Top 10 College Football Running Back Duos for 2015

The backfield-by-committee is a popular concept that grows more popular each year.

True, with a workhorse, the best player always gets the carries. But in backfields with more than one capable option, the allure of keeping multiple players fresh outranks that.

The following teams have the best two-man backfields in the country, as judged by a committee of one. In most cases I opted for production over upside, but there were some exceptions.

Especially after last season, when multiple true freshmen (i.e., unproven) running backs became national superstars, it would have been foolish to ignore their potential.

Sound off below and let me know where you disagree.

Just Missed the Cut

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Narrowing the list to 10 required many tough omissions. The following 15 backfields were considered but ultimately fell short.

Here's hoping they don't make me look too stupid in 2015. 

Baylor

• RB1: Shock Linwood
• RB2: Johnny Jefferson 

Florida

• RB1: Kelvin Taylor
• RB2: Adam Lane 

LSU

• RB1: Leonard Fournette
• RB2: Darrel Williams/Derrius Guice

Marshall

• RB1: Devon Johnson
• RB2: Steward Butler 

Miami

• RB1: Joseph Yearby
• RB2: Gus Edwards

Michigan

• RB1: Ty Isaac
• RB2: Derrick Green/De'Veon Smith 

North Carolina

• RB1: T.J. Logan
• RB2: Elijah Hood

NC State

• RB1: Shadrach Thornton
• RB2: Johnny Frasier/Matt Dayes/Nyheim Hines

Notre Dame

• RB1: Tarean Folston
• RB2: Greg Bryant 

Pittsburgh

• RB1: James Conner
• RB2: Chris James

South Carolina

• RB1: Brandon Wilds
• RB2: David Williams

Toledo

• RB1: Kareem Hunt
• RB2: Terry Swanson

Texas A&M

• RB1: Tra Carson
• RB2: Brandon Williams 

UCLA

• RB1: Paul Perkins
• RB2: Soso Jamabo

Wisconsin

• RB1: Corey Clement
• RB2: Dare Ogunbowale

10. West Virginia

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

RB1: Rushel Shell

2014 Stats: 176 carries, 788 yards, 7 TDs; 21 catches, 140 yards

Rushel Shell was a 5-star recruit in high school and played well in his first year at West Virginia after transferring over from Pittsburgh. He's a sturdy runner with a powerful frame (5'10", 221 lbs) and enough wiggle to break tackles on the perimeter. He is built to be a workhorse, but West Virginia's depth allows him to conserve his body.

RB2: Wendell Smallwood

2014 Stats: 148 carries, 722 yards, 2 TDs; 31 catches, 326 yards

Wendell Smallwood is a capable receiver and a strong complementary piece for Shell. He is less explosive and powerful but more versatile and perhaps has better vision. Running backs coach JaJuan Seider said Smallwood has been "probably the best player on the field" during spring practice, per Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail. If he maintains that form, he and Shell might both crack 1,000 yards next season.

9. Auburn

Credit: 247Sports

RB1: Jovon Robinson

2014 Stats: n/a

Jovon Robinson was the No. 1 overall JUCO recruit in 2015. The past five players to enjoy that distinction—D'haquille Williams, Cordarrelle Patterson, Lavon Hooks, Tank Carradine and Bruce Irvin—suggest he'll pan out well. He set the all-time JUCO record with 2,387 rushing yards last season, and his frame (6'0", 230 lbs) should translate well to the SEC. The only thing he lacks is FBS experience.

RB2: Roc Thomas

2014 Stats: 43 carries, 214 yards, 2 TDs; 6 catches, 27 yards

Roc Thomas was the No. 4 running back recruit in 2014, ranking one spot ahead of Nick Chubb and two spots ahead of Royce Freeman. He didn't play much as a freshman, but with Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant on the roster, how many freshmen would have?

Auburn made this list on pedigree and upside, which for the most part we tried to avoid. In this case, however, we had to make an exception. Robinson and Thomas might bust and finish outside the top 10, but they're just as likely to finish in the top five.

8. Florida State

Mark Wallheiser/Associated Press

RB1: Dalvin Cook

2014 Stats: 170 carries, 1,008 yards, 8 TDs; 22 catches, 203 yards

By the end of last season, Dalvin Cook was Florida State's most reliable offensive player. When your quarterback is the presumed No. 1 overall draft pick, that means you're doing something—no, a lot of things—right. Blessed with rare foot speed and vision, Cook makes defenders miss as well as any runner in college football.

RB2: Mario Pender/Jacques Patrick

2014 Stats (Pender): 41 carries, 206 yards, 4 TDs; 10 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD

2014 Stats (Patrick): n/a

Mario Pender played well as the No. 3 running back last season. Jacques Patrick enrolled early as the No. 4 running back recruit in 2015. Together, they made Jimbo Fisher comfortable enough to switch Ryan Green from running back to cornerback. Whoever claims the No. 2 job behind Cook will do fine. Patrick in particular has the frame (6'1", 232 lbs) to replace Karlos Williams as the power back.

7. Oklahoma

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

RB1: Samaje Perine

2014 Stats: 263 carries, 1,713 yards, 21 TDs; 15 catches, 108 yards

As a freshman, Samaje Perine made Big 12 defenders look puny. Imagine how they'll look once Perine comes of age. The 5'11", 237-pound bruiser broke an FBS record last season, rushing for 427 yards (and five touchdowns) against Kansas. How he fits into Lincoln Riley's offense is debatable; his talent is anything but.

RB2: Alex Ross/Joe Mixon

2014 Stats (Ross): 88 carries, 595 yards, 4 TDs; 10 catches, 65 yards

2014 Stats (Mixon): n/a

Alex Ross is the lightning to Perine's thunder. He's sturdily built (6'1", 220 lbs) but known best as a home run threat and All-American kick returner.

Still, if Oklahoma's running back duo wants to outperform this ranking, it will require a breakout year from Joe Mixon. He took a redshirt in 2014 after an offseason arrest for domestic assault, but head coach Bob Stoops has offered him a second chance, and his talent has never been questioned. Mixon was a 5-star recruit and the No. 1 all-purpose back in 2014.

6. Tennessee

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RB1: Jalen Hurd

2014 Stats: 190 carries, 899 yards, 5 TDs; 35 catches, 221 yards, 2 TDs

Quietly, at the tail end of last season, Jalen Hurd threw his name into the "best freshman running back" discussion. His big frame (6'3", 230 lbs) and upright running style are reminiscent of a young Darren McFadden. If he plays with more consistency next season, he'll be harder to ignore among an historic group of running back classmates.

RB2: Alvin Kamara

2014 Stats: n/a

Alvin Kamara spent his freshman year at Alabama, last year at Hutchinson Community College and arrived at Tennessee in January. He's been the star of spring workouts in Knoxville, according to Wes Rucker of 247Sports, who said Kamara "has been every bit as dynamic as the Vols hoped." 247Sports ranked Kamara as the No. 1 JUCO recruit in the country, ahead of Jovon Robinson, who, again, broke the single-season JUCO rushing record. If he plays to his capabilities, Tennessee can rise to No. 1 on this list by next season.

5. Alabama

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RB1: Derrick Henry

2014 Stats: 172 carries, 990 yards, 11 TDs; 5 catches, 133 yards, 2 TDs

For two years, the best way to stop Derrick Henry has been to hope Alabama ignored him. Now, with the departure of T.J. Yeldon, defenses must find a new strategy. Henry is built like a small truck (6'3", 242 lbs) and cannot be solo tackled in the open field. He has taken to his new role with gusto, rushing for 112 yards on 11 carries in Alabama's first spring scrimmage—numbers he should make the norm in 2015.

Also of note: He's the leading rusher in high school football history. He can handle a starter's workload and then some.

RB2: Kenyan Drake/Damien Harris

2014 Stats (Drake): 22 carries, 112 yards, 4 TDs; 5 catches, 159 yards, 2 TDs

2014 Stats (Harris): n/a

When healthy, Kenyan Drake provides an ideal complement for Henry. He's a shifty all-purpose back who might as well be a wide receiver—something Alabama desperately needs. A broken leg ended his season last October, but he's looked good running drills in spring camp and should be ready to go by September. Even if he's not, Alabama pulled an Alabama and signed the No. 1 running back in the recruiting class, Damien Harris, as insurance.

4. Ohio State

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RB1: Ezekiel Elliott

2014 Stats: 273 carries, 1,878 yards, 18 TDs; 28 catches, 220 yards

There are no words to describe how well Ezekiel Elliott played last postseason, only numbers. He ran for 220 yards against Wisconsin, 230 against Alabama and 246 against Oregon en route to winning the College Football Playoff MVP. Yes, Ohio State's offensive line deserves credit, but Elliott's combination of power, speed, vision and one-cut explosiveness make him the ideal back for this offense.

RB2: Curtis Samuel

2014 Stats: 58 carries, 383 yards, 6 TDs; 11 catches, 95 yards

Elliott requires little in the way of a backup, but Ohio State found a good one regardless. Curtis Samuel showed flashes as a freshman in 2014 and will play an even bigger role next season. "The days of Curtis Samuel playing 10 plays are over," head coach Urban Meyer said in March, according to Tim Moody of The Lantern. "It’s our job to get him on the field for 40 or 50 plays.

"We've ID'd [him] as a top-five playmaker right now in our program."

3. Georgia

Nell Redmond/Associated Press

RB1: Nick Chubb

2014 Stats: 219 carries, 1,547 yards, 14 TDs; 18 catches, 213 yards, 2 TDs

Nick Chubb posted huge numbers in relief of injured/suspended star Todd Gurley. What's more, he posted those numbers against quality competition, rushing for 611 yards against Missouri, Arkansas and Louisville. The Tigers (12), Razorbacks (8) and Cardinals (18) each had Top 20 run defenses, per the S&P+ ratings at Football Outsiders, but all three proved no match for Chubb.

RB2: Keith Marshall/Sony Michel

2014 Stats (Marshall): 12 carries, 24 yards; 1 catch, minus-5 yards

2014 Stats (Michel): 64 carries, 410 yards; 7 catches, 106 yards, 1 TD

Gurley's former partner in crime, Keith Marshall, looks healthy for the first time since 2012. "He's back," Chubb said to Andy Johnston of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, channeling his inner Trey Kerby. "Keith Marshall is back, and I'm excited about that."

Even if he's rusty, though, Georgia has Sony Michel, another former 5-star recruit, to carry the load as a backup. Michel played through a collarbone injury last season and should find better success with better health (UGA fans knock frantically on wood) in 2015.

2. Arkansas

Danny Johnston/Associated Press

RB1a: Jonathan Williams

2014 Stats: 211 carries, 1,190 yards, 12 TDs; 11 catches, 65 yards, 2 TDs

There is no lead back in Arkansas' offense, as evidenced by last year's numbers, which were downright next to identical between Jonathan Williams and the player below. Williams starts most games (11 out of 13 last season) and is a physical presence between the tackles, using his 6'0", 223-pound frame to gain yards after contact. His running style reminds one of former Bret Bielema star Montee Ball.

RB1b: Alex Collins

2014 Stats: 204 carries, 1,100 yards, 12 TDs; 3 catches, 9 yards

First, Williams loosens up the defense. Then, once its loose, the Razorbacks unleash Alex Collins. The former 5-star recruit has lived up to his billing in Fayetteville, rushing for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. He's more quick than fast, but his low-to-the-ground running style makes him difficult to tackle in space.

1. Oregon

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RB1: Royce Freeman

2014 Stats: 252 carries, 1,365 yards, 18 TDs; 16 catches, 158 yards, 1 TD

Royce Freeman brings to Oregon a true downhill running back—the best it has seen since Jonathan Stewart. He takes what he is given and drags defenders forward, helping the Ducks achieve manageable third downs and sustain long drives. He's as good as his size (5'11", 230 lbs) suggests inside the red zone, but he's also a capable receiver who contributes on all three downs and at all levels of the field.

RB2: Thomas Tyner

2014 Stats: 113 carries, 573 yards, 5 TDs; 11 catches, 67 yards, 1 TD

Last year, Freeman and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota limited Thomas Tyner to 113 carries. He didn't make the leap most expected after playing well as a true freshman. Still, Tyner had his moments, especially in the College Football Playoff, when he was the best thing Oregon's offense had going. If he maintains that level of production—and there's no reason to think he won't—he and Freeman give the Ducks an NFL-caliber backfield.

Note: All recruiting info refers to the 247Sports composite rankings.