ran for over 1,100 yards and scored seven touchdowns last season. But, the Falcons do bring back fullback Mike DeWitt, who pounded his way to 567 yards on the ground and scored 12 touchdowns in 2011. 

The Falcons' Flexbone offense won't be the same without Clark and QB Tim Jefferson leading the way, but DeWitt should be able to consistently run the dive. And if Wes Cobb emerges as a threat, that would really help the team's rushing attack stay consistent in 2012. 

Akron Zips: C+

Akron's offense was pretty bad last season, ranking 100th nationally in total offense, but the Zips did have one bright spot in RB Jawon Chisholm, who ran for 961 yards and scored five touchdowns in 2011. 

Chisholm's performance as a freshman was certainly encouraging, but there's not much talent to speak of behind him. 

The 6'0'', 210 lb. freshman is going to have to find the end zone more than five times next season if the Zips hope to improve on their 1-11 record from last year. 

Ball State Cardinals: C+

A tip to any MAC fan that doesn't already know the name Jawhan Edwards: Learn it!

Last year, Edwards shined in his first season in a Cardinal uniform, rushing for 786 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. 

The 5'10'', 232 lb. freshman will once again team up with sophomore Barrington Scott and junior Dwayne Donigan to give QB Keith Wenning a solid stable of backs to work with in 2012. 

Baylor Bears: C+

It's certainly going to be difficult for Baylor to replace its dynamic offensive trio of QB Robert Griffin III, RB Terrance Ganaway and WR Kendall Wright, but all hope is not lost. 

Besides the fact that the Bears have some explosive receivers—like Terrance Williams, Tevin Reese and Lanear Sampson—returning for 2012, they'll also have an intriguing and diverse backfield combination of Jarred Salubi and Oregon transfer Lache Seastrunk to lead the way on the ground. 

Seastrunk is a former five-star recruit who possesses game-changing speed, and Salubi is a compact and sturdy 5'9'', 210 lb. junior who has shown that he can make things happen when he has the ball in his hands. 

If Seastrunk can make good on his tremendous potential and if Salubi can step up and handle an increase in carries, the Baylor offense might actually be able to survive losing seemingly irreplaceable figures like Griffin, Wright and Ganaway. 

Boise State Broncos: C+

The main focus for the Boise State offense this offseason will be QB Joe Southwick trying to replace four-year starter Kellen Moore, college football's winningest signal-caller. However, the Broncos are also going to have to figure out how to make up for the loss of RB Doug Martin, who ran for over 1,200 yards in each of the past two seasons.

D.J. Harper being granted a sixth year of eligibility will certainly help, but Harper's injury history still makes him a question mark. 

The Broncos will likely need a bigger effort out of Drew Wright next season.

At this point, Wright is still known to most fans as the player who coughed up a key fumble against TCU that allowed the Horned Frogs to drive for a winning touchdown and cost the team a perfect season last year. But, he has the type of skill set that should serve the Boise State offense well as the unit tries to get over the loss of Moore and Martin in 2012. 

Boston College Eagles: C+

Montel Harris seems like he's been at Boston College for the past 10 years, doesn't he? Actually, though, Harris has only been with the team since 2008. After becoming a breakout star early in his career, Harris has been plagued by injuries as of late. Now that it's been confirmed that he'll miss spring practice with a knee injury, you have to wonder what to expect from the school's all-time leading rusher in 2012.

If Harris is healthy, Boston College's rushing attack should be much better than the one that ranked 82nd in the country in rushing offense last season.

If he's still not 100 percent, though, the Eagles' offense will really suffer. 

Sophomore Andre Williams is capable of handling a starting role, as he proved in 2011, but Williams isn't the type of back that can change games the way Harris can when he's fully healthy. 

Bowling Green Falcons: C+

Bowling Green will have two quality freshmen running backs to build its offense around over the next few years with Anthon Samuel and Jamel Martin.

Samuel is the true prize of the two, as the 5'11'', 183 lb. freshman ran for 844 yards in his first season with the Falcons last year. Still, even with Samuel's scintillating freshman campaign, the Eagles only managed to finish 91st in the country in rushing offense in 2011. 

The Eagles are going to need Samuel and Martin to play even better next season if they want to have any hope of competing in the MAC's East Division.

Hawaii Warriors: C+

Hawaii has finished with the lowest total rushing attempts in each of the past two seasons (303 attempts in 2011, 308 in 2010), so the Warriors' backs haven't had many chances to strut their stuff in recent years. 

Still, there was one back last year who caught everyone's attention, and that was freshman Joey Iosefa. 

Iosefa led the team with 568 rushing yards on just 110 carries, and the 6'0'', 240 lb. American Samoa native proved to be a great change-of-pace back for Hawaii's pass-heavy offense. 

Look for new coach Norm Chow to exploit Iosefa's talents on a more consistent basis next season, as the team tries to break in QB Bryant Moniz's successor in 2012. 

Illinois Fighting Illini: C+

Illinois will be forced to turn to two freshmen—Donovonn Young and Josh Ferguson—to help lead the way in the running game in 2012. 

Young, a former three-star recruit out of Texas, will be the real player to keep an eye on, as the 6'0'', 215 lb. freshman has all the tools that it takes to be a star in the Big Ten. 

Last year, Young ran for 451 yards on just 87 carries and scored six touchdowns, but now, he'll be asked to play a much bigger role in the rushing attack in 2012.

It will be interesting to see if the powerful freshman can build on the success he had last year.  

Iowa State Cyclones: C+

Much of the focus surrounding the Iowa State offense this offseason will revolve around QB Jared Barnett. However, Barnett won't be the only player to watch in the Cyclones' backfield next season. RB James White will also play a crucial role in the team's offensive success. 

Last year, White led the Cyclones with 743 rushing yards, and he scored nine touchdowns.

The 5'8'', 184 lb. sophomore may not be a bruising type of back, but he's got the speed and quickness to cause problems as both a runner and a receiver out of the backfield. 

Kent State Golden Flashes: C+

Trayion Durham could have gone to BCS schools such as Boston College, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville or Wisconsin, but instead, Durham opted to play in the MAC for Kent State. 

Judging by the terrific freshman campaign he had in 2011, it seems as if Durham made the right choice. 

The 6'0'', 260 lb. freshman led the Golden Flashes with 630 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns in 2011, and that seemed like it was only just the beginning of what Durham has in store for his collegiate career. 

Louisiana-Monroe WarHawks: C+

Louisiana-Monroe may not have a true standout back on its roster, but the WarHawks do have two strong sophomores to build around in Jyruss Edwards and Centarius Donald. 

Last year, Edwards and Donald combined to rush for over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

Edwards is the real difference maker of the two, but Donald showed that he can be an explosive weapon, as he averaged over seven yards on 59 carries last season. 

If Donald can stay healthy for a full season, he and Edwards could cause some real havoc in the Sun Belt in 2012. 

Marshall Thundering Herd: C+

Marshall had one of the weakest offenses in the country last season, as the Thundering Herd ranked 102nd in total offense. 

If the Thundering Herd want to improve on that ranking next season, they're going to need big outings by running backs Tron Martinez and Travon Van in 2012. 

Last year, Martinez and Van combined to rush for 1,200 yards and six touchdowns, as they remained consistently productive throughout the entire season. 

The two young backs could be capable of even bigger campaigns in 2012, and if they step up their game, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Herd in the hunt to actually make it to the Conference USA championship game next season. 

Miami Hurricanes: C+

Losing Lamar Miller to the NFL was like a punch to the gut for the Miami offense. Miller was the team's offensive MVP last season, as he ran for over 1,200 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. 

All hope is not lost for the Canes, though, as the team's second-leading rusher from 2011, Mike James, will be back. And he'll be joined in the backfield by talented incoming five-star recruit Duke Johnson, who could have an immediate impact in 2012. 

James and Johnson are a nice rushing tag team to build around, and they should be able to at least help patch up the gaping hole that Miller leaves. 

Mississippi Rebels: C+

With Brandon Bolden gone, it will be up to RB Jeff Scott to help revive Mississippi's stagnant offense in 2012. 

Scott may only be 5'7'' and 175 lbs., but he's a speedy playmaker who can cause plenty of trouble for opposing defenses when he gets the ball in his hands. 

Last year, Scott averaged 4.6 yards per carry and scored six touchdowns in 10 games of action, but the Rebels are going to need him to step it up in a big way if they want to climb out of the SEC basement and earn back some respect in 2012. 

Mississippi State Bulldogs: C+

Mississippi State fans may be worried about having to replace RB Vick Ballard, who ran for over 2,100 yards during his two seasons in Starkville.  But, they may be pleasantly surprised by his successor, LaDarius Perkins, who could be in store for a breakout campaign in 2012.

Perkins only carried the ball 87 times in 2011, but he averaged nearly five yards per touch and showed plenty of glimpses of his speed and explosion. 

With Ballard no longer in the mix, the 5'10'', 185 lb. sophomore will now be asked to be the bell-cow back in the backfield, and he should excel in that role.

Navy Midshipmen: C+

Navy may be losing its top-two rushers, QB Kriss Proctor and FB Alexander Teich, but the Midshipmen look like they should have a talented rusher to help carry the load in 2012 in RB Gee Gee Greene. 

Greene showed last season that he was a great fit for Navy's triple-option attack, as he averaged 7.8 yards per carry on just 64 touches and scored seven touchdowns.

The 5'8'',180 lb. junior should see the ball much more often next season, and Greene definitely has what it takes to become Navy's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2009.

Nevada Wolf Pack: C+

Nevada will have to replace its top-two rushers from last season—Lampford Mark and Mike Ball—but the Wolf Pack do have an intriguing young sophomore, Stefphon Jefferson, who could turn some heads next season. 

Last year, Jefferson only touched the ball 70 times, but he averaged 6.1 yards per carry and scored five touchdowns. 

The 5'11'', 200 lb. sophomore is a solid fit for the Pistol offense.

Jefferson and dual-threat quarterback Cody Fajardo should form a dangerous backfield tandem for 2012. 

N.C. State Wolfpack: C+

North Carolina State has only had one running back drafted since the turn of the millennium—Andre Brown was taken by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft—and it doesn't look like that's about to change next year. However, the Wolfpack will have an intriguing junior back, James Washington, that could cause a few scouts to take notice next season. 

Last year, Washington led the team with 897 yards and scored seven touchdowns, and he could be primed to have an even bigger campaign in 2012. 

The 6'0'', 180 lb. junior will be joined in the backfield by Mustafa Greene, who missed all of 2011 with a foot injury, and freshman Tony Creecy, giving the Wolfpack three quality backs to work with next season.

Northwestern Wildcats: C+

Northwestern will have to replace its top running back from last season, Jacob Schmidt, but the Wildcats seem to have two capable young backs in Adonis Smith and Treyvon Green. 

Last year, Smith and Green combined to rush for 628 yards and seven touchdowns. 

While both will likely have to take a backseat to dual-threat quarterback Kain Colter in 2012, the two backs have the chance to form a strong rushing combination in Evanston for the next few years. 

Purdue Boilermakers: C+

Sadly, Purdue's top running back, Ralph Bolden, tore his ACL for the second time late last season, and his availability for the 2012 season is still very much up in the air. Last year, Bolden led the team with 674 rushing yards, and he scored six touchdowns. 

If Bolden isn't ready to go this season, that means that the Akeems—junior Akeem Shavers and freshman Akeem Hunt—will both have to step their game up in 2012. 

Shavers and Hunt combined to run for 806 yards last season, so there shouldn't be too much of a drop-off if Bolden misses the 2012 season—especially if Hunt plays up to his potential next season. 

Temple Owls: C+

Temple will have to replace one of the best running backs in school history, Bernard Pierce, who left school a year early for the NFL, but the Owls definitely seem like they have a capable successor in Matt Brown. 

Brown finished last season with over 1,000 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns. 

While the 5'5'', 170 lb. junior certainly isn't the same type of overwhelming physical specimen that Pierce is, he has proved that he's an effective runner who knows how to get the job done when the ball is in his hands. 

Toledo Rockets: C+

Last season, Toledo was known much more for its powerful passing attack, led by quarterbacks Terrance Owens and Austin Dantin, than it was for its running game. But the Rockets still employed one of the best rushing attacks in the MAC in 2011, racking up 213 yards on the ground per game. 

Leading the charge were Adonis Thomas and Morgan Williams, two backs that will have to be replaced this offseason. However, David Fluellen also got in on the action, rushing for 493 yards on just 97 carries. 

The 6'0'', 215 lb. sophomore will now be asked to be the team's main back, but Fluellen definitely looks like he's ready for the new role, and he should be one of the MAC's most productive rushers in 2012. 

Washington Huskies: C+

Replacing a running back like Chris Polk is going to be a tough task for the Washington offense. However, the Huskies will at least have two backs—Jesse Callier and Bishop Sankey—who should at the very least be able to take some of the pressure off of budding star quarterback Keith Price. 

Callier and Sankey only combined to rush for 447 yards in 2011, but a lot of that had to do with Polk hogging most of the carries. 

With Polk out of the way, the two young backs will have their chance to prove themselves in 2012.

Western Michigan Broncos: C+

Western Michigan put a much stronger emphasis on the passing game than it did the running game last season, as the Broncos threw the ball 554 times compared to just 391 rushing attempts. 

With QB Alex Carder returning, that likely won't change in 2012. However, that doesn't mean the team doesn't have any capable backs to use. 

Sophomores Tevin Drake and Brian Fields both showed last year that they're capable of breaking through a defense on the few occasions that they actually got the ball in their hands. 

Drake and Fields combined to rush for 873 yards on just 173 carries in 2011, and they should each be able to replicate that success next season. 

Arizona Wildcats: C

New Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez may not have a Steve Slaton- or a Noel Devine- caliber running back to work with in his first year in Tucson, but he will have a very intriguing young back to use in his system with Ka'deem Carey.

Last year, the shifty and speedy Carey averaged 4.6 yards on 91 carries and scored eight total touchdowns.

The 5'10'', 190 lb. freshman will be joined by big 6'1'', 237 lb. junior Greg Nwoko, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, along with Daniel Jenkins, who only carried the ball 31 times last year, but still managed to average 5.6 yards per carry and score two touchdowns. 

Arkansas State Red Wolves: C

Last year, QB Ryan Aplin didn't just help Arkansas State with his arm; he also helped the Red Wolves with his legs, as Aplin was the leading rusher for an offense that was responsible for helping get the team to 10 victories and win a Sun Belt championship. Aplin will be back to lead the offense again in 2012, but he'll be without top running back Derek Lawson, who finished with 484 rushing yards last season. 

Freshman Frankie Jackson, who ran for 355 yards and scored six touchdowns in 2011, will be expected to step up. But unless Auburn transfer Michael Dyer can somehow convince the NCAA to give him eligibility for next season, new coach Gus Malzahn won't have a key weapon to work with at the position in 2012. 

Still, Jackson should be able to be a quality complement to Aplin, who should once again be the team's leading rusher next season. 

BYU Cougars: C

BYU's ground game was a fairly balanced attack in 2011, with five players carrying the ball over 70 times last season. 

One of those players was QB Riley Nelson, and two of them, JJ Di Luigi and Bryan Kariya, were seniors who will have to be replaced. 

That means that sophomores Michael Alisa, who finished second on the team with 455 rushing yards last season, and Josh Quezada, who ran for 298 yards in 2011, will be counted on to lead the way in 2012. 

Alisa and Quezada should be a serviceable pair, but there's no doubt that Di Luigi and Kariya will be missed next season.  

Cincinnati Bearcats: C

Isaiah Pead was one of the top running backs in the history of the Cincinnati program, as he ran for 3,288 yards in his career. Obviously, his departure creates a huge hole that won't be easily filled. 

Pead was the leading rusher in the Big East last season, but it's doubtful that the Bearcats will produce another back that can contend for that honor in 2012. 

The majority of the rushing burden will now fall onto the shoulders of two backs—junior George Winn and freshman Jameel Poteat.

Last year, the two only combined to run for 327 yards and three touchdowns, but with Pead gone, they'll now have plenty more opportunities and chances to prove themselves in 2012. 

Colorado Buffaloes: C

Colorado relied heavily on Rodney Stewart last season, but the Buffaloes also integrated freshman Tony Jones and sophomore Josh Ford into the mix as well.

Still, the three of them weren't able to stop Colorado from finishing 106th in the country in rushing offense last season.

Neither Jones nor Ford are overly big (both are under 5'10''), but the two should be able to team up to help replace Stewart's production in 2012. However, the Buffaloes will still likely have one of the weakest rushing attacks in the Pac-12 next season.

Duke Blue Devils: C

There were a lot of reasons that Duke finished just 3-9 last season, and one of the main ones was the fact that the Blue Devils could just never get any type of running game going in 2011. Duke ranked a pitiful 115th in the country in rushing offense last year, and the team is going to need a big improvement in that area if it hopes to be more competitive in 2012. 

Luckily, the Blue Devils return their top two rushers from 2011, Juwan Thompson and Desmond Scott.

The fact is, though, Thompson and Scott only combined to rush for 824 yards and nine touchdowns last season. 

Both backs are going to have to really step it up next season.

East Carolina Pirates: C

Since East Carolina is going to have to replace the highly productive quarterback-wide receiver combo of Dominique Davis and Lance Lewis, the Pirates will likely look to run the ball more often next season. 

Last year, the offense only ran the ball 33 times per game, but that will change in 2012, as the Pirates are bringing back three capable backs—Reggie Bullock, Torrance Hunt and Michael Dobson. 

Bullock and Hunt will likely get the majority of carries, but Dobson should be a valuable member of the backfield as well in 2012.

Iowa Hawkeyes: C

For the second year in a row, Iowa is going to have to replace a top running back who transferred out of the program. Last year, the Hawkeyes had to replace Adam Robinson, and this year, they'll have to replace Marcus Coker, who finished second in the Big Ten with 1,384 rushing yards last season. 

That means that the team will have to rely on two freshmen—Jordan Canzeri and De'Andre Johnson. 

Last year, Canzeri and Johnson combined to run for just 193 yards on 49 carries. 

Obviously, there's a big differential between what we saw out of Coker last season and what we should expect out of Canzeri and Johnson in 2012. 

Kentucky Wildcats: C

Kentucky finished with the second-lowest rushing output in the SEC last season, as the Wildcats could only muster up 1,490 rushing yards in 2011.

The lack of production had a lot to do with the inexperience of the team's top two rushers, CoShik Williams and Josh Clemons. Injuries also played a part.

Last year, Williams and Clemons combined to rush for just 765 yards and five touchdowns, but now that they're healthy and they've had a year to work out the kinks, they should both be more dangerous runners in 2012. 

Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns: C

Louisiana-Lafayette had one of the best passing offenses in the country last season, but the Ragin' Cajuns' running game left something to be desired, as the team finished 88th in the country in rushing offense. 

Still, with the team's leading rusher, freshman Alonzo Harris, coming back, Lafayette has the chance to have a much more effective rushing attack in 2012. 

Last year, Harris led the Ragin' Cajuns with 700 rushing yards, and he scored nine touchdowns. 

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs: C

Former Tennessee back Lennon Creer was the big name in the Louisiana Tech backfield last season, but now it seems that with Creer gone, it'll be freshman Hunter Lee that will take over as the main man for the Bulldogs. 

Last year, Lee ran for 650 yards and scored five touchdowns.

The 5'10'', 200 lb. freshman should be in store for an even bigger campaign in 2012, since he's expected to get the bulk of the carries next season.

Maryland Terrapins: C

Maryland's experienced a few transfers since Randy Edsall took over as coach before last season, and one of the tough ones to take was the exit of RB D.J. Adams. 

With Adams gone, that means that Justus Pickett will enter the 2012 season as the only running back with any real experience. Last year, Pickett only touched the ball 74 times and gained just 274 yards on the ground. 

The arrival of four-star running-back recruit Wes Brown should help a lot, but Brown is going to have to prove that he can immediately come in and handle going up against college competition as a freshman. 

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders: C

Middle Tennessee's offense will return its top-two rushers from last season, William Pratcher and Benny Cunningham. 

Pratcher and Cunnigham combined to rush for 986 yards and six touchdowns in 2011. 

They're going to have their work cut out for them, though, if they want Middle Tennessee's running game to be anywhere as good as the team's passing game was last season. The Blue Raiders ranked 36th in the country in passing, but only 70th in rushing offense. 

Northern Illinois Huskies: C

Northern Illinois loses the two main players, QB Chandler Harnish and RB Jasmin Hopkins, who helped the Huskies rank 12th in the country in rushing last season. 

The team will now turn to backs like Akeem Daniels and Jamal Womble to lead the ground attack in 2012.

Daniels and Womble combined to rush for 420 yards in 2011, but it's doubtful that they can come close to replicating the type of success that Hopkins had last season. 

Ohio Bobcats: C

Dual-threat quarterback Tyler Tettleton is the likely favorite to be Ohio's leading rusher in 2012, but one player who could give Tettleton a real run for his money is RB Beau Blankenship. 

Last year, Blankenship ran for 462 yards on just 93 carries and scored four touchdowns.

Now, with last year's leading rusher, Donte Harden, gone, Blankenship will be asked to take on an increased responsibility for the 2012 season.  

Rice Owls: C

Rice's rushing attack was one of the lone bright spots of an otherwise disappointing 4-8 campaign last season. The Owls ranked fifth in Conference USA, averaging 151 yards on the ground per game in 2011. 

The problem is last year's leading rusher, Tyler Smith, who ran for 860 yards, will have to be replaced. 

Turner Petersen will be the team's leading returning rusher. Petersen finished the 2011 season with 603 total yards of offense and five touchdowns.

The 6'2'', 220 lb. sophomore will join former Michigan transfer Sam McGuffie and Jeremy Eddington as they try to make up for the loss of Smith in 2012.

San Diego State Aztecs: C

Losing a player like RB Ronnie Hillman, who finished third in the nation with 1,711 rushing yards last season, is a huge blow to the San Diego State offense. 

Replacing Hillman and all the consistency he brought to the table is going to be tough, but the Aztecs will have junior Walter Kazee and freshman Adam Muema to try to help fill the void. 

Last year, Kazee and Muema combined to run for 592 yards and score seven touchdowns. 

Still, it's unlikely that the two of them can come close to replicating what Hillman provided the offense with over the past two years. 

Syracuse Orange: C

Antwon Bailey may not have been spectacular last season, but the fact is he still ran for over 1,000 yards and accounted for 72 percent of the Orange's rushing production. 

Now, it will be up to young backs like Jerome Smith, Adonis Ameen-Moore and Prince-Tyson Gulley to try to make up for the loss of Bailey next season. 

Smith is clearly the most talented of the three; however, he only carried the ball 37 times for 134 yards last year.

The 5'11'', 213 lb. sophomore has a ton of potential; he just has to show that he can carry a big workload for a full season. 

Tennessee Volunteers: C

Last season, Tennessee had the weakest rushing attack in the SEC and one of the weakest attacks in the entire country, as the Vols only averaged 90 yards on the ground per game. 

It certainly won't help that the team's top running back, Tauren Poole, who only averaged 3.7 yards per carry in 2011, will have to be replaced this offseason. Freshman Marlin Lane Jr. will be the one who is likely going to be asked to fill Poole's shoes.

While Lane showed some glimpses of his burst and power last season, he's still going to have to show that he can hold up for a full season going up against some of the best defensive front-sevens in the country.

UAB Blazers: C

It should be interesting to see what type of immediate effect new UAB coach Garrick McGee has on the Blazers' offense in his first season at the helm. 

McGee will likely focus on grooming QB Jonathan Perry into a sufficient passer, but he'll also have to focus on getting more out of a backfield that only averaged 129 yards on the ground per game last season.

The two players to watch will be Greg Franklin and Darrin Reaves,who combined to run for over 800 yards last season. If Franklin and Reaves can step up their play, the Blazers should be more effective running the ball in 2012. 

UNLV Rebels: C

Last year, the UNLV offense was one of the worst in the country, as the Rebels ended the year ranked 117th nationally in total offense and 113th in scoring offense. 

If head coach Bobby Hauck wants to get the offense moving in the right direction, he would be wise to rely on talented running back Dionza Bradford. In his first year on the field, the 6'0'', 210 lb. freshman averaged an impressive 4.6 yards per carry, and he should be even more productive next season now that he knows the flow of the offense.

Bradford will once again team with fellow back Tim Cornett to give the Rebels a nice one-two rushing combo to build around for 2012. 

Utah State Aggies: C

Utah State is really going to miss RB Robert Turbin, who ran for over 1,500 yards and scored 23 touchdowns last season. Turbin left school a year early for the NFL, and his presence will definitely be missed in the offensive huddle. 

The Aggies will also miss the team's second-leading rusher from last year, Michael Smith, who added 870 rushing yards and scored 11 touchdowns. 

The team will now have to rely on Kerwynn Williams to be the go-to rusher in the backfield. Williams only carried the ball 81 times in 2011, but he did average an impressive 6.7 yards per catch, and the flashes he showed when he did have the ball in his hands were definitely encouraging. 

Virginia Tech Hokies: C

Virginia Tech is going to have to figure out how to replace last year's ACC leading rusher, David Wilson, who finished fourth in the country with 1,709 rushing yards in 2011. 

Finding Wilson's successor won't be easy, but there are a few worthy candidates, like Tony Gregory and Daniel Dyer. 

The problem is while Gregory and Dyer are two talented young backs, they only carried the ball a combined 22 times last season. 

The Hokies have had a great track record of producing top-notch running backs in recent years, but Gregory and Dyer are far from proven commodities at this point. 

Wake Forest Demon Deacons: C

Wake Forest will have to replace last year's leading rusher Brandon Pendergrass, who ran for 823 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 2011. 

Luckily for the Demon Deacons, they have two capable backs in sophomore Josh Harris and freshman Orville Reynolds, who combined to run for 541 yards last season. 

Harris and Reynolds both have good potential, and Harris proved that he could handle a starting role as a freshman in 2010, when he led the team with 720 rushing yards. 

Wyoming Cowboys: C

Many Wyoming fans were shocked to see Alvester Alexander declare for the 2012 NFL Draft, as Alexander likely won't be anything more than a late-round selection if he does get picked at all. 

While Alexander may not be a top-flight pro prospect, he was a very effective and reliable back for Wyoming over the past three years. 

Converted linebacker Ghaali Muhammad could be the top candidate to replace Alexander. Last year, Muhammad ran for 379 yards on just 60 touches, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. 

Freshman Kody Sutton and sophomore Brandon Miller will also be competing for carries in 2012. 

Central Michigan Chippewas: C-

There's no doubt about what the focus of the Central Michigan offense was last season, as the Chippewas threw the ball 458 times compared to just 333 rushing attempts.

With QB Ryan Radcliff back and leading rusher Parris Cotton gone, that differential is unlikely to change much in 2012. 

Central Michigan will bring back three running backs—Anthony Garland, Zurlon Tipton and Tim Phillips, who only played in a combined 23 games last season due to injuries. 

None of the three were all that productive in 2011, with Garland being the leader with 378 yards on the ground. But, if all of them can stay healthy next season, the Chippewas could look to run the ball more often in 2012. 

Idaho Vandals: C-

The Idaho offense was one of the least productive in the country last season, as the Vandals ranked 111th in the nation in total offense in 2011.

It certainly won't help matters that not only does Idaho lose QB Brian Reader, but the offense also loses its top-two running backs—Princeton McCarty and Kama Bailey. 

That leaves Ryan Bass and Troy Vital as the team's top-two returning rushers. 

Last year, Bass and Vital only combined to rush for 215 yards and score three touchdowns. 

Let's just say that Idaho's offense won't exactly be loaded with firepower next season. 

Minnesota Golden Gophers: C-

Minnesota's rushing offense wasn't bad last year, as the Gophers did average 160 yards per game. However, that was still only good enough for a 10th-place finish in the Big Ten for rushing offense. 

Since top rusher Duane Bennett is now gone, it's going to be hard to do much better than that in 2011, as the Gophers will have to rely on two freshmen, Donnell Kirkwood and David Cobb, to lead the way. 

Last year, Kirkwood and Cobb only combined to rush for 286 yards.

Kirkwood seems like he'll be called upon to be the most reliable back next season, but it remains to be seen if he's up to the task. 

New Mexico Lobos: C-

Freshman Crusoe Gongbay was a pleasant surprise for the New Mexico offense last season. Gongbay ran for 500 yards on only 108 carries (4.6 yards per carry) and scored five touchdowns in 2011. 

Still, that didn't stop the Lobos from finishing a distant last in the Mountain West in rushing offense with a measly 113 yards on the ground per game. 

If New Mexico wants to improve upon that total next season, the Lobos would be well served handing off to Gongbay more frequently in 2012. 

New Mexico State Aggies: C-

RB Kenny Turner stunned a lot of people around the New Mexico State program when he declared for the 2012 NFL Draft, as it would seem that Turner is a long shot to be picked in this year's draft. 

Turner leaves a big hole to fill, as he accounted for over 1,500 yards of offense and 13 touchdowns in 2011. 

Doing his best to fill Turner's shoes will be junior Robert Clay. 

Clay didn't get many opportunities to show off his skills in 2011, as he only had 42 carries in 10 games, but his number of touches should increase dramatically next season now that Turner's gone.

Oregon State Beavers: C-

Oregon State couldn't overcome the loss of RB Jacquizz Rodgers last season, as the Beavers ended up finishing 118th in rushing offense in 2011. 

The good news is the team's top-three running backs—Malcolm Agnew, Jovan Stevenson and Terron Ward—will all be back for next season. The bad news is the three of them only combined to run for 863 yards last season. 

If Oregon State wants to get back to the postseason in 2012, the Beavers are going to need a much better effort out of all three backs next season. 

San Jose State Spartans: C-

Brandon Rutley was pretty much San Jose State's entire rushing attack, as Rutley's 903 rushing yards made up 73 percent of the Spartans' total rushing output last season. 

Replacing Rutley is going to be very difficult, as the team is now going to have to turn to Tyler Ervin and David Freeman, two backs who carried the ball a combined 49 times in 2011. 

Ervin and Freeman may be skilled runners, but their lack of experience will certainly hinder San Jose State's rushing attack next season.

South Alabama Jaguars: C-

South Alabama will be making the move up to the Sun Belt next season, and one of the key offensive players that the Jaguars will be relying on to help during the transition season is RB Kendall Houston. 

Last year, Houston led the team with 558 rushing yards and scored eight touchdowns. 

It will be interesting to see how the 5'10'', 215 lb. sophomore handles the step up in competition in 2012. 

Texas State Bobcats: C-

After redshirting his first season, Terrence Franks stepped into the Texas State offense last year and exploded, rushing for 963 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. 

The 5'10'', 184 lb. freshman is a former track star who has the speed and quickness to really frighten a defense.

Franks will now be the Texas State offense's key player, as the Bobcats prepare to make the move to the WAC in 2012. 

Troy Trojans: C-

Troy, a team that has consistently been a contender for Sun Belt championships every year, had an uncharacteristically down season in 2011, finishing just 3-9. 

One of the reasons that the Trojans couldn't muster up more wins is that they just didn't have any type of running game to complement their passing attack; the team finished 117th in the country in rushing offense, averaging just 88 yards on the ground per game. 

The good news is the team's top-three rushers—juniors Sean Southward, D.J. Taylor and Chris Anderson—will all be back; however, the bad news is that they only combined to run for 1,140 yards among the three of them last season. 

If the Trojans want to get back on track in 2012, they're going to need all three to step up next season. 

UTEP Miners: C-

UTEP's backfield is going to need some major rebuilding this offseason, as the Miners have lost their top-three rushers from last season—Joe Banyard, Vernon Frazier and Leilyon Myers. 

The leading returning rusher will be Nathan Jeffery, who only ran for 166 yards in 2011.

Jeffery is a versatile back who is equally effective as a runner and a receiver, but he hasn't come close to showing that he can carry a running game for a full season. 

Florida Atlantic Owls: D+

Florida Atlantic had the worst offense in college football last season, ranking next to last in the country in scoring offense and dead last in total offense, and it won't help that the Owls are losing their best offensive player in RB Alfred Morris. 

Last year, Morris ran for 1,168 yards, which was 93 percent of the team's rushing total in 2011. 

The team's leading returning rusher, junior Xavier Stinson, only accounted for 88 yards on the ground last year. 

Needless to say, new coach Carl Pelini is going to have his work cut out for him in 2012. 

Memphis Tigers: D+

To put in perspective just how bad Memphis' running game was last season, there were 46 individual players who outproduced the Tigers on the ground in 2011. 

New coach Justin Fuente is going to have plenty of rebuilding to do this offseason, but at least he will have freshman Artaves Gibson and sophomore Jerrell Rhodes back to help him, as he tries to pick up the pieces following the team's dismal offensive output in 2012. 

Miami (Ohio) RedHawks: D+

When you have the worst rushing offense in the country, the bright side is that at least you can't get any worse the following season. 

It'll be tough for Miami of Ohio to be much worse than producing a measly 73 yards on the ground per game like the RedHawks did in 2011. 

The team's top-two returning rushers, Eric Finklea and Justin Semmes, combined to rush for fewer than 500 yards last season. 

Like I said, at least things can't get any worse.

North Texas Mean Green: D+

Brandin Byrd may turn out to be a quality running back next season, but he's far from a proven commodity at this point in his career. 

Byrd is the team's leading returning rusher for 2012, after piling up a total of 83 yards on the ground last season. 

To say that North Texas will miss star RB Lance Dunbar next season is the type of understatement that doesn't seem worth making. 

UT-San Antonio Roadrunners: D+

When UT-San Antonio makes the move up to the FBS ranks next season, the Roadrunners' rushing attack will be led by Evans Okotcha, who only gained 326 rushing yards in 2011.

The 5'9'', 220 lb. Okotcha is a strong, powerful runner, but he's going to have to deal with a step up in competition in 2012. 

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: D+

Bobby Rainey was one of the greatest players in the history of Western Kentucky football, so replacing the All-American back is certainly going to be a tough task for the Hilltoppers. 

Last year, Rainey led the country with 369 total carries, so there wasn't really much room for any other back on the roster to prove himself in 2011. 

The two top candidates to replace Rainey are Kadeem Jones and Keshawn Simpson, who combined to rush for just 224 yards on 63 carries last season. 

Jones and Simpson have a long way to go before they even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with a back like Rainey. 

Massachusetts Minutemen: D

Massachusetts will be making the move up to the MAC next season, but the problem for the Minutemen is that they won't have any proven running backs to count on for 2012. 

Jamar Smith is the team's leading returning rusher, and he gained a grand total of 14 yards on the ground last season. 

Yes, let's just say it's going to be an uphill battle for UMass to try to find any sort of semblance of a running game in 2012.