The Nation's 50 Best College Football Running Backs from the 2011 Season

With Baylor's Robert Griffin III winning the 2011 Heisman Trophy, it has been two seasons since a running back has won the award.

Even when Alabama's Mark Ingram claimed the honor, he was the first running back to win it since Wisconsin's Ron Dayne in 1999.

But I'm here to show the running backs some love. It's not like they need it as much as the offensive linemen, but outside the top three or four backs, the name recognition drops off a bunch.

So here's a fantasy league listing of college running backs that you should know.

50. Levell Coppage, Wisconsin-Whitewater

Attempts: 348

Yards: 2,029

Touchdowns: 27

Levell Coppage repeated as the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the Division III Warhawks.

The All-American has been gashing defenses all season, and he hopes to lead Whitewater to a third consecutive national championship.

Coppage rushed for 170 yards against St. Thomas in the semifinals. Whitewater won 20-0 to advance to the title game.

49. Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill

Attempts: 366

Yards: 2,170

Touchdowns: 18

Jonas Hill rushed for more than 5,000 yards in his career, and he earned All-American honors starting in his sophomore year.

He also had 54 touchdowns as he rewrote basically every rushing record at Mars Hill.

Randolph has the potential to be drafted this year, and he'll at least get a shot as a free agent at the next level.

48. Shakir Bell, Indiana State

Attempts: 230

Yards: 1,670

Touchdowns: 14

Bell was the Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year after the Sycamores finished 6-5.

He's a small back at 5'7", 185 pounds, but he just might be the best player at the FCS level.

Bell was a All-American as a sophomore.

47. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

Attempts: 163

Yards: 818

Touchdowns: 10

Marcus Lattimore was a Heisman front-runner until a season-ending knee injury cost him the final five games of the season.

He's both tough and fast, which makes him a dangerous threat.

The Gamecocks hope he can return in 2012 in top form.

46. Chris Rainey, Florida

Attempts: 155

Yards: 790

Touchdowns: 2

Chris Rainey didn't have the type of career his talent suggested, but he still had a solid senior season for the Gators.

He had four 100-yard rushing performances this season, including a 132-yard performance against South Carolina.

However, the speedster didn't score a touchdown in Florida's final 10 games of the regular season.

45. Ed Wesley, TCU

Attempts: 104

Yards: 649

Touchdowns: 5

Ed Wesley missed three games early in the season but still put together a nice season for the Horned Frogs.

Wesley's best game was a 120-yard, two-touchdown performance against Wyoming.

He also rushed for 146 yards against San Diego State.

44. Kenny Turner, New Mexico State

Attempts: 219

Yards: 1,074

Touchdowns: 10

Kenny Turner had a solid two seasons at New Mexico State after joining the Aggies from Fullerton College.

He rushed for more than 100 yards six times this season, including a 112-yard, three-touchdown performance in a 48-45 victory over Fresno State.

Turner is 25 and didn't play football for five years after serving time in prison starting at 16 following a shooting while growing up in Orlando, Fla.

43. Brandon Rutley, San Jose State

Attempts: 216

Yards: 903

Touchdowns: 12

Brandon Rutley missed one game this season, but he also had a 209-yard, two-touchdown showing in a 34-24 victory over New Mexico State.

He also rushed for two touchdowns against Colorado State and Navy.

He was a second-team All-WAC selection.

42. Curtis McNeal, USC

Attempts: 145

Yards: 1,005

Touchdowns: 6

Curtis McNeal worked his way out of Lane Kiffin's doghouse by living up to his potential this year.

He opened eyes with a 79-yard performance against Syracuse, and he followed that up with strong performances against Notre Dame (118), Stanford (145), Washington (148) and UCLA (124).

However, he is remembered for his fumble in overtime that cost USC the game against Stanford.

McNeal should enter next season as the clear-cut starter, but at USC there is always plenty of talent in the backfield, so nothing is guaranteed.

41. Donte Harden, Ohio

Attempts: 173

Yards: 938

Touchdowns: 2

Donte Harden missed two games but still almost rushed for 1,000 yards for the 9-4 Ohio Bobcats.

Following two losses, Harden had two of his best games of the season. First, he rushed for 123 yards in a 37-20 win at Akron, and then he rushed for 184 in a 35-31 win over Temple.

Harden's final game for Ohio will be in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

40. Antwon Bailey, Syracuse

Attempts: 240

Yards: 1,051

Touchdowns: 6

Antwon Bailey had six 100-yard rushing performances this fall, including a 125-yard showing against West Virginia in the Carrier Dome.

He was first-team All-Big East, but the Orange didn't qualify for a bowl game, so the next time you'll see Bailey is probably in an all-star game as he tries to impress NFL scouts.

39. Chris Nwoke, Colorado State

Attempts: 200

Yards: 1,130

Touchdowns: 9

Chris Nwoke was one of the only positives to come out of Colorado State's 3-9 season, which included eight straight losses.

He was hampered by an ankle injury in the season finale with Wyoming and managed just 15 yards.

However, he had two 200-yard showings this fall—including a 269-yard, two-touchdown game versus Air Force.

Nwoke will be a nice building block for Jim McElwain, who was recently announced as the head coach at Colorado State after serving as Alabama's offensive coordinator under Nick Saban.

38. Lance Dunbar, North Texas

Attempts: 269

Yards: 1,115

Touchdowns: 10

Lance Dunbar has led North Texas in rushing the past three seasons and was once again a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference performer.

Dunbar set a school and conference single-game record with 313 yards rushing in a 59-7 victory over Middle Tennessee. He also scored four touchdowns in the performance and became the school's all-time leading rusher.

He was a key part of why the Mean Green reached five victories in 2011.

37. Lyle McCombs, Connecticut

Attempts: 275

Yards: 1,151

Touchdowns: 7

Lyle McCombs, a redshirt freshman, had six 100-yard rushing performances and a career-best 152 yards versus Syracuse.

He opened with 141 against Fordham and 118 against Vanderbilt. He also had four of his seven touchdowns in the win against Fordham.

McCombs stepped up big for first-year coach Paul Pasqualoni, who was planning to platoon him at running back. But when D.J. Shoemate was injured, McCombs got the bulk of the carries.

36. Alfred Morris, Florida Atlantic

Attempts: 234

Yards: 1,188

Touchdowns: 9

Florida Atlantic's 1-11 record in Howard Schnellenberger's final season didn't overshadow the performance of Alfred Morris.

The senior was named to the second team All-Sun Belt Conference offense.

Morris was second in the conference in rushing, averaging 98.8 yards per game. He leaves FAU as the program's career rushing leader with 3,529 yards.

35. Le'Veon Bell, Michigan State

Attempts: 165

Yards: 900

Touchdowns: 11

As a sophomore, Le'Veon Bell has emerged as a tough runner for Michigan State.

It appears the starting job will be his next season, and that's a good start on offense for Mark Dantonio.

He only had two 100-yard performances, but Bell was used to balance an offense that was led by quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Expect more from him in 2012.

34. Kenjon Barner, Oregon

Attempts: 145

Yards: 909

Touchdowns: 11

Kenjon Barner barely played in the opener against LSU and sat out Oregon's next two games but still managed to average 6.27 yards a carry.

His touches are reduced because of the presence of LaMichael James, but Barner is a legitimate No. 1 back.

He rushed for 171 against Arizona State and 123 against USC. He also had 100-yard performances versus Colorado and Washington State.

33. Cameron Marshall, Arizona State

Attempts: 219

Yards: 1,038

Touchdowns: 18

Cameron Marshall was Arizona State's scoring machine at times this season.

His best game was a three-touchdown performance when the Sun Devils downed USC 43-22. He also had 141 yards on 25 carries in the win.

While ASU's season went downhill from there, Marshall kept performing.

He had three more 100-yard games, including 157 yards and two touchdowns in a 47-38 loss to California in the regular-season finale.

32. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State

Attempts: 179

Yards: 1,009

Touchdowns: 8

So much more was expected out of Vick Ballard and Mississippi State this season, but the Bulldogs will have to live with a 6-6 campaign.

Ballard started the season strong with 166 yards against Memphis and then 135 against Auburn. He also closed the season with 144 yards against rival Ole Miss.

Eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark was a goal Ballard set after he came up just short in 2010.

31. Cierre Wood, Notre Dame

Attempts: 199

Yards: 1,042

Touchdowns: 9

Cierre Wood started eight of Notre Dame's 12 games this season, and he shared running chores with Jonas Gray.

Since Gray's injury against Boston College, Wood is the main back heading to the bowl game.

Against Purdue, Wood rushed for 191 yards and scored one time in a 38-10 win over Purdue.

Wood should be the starter in 2012.

30. Fitzgerald Toussaint, Michigan

Attempts: 174

Yards: 1,011

Touchdowns: 9

In 11 games, Fitzgerald Toussaint established himself as the running back of the future for Brady Hoke.

Through the first half of the season, he wasn't even Hoke's top choice. But now Toussaint and quarterback Denard Robinson are the first Michigan duo to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season since Rob Lytle and Gordon Bell in 1975.

I'm sure Virginia Tech will get a steady dose of Toussaint in the Sugar Bowl as the Hokies try to stop Robinson.

29. Zac Stacy, Vanderbilt

Attempts: 183

Yards: 1,136

Touchdowns: 13

Zac Stacy earned second-team All-SEC honors this fall, which is no small feat for a Vanderbilt running back.

The junior rushed for more than 100 yards five times, including a 198-yard, two-touchdown performance against Army. He also had 184 yards and three scores in the season-finale against Wake Forest.

The only knock on Stacy is he didn't have his best days against Vanderbilt's strongest opponents.

28. Branden Oliver, Buffalo

Attempts: 306

Yards: 1,395

Touchdowns: 13

The sophomore rushed for more than 100 yards in eight of Buffalo's 12 games this season.

Branden Oliver's best game came against Akron when he rushed for 235 yards and two scores in a 51-10 win.

Oliver was easily the bright spot in a 3-9 season for the Bulls.

27. Stepfan Taylor, Stanford

Attempts: 207

Yards: 1,153

Touchdowns: 8

Stepfan Taylor was overshadowed by the hype machine focused on Andrew Luck, but the junior had a strong season for the 11-1 Cardinal.

He is just the third running back in Stanford history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in back-to-back seasons.

He rushed for more than 100 yards five times in 2011, but he also rushed for 90-99 in three other games.

His best outing was when he rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries against Washington.

26. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

Attempts: 198

Yards: 1,045

Touchdowns: 12

Cyrus Gray's statistics would be even better had he not missed the season finale against Texas with a stress fracture in his shoulder.

His status for the Meineke Car Care Bowl is questionable at this time.

His best showing of 2011 came in a 53-50 loss to Kansas State, when Gray rushed for 218 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries.

He made second-team All-Big 12.

25. Doug Martin, Boise State

Attempts: 232

Yards: 1,148

Touchdowns: 15

Doug Martin has been the unsung hero at Boise State, while quarterback Kellen Moore has gotten the headlines.

But Martin may go way higher in the NFL draft this spring.

He has 42 career touchdowns, including 15 this season.

Martin torched Colorado State earlier in the year with 200 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. He also had 153 against Wyoming.

24. Giovani Bernard, North Carolina

Attempts: 226

Yards: 1,222

Touchdowns: 13

Giovani Bernard wasn't on the radar of many college football fans, mostly because most of them had never really heard of him.

He missed all of 2010 with a torn ACL but returned in 2011 to become the Tar Heels' main running threat.

Bernard was consistent all season, and he rushed for more than 100 yards in seven games, including 165 against Duke in the season finale.

23. John White IV, Utah

Attempts: 290

Yards: 1,405

Touchdowns: 14

John White IV provided the offense with some serious pop in his first year with Utah after transferring from a junior college.

He was second in the Pac-12 with 117 rushing yards a game, and the Utes went 7-0 when he surpassed 100 yards. Utah was 0-5 in all other games.

White's best outing came against BYU, when he rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries.

22. Terrance Ganaway, Baylor

Attempts: 229

Yards: 1,347

Touchdowns: 16

At 6'0", 240 pounds, Terrance Ganaway is a bruising back but has surprising speed as well.

Of course, he didn't get much publicity since his teammate Robert Griffin III was out there winning the Heisman Trophy.

Before 2011, Ganaway had started just one game in his career at Baylor.

This season he provided a nice balance for Griffin.

Ganaway had two 200-plus-yard rushing performances.

21. Henry Josey, Missouri

Attempts: 145

Yards: 1,168

Touchdowns: 9

The Missouri sophomore would likely be even higher up the list if he hadn't suffered a devastating knee injury in the 10th game of the season.

He missed the Tigers' final two games but still managed to make first team All-Big 12.

Josey rushed for 263 yards and three touchdowns in a 69-0 victory over Western Illinois.

Let's hope he makes a full recovery and returns for Missouri in 2012.

20. Robbie Rouse, Fresno State

Attempts: 328

Yards: 1,544

Touchdowns: 13

At 5'7", Robbie Rouse is in the mold of Darren Sproles.

He rushed for more than 100 yards in eight games this season, including 169 yards at Nebraska early in the season.

By the time he graduates, Rouse will own practically every school rushing record.

19. Silas Redd, Penn State

Attempts: 230

Yards: 1,188

Touchdowns: 7

After opening Big Ten play with five straight 100-yard rushing performances, Silas Redd was slowed by a collarbone injury.

Of course, the level of competition improved a great deal as well.

Still, he managed to have a nice sophomore year and is entrenched as the starter heading into 2012.

The bruising back could have a breakout season next year.

18. Robert Turbin, Utah State

Attempts: 229

Yards: 1,416

Touchdowns: 19

Robert Turbin garnered some attention after a two-touchdown showing in the opener at Auburn.

He followed that with five consecutive 100-plus-yard performances, including a 115-yard, four-touchdown game against Colorado State.

He was the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and will lead the Aggies against Ohio in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

It wouldn't be a shock to see Turbin bypass his final season at Utah State for a shot at the NFL.

17. Rex Burkhead, Nebraska

Attempts: 260

Yards: 1,268

Touchdowns: 15

Rex Burkhead was recently named the Male Athlete of the Semester by Nebraska student newspaper the Daily Nebraskan for what he does on and off the field.

Burkhead pounded his way to seven 100-yard performances this fall, and he could be a Heisman contender in 2012.

He closed the season with 38 carries for 160 yards and one touchdown. He's also a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield.

16. Isi Sofele, California

Attempts: 232

Yards: 1,270

Touchdowns: 9

Isi Sofele is not a very big back, but he gets a lot of carries and must absorb a lot of hits.

While he was a revelation for California this fall, coach Jeff Tedford may want to cut down on his carries a bit so he doesn't wear down in the future.

He opened the season with two touchdowns against Fresno State and closed with 145 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries against Arizona State.

15. Lamar Miller, Miami

Attempts: 227

Yards: 1,272

Touchdowns: 9

Just a redshirt sophomore, Lamar Miller won't be playing another down for Al Golden and Miami.

Miller has decided to skip his final two years to enter the NFL draft.

Miller could be a first-round pick, but don't be shocked if he slips a bit.

Despite Miami opening the season 2-3, Miller rushed for more than 100 yards in each game—including 184 yards in a win over Ohio State.

14. Zach Line, SMU

Attempts: 208

Yards: 1,224

Touchdowns: 17

Zach Line was poised to have his best season at SMU until a toe injury cost him the final two games of the season.

He isn't expected to play in the bowl game either.

Line eclipsed 100 yards in eight of the 10 games he did play in this year.

He had 1,449 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2010.

13. Andre Ellington, Clemson

Attempts: 213

Yards: 1,062

Touchdowns: 10

Andre Ellington's 2011 statistics don't necessarily put him as the game's 13th-best running back, but if you watch the guy play, you can see why he's so special.

At Clemson, he isn't asked to carry the offensive load. Instead, he's part of the Tigers' overall balanced attack.

Ellington missed one game this season and closed with 125 yards and a score in the ACC championship game against Virginia Tech.

12. Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky

Attempts: 369

Yards: 1,695

Touchdowns: 17

While Bobby Rainey was rewriting the Western Kentucky record books this fall, he was also garnering some national respect.

Rainey has been named a second- or third-team choice on most All-America teams after 4.59 yards a carry.

He had three 200-yard performances in 2011. His best outing came in the final game of the season when Rainey carried the ball 43 times for 227 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-18 victory against Troy.

11. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

Attempts: 209

Yards: 1,110

Touchdowns: 11

While West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith was putting up some gaudy stats this season, Isaiah Pead still earned the Big East Offensive Player of the Year honor.

Pead's production took a hit after star quarterback Zach Collaros was lost for the season with an ankle injury.

He still managed to eclipse 100 yards in five games.

10. Michael Dyer, Auburn

Attempts: 242

Yards: 1,242

Touchdowns: 10

Sophomore Michael Dyer may not have lived up to the lofty expectations, but almost anyone following Auburn football realized the Tigers were young and would take some lumps this season.

One of those impacted by the youth movement was Dyer.

Still, he managed to be one of the more productive backs in the nation.

However, he has been suspended by Gene Chizik for the upcoming Chick-fil-A Bowl.

9. Chris Polk, Washington

Attempts: 263

Yards: 1,341

Touchdowns: 11

Chris Polk can return to Washington in 2012 and potentially be the Pac-12's best running back.

He also has the lure of the NFL calling his name as well.

Polk is a physical back who rushed for more than 100 yards in nine games this fall.

Against Arizona he carried the ball 34 times for 144 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 144 yards against Stanford.

8. Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State

Attempts: 198

Yards: 1,193

Touchdowns: 23

When the TV folks talked about Oklahoma State this season, the focus was on Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon.

But don't overlook the sophomore running back Joseph Randle.

He scored a preposterous 23 touchdowns as the Cowboys just missed a shot at playing in the BCS National Championship Game.

Randle opened the season with three straight 100-yard performances and added a four-touchdown showing against Baylor.

7. Marcus Coker, Iowa

Attempts: 280

Yards: 1,384

Touchdowns: 15

Marcus Coker sort of exploded onto the scene last year when he rushed for 219 yards as Iowa upset Missouri in the Insight Bowl.

A lot was expected of him this season, and he delivered.

Coker rushed for 252 yards in a one-point loss to Minnesota, and he had two more more touchdowns in six games.

6. Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State

Attempts: 287

Yards: 1,656

Touchdowns: 19

Sophomore Ronnie Hillman enjoyed another strong season running the ball for the Aztecs.

He was a first team All-Mountain West Conference selection and should enter next season as a dark-horse candidate for the Heisman.

He rushed for four touchdowns against Washington State and Fresno State, while rushing for 204 yards against Wyoming.

5. David Wilson, Virginia Tech

Attempts: 266

Yards: 1,627

Touchdowns: 9

David Wilson was finally the featured back at Virginia Tech, and the junior delivered in a big way.

Now he must decide if another year in Blacksburg, Va. is what he needs or if it is time to give the NFL a shot.

You could almost count on Wilson to rush for more than 100 yards each game this season, as he did it 10 out of 13 games.

4. Bernard Pierce, Temple

Attempts: 248

Yards: 1,381

Touchdowns: 25

Bernard Pierce has been the go-to guy for Temple the past two years, and he really caught the nation's attention with his five-touchdown performance against Maryland.

Of course, at the time no one realized how bad Maryland was, but it's still a great game.

He eclipsed 100 yards in eight games this season, and he finished the regular season with 189 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Kent State.

Temple coach Steve Addazio is now wondering if his star back will return for his senior season.

3. LaMichael James, Oregon

Attempts: 222

Yards: 1,646

Touchdowns: 17

LaMichael James missed out on another trip to the Heisman Trophy ceremony, but that doesn't mean he didn't have another special season.

James rushed for more than 200 yards in a game four times, including three consecutive games—against Southwest Missouri State (204), Arizona (288) and California (239).

James missed two games because of an injury, but he was still the most exciting back in the nation.

It's unlikely he'll return to Eugene, Ore. for another season.

2. Montee Ball, Wisconsin

Attempts: 275

Yards: 1,759

Touchdowns: 32

Montee Ball had a strong 2010 campaign, but he dropped weight and picked up some speed.

It clearly showed, as he was a Heisman finalist and led the Badgers to a Big Ten championship and a spot in the Rose Bowl against Oregon.

Ball had a solid first half of the season, but he really took off starting with Wisconsin's 62-17 win over Purdue on Nov. 5. He finished with 223 yards and three touchdowns.

He went on to rush for 166 (Minnesota), 224 (Illinois), 156 (Penn State) and 137 yards (Michigan State). He also had 11 touchdowns during this four-game stretch.

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama

Attempts: 263

Yards: 1,583

Touchdowns: 20

Trent Richardson averaged nearly 132 yards a game for the 11-1 Crimson Tide.

He's strong for his size, and he will punish defenders. Richardson makes Alabama's offense go, and he will get another shot at LSU's defense in the BCS National Championship Game.

Richardson rushed for 203 yards against Auburn in the Iron Bowl to make his Heisman case. He finished with more than 100 yards in nine games.

With Richardson, the Tide didn't miss a beat without former Heisman winner Mark Ingram.