College Football's Five Most Unheralded Running Backs

Every college football season there are a handful of running backs who don’t get the media attention they deserve. These backs put up great numbers, but remain anonymous on the college football landscape.  Here are five backs that I feel should be given more media attention.

Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky

Bobby Rainey leads the FBS in rushing yards (1,649), and carries (340).  Rainey has accounted for nearly 50 percent of his team’s offensive production this season. He didn’t just rack up yards against weaker opponents in the Sun Belt Conference either. Rainey ran for 155 yards against Nebraska, and tacked on another 184 yards against Kentucky earlier this season.

Alex Green, Hawaii

Alex Green is the first Hawaii RB since Travis Sims in 1992, to run for over 1,000 yards.  Green also currently leads the FBS with 8.7 yards per carry.

Chad Spann, Northern Illinois

Chad Spann leads the FBS in rushing TDs (20), which has helped Northern Illinois clinch a birth in the MAC Championship Game.

Lance Dunbar, North Texas

Lance Dunbar has three 200 yard rushing performances this season, and all of them have occurred in the last five games of the season.  Last week Dunbar rushed for 270 yards against Kansas State, to bring his season rushing total to 1,553 yards.

Montee Ball, Wisconsin

Montee Ball has stepped it up for Wisconsin this November.  With starting RB John Clay hurt, the Badgers BCS Bowl aspirations could have been put to an end, but Ball hasn’t let that happen.  In his last four games, Ball has rushed for 645 yards, and has scored 13 TDs.