College Football 2011: 10 Running Backs Who Will Have Breakout Seasons
The 2011 college football season is going to feature a ton of fresh faces.
The turnover at running back is huge across the nation. Mark Ingram, Dion Lewis, Roy Helu Jr, John Clay and Noel Devine are all gone.
The stage is set for a new group of backs to show off their skills and a ton of freshman and sophomore backs will be getting significant amounts of careers.
Most of these players have been big time prospects that have been patiently waiting for their turn.
The time is now.
Let's take a look at 10 RBs that will garner for your attention in 2011.
10. Kenjon Barner, Oregon
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The rising junior may be stuck in the shadow of LaMichael James, but Barner is primed to make the Oregon rushing attack a two-man game.
In 91 rushing attempts in 2010, Barner ran for 551 yards and six TDs. He added 13 catches for 121 yards of receiving to his yardage totals as well.
Barner is one of the fastest players in the most high-powered offense in the country. In 2010, he ripped off a 41-yard rushing TD and a 60-yard receiving TD.
Expect the explosive Barner to get more touches in 2011.
9. Jeff Scott, Ole Miss
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The Ole Miss running attack relies on a two back system and Scott is a perfect fit.
He is only 5’9 and 175 pounds so he doesn’t have the size to be an every down running back, but Scott looks poised to be the next Dexter McCluster with his deadly speed and incredible vision down field.
He had 476 yards rushing in 2010 with limited carries (66). He showed off his speed with a 55-yard run and a breath taking 83-yard scamper against Auburn.
Brandon Bolden will handle the power running game and Scott will be in charge of making the game changing plays.
8. Jonathan Franklin, UCLA
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With guys like Deshaun Foster and Maurice Jones-Drew going on to have success in the pros in the 2000s, UCLA has a proud tradition when it comes to producing great running backs.
The wait is over for the next one in line.
Franklin has great size (5’10, 200 pounds), with immense quickness and muscle.
He rushed for 1,127 yards and eight touchdowns in his sophomore season after rushing for 566 yards his freshman campaign.
UCLA had a rough season and were forced to throw the ball a lot more often than planned.
Assuming the Bruins aren’t constantly playing from behind, Franklin will get his chance to shine.
A 1.500 yard season is a very real possibility for Franklin.
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7. Waymon James, TCU
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The 5’8, 190 pound James was a solid back in his first year in a crowded TCU backfield.
The red-shirt freshman averaged six-yards a carry on his 513 rushing yards and five TDs.
The TCU running game features two other studs in Ed Wesley and Matthew Tucker, but it’s James that has the potential to be the star.
James possesses great body control and balance as he really utilizes his low center of gravity. He has soft hands and will be a receiving threat in the TCU passing attack going forward.
He may be too small to handle the majority of the carries, but expect James to play a prominent role in the Horned Frogs' offense in 2011.
6. Ken Malcome, Georgia
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Taking the SEC by storm is a tall task to do as a red-shirt freshman, but that’s what the Bulldogs expect from one of their top recruits from the 2010 class.
What scouts love about Malcome is his north-south running style that results in very few negative rushes. He rarely dances around his offensive line— it’s straight down hill running.
He has terrific vision and the ability to make quick and precise cutbacks. Malcome also has the size to wear down SEC defenses with his sheer power, even as a freshman.
Malcome may not win the Heisman Trophy in ’11, but he will be a factor from Day One at Georgia.
5. Silas Redd, Penn St.
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The Nittany Lions’ all-time leading rusher, Evan Royster, is gone.
Redd will be the guy in an offense that is known for pounding the opponent with it's running game. Redd will be getting a ton of carries in 2011.
As a freshman, Redd had 437 yards in a mere 77 attempts. That’s an outstanding 5.7 yards per carry.
Question marks surrounding the QB position means that Redd is even more important to the offense. Playing for a team with a rich tradition at RB...assume Redd to be the next guy in line.
4. James White, Wisconsin
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The 2010 Big Ten Freshman of the Year is poised to be one of the top backs in the country in 2011.
He accumulated 1,052 yards on a impressive 6.7 per carry. He reached the end zone 14 times and ripped off 459 yards and five TDs in his last three regular season games.
The sky is the limit for the 5’10, 200 pound back that has a great blend of speed and power.
3. Ronnie Hillman, San Diego St.
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If it weren’t for playing in the Mountain West conference, Hillman would have been the most talked about freshman running back in all of college football.
The stats are insane:
1,532 rushing yards, 17 TDs, and a 228 yard, three TD performance in the Poinsettia Bowl
If he can top those numbers in 2011, Hillman will be putting up Tecmo Bowl like numbers. SDSU is a team on the rise and Hillman will be at the fore-front of the team's success.
Don’t forget…Hillman will only be a sophomore next year.
2. Marcus Coker, Iowa
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No doubt about this one.
Coker missed half the season but still was able to collect 622 yards on 5.5 yards per carry.
Then came the Insight Bowl against Missouri. The coming out party for Coker featured 219 yards and two TDs. He gauged the defense for 6.6 yards a carry.
He will be the main back his sophomore year and the vocal point of an offense that has gone through a weird off-season.
The strength of Coker is perfectly suited for the Big 10 and he has the speed to match. Coker will be playing on Sunday's at some point, but will be a premier back on Saturday's for the next two or three seasons.
1. Roy Finch, Oklahoma
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The favorites to win the championship will be getting plenty of attention throughout the season.
DeMarco Murray was a four-year starter but is no longer a Sooner.
Next up is Finch.
Finch accumulated 398 yards and two TDs while backing up Murray in 2010. Sooner Nation is very excited to see what Finch can do with the majority of the carries.
The powerfully built 5’8", 170 pound back with the fantastically quick moves has been compared to former two-time All-Big 12 running back Quentin Griffin (1999-2002)—the Sooners' fifth all-time leading rusher.
Lofty expectations.
Take over the running duties for the preseason No. 1 and try and live up to the comparisons of one of the greatest players in school history.
No pressure.
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