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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 02:  Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates his touchdown against the Florida Gators at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 02: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates his touchdown against the Florida Gators at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

SEC Football 2011: Ranking the Starting Running Backs

Alex RobertsJun 1, 2018

The SEC is the premier league is college football... this can be debated.  What can't be, however, is the SEC is home to some of the best running backs in college football. 

Here is how I see the starting running backs and how they stack up to one another. 

12. Raymond Sanders, Kentucky

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LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 09: Raymond Sanders #4 of the Kentucky Wildcats is tackled by the Auburn Tigers defense during the SEC game at Commonwealth Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky.  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 09: Raymond Sanders #4 of the Kentucky Wildcats is tackled by the Auburn Tigers defense during the SEC game at Commonwealth Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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Raymond Sanders will have a great deal of work to do to replace the great Derrick Locke. 

Beyond him, they have a bunch of unproven players at the running back position... and at 3.7 YPC, Sanders doesn't seem to have SEC level skills. 

Could be wrong, but Kentucky is in trouble.

11. Warren Norman, Vanderbilt

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 7: Running back Warren Norman #27 of the Vanderbilt Commodores rushes upfield against the Florida Gators on November 7, 2009 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida.  (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 7: Running back Warren Norman #27 of the Vanderbilt Commodores rushes upfield against the Florida Gators on November 7, 2009 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
     
     
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8774596.04

Warren Norman is a nice player.  That is all... he has good vision, and on a better team would be a good number two guy. 

He is built well, and runs powerfully.

10. Michael Ford, LSU

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20:  Michael Ford #42 of the Louisiana State University Tigers against the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Michael Ford #42 of the Louisiana State University Tigers against the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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10452445.43

There is a chance that this guy won't start next year, however, I would put my money on this guy in a heartbeat. 

He has a chance to be a very good player for LSU, but it remains to be see if the success he saw in short bursts as a freshman will carry over to being a full time starter. 

An extremely strongly built running back, this muscular and imposing figure could add some punch to LSU's offense. 

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9. Brandon Bolden, Mississippi

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20:  Brandon Bolden #34 of the Ole Miss Rebels against the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Brandon Bolden #34 of the Ole Miss Rebels against the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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A nice surprise from an otherwise miserable season. He put up good numbers his first two years, but exploded for 14 touchdowns in 2010. 

He has good top end speed and good vision.  He seems to know where the holes will develop. I look for him to put up over 1,000 yards and improve on his touchdown total to improve his draft stock. 

8. Washaun Ealy, Georgia

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ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 27:  Washaun Ealey #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs rushes upfield against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Athens, Georgia.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 27: Washaun Ealey #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs rushes upfield against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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Georgia fans have to hope Washaun Ealy and his off the field troubles are truly over. This man is power, pure and simple. He doesn't have elite speed, and tends to disappear in big games (SC, UCF), and a great deal of his production came from his monster game against Kentucky. 

However, he could grow into one of the best pure power guys in the league. 

7. Jeffery Demps, Florida

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 02:  Jeffery Demps #2 of the Florida Gators against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 02: Jeffery Demps #2 of the Florida Gators against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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10925516.03

This player doesn't have the stats of Brandon Bolden or Washaun Ealey and is comparable to Warren Norman of Vanderbilt in terms of production. 

However, he has all the talent in the world and could be one of the best backs in football. This is the year I feel he makes a move into the elite category.

Part of his problem was Florida's inability to have a stable offense in 2010. The multi-talented runner didn't get his hands on the ball nearly enough some games, he only got 2 to 4 carries. 

With a pro-style offense, he will produce a 1,000 yard season, and will at LEAST triple his touchdown total. 

With a forty time of 4.19 seconds (according to Frank Conney's NFL Draft Scout), he is the fastest back in the SEC.

6. Tauren Poole, Tennessee

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COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 30:  Tauren Poole #28 of the Tennessee Volunteers against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Columbia, South Carolina.  (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 30: Tauren Poole #28 of the Tennessee Volunteers against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
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Tauren Poole was a big surprise in 2010. In September and October, he was a revelation. Showing power and speed to go with a great frame and good pass catching ability. 

His production fell off towards the end of the year, but he still coasted in with great statistics and a bright future. 

5. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 13: Running back Vick Ballard #28  of the Mississippi State Bulldogs rushes upfield against the Alabama Crimson Tide November 13, 2010 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 13: Running back Vick Ballard #28 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs rushes upfield against the Alabama Crimson Tide November 13, 2010 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
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121869685.219

Vick Ballard is a bruiser. At 220 pounds, he has the size to really do some great damage. He is also a touchdown machine. 

He has been described as a war horse or a battering ram and these descriptions feel valid when talking about a player as tough as him. Mississippi State owes a great deal of their offensive success to this super talented power back. 

4. Knile Davis, Arkansas

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04:  Knile Davis #7 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Im
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Knile Davis #7 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Im
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Knile Davis is a superstar, plain and simple. He is blazing fast, finds the end zone, and has power. He is hard to tackle once you get your hands on him.

He is also just a sophomore and will continue to get better. He could be looking at a 1,500 yard 20 touchdown season in a Mallett-less Arkansas offense. 

3. Michael Dyer, Auburn

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10:  Michael Dyer #5 of the Auburn Tigers runs down field against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Michael Dyer #5 of the Auburn Tigers runs down field against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox
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Michael Dyer, the "other" true freshman SEC star running back, will blow up this year. With Cam Newton and his gaudy rushing statistics out of the way, Dyer will be looking to be the No. 1 class of 2010 running back by the end of the season. 

He has the talent, very quick, with good hands and he runs with a good amount of power. He also benefits from having a solid backup/co-starter in Onterio McCallebb. Watch for his numbers to sky rocket in 2011. 

2. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 04:  Running back Marcus Lattimore #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs with the ball during the 2010 SEC Championship against the Auburn Tigers at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty
ATLANTA - DECEMBER 04: Running back Marcus Lattimore #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs with the ball during the 2010 SEC Championship against the Auburn Tigers at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty
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1324911974.817

Marcus Lattimore is one of those rare complete packages in a running back. He has good speed, tremendous power and always falls forward. 

Scoring 17 touchdowns in his freshman year is just one of the more phenomenal feats in 2010. If he can stay healthy for the entire season in 2011, it is not unreasonable to predict a monstrous season out of Marcus Lattimore. 

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama

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COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 9: Running back Trent Richardson #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns a kick against the South Carolina Gamecocks October 9, 2010 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.  (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 9: Running back Trent Richardson #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns a kick against the South Carolina Gamecocks October 9, 2010 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
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111127006.36

One of the fiercest athletes in the SEC, Trent Richardson is a scary combination of size, power and speed. 

He is renowned at Alabama for his bench pressing skills, and his strength is intense for a running back.  He is currently ranked as the No. 1 running back in the 2013 running back class, and with good reason. He will be the scariest SEC back in 2011. 

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