Ranking College Football's Top 50 Backfields

With the news of Penn State running back Silas Redd transferring to USC swirling around the sports world, and it being less than a month away from the official kickoff of the 2012 college football season, it can only be time for one thing.

If your answer was college football rankings, then I'm guessing you read the headline of this article already. Great job. I, too, like to be perceptive.

We're ranking the top 50 backfields in college football this week. Some well-respected teams likely to finish in the Top 25 didn't make the cut, whereas some teams that may finish the season without winning a single game did. How did that happen?

That's just the way rankings work, I guess. There may be some surprises along the way, and the order of things is usually arguable, but all in all, they're predictions.

50. Air Force Falcons

Backfield

Mike DeWitt, Sr.; Wes Cobb, Sr. 

Let's start our top 50 countdown with a team that is no stranger to running the football: the Air Force Falcons. Last season, the Falcons, as a team, ran the ball 723 times for a total of 4,092 yards and 42 touchdowns.

Their propensity to run the ball gave them the fourth-highest rushing yards total in the country, and two of their top four leading rushers are back to do it all over again this season. However, losing leading rusher Asher Clark (1,110 yards, seven touchdowns) is a big hit.

Still, seniors Mike DeWitt and Wes Cobb will be primed and ready to take over the workload. DeWitt was a touchdown machine last year, leading the team with 12 scores. Cobb, who was used in a more limited role last season, still managed to rush for 425 yards and four touchdowns.

Air Force will be reloading this year, and its ability to utilize multiple backs effectively always makes them tough to defend.

49. Baylor Bears

Backfield

Jarred Salubi, Sr.; Glasco Martin, Jr.; Lache Seastrunk, So. 

Baylor's backfield is in complete rebuilding mode after losing Heisman Trophy quarterback Robert Griffin III and running back Terrance Ganaway. However, Jarred Salubi and Glasco Martin have been itching for their turn in the spotlight, and the transfer of Lache Seastrunk makes this backfield deep with talent.

Salubi, the lone senior in the backfield, will likely get the starting nod this season. In his first three seasons, Salubi has totaled 844 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. His 5.7 yards per carry average last season was the lowest of his career. Salubi is prepared to explode onto the scene this season.

Martin is a nice change of pace in the backfield to complement Salubi's game. At 6'1" and 215 pounds, Martin is hard-nosed and tough to take down. On just 40 carries last season, Martin averaged 6.7 yards per carry, totaling 268 yards and two touchdowns.

Seastrunk, a transfer from Oregon, is coming back home, looking to re-start his college career in Baylor. Seastrunk is a former 4-star recruit from Temple, Texas, and he will likely get his fair share of carries this season for the Bears.

Due to a lack of experience, at least at starting positions, the Bears backfield is rather low on this list. However, if all three backs perform up to their potential, this backfield could be in the top 20 easily.

48. Indiana Hoosiers

Backfield

Stephen Houston, Jr. 

Let's be honest: Indiana fans don't have a lot to cheer for during football season. Last year, the Hoosiers finished 1-11, were outscored by their opponents by roughly 200 points and saw their only victory come at the expense of an FCS school.

Will they finish any better this season? That's still up in the air, but one thing is for sure: Junior running back Stephen Houston is something to cheer for. As a sophomore last season, Houston ran the ball 151 times for 802 yards and eight touchdowns.

Against a good Wisconsin defense, Houston broke out of his shell by rushing for 135 yards on 19 carries. Over the next five games, Houston was able to top the 100-yard mark twice, including a season-high 151-yard output against Northwestern.

So, Hoosier fans, you might be itching for basketball to start back up, but remember to watch Houston play a few games this season—it might be worth it.

47. Boise State Broncos

Backfield

D.J. Harper, Sr. (sixth year)

Boise State is going to look weird this season without Kellen Moore under center. To make matters even worse, running back Doug Martin is also gone, now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Who do the Broncos have left?

Oh, right, how could I forget about SIXTH-YEAR running back D.J. Harper? Harper, who has received two medical redshirts due to multiple ACL injuries, is finally healthy and ready to take on the duties that Martin is leaving behind.

In a backup role last season, Harper ran for 557 yards and nine touchdowns. He was also a valuable receiver out of the backfield, catching 19 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown.

If he can stay healthy for a full season, there's no reason to think he won't break the 1,000-yard mark. With a new quarterback at the helm, Harper will need to step up and take on more carries and more responsibility.

46. Buffalo Bulls

Backfield

Branden Oliver, Jr. 

Little-known fact: For a team that struggled to go 3-9 in the MAC, its running back may have been the best in the conference. Meet Branden Oliver, a 5'8", 204-pound ball of fury.

As a sophomore, Oliver was the offense for the Bulls. He carried the ball 306 times for a total of 1,395 yards and 13 touchdowns. On top of that, he also caught 38 passes for 365 yards. So, in total, Oliver gained 1,760 yards from scrimmage last season. Why was this guy not talked about more?

Oh, right, he plays for Buffalo. Regardless, I wouldn't doubt it if Oliver's name gets mentioned a few times over the next two seasons. If he can continue to put up those kind of numbers, he has to get looked at by somebody, right?

45. Iowa State Cyclones

Backfield

James White, Jr.; Jeff Woody, Jr. 

Iowa State is playing in the wrong conference. The Cyclones have a solid defense, an average quarterback, so-so wide receivers and a better-than-average running back. They belong in the SEC, or at least the Big Ten, but they can't hang in the upper echelon of the Big 12—they can't outscore anybody.

However, if junior running back James White takes his game to the next level, the Cyclones may not have that problem for much longer. As a sophomore, White was the most consistent and most important piece of the Cyclones offense.

White ran for 743 yards and eight touchdowns while also grabbing 21 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown. White could be in for a 1,000-yard rushing season, but that could be dependent on how many carries he gives up to fellow junior Jeff Woody.

Woody is a huge running back at 6'1" and 245 pounds. On 90 carries as a sophomore, Woody totaled 381 yards and six touchdowns.

For now, White is the unquestioned starter, but having Woody as a running mate only makes the Cyclones more dangerous.

44. North Carolina State

Backfield

James Washington, Sr. 

If I had to choose the top three teams in the ACC this season, North Carolina State might be No. 3 behind Florida State and Clemson. It's close between North Carolina State, Virginia, Georgia Tech and North Carolina, but I really like the balance of North Carolina State's offense.

Mike Glennon could be the best quarterback in the ACC, and senior running back James Washington is poised for a 1,000-yard season. As a junior, Washington stepped into a starting role and ran for nearly 900 yards and seven touchdowns.

With a year of experience under his belt and an entire offseason to practice, Washington has a chance to really break out and make a name for himself during his last year of eligibility.

Defenses will have to take Glennon's arm into account, and this is going to open things up for Washington to work.

43. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Backfield

Jawan Jamison, So. 

Jawan Jamison really made a name for himself as a freshman in the Big East last season. During his breakout campaign, Jamison virtually carried the offense. On 231 carries, Jamison recorded 897 yards and nine touchdowns. 

Scarlet Knights fans are hoping this wasn't a fluke, because with a productive Jamison in their backfield and West Virginia off to the Big 12, Rutgers looks like one of the top teams in the Big East this season.

With superstar wide receiver Mohamed Sanu off to the NFL, Jamison is likely going to have to carry the offense once again. Luckily, I'd say that offense is in pretty good hands (and legs, and feet, etc...).

42. Ohio State Buckeyes

Backfield

Jordan Hall, Sr.; Carlos Hyde, Jr.; Braxton Miller, So.

How good is Ohio State's backfield going to be? Honestly, I'm not sure. It could be great, or it could be miserable, but as of now, it's good enough for No. 42 on this list.

With Urban Meyer taking over as head coach, the Buckeyes' ground attack should be in good hands. Sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller is a major dual threat, and I think we all now how much Meyer likes coaching dual-threat quarterbacks.

As far as actual running backs go, senior Jordan Hall and junior Carlos Hyde appear to be the heirs apparent to the departed Dan Herron. Combined, Hall and Hyde ran for 971 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

While I assume that Miller may once again be the team's leading rusher, Hall and Hyde will have to do a good job stepping up into more prominent roles.

41. Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Backfield

Ja'Terian Douglas, Jr.; Trey Watts, Jr. 

As the often forgotten university in Oklahoma, Tulsa has made a name for itself over the years by building solid teams and challenging (just not beating) its in-state rivals.

Last season, quarterback G.J. Kinne led the Golden Hurricane to an 8-5 record, which was good enough for an Armed Forces Bowl berth. With Kinne graduated, the bulk of the offensive duties should now fall to junior running backs Ja'Terian Douglas and Trey Watts.

Splitting the backfield duties as sophomores, Douglas and Watts combined for 1,764 rushing yards, 301 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns. While Watts received more carries and had more receptions, Douglas's 7.9 yards per carry average led the team.

They are more or less carbon copies of each other, as both backs come in at around 5'11" and 190 pounds, and they are going to drive a lot of Conference USA defenses crazy this season.

40. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Backfield

Eric Stephens, Sr.; DeAndre Washington, So. 

For as pass-happy as the Texas Tech Red Raiders have been known to be, running back Eric Stephens was actually off to one of the best seasons of any running back in the country last season.

Through five games, Stephens had rushed for 565 yards and eight touchdowns. Even with Seth Doege at the helm slinging passes all across the field, it was Stephens who was the workhorse for the Red Raiders.

Unfortunately, Stephens was sidelined for the season after suffering a leg injury during their loss to Texas A&M. It was a sad end to a very promising start, but now that Stephens is back and healthy, he's going to look to do it all over again.

If he can stay healthy, Stephens has the chance to be one of the top running backs not just in the Big 12, but in the entire country.

39. Colorado State Rams

Backfield

Chris Nwoke, Jr. 

I really wanted to put Colorado State's backfield higher on this list, solely because I like the last name "Nwoke." Unfortunately, Rams fans, I just couldn't do it.

On a more serious note, Chris Nwoke is a really nice running back who would be capable of starting at programs a lot bigger than Colorado State. As a sophomore, Nwoke took the reins as the starter and finished with 1,130 rushing yards on 200 carries.

He also found the end zone nine times, which was a team high—yes, this even includes the quarterbacks' passing touchdowns. If the Rams can get consistent play out of the quarterback position next year, things will open up even more for Nwoke.

At 6'1" and 213 pounds, Nwoke has great size for a running back. I wouldn't be surprised to start hearing his name mentioned in the next few years as a possible mid- to late-round NFL draft steal.

38. West Virginia Mountaineers

Backfield

Dustin Garrison, So.; Shawne Alston, Sr.

Here's another Big 12 backfield that will have its success determined by the overall health of its featured back. Like Texas Tech's Eric Stephens, West Virginia's Dustin Garrison is coming off a season-ending injury.

However, unlike Stephens, Garrison only had to miss the Orange Bowl, so "season-ending" may be a bit hyperbolic. Though the bulk of the offense was run through quarterback Geno Smith and the Mountaineers' talented wide receivers, Garrison really stepped up as a true freshman and made a name for himself.

Averaging 5.5 yards per carry, Garrison ran for 742 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 24 passes for 201 yards, making him a threat even during passing plays.

West Virginia's offense is bound to be scary good this season even if Garrison isn't 100 percent, but if he is, the rest of the Big 12 could be in trouble. Garrison has a long career left ahead of him, though, so getting to 100-percent health is more important than trying to produce too quickly.

37. Auburn Tigers

Backfield

Onterio McCalebb, Sr. 

The loss of running back Michael Dyer could rightfully be in Auburn's best interests, especially in light of what's gone down recently with his release from Arkansas State. No team wants a guy who is continuously going to violate team rules and be a burden on the rest of the guys in the locker room.

However, Dyer is a really, really good running back, and losing him definitely hurts in a production sense. For a team that went through plenty of ups and downs last season, Dyer was the one bright spot in its offense.

With Dyer now out of the picture, senior Onterio McCalebb will step into the starting role after spending his last three seasons playing as a reserve. McCalebb is definitely talented, but will he be able to produce at a high level all the time?

McCalebb has been a change-of-pace back for quite some time. His skill set makes him a valuable every-other-down back, but his lack of experience handling a full-time workload makes me nervous.

McCalebb is a dual-threat guy out of the backfield, though. Last season as a junior, he ran for 641 yards, caught 32 passes for 344 yards and scored seven total touchdowns.

I guess it's time to see what he's really made of.

36. Houston Cougars

Backfield

Charles Sims, Jr. 

The Case Keenum era is officially over in Houston—well, kind of. Keenum did get signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Texans, so I guess I should rephrase that.

The Case Keenum era is officially over for the Houston Cougars—much better.

With a new quarterback at the helm, junior running back Charles Sims is going to have to step up, be more vocal and provide leadership to an offense that will desperately need it.

It's become popular to acknowledge that skill players in Houston, much like any other spread offense, are able to produce inflated stats due to the high volume of passes being thrown. However, if that's the case, shouldn't Sims' numbers be pedestrian?

As a sophomore, Sims, in a spread offense, still ran for 821 yards and nine touchdowns on just 110 carries. That's 7.5 yards per carry, and that is super impressive. He's not just a running threat either. Sims caught 51 passes for 575 yards and four touchdowns last season.

Sims is going to have a huge junior season, and Houston should feel very comfortable with him leading the backfield.

35. Virginia Cavaliers

Backfield

Perry Jones, Sr.; Kevin Parks, So.

After a dreadful 4-8 season in 2010, the Virginia Cavaliers had a remarkable turnaround in 2011, as they finished the season 8-5, including a trip to the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Why the sudden turnaround? A large part has to be credited to the two-headed monster in their backfield, starting with emergence of Perry Jones. As a junior, Jones nearly doubled his overall production as a sophomore, finishing with 915 rushing yards, 506 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns.

At 5'8" and 185 pounds, Jones uses his speed and elusiveness to his advantage. Sophomore Kevin Parks is the exact same size and just as big of a threat each time he touches the ball.

In his breakout freshman campaign, Parks ran for 709 yards and nine touchdowns. With junior quarterback Michael Rocco back, Jones and Parks balance an offense that will be one of the best in the ACC this season.

34. UCLA Bruins

Backfield

Johnathan Franklin, Sr.

Though Johnathan Franklin is the first Pac-12 running back I've highlighted in this list, don't expect him to be the last. The Pac-12 is chock-full of talent at the running back position this season, and Franklin has a chance to be among the best.

Franklin has been a force to be reckoned with since he stepped foot on UCLA's campus. As a freshman, Franklin came out of the gates strong and ran for 566 yards and five touchdowns. Then, as a sophomore, Franklin stepped into a full-time starting role, finishing with 1,127 yards and eight touchdowns.

Though his production slipped as a junior, Franklin still ran for 976 yards and averaged 5.9 yards per carry—a career best. UCLA has yet to have a season better than 7-6 since Franklin's been around, but that shouldn't tarnish what a nice career Franklin has had.

If Franklin continues to have consistent numbers this season, I'd imagine a number of NFL teams will start to throw some looks his way.

33. UConn Huskies

Backfield

Lyle McCombs, So. 

Lyle McCombs and the Connecticut backfield could, and probably should, be a lot higher on this list. McCombs had a dazzling freshman season, as he stepped in and took the responsibility of leading the offense right away.

McCombs carried the ball 275 times for 1,151 yards and seven touchdowns. He was the epitome of a workhorse, as he averaged 23 carries per game for the Huskies. In half of his games, McCombs ran for at least 118 yards.

He will yet again be asked to lead the team next season as a sophomore, and that's likely going to be the case for his entire career. However, McCombs appears to be the right candidate for the job, and if UConn can get more consistent play from other members of the team, McCombs could really benefit.

Right now, he's just a really solid running back on a really average (or less than average) football team.

32. Boston College Eagles

Backfield

Rolandan Finch, Jr.; Andre Williams, Jr.

Had Montel Harris not transferred to Temple, Boston College would have been much higher on this list. However, even after Harris' transfer, Boston College still has two featured running backs who are more than capable of handling the workload.

Finch and Williams split carries last season while Williams sat out due to injury. The two sophomores stepped into the spotlight in a remarkable fashion, combining for 1,222 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

With a year of experience under their belts, Finch and Williams should once again split time as juniors and should see their production go up.

Boston College plays a rather difficult schedule this season, with out-of-conference games against Notre Dame, Army and Northwestern. Finch and Williams will have to step up if they want to finish with a better record than last season (4-8), but it's going to be tough.

31. Arizona State Sun Devils

Backfield

Cameron Marshall, Sr.

Arizona State will be rebuilding with quarterback Brock Osweiler leaving for the NFL, but one position it won't have to worry about is running back. Senior Cameron Marshall is back, fresh off his breakout junior campaign.

Marshall has been productive since his freshman season with the Sun Devils, and each season more and more has been asked of him. All of his hard work and experience culminated in a 1,050-yard season, officially putting his name onto the list of great Pac-12 running backs. 

What's even more impressive than his 1,000-yard rushing season, though, is his ability to find the end zone. Marshall rushed for 18 touchdowns last season, which was good enough for a tie with Oregon's LaMichael James for the top spot amongst all Pac-12 running backs. With James gone to the NFL, Marshall now stands alone.

During his senior season, Marshall will once again be asked to do more for his team, especially with Osweiler absent. I would bet money on Marshall bettering his production by at least 200 yards, making him one of the most productive backs in college football.

30. California Golden Bears

Backfield

Isi Sofele, Sr. 

If this article listed the "Top 50 Running Back Names in College Football," then Isi Sofele would place very high. Unfortunately, he can't be No. 1; that spot is taken by a running back soon to be featured.

Sofele is another tiny guy (5'8", 190 pounds) who is hard for defenses to bring down. After playing a limited role as a sophomore, Sofele stepped into the starting role as a junior. Here's a hint: He didn't disappoint.

Carrying the ball 252 times, Sofele ran for 1,322 yards and 10 touchdowns. Now, as a senior, Sofele will be looking to duplicate or even better that production.

What makes California's backfield so great is the balance that it provides to the offense. Sofele teams up with Keenan Allen, one of the best receivers in college football, to form an offense that's one of the hardest to defend in the country. California may not be on USC's level offensively, but it's at least going to give that defense a challenge.

29. Michigan State Spartans

Backfield

Le'Veon Bell, Jr.

I'm expecting a really big year out of Le'Veon Bell. As a sophomore, Bell took over starting duties from Edwin Baker and really exploded onto the scene.

Bell finished with 948 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he is going to have to up that production even more this season as a junior. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has left for the NFL, so Bell's experience in the backfield will have to carry the load offensively for a while.

With eight starters back on defense, the Spartans will once again be competing for a Big Ten title. However, a lot of responsibility is being placed on Bell's shoulders, which could be either really bad or really good.

I guess we're going to see what Bell's made of, but I'm optimistic in saying that he's going to have a huge year.

28. Vanderbilt Commodores

Backfield

Zac Stacy, Sr.; Jordan Rodgers, Sr. 

Vanderbilt may never be the best team in the SEC, but its running game is one of the best in the conference without a doubt. This is due to a 5'9", 210-pound running back who finished second only to Trent Richardson and Michael Dyer in rushing yards in the SEC last season.

As a junior, Stacy ran for 1,193 yards and 14 touchdowns. Considering the defenses in the SEC, this is a huge feat. Considering that he plays for Vanderbilt, this is an even bigger feat. Stacy is back for his senior season, and he will continue to wreak havoc on all who try to stop him.

Senior quarterback Jordan Rodgers also returns as the team's second-leading rusher. Rodgers' dual-threat abilities make Vanderbilt tough to defend, and Stacy's overall greatness makes the Commodores a tough out, even in a respected conference like the SEC.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Vanderbilt improves on its 6-7 record from last season. In fact, the Commodores don't even play LSU, Alabama or Arkansas in conference play this season. How does that happen?

Look out, Georgia, because Vanderbilt is going to the SEC championship game this season.

27. Missouri Tigers

Backfield

Kendial Lawrence, Sr.; James Franklin, Jr.; Henry Josey, Jr. 

Missouri is heading into the SEC this season with what could be one of the most dynamic backfields in the country. However, whether or not junior running back Henry Josey can return at any point this season is going to be a big factor in Missouri's rushing dominance.

Josey, who ran for 1,168 yards on just 145 carries last season, really emerged as a star before suffering a severe knee injury. His 8.1 yards per carry were an incredible balance to Missouri's passing game, led by James Franklin, who is emerging as a star in his own right. 

Josey has apparently been doing some sprinting in practice this week and feels like he's "back already." However, if he isn't able to start the season healthy for any reason, senior Kendial Lawrence will be leading the way.

Lawrence took over when Josey went down with an injury and finished with 566 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Lawrence is a more than capable running back who actually won the starting job over Josey last season before Josey proved to be hell-bent on running over everyone in his sight.

When you add in the dual-threat ability of Franklin, the Tigers look like a hard team to stop. Franklin, who ran for 981 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, will have his hands full with the SEC defenses he'll face this season.

26. Temple Owls

Backfield

Montel Harris, Sr.; Matt Brown, Sr. 

Temple had a pretty solid backfield when it was only Matt Brown, but the addition of Montel Harris from Boston College really makes its backfield dangerous. Given that both are seniors full of experience, Temple could make some serious noise this season in the Big East.

Brown, who served as the primary backup for Bernard Pierce (now with the Baltimore Ravens), may be deferred to backup once again with Harris in town, but he's going to put up a fight for the starting job. As a junior, Brown ran for 916 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

At 5'5" and 165 pounds, Brown may be best served as a change-of-pace back, though, which leaves the starting duties up to Harris. Harris is the all-time leading rusher at Boston College and chose to transfer to Temple after receiving a medical redshirt last season.

In his first three seasons at Boston College, Harris ran for 3,600 yards and 27 touchdowns. During his senior year, Harris will be trying to prove to scouts that he can stay healthy and produce at a high level. If he can, he's definitely going to get some NFL praise.

25. Fresno State Bulldogs

Backfield

Robbie Rouse, Sr. 

I feel like Robbie Rouse doesn't get the type of recognition that he probably should, but if I'm putting him at No. 25, then maybe I'm under-appreciating him as well. Whatever the case, let's just say that Rouse is a really good running back playing for a not so good Fresno State team.

Over the course of his last two seasons, Rouse has rushed for 2,678 yards and 21 touchdowns. At 5'7" and 190 pounds, he's quite elusive and hard to bring down in the open field.

Junior quarterback Derek Carr returns off a pretty great sophomore season, so hopefully the combination of Carr and Rouse will help turn around the Bulldogs' 4-9 record from a season ago.

I would really like to see Rouse on a different team, just to see if he could keep his ridiculously impressive stats. Against the best defense he faced last season, Boise State, Rouse ran for 72 yards, his second-lowest total of the season.

However, he did only run the ball 10 times, making his yards per carry average 7.2, which happened to be his best of the season.

24. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Backfield

Cierre Wood, Jr. 

After going 8-5 last season, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are going to have a tough time improving on that record with the schedule they have lined up this season. With games against Michigan State, Michigan, Miami, Stanford, Brigham Young, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh and USC, Notre Dame will be lucky to finish at 8-5 again, period.

What the Irish do have to look forward to, though, is promising running back Cierre Wood. Wood ran for 1,102 yards and nine touchdowns on 217 carries as a sophomore. With Jonas Gray off to the NFL, Wood figures to see even more carries.

Wood will have to be the focal point of the offense with the departure of Michael Floyd to the NFL and the question marks surrounding quarterback Tommy Rees. Rees, who figures to be the starter, has been suspended for Notre Dame's Week 1 matchup against Navy after being arrested at an off-campus party.

23. Army Black Knights

Backfield

Raymond Maples, Jr.; Trent Steelman, Sr.; Malcolm Brown, Sr.; Larry Dixon, So.; Jared Hassin, Sr. 

It's really hard to rank teams like Air Force, Navy and Army when you're talking about the best backfields in college football. These teams run the ball all the time, utilizing a million different backs, so of course they're going to put up big numbers.

However, Army has at least one really legitimate running back, and his name is Raymond Maples. As a sophomore, Maples ran the ball 146 times for 1,066 yards; this averages out to 7.3 yards per carry. At 6'1" and 200 pounds, he also has great size for a running back, making him a possible NFL candidate.

After Maples, Army has a host of other guys that it likes to give the ball to. Senior quarterback Trent Steelman plans to figure largely into the running game again in 2012. Last season, Steelman ran for 645 yards and 12 touchdowns while throwing for just 424 yards.

Seniors Malcolm Brown and Jared Hassin, along with sophomore Larry Dixon, all received at least 80 carries last season and all produced at least 450 rushing yards as well. As a team, Army ran for 4,158 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns, finishing only behind Oregon in terms of yards.  

22. Utah Utes

Backfield

John White, Sr. 

Add John White's name to the list of overly impressive Pac-12 running backs who made this list. White rushed for over 100 yards in eight games last season, carrying the team on his back.

He had to, though, after quarterback Jordan Wynn went down with an injury and was forced to miss all but four games of the 2011 season. White took it on himself to step up and lead the team. The result was an 8-5 finish, including a Sun Bowl victory over Georgia Tech. I'd say mission accomplished.

But we haven't even gotten to White's statistical masterpiece last season. He carried the ball 316 times for a total of 1,519 yards and 15 touchdowns. He carried the ball at least 25 times in six of his last eight games and at least 30 times in four of his last eight games.

I hope White spent the offseason in a pool somewhere resting. He needed it. With Wynn coming back this season at full health, White may not be asked to carry the ball 316 times again. Still, he will be one of the most talented backs in the country, giving Utah fans extreme amounts of confidence heading into the 2012 season.

21. North Carolina Tar Heels

Backfield

Giovani Bernard, So. 

Thanks to an NCAA investigation that found that the North Carolina football program had committed nine major violations, the Tar Heels were hit with a 2012 bowl ban and were forced to forfeit 15 scholarships over a three-year period. 

While this isn't exactly a good time to hold hands and sing songs in Chapel Hill, Tar Heels fans can still look forward to watching their team this season even without the hopes of a postseason. The Tar Heels are going to be one of the top teams in the ACC, and sophomore Giovani Bernard is going to be a big reason why.

As a freshman, Bernard burst onto the scene with jaw-dropping numbers—there was no way this kid could have been a freshman. He rushed for 1,253 yards and 13 touchdowns while also acting as the team's third-best wide receiver option. Bernard caught 45 passes for 362 yards and was easily one of the biggest dual threats out of the backfield in the country last season.

So where's the room for improvement? Maybe Bernard and the rest of the Tar Heels will be motivated to play harder, proving to everyone that they should be playing in the postseason. Or maybe the postseason ban will have a negative impact on the players, including Bernard.

Only time will tell, but Bernard's freshman production has to be a good sign for the future of the Tar Heels' backfield.

20. SMU Mustangs

Backfield

Zach Line, Sr. 

SMU might be the most confident team in the country in terms of how it personally feels about its backfield. I might feel the same if running back Zach Line weren't coming off an injury. Despite his fantastic play thus far in his career, I'm always a little leery when it comes to things like that.

Over the past two seasons, Line has been one of the most productive running backs in all of college football. Line missed the final three games of 2011, but in the 10 previous, he had already totaled 1,224 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.

In those 10 games, Line ran for at least 114 yards eight times. His numbers are consistent, and he will continue to be one of the top backs in the country this season, I'm sure.

Line is checking into camp reportedly 10 pounds heavier this season than last. At 6'1" and now 235 pounds, Line could be even harder to bring down this season.

19. Clemson Tigers

Backfield

Andre Ellington, Sr.

Clemson's backfield took a big hit when running back Mike Bellamy couldn't qualify academically for the fall semester. Bellamy has since enrolled at a junior college, so the Tigers are losing 343 yards of production coming at six yards per carry.

Then you have sophomore Sammy Watkins, who has been suspended for the team's first two games, one of which is on the road at Auburn. Watkins was the third-leading rusher on the team despite being quarterback Tajh Boyd's go-to wide receiver.

It's all up to senior Andre Ellington, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Ellington is a really great running back, but the added depth certainly made Clemson's backfield more feared.

As a junior, Ellington made a name for himself by running for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns. He will be the best running back in the ACC next season, and his ground attack will be very important in terms of balancing the offense.

18. TCU Horned Frogs

Backfield

Waymon James, Jr.; Matthew Tucker, Sr. 

TCU comes into the Big 12 conference this season with a lot to prove. Coming over from a conference like the MWC would normally mean a tough transition into a major conference, but for a team like TCU, the transition should be a breeze.

Even in an offense-crazy conference like the Big 12, TCU should have one of the top five. Junior Casey Pachall is back to run the offense at quarterback after a really great sophomore season, but the real talent of this offense is in the backfield.

Junior Waymon James and senior Matthew Tucker are missing Ed Wesley's head for their three-headed monster routine, but James and Tucker should more than suffice by themselves. The two backs combined for 1,577 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns last season, and that production should just keep going up without Wesley in the picture.

Both backs have great size and are tough to bring down. James, at 5'8" and 203 pounds, and Tucker, at 6'1" and 227 pounds, are powerful backs who don't shy away from contact.

TCU may not finish in the top three of the Big 12 this season, but it's going to give every single opponent a challenge.

17. Pittsburgh Panthers

Backfield

Ray Graham, Sr.; Isaac Bennett, So.; Rushel Shell, Fr. 

I might have the Pittsburgh Panthers a little too high, but I'm counting on Ray Graham to come back for his senior season at 100 percent and ready to destroy every defense that gets in his way. The problem, though, is that Graham may not be fully healthy by the time the season rolls around.

Regardless, the Panthers have enough talent to make up for Graham if he does have to miss the first few games, but the point is that Graham needs to be healthy for this backfield to be dominant. In the eight games Graham was able to play last season, he totaled 958 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He also caught 30 passes for 200 yards.

Graham went over the 100-yard mark four times in eight games and over the 200-yard mark two times. He was well on his way to a 1,500-yard season.

As a freshman, Isaac Bennett stepped up in the last five games to help the Panthers, but his production wasn't even close to what Graham had been putting up.  However, even if it was just five games of experience, a little can go a long way in helping out a player. I expect Bennett to have a great sophomore season, as he is going to be counted on in this offense.

Incoming freshman Rushel Shell should help the backfield out as well. According to ESPN, Shell is a 4-star recruit and the No. 3 running back in his class. He chose to stay at home in Pennsylvania even though he was offered by schools such as Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State and Florida.

16. Texas A&M Aggies

Backfield

Christine Michael, Sr.; Brandon Williams, So.

Two things are going to hurt Texas A&M's backfield this season. One is the loss of Cyrus Gray to the NFL, and the second is the transition it will be making into the SEC.

Don't get me wrong—the Aggies backfield is still going to be a force to be reckoned with, but the stout defenses of the SEC may be more suited to slow them down than those in the Big 12. Senior running back Christine Michael may have his work cut out for him.

At 5'11" and 220 pounds, Michael is a hard running back to wrap up and take down on the first hit. That would explain his 6.0 yards per carry average from a season ago, a season in which Michael finished with 899 yards and eight touchdowns.

The depth of the Aggies backfield is what should really help them out in the SEC, though. Transfer Brandon Williams should figure into the picture from the start; he's a former 4-star running back who spent last season receiving limited carries at the University of Oklahoma.

Both running backs should receive ample playing time for the Aggies this season.

15. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Backfield

David Sims, Jr.; Tevin Washington, Sr.; Orwin Smith, Sr. 

For a team that runs the ball like the Yellow Jackets do, I'll never understand how they still attract such talented receivers. First it was Calvin Johnson, who is arguably the best receiver in the world. Last season, Stephen Hill emerged at the combine as an ultra-talented but forgotten wide receiver on a run-first team. It's confusing, really.

Still, they flock to Georgia Tech, but that doesn't change the game plan. The Yellow Jackets consistently have one of the best backfields in the country thanks to their dominant ground attack. This year is no different, as quarterback Tevin Washington returns for his senior season along with junior running back David Sims.

Last year, Sims and Washington combined for 1,685 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. While Washington had the bulk of the carries, Sims proved to be just as reliable, as he averaged 5.2 yards per carry.

Then, if you factor in the return of Orwin Smith, who is now fully healthy, the backfield looks really scary. As a junior, Smith carried the ball only 61 times, but he averaged 10.1 yards per carry and had 11 touchdowns!

This backfield is loaded with talent.

14. Kansas State Wildcats

Backfield

John Hubert, Jr.; Collin Klein, Sr. 

Kansas State surprised a lot of people last season after it went 10-3 and earned a bid in the Cotton Bowl, and it wouldn't have been able to do it without its ground attack.

After playing a virtually nonexistent role as a freshman, John Hubert stepped into the starting role at running back as a sophomore and didn't look back. Hubert carried the ball 200 times for 970 yards and three touchdowns.

"Yeah, his stats are good, but why is Kansas State ranked so high on your list if Hubert only got into the end zone three times?" Two words: Collin Klein.

Klein could be the best dual-threat quarterback in the country not named Denard Robinson. If he can continue to develop his arm, there's no doubt he could rival for the top spot this season.

As a junior, Klein led the Wildcats in rushing with 1,141 yards on 317 carries. At 6'5" and 226 pounds, Klein is a force to take down, so there's no surprise he ended the year with 27 rushing touchdowns—second-most in the NCAA behind Montee Ball.

Klein and Hubert will team up once again this season for one of the most dynamic and unstoppable backfields in the country. I would have them ranked higher, but I will be shocked if Klein puts up those numbers again.

As Kevin Garnett once told me, though, anything is possible.

13. Oklahoma Sooners

Backfield

Dominique Whaley, Sr.; Roy Finch, Jr.; Brennan Clay, Jr.; Blake Bell, So.

In recent years, Oklahoma has tended to shy away from the run game to focus more on a pass-centered spread offense. However, the emergence of walk-on Dominique Whaley last season reminded Sooner fans just how dominant a good running back can be.

Unfortunately, an ankle injury ended Whaley's season early, which was a lousy ending to such a feel-good story. In just six games, Whaley rushed for 627 yards and nine touchdowns. If you extrapolate those numbers, Whaley was on pace for a pretty great season.

After he went down, Roy Finch did a valiant job in replacing him, as he averaged 5.5 yards per carry on 111 carries. Finch is a fantastic change-of-pace running back who is really hard to stop in the open field, but he doesn't have the knack for getting into the end zone that Whaley has.

Enter the Belldozer. Third-string quarterback Blake Bell, a 6'6", 254-pound monster, was a huge bright spot in Oklahoma's backfield after Whaley went down. The Belldozer package was installed to help figure out Oklahoma's red-zone scoring woes, and it worked in a big way.

Bell ran the ball just 44 times for 171 yards, but he scored 13 touchdowns—the most rushing touchdowns on the team last season.

If Whaley can return to full health for the entire season, Oklahoma will have a dangerous backfield.

12. South Carolina Gamecocks

Backfield

Marcus Lattimore, Jr.; Brandon Wilds, So. 

Marcus Lattimore is one of the best running backs in all of college football. In 2011, he was well on his way to proving that statement. However, in the Gamecocks' seventh game, Lattimore went down with a knee injury that cost him the rest of the season.

In just those first seven games, Lattimore had rushed for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns. This included a ridiculous performance against Navy where he ran for 246 yards and three touchdowns.

He looked more than capable of blowing out his breakout freshman season stats of 1,197 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. I just hope, for all of college football's sake, that Lattimore can return fully healthy. When he is healthy, Lattimore is really fun to watch. He has NFL potential written all over him, and that starts with his great size at 6'1" and 235 pounds.

As a freshman, Brandon Wilds did the best he could filling in for Lattimore, and he was actually pretty impressive. Wilds finished the year with 486 yards and three touchdowns, and he will most likely play an important role in the offense this season as well.

However, if Lattimore is healthy, don't expect Wilds to be stealing many carries away.

11. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Backfield

Rex Burkhead, Sr.; Taylor Martinez, Jr. 

Here's another backfield that features both a stud running back and a dynamic dual-threat quarterback. The Nebraska Cornhuskers, who spent their first season in the Big Ten in 2011, are poised to improve on their 9-4 record and take control of the conference.

The Cornhuskers will have a few teams to get through along the way, namely Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin, but they have the talent to do it. A lot of that talent, though, is in the backfield with senior running back Rex Burkhead and junior quarterback Taylor Martinez.

Burkhead ran for 1,357 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, having one of the most productive seasons of any running back in the country. 

Martinez nearly hit the 1,000-yard mark for the season as well, as he rushed 188 times for 874 yards and nine touchdowns. There's no question that both Burkhead and Martinez could hit the 1,000-yard mark next season, but I think Cornhusker fans might feel better if Martinez spent more time working on his arm rather than his legs.

10. Alabama Crimson Tide

Backfield

Eddie Lacy, Jr.; Jalston Fowler, Jr.; T.J. Yeldon, Fr. 

Please don't hate me, Alabama fans. I really wanted to put your backfield higher than No. 10, honestly. But after looking everything over and weighing Alabama against the next few teams on this list, I just couldn't do it.

That's nothing against Eddie Lacy, Jalston Fowler or T.J. Yeldon, though. I'm also aware of the fact that Alabama returns four offensive linemen and a hopefully improved A.J. McCarron at quarterback, which is only going to make transitioning from the Trent Richardson era easier.

But you guys, replacing a running back like Richardson isn't going to be an easy thing to do. With that being said, I could have said the same thing after Mark Ingram won the Heisman, but Richardson seemed to do a swell job filling in.

Is Lacy the next in line to produce at a super-high level in Alabama's offense? It's not out of the question. I mean, he did look good last season when he did get the opportunity to play. Lacy managed to run for 674 yards on just 95 carries while finding the end zone seven times.

Okay, 7.1 yards per carry is pretty impressive. I think, through the course of a few micro-paragraphs, I may have just talked myself into Eddie Lacy for Heisman. Congratulations, Alabama fans.

9. Arkansas Razorbacks

Backfield

Knile Davis, Jr.; Dennis Johnson, Sr. 

I have Arkansas ranked at No. 9 solely because of the re-emergence of Knile Davis. However, Davis could also be the reason Arkansas finishes much, much lower than No. 9 on this list by the time the season ends. As of now, it's all a toss-up.

When healthy, Davis looks like one of the best running backs in the country. As a sophomore, Davis ran the ball 204 times for 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns. After such a promising season, Davis appeared to be on his way to stardom, but an ankle injury in a preseason practice cost him his entire 2011 season.

Davis is back now, though, and he's going to be ready to put some work in. His size, speed and running style are very reminiscent of former Arkansas (now Oakland Raider) running back Darren McFadden. Needless to say, Arkansas fans are going to be very happy to see Davis return to the lineup.

This makes senior Dennis Johnson a likely backup; at the very least, he'll split carries after taking the majority of the workload last season. In Davis's absence, Johnson had a better-than-average showing—106 carries for 670 yards and three touchdowns.

While his production was promising, Davis is going to be the guy this season. When you couple Davis and Johnson with Heisman Trophy hopeful quarterback Tyler Wilson, Arkansas looks like a pretty tough out in the SEC.

You know, except for LSU and Alabama. 

8. Stanford Cardinal

Backfield

Stepfan Taylor, Sr.

Senior Stepfan Taylor could very well be the best running back in the country not named Montee Ball, but he's still bound to be overshadowed in the Pac-12 this season by USC and its overwhelming offensive talent.

However, Taylor is likely used to being overshadowed after having played his career with Andrew Luck at the helm. With Luck now out of the picture, it will be up to Taylor to lead the Cardinal back to a bowl game. Averaging 5.5 yards per carry, Taylor ran for 1,330 yards last season and 10 touchdowns.

Despite losing to Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl, Taylor really shined on the big stage. He took ownership of the workload, carrying the ball 35 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

It's hard to think he's going to top 1,330 yards without Luck around throwing the ball and creating more opportunities, but it's not out of the question. He will remain a Heisman hopeful all season.

Stanford may have been ranked higher on this list had Taylor's backup Tyler Gaffney elected to play his senior season rather than join the Pittsburgh Pirates. Still, Taylor's presence gives Stanford a top-10 backfield.

7. Texas Longhorns

Backfield

Malcolm Brown, So.; Joe Bergeron, So.; Johnathan Gray, Fr.

What makes Texas' backfield so scary goes beyond the immense amount of talent and athleticism that their three feature backs possess. What's really scary is how young they all are.

Sophomores Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron return as starters after the two combined for 1,205 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Brown, a former 5-star recruit, will play the role of "workhorse" again this season, as he is likely to receive the bulk of the carries.

Both backs have NFL-like size and potential, and if the Longhorns could get any production out of their quarterback(s), their talent would be better reflected in their stats. Until then, teams will continue to load the box against the Longhorns, which may not even be enough to stop their ground attack this season.

Once a defense wears down Brown and Bergeron, they will have the "reward" of facing freshman Johnathan Gray, 2012's No. 1 running back according to ESPN and Rivals. Gray, who was the Gatorade National Player of the Year, may have to earn his carries to begin with, but Mack Brown won't be able to keep his talent off the field for very long.

What happens if all three of them need to have a breather, you ask? Well, senior running back D.J. Monroe is still around, of course! In limited action last season, Monroe was still productive, running for 326 yards and one touchdown.

This is a deep backfield, and they're going to be really, really good if either David Ash or Case McCoy can produce.

6. Oklahoma State

Backfield

Joseph Randle, Jr.; Jeremy Smith, Jr.

Some may argue that I have the Oklahoma State Cowboys too high on this list. I, on the other hand, disagree—if that wasn't obvious. I mean, I'm the one who made this slideshow.

I really like the combination of juniors Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith. With a true freshman being deemed the starting quarterback this season to replace Brandon Weeden, the pressure is going to really be on Randle and Smith to step up and turn in impressive performances.

Randle, who is one of my dark-horse candidates to win the Heisman Trophy this season, finished last year with 1,216 rushing yards and an eye-popping 26 total touchdowns. Randle is a powerful back with good size at 6'1" and 191 pounds, but Smith is a bruiser at 5'10" and 205 pounds. Smith is the type of back to initiate contact for fun.

Even though Smith received half the carries Randle did last season, he still managed to run for 646 yards and nine touchdowns. His 7.1 yards per carry average made him a threat every time he touched the ball.

The Cowboys might even be higher on this list had running back Herschel Sims been able to stick around. Unfortunately, he was kicked off the team after being charged with two counts of second-degree forgery. Yikes.

5. Michigan Wolverines

Backfield

Fitzgerald Toussaint, Jr.; Denard Robinson, Sr.

Denard Robinson returning for his senior season make the Wolverines an exciting team to watch and a nauseating team to play this season. While Robinson is no longer surprising anybody with his running ability, that doesn't make him any easier to stop.

Robinson ran the ball for 1,176 yards last season and was able to find the end zone 16 times. He was also able to throw for over 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns, making him one of the best, if not the best, dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.

Robinson is joined in the backfield by junior Fitzgerald Toussaint, who absolutely has to have the coolest name of any college football player. Don't get too distracted, though; he's more than just a cool name. Toussaint also ran for over 1,000 yards last season and scored nine touchdowns.

This team is going to run over a lot of defenses, and I'm looking forward to watching it all go down.

4. Oregon Ducks

Backfield

Kenjon Barner, Sr.; De'Anthony Thomas, So.

The loss of running back LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas certainly doesn't help Oregon's backfield, but senior Kenjon Barner and sophomore De'Anthony Thomas should pick up the slack. Running, if you weren't aware, happens to be what the Ducks are good at.

Barner was dynamic even with James around last season. In 12 games, Barner ran the ball 152 times for 939 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also caught 17 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Again, this was all as a backup to one of the best running backs in the nation.

Is it so far-fetched to predict a 1,500-yard rushing season for Barner? I say no. However, that all depends on how many carries he's going to have to give up to Thomas. In limited action last season, Thomas ran the ball 55 times for 595 yards and seven touchdowns. That's an average of a whopping 10.8 yards per carry!

Thomas was also a valuable receiver out of the backfield last season, catching 46 passes for 605 yards and nine touchdowns. So, as a freshman, Thomas had 16 total touchdowns.

Yeah, I think the Ducks are going to be okay.

3. Wisconsin Badgers

Backfield

Montee Ball, Sr.; James White, Jr. 

You know what I hate? People who hate on Montee Ball. Okay, I guess you're all entitled to your own opinions; I won't judge. However, the dude ran for 1,923 yards last season! He had 39 total touchdowns! That tied Barry Sanders' record!

"But the Big Ten defenses suck, Ball is just a product of the offense, of course he was going to break the record, he carried the ball over 300 times, yada yada yada..."

It just doesn't make sense to me. Really, the fact that he placed fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting is a travesty in itself. If this article were just detailing the top 50 running backs in college football, Ball would be No. 1—no contest. However, he and running mate James White come in at No. 3, because, surprisingly enough, there are two better running back tandems/combinations in the country.

Now, after bragging on Ball, I will concede and say that former Badger quarterback Russell Wilson did help in Ball's efforts. If not for his stupendous play under center, Ball wouldn't have had as many opportunities. Still, Ball averaged 6.3 yards per carry last season, and that's a feat he had to earn on his own.

Also, don't sleep on White just because he's No. 2 on the depth chart. He has totaled 1,765 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in his two seasons at Wisconsin. He could be a starter for most teams in the country.

2. USC Trojans

Backfield

Curtis McNeal, Sr.; Silas Redd, Jr.

Without the transfer of Silas Redd, USC probably wouldn't even be in the top 10 on this list. However, adding a 1,200-yard rusher to a backfield that already has a 1,000-yard rusher will certainly make a difference.

This combination isn't exactly Reggie Bush and LenDale White, but it's going to be a lethal combination. If we had to compare, though, McNeal is a poor man's Bush while Redd is a poor man's White. McNeal provides the flash and finesse; Redd provides the toughness and power.

McNeal is currently at the top of the depth chart, which only makes sense due to the amount of time Redd has actually been in Los Angeles. However, as practices progress, the chances of Redd becoming the featured back will skyrocket. Using McNeal as a change-of-pace back may be the best scenario for the Trojans, anyway.

With four returning offensive linemen and the best quarterback (Matt Barkley) in the country throwing the ball to arguably the best receiver (Robert Woods) in the country, McNeal and Redd are going to have a lot of opportunities to produce.

This offense is going to be scary.

1. LSU Tigers

Backfield

Michael Ford, Jr.; Spencer Ware, Jr.; Kenny Hilliard, So.; Alfred Blue, Jr.; Jeremy Hill, Fr. 

I really considered putting USC at the top, but I just couldn't pass up LSU's lethal ground attack that will likely feature four or five different guys this season. When you consider the fact that the Tigers' quarterback situation is hazy, you realize how important these running backs have to be this season.

Juniors Michael Ford and Spencer Ware will once again lead the way, as the two combined for 1,463 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns last season. However, fellow junior Alfred Blue may be the running back to keep an eye on this season.

Receiving just 78 carries last season, Blue rushed for 539 yards and seven touchdowns. For those who don't want to do the math, that's an average of 6.9 yards per carry, which was the best on the team. Just to get his athleticism on the field, Blue has been taking reps at slot receiver during practices this week.

When you add in sophomore Kenny Hilliard, who ran for 336 yards and eight touchdowns, and 4-star running back Jeremy Hill, things couldn't look better for the Tigers.