Big Ten Football: Ranking the Big Ten Running Backs

Every Tuesday, The Big Ten Blog will rank the top players at each position for each team in the Big Ten. Today, we're going for the steam engines of the offense: the running backs.

12. Greg Garmon, Iowa

Iowa has had the absolute worst luck keeping running backs healthy and on the roster for basically the last seven years straight. The running backs don't last until their senior seasons, period, and most of them suffer calamitous injury somewhere along the way.

Sophomore Jordan Canzeri just tore his ACL, so 4-star true freshman Greg Garmon is probably going to see most of the action. We wish him the best of luck.

11. Treyvon Green, Northwestern

Mike Trumpy could step back into the starting lineup here, but he's still recovering from a torn ACL in the 2011 season. Aside from Trumpy, Jacob Schmidt graduated and Adonis Smith transferred to UNLV.

Green's freshman season wasn't terribly productive, but he's got the versatility to run between the tackles and catch passes out of the backfield.

10. James Gillum, Minnesota

Minnesota says goodbye to workhorse Duane Bennett at tailback, so Gillum, who comes to Minnesota this year after a successful career at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, has the inside track on the starting role. He could put up big numbers right away.

9. Akeem Shavers, Purdue

Purdue would be in better shape here, but Ralph Bolden tore his ACL in the season finale last season and is still recovering. Shavers is fast and talented, and he can put his shoulder down and fall forward.

Look for Shavers and Bolden to have a spirited competition for this job, assuming Bolden's rehab continues in a positive direction. 

8. Donovonn Young, Illinois

Illinois is going through a great deal of upheaval on offense through the course of the spring, to the point where Tim Beckman is going to have to decide between dual-threat Nathan Scheelhaase and classic passer Riley O'Toole at QB, but it's pretty well accepted that Young will be taking over at tailback.

He had a fine freshman campaign, averaging over 5.0 yards per carry, as Illinois used him as a change of pace in the backfield. He's a big back at 6'1" and 215, and he's got the athleticism to break big runs.

7. Stephen Houston, Indiana

GOOD NEWS: Stephen Houston had one of the best seasons for an Indiana tailback in years. BAD NEWS: He still only gained 802 yards. But Houston topped 100 yards three times in Big Ten play, and he'll be leaned on as Tre Roberson continues to grow as a QB, so there's some real potential here. 

6. Carlos Hyde, Ohio State

Carlos Hyde gets the nod here for now, but he's got his work cut out for him fending off contenders like Jordan Hall, Rod Smith and super freshman Bri'Onte Dunn. This'll be one of the most fascinating battles in the entire conference this year, regardless of position.

OSU probably can't go wrong here, but Hyde might be the surest thing of the group. 

5. Le'Veon Bell, Michigan State

Le'Veon Bell's numbers were a little disappointing in 2011, as Michigan State struggled mightily to establish the running game, but that was due to chaos on the offensive line and a dynamite passing game as much as anything.

Fellow running back Edwin Baker's off to the NFL now, and so is MSU's entire passing game, while the MSU offensive line is now a strength. This'll be Bell's offense in 2012. Can he handle it by himself? 

4. Silas Redd, Penn State

As Penn State burst out to an 8-1 record last year, it did so on the back of Silas Redd, who emerged as a true workhorse who made 25 carries and 100 yards run of the mill.

He's going to be counted on again this season, and he won't have Stephfon Green or Brandon Beachum to help carry the load—they've both moved on. Silas Redd is the show.  

3. Fitz Toussaint, Michigan

Michigan had a great deal of uncertainty at tailback coming into 2011, but Fitz Toussaint quickly emerged as the top ball-carrier in the group, and he's got a lock on the starting role now.

Toussaint can move between the tackles, he can break big plays and Michigan relies on him enough that run fakes to him have to be respected by opposing defense—often opening up huge lanes for Denard Robinson to take off through. 

2. Rex Burkhead, Nebraska

Nebraska's workhorse is back for his senior campaign, and even though he's got a stable of backs behind him, Burkhead is the engine that makes the Nebraska offense run. He's got four quarters of energy, helping wear defenses down over the course of a game, and he's got a stellar nose for the end zone.

In any normal year, he'd be the top back in the conference. As it stands, he's still a near-lock to repeat as first-team All-Big Ten.

1. Montee Ball, Wisconsin

Montee Ball is back after one of the most astonishing seasons for a Big Ten running back in years and years. Ball registered an unbelievable 39 touchdowns on the year, tying Barry Sanders' NCAA record, and he was named a Heisman finalist and consensus first-team All-American.

Ball's production may dip a bit in 2012—that's what defensive coordinators are praying for, anyway—but he's an absolute monster in the backfield and the best the Big Ten has seen in a long time.