College Football 2011 Preview: Ranking the Top Running Backs in Each Conference

Right now, it seems like there are two main types of running backs in college football.

These days, there are the small, speedy slasher types who are best suited for the increasingly popular spread offense, and then there are also the bigger, sturdier power backs that you see in conferences like the SEC and the Big Ten.

It can be difficult to compare the two, because both types of backs are equally effective at what they’re asked to do.

What we can do, though, is appreciate each runner for what they have to offer.

There looks to be a lot of impact running backs in college football this season, and with so many early entrants for this year's draft, the door is open for a lot of breakout stars to emerge.

Here are some names to watch in each conference for the upcoming season.

ACC

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CHESTNUT HILL, MA - OCTOBER 03: Montel Harris #2 of the Boston College Eagles celebrates his touchdown in the first quarter against the Florida State Seminoles on October 3, 2009 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Im

1. Montel Harris, Boston College

2. David Wilson, Virginia Tech

3. Lamar Miller, Miami

4. Andre Ellington, Clemson

5. Chris Thompson, Florida State

6. Josh Harris, Wake Forest

7. Mustafa Greene, North Carolina State

8. Orwin Smith, Georgia Tech

9. Mike James, Miami

10. Davin Meggett, Maryland

Big Ten

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 27: Running back Edwin Baker #4 of the Michigan State Spartans carries the ball during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on November 27, 2010 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. The Spartans won 28-22.(

1. Edwin Baker, Michigan State

2. Marcus Coker, Iowa

3. Boom Herron, Ohio State

4. Montee Ball, Wisconsin

5. Rex Burkhead, Nebraska

6. Silas Redd, Penn State

7. Jason Ford, Illinois

8. Ralph Bolden, Purdue

9. James White, Wisconsin

10. Mike Trumpy, Northwestern

Big East

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LOUISVILLE, KY - OCTOBER 15: Isaiah Pead #23 of the Cincinnati Bearcats runs with the ball during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on October 15, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Ly

1. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

2. Ray Graham, Pitt

3. Jeremy Wright, Louisville

4. D.J. Shoemate, UConn

5. Antwon Bailey, Syracuse

6. Shawne Alston, West Virginia

7. Darrell Scott, South Florida

8. Savon Huggins, Rutgers

9. Victor Anderson, Louisville

10. Ryan Clarke, West Virginia

Big 12

1. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

2. Brandon Williams, Oklahoma

3. Christine Michael, Texas A&M

4. James Sims, Kansas

5. Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State

6. Eric Stephens, Texas Tech

7. Cody Johnson, Texas

8. Roy Finch, Oklahoma

9. Bryce Brown, Kansas State

10. Shontrelle Johnson, Iowa State

Pac-12

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CORVALLIS, OR - DECEMBER 4: LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game at Reser Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Corvallis, Oregon. The Ducks beat the Beavers 37-20 to likely go on the BCS Championship g

1. LaMichael James, Oregon

2. Chris Polk, Washington

3. Johnathan Franklin, UCLA

4. Stepfan Taylor, Stanford

5. Cameron Marshall, Arizona State

6. Rodney Stewart, Colorado

7. Kenjon Barner, Oregon

8. DJ Morgan, USC

9. Keola Antolin, Arizona

10. Jesse Callier, Washington

SEC

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AUBURN - OCTOBER 16: Running back Knile Davis #7 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs with the ball during the game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. The Tigers beat the Razorbacks 65-43. (Photo by Mike

1. Knile Davis, Arkansas

2. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

3. Trent Richardson, Alabama

4. Michael Dyer, Auburn

5. Brandon Bolden, Ole Miss

6. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State

7. Jeff Demps, Florida

8. Washaun Ealey, Georgia

9. Onterio McCalebb, Auburn

10. Tauren Poole, Tennessee

Conference USA

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 04: Running back Sam McGuffie #2 of the Rice Owls is tackled by linebacker Keenan Robinson #1 of the Texas Longhorns at Reliant Stadium on September 4, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

1. Sam McGuffie, Rice

2. Bryce Beall, Houston

3. Zach Line, Southern Methodist

4. Orleans Darkwa, Tulane

5. Kendrick Hardy, Southern Miss

MAC

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 19: Running back Bernard Pierce #30 of the Temple Owls carries the ball during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 19, 2009 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty

1. Bernard Pierce, Temple

2. Adonis Thomas, Toledo

3. Matt Brown, Temple

4. Eric Williams, Ball State

5. Tracy Woods, Miami (Ohio)

Mountain West

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SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 20: Running back Ronnie Hillman #13 of the San Deigo State Aztecs carries the ball on a five yard touchdown run in the second quarter against the Utah Utes at Qualcomm Stadium on November 20, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by

1. Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State

2. Doug Martin, Boise State

3. Ed Wesley, TCU

4. Asher Clark, Air Force

5. Alvester Alexander, Wyoming

Sun Belt

1. Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky

2. Lance Dunbar, Northern Texas

3. Darriet Perry, Florida International

4. Alfred Morris, Florida Atlantic

5. Shawn Southward, Troy

WAC

1. Robbie Rouse, Fresno State

2. Lennon Creer, Louisiana Tech

3. Kerwynn Williams, Utah State

4. Brandon Rutley, San Jose State

5. Kama Bailey, Idaho