College Football 2011: The Most Overrated Running Back from Each BCS Conference

Running back is almost as important a position on the football field as quarterback. The running back touches the ball as much as the quarterback. The running back can change the course of the game just like the quarterback. And the running back can lose a game just like a quarterback.

Every conference, every team, and every fan has an overrated player out there. 

Today we take a look at the most overrated running back from each of the six BCS conferences. 

ACC: James Washington, North Carolina State

Washington has carried the ball 47 times for only 169 yards and just three touchdowns. 

Thursday night against Cincinnati, he only touched the ball four times for -1 yard. 

This is James Washington's first year as a starter—and it will be his only year as a starter. He ranks last in the ACC among players who have over 40 carries. 

Big East: De'Antwan Williams, Rutgers

In his first and only year as an active member on the Rutgers team, Williams has failed to live up to his preseason hype. 

De'Antwan has zero touchdowns only 50 yards on 20 carriers in just two games. 

Maybe he will break out this week, but for now he's very overrated. 

Big 12: John Hubert, Kansas State

When your leading rusher is your quarterback, you're either doing something wrong on the offensive line because you cannot run the ball and your pass protection is breaking down, or you have an awful running back.

In Kansas State's situation, they have the overrated running back in John Hubert.

Hubert has averaged 4.6 yards per carry in two games, but he only has 120 yards and zero touchdowns.  

Big Ten: Edwin Baker, Michigan State

The Big Ten's leading rushers aren't running backs. Instead No. 1 and No. 2 are quarterbacks Taylor Martinez (Nebraska) and Denard Robinson (Michigan). 

At one point, Michigan State was the No. 15 team in the country. Last week, they were dumped by Notre Dame while rushing for only 29 yards as a team. 

In that game against Notre Dame, Baker had 10 attempts for just 26 yards. 

On the season, Baker has one touchdown and only 167 rushing yards in three games. 

Pac-12: D.J. Morgan, USC

It's hard to say that a freshman is overrated, but 25 carries in three games for just 95 yards and no touchdowns makes you overrated. 

Morgan leads the team in rushing attempts, but is second in yards rushing and yards per carry. 

Maybe this kid can figure out the college rushing game, and maybe he can become a great back like Reggie Bush was at USC. 

But for now he's an overrated kid from high school.

SEC: Tauren Poole, Tennessee

This was a hard find in a very deep Southeastern Conference pool of running backs. But Poole only has one touchdown on the year, ranks outside of the top-10 of running backs in total yards, and has averaged just 4 yards per carry on 54 carries this year, while other backs are in the five to six yards per game. 

Poole is a senior who has had big games against non-conference defenses, but he failed to deliver against Florida last week. 

He can rebound in Tennessee's next game against an SEC opponent. 

Follow me on Twitter: @tjmcaloon