SEC Football Top 150 Players: No. 79, Kenny Hilliard, LSU RB

The SEC Blog will be counting down the top 150 players in the SEC every day, concluding on Aug. 30, at the start of the college football regular season.

79. Kenny Hilliard, No. 27, LSU Running Back

2011 stats: 57 carries, 320 yards, eight touchdowns, three catches, 13 yards, one touchdown

Strengths

Hilliard emerged as one of LSU's most reliable running backs as a freshman in 2011 in a part-time role. He finished the season on a high note, scoring three touchdowns in LSU's SEC Championship Game win over Georgia and tying Spencer Ware for the team lead in touchdowns. The 5'11", 240-pound bruiser has the size to take the punishment in the SEC, and is underrated in space.

Weaknesses

The lack of opportunity is really the only knock against Hilliard. With Ware, Alfred Blue and Michael Ford all in the LSU backfield, carries are limited. The four-headed monster works for LSU as a team, but it prevents any of the four running backs from truly being a star.

2012 Prediction

Expect Hilliard to be used in a similar fashion in 2012 to the way he was in 2011. He isn't going to put up a ton of yards, but Les Miles, Greg Studrawa and Co. will use him as the goal-line/short-yardage back. Double-digit touchdowns are not only possible, they're expected.

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