SEC Football: Is This The Year Of The Running Backs?

If you are a fan of the power ground and pound running game, or even the spread the field and beat the defense with your speed rushing attack, then the 2008 Southeastern Conference football season is defiantly for you. In the SEC this season, with the down year on quarterbacks, the running game will dominate on offense.

Even with the loss of Arkansas's Darren McFadden, who is arguably one of the greatest SEC running backs in history, Felix Jones, Kentucky's Rafeal Little, LSU's Jacob Hester, USC's Cory Boyd, and Ole Miss's Benjarvus Green-Ellis, the SEC still returns an impressive list of backs in 2008.

By far, the best returning back in the SEC this season is University of Georgia's Knowshon Moreno, who is in a class of his own. He ran all over defenses last season as a redshirt freshman for 1,334 yards and he will only get better in 2008.

Tennessee's Arian Foster will return for the Vols in '08 and will be just behind Moreno in rushing. Foster ran for 1,193 yards and 12 TD's with 39 catches for 340 yards receiving. Foster will become Tennessee's all time leading rusher midway through 2008, barring injury. He only needs 685 yards to pass Travis Henry on the Vols all-time list.

Kentucky returns a plethora of talent in the backfield with Derrick Locke, Tony Dixon, and Alfonso Smith at the running back spots. This backfield is one of the fastest to ever come through Kentucky, with both Derrick Locke and Alfonso Smith running 4.2 forty yard dash's at UK's pro day. Also, Moncell Allen is Kentucky's power back, so to speak, and can punish defenses with his size, standing 5'7 and weighing 225lbs. Also, look for quarterback Curtis Pulley to rack up a lot of yards on the ground with his speed. This will be the Cats main offense, and this backfield will produce.

Mississippi State returns Anthony Dixon. Last season, Dixon ran for 1,066 and accounted for 16 of the Bulldog's 30 touchdowns scored by the MSU offense last season. If he can produce like he did last season or maybe even more, look for him to lead the Bulldogs to their 2nd straight bowl game.

LSU has two good backs returning in Keiland Williams and Charles Scott. Williams, who will more than likely get the majority of carries for the Tigers, averaged an amazing 6.8 yards per carry in 2007. Also, don't forget about the quick little speedster in Trindon Holliday.

Auburn returns two good backs in Brad Lester and Ben Tate. Lester ran for 530 yards and 3 TD's after missing nearly the first half of the season. Ben Tate led the Tigers with 903 yards rushing in 2007.

The Alabama Crimson Tide returns Terry Grant. Grant set the Alabama freshman rushing record with 891 yards rushing. Also, the Crimson Tide returns good consistency in the backfield with Glen Coffee. Grant is still 'Bama's big play threat in the backfield.

The Gamecocks in South Carolina lost its leading rusher in Cory Boyd. But they aren't hurting that bad. They return Mike Davis, who rushed for 518 yards in 07 while getting carries behind Boyd. He has more than enough talent to take over the role.

Florida returns a lot of talent in the backfield. Kesthan Moore averaged a great 5.6 yards per carry in 2007, but he also had problems holding on to the football. Quarterback Tim Tebow and athlete wide receiver/running back Percy Harvin both combined for 293 rushes in 2007. Also, freshman Chris Rainey is rumored to be the fastest sprinter on the team, so watch out for him in 2008.

Vanderbilt will struggle a bit on the ground this season. They return a talented back in Jeff Jennings who rushed for 346 yards backing up Cason Jackson-Garrison in 2007. But the Commodores are going to struggle majorly on the offensive line.

Arkansas was hurt right where it hurts with the loss of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, who were arguably one of the best tandems in college football history. The Razorbacks return a explosive back in Michael Smith who averaged a great 6.6 yards per carry last season with very limited carries behind McFadden and Jones.

Ole Miss has a lot of searching to do at the running back spot. With the loss of Benjarvus Green-Ellis and Bruce Hall, the Rebels return Cordera Eason who only had 3 carries in 2007, but had a good spring and will more than likely get his chance in the backfield for the Rebels.

Of course, a running back cannot do it by himself. If you don't have a good offensive line, then your running game will struggle. All offense starts at the war in the trenches up front. That is truly where it all starts in football.