Most Likely To Lead SEC In Rushing: Ballard, Dyer, Lattimore or Richardson?

When you  look at the SEC, you do not have to look hard to find outstanding running backs all around the conference. Out of all the great backs in the SEC, the three that have begun to separate themselves are Vick Ballard, Trent Richardson and Marcus Lattimore.

Marcus Lattimore is coming off an outstanding freshmen season and truly made a name for himself around the nation. So far this year, Lattimore is proving that he was not a one-year wonder, as he has rushed for 288 yards and four touchdowns through the first two games of the season.

Vick Ballard has also got off to a great start to 2011 as he rushed for 301 yards and four scores in his first two games but then failed to get anything going against LSU this past Thursday. Only putting up 38 yards on the ground against LSU is not a great way to separate yourself against the other elite backs.

Lastly, Trent Richardson finds himself in an unusual spot, as he is now the main back in the Alabama offense. With the departure of Mark Ingram to the NFL, Richardson is now getting all of the carries and through two weeks had mixed results.

Against Kent State, Richardson rushed for less than 40 yards put got into the end zone three times. The next week, Bama took on Penn State on the road and Richardson put up 111 yards and scored twice.

When you look at the complete body of work by all three of these back early in the season, you realize that Lattimore has all the tools and skills to be the best back in the SEC and maybe the nation. He runs hard and puts up big yards no matter whom he goes up against.

If Lattimore can be as effective this year as he was in his first season, South Carolina will be in great position to have another outstanding season.

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