Runners Gain Speed In Pac-10

For the past few years, it could have been argued that USC alone could have supplied most of the Pac-10 with a top-line tailback. Indeed, with the likes of Reggie Bush, LenDale White, Joe McKnight, and a slew of serviceable ball carriers like Emanuel Moody and C.J. Gable, that may have been the case.

Now, things are a little different. Seven of the Pac-10’s top 12 rushers from 2009 return and do so for six different teams. Of the four teams absent from that list, Washington State brings back a player with starting experience and UCLA has a pair of freshman horses ready to gallop at the college level.

1. LaMichael James, So., Oregon – James caught fire as a freshman for the Ducks in ’09, rushing for a Pac-10 freshman record 1,546 yards at an astonishing 6.7 ypc clip. He also finished with 14 rushing touchdowns, forming a lightning and lightning combo with departed quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who added 13 TD’s in Chip Kelly’s spread-option offense.

James starts the 2010 season the same way he started last season, on the bench. This time it is due to legal trouble ( a staple of the Ducks’ off-season). Much like LaGarrett Blount’s wild haymaker at the end of the Boise State game last year cleared way for James a year ago, Game 2 and beyond will give plenty of time for Oregon to unleash the speedy tailback. Without Masoli, James will become much more of a focal point for defenses, but should see his production increase with more opportunities.

2. Jaquizz Rodgers, Jr., Oregon State – Rodgers has done nothing but turn heads since arriving in Corvallis two years ago. The diminutive rusher was overlooked by just about everyone coming out of Texas in 2008, but has since made those programs regret taking a pass, amassing 1,253 yards as a true freshman. Last season went even further in proving his worth as Rodgers broke loose for 1,440 yards and 21 touchdowns, third in the Pac-10 behind James and Toby Gerhart of Stanford.

Coach Mike Riley should expect more of the same from the surprisingly durable Rodgers, who has missed just two games in his two years as a Beaver. OSU routinely churns out quality linemen and they should pave the way for Rodgers and older brother James, who has been second on the team in rushing the last two years, despite lining up as a wide receiver.

3. Chris Polk, So., Washington – Only two Husky running backs have crossed the 1,000-yard threshold since 2007. The first was Louis Rankin in 2007. The other is Polk. He was the first UW freshman to accomplish the feat with 1,113 yards in ‘09.

The only part of the equation lacking was in the touchdown department. Polk crossed the goal line just five times. Quarterback Jake Locker had seven trips to the end zone to lead the team, but Polk was the workhorse. He started all 12 games and ran with a punishing style that figures to give him an even better 2010.

4. Nic Grigsby, Sr., Arizona – This ranking is more due to the platoon coach Mike Stoops has at his disposal than simply Grigsby’s production alone. As a junior in 10 games he rushed for 567 yards and five touchdowns. Underwhelming numbers, except for a 7.2 ypc (yards per carry) that far and away led the Pac-10.

But the Wildcats can also utilize Keola Antolin in the running game. Last season he played in all 13 games and rushed for 637 yards on 114 carries to give the Wildcats a combined 1,204 yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

5. Shane Vereen, Jr., California – Jahvid Best entered the 2009 season as a Heisman candidate and a threat to break every Pac-10 rushing record. But a mid-season injury cut those aspirations short, leaving Vereen to start the last four games of the year. In that limited time, Vereen demolished defenses and finished with 952 yards and 12 touchdowns, tallying 5.2 ypc.

Coach Jeff Tedford made a name for himself as a QB guru, but in Berkeley it has been the running back position that has flourished. Best joined Marshawn Lynch, J.J. Arrington and Justin Forsett as NLF tailbacks and last season was the first in seven years in which the Bears failed to have a 1,000 yard rusher. Vereen fell 48 yards short last year, but don’t expect that to be the case this year.

6. Allen Bradford, Sr., USC – Pete Carroll may be gone, but the Trojans’ stable of tailbacks appears to be well intact this season. Bradford headlines a group of four rushers who could start any given week. Gable, Marc Tyler and freshman Dillon Baxter all fit the mold of speed and power that made the Trojans a power for the past decade.

Bradford is the best of the bunch, bringing back his 692 yards on 115 carries (5.8 ypc) and eight touchdowns. After somehow keeping himself out of the lineup for his first two seasons, Bradford became McKnight’s primary backup and the weapon of choice for Carroll in the red zone.

7. James Montgomery, Sr., Washington State – The rest of the conference gets quite murky after USC. Arizona State, UCLA and Stanford each feature unproven commodities at tailback, while the Cougars replace four-year starter Dwight Tardy. Montgomery, a highly touted recruit who transferred from Cal, has a chance to make waves, though, if he can prove healthy.

In two games last year, Montgomery rushed for 180 yards and a touchdown behind a rag-tag offensive line. That issue could arise again as any injury along the line could cause a molten collapse for the Cougars offensively.

8. Jonathan Franklin, So., UCLA – Truth be told, Franklin’s hold on this position is rather light. He is the returning starter. He hopes to improve from an underwhelming 4.5 ypc last season. He rushed for 566 yards and just five touchdowns.

Waiting in the wings are a pair of freshman dynamos in Malcolm Jones and Jordon James. Either could unseat Franklin if the sophomore starts slowly.

9. Stepfan Taylor, So., Stanford – This may be a tad low for Taylor, who rushed for 303 yards on 314 carries. But the reality is that Taylor is trying to replace Toby Gerhart, who shattered the Pac-10 record for rushing yards (1,871) and rushing touchdowns (28) and also took second in the Heisman voting behind Mark Ingram.

Taylor has arguably the best offensive line to run behind, but also has Andrew Luck at QB, who is likely to see his role increased as a gunslinger under the tutelage of Jim Harbaugh.

10. Cameron Marshall, So., Arizona State – The Sun Devils have not been relevant in the running game since Ryan Torain led the Pac-10 in rushing in 2006. Since then it has been a mish-mash of tailbacks trying to gain a foothold in Dennis Erickson’s offense. The latest taker is Marshall, who rushed for 280 yards and two touchdowns and is ASU’s returning leader in both departments.

Such balance among the top six has not been seen in quite some time in the Pac-10. With the conference race up for grabs, the horses in the backfield could have quite a say in who finishes out front by season’s end.