National Signing Day 2011: The Top 10 Destinations for Running Back Recruits
National Singing Day 2011 approaches quickly and some of the most talked about players left on the board are running backs.
Long known as one of the starred positions on the football field, running backs still are the cream of the recruiting crop. And many of this year's top running backs will go on to make an immediate impact next year on the football field, regardless of where they end up.
But as running backs like Isaiah Crowell and Savon Huggins dwindle down their finalists and make their ultimate decision, one has to wonder: what can a school do to make a top running back want to commit there?
There are certainly advantages to the style of offense, history of sending running backs to the NFL and tradition of winning. In fact, all of those characteristics are surely at the top of the checklist for all top running backs.
Here are the Top 10 destinations for running back recruits.
Georgia
1 of 10
The Bulldogs have perenially produced some top talent at the running back position and depending on how National Signing Day goes for Georgia, that could be true again this year.
With top uncommitted running back Isaiah Crowell leaning towards the Bulldogs, they may be in line for the next Knoshon Moreno.
Alabama
2 of 10
With Mark Ingram likely heading to the NFL and Trent Richardson slotted to slide into the starting spot, the talent level at the running back position for the Tide is unquestionable.
Add five-star Dee Hart to the mix and this crew just got even better. Crowell is also reportedly considering Alabama.
Texas
3 of 10
Smack dab at the top of the Longhorns' 2011 recruiting class is Malcolm Brown, considered by some to be the nation's top running back.
Brown leads a long list of Texas recruits that could end up finishing the year as the top-ranked class in the country.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Clemson
4 of 10
With No. 6 running back Mike Bellamy, the Tigers are off to a good start with this year's recruiting class.
Bellamy is a 5'10'', 176-pound all-purpose back surely to make an impact quickly for the Tigers.
Florida
5 of 10
Amidst all of the terrific offensive talent already committed to Florida and and defensive prowess likely soon to be committing, there is a silver lining.
His name is Mike Blakely and he's a four-star running back. Ranked No. 7 among running backs, the 5'9'', 193-pound Blakely is the marquee running back in the Gators' 2011 class.
Auburn
6 of 10
Call him whatever you'd like. Athlete, running back or stud, Quan Bray can run the football.
And he's committed to the National Champions.
The 5'11'', 180-pound athlete is ranked No. 5 by ESPN and considered the fifth-ranked all-purpose back by Rivals.com.
Florida State
7 of 10
The Seminoles have compiled arguably the best 2011 recruiting class in the country and two of their top recruits are running backs.
Devonta Freeman, a four-star running back and three-star Eric Beverly, will provide plenty of offensive firepower to go along with Florida State's defensive-minded 2011 recruiting class, led by five-star safety Karlos Williams.
Michigan
8 of 10
Once the destination for Dee Hart, Michigan is now welcoming four-star running back Justice Hayes to campus.
The Wolverines are fine with that.
Hayes is the 22nd-ranked running back and the No. 3 all-purpose back, according to Michigan.
Utah
9 of 10
The Utes put on a show recruiting running back talent this recruiting season.
And they have three-star powerhouse Harvey Langi and Jarrell Oliver to show for it.
Langi may project better as a fullback, but he can sure carry the ball-with power. Oliver is a three-star back.
North Carolina
10 of 10
The Tarheels already have committed at running back three-star Romar Morris and four-star stud Travis Riley.
And they may still hear good news from five-star running back Savon Huggins, who considers UNC a favorite.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
