Consistency is often the first element that defines a dominant running back and the SEC has several heading into this season. Looking at each team’s starter in the backfield, here’s how their career totals stack up against the rest of the conference:

Career totals for 2014 SEC first-team running backs

• Todd Gurley, Georgia: 387 carries; 2,374 yds; 27 TD; 13 100-yd games
• T.J. Yeldon, Alabama: 382 carries; 2,343 yds; 26 TD; 11 100-yd games
• Marlin Lane, Tennessee: 296 carries; 1,472 yds; 8 TD; 2 100-yd games
• Mike Davis, South Carolina: 255 carries; 1,458 yds; 13 TD; 7 100-yd games
• Alex Collins, Arkansas: 190 carries; 1,096 yds; 4 TD; 4 100-yd games
• Marcus Murphy, Mizzou: 160 carries; 1,033 yds; 12 TD; 0 100-yd games
• Jerron Seymour, Vanderbilt: 247 carries; 984 yds; 19 TD; 1 100-yd game
• Josh Robinson, Miss. St: 133 carries; 794 yds; 4 TD; 1 100-yd game
• I’Tavius Mathers, Ole Miss: 122 carries; 771 yds; 4 TD; 1 100-yd game
• Terrence Magee, LSU: 114 carries; 759 yds; 9 TD; 3 100-yd games
• Cameron Artis-Payne, Auburn: 91 carries; 610 yds; 6 TD; 2 100-yd games
• Kelvin Taylor, Florida: 111 carries; 508 yds; 4 TD; 0 100-yd games
• Jojo Kemp, Kentucky: 100 carries; 482 yds; 3 TD; 0 100-yd games
• Tra Carson, Texas A&M: 62 carries; 329 yds; 7 TD; 0 100-yd games

TAKEAWAYS: Based on numbers, Vanderbilt’s Jerron Seymour is an underrated touchdown machine, ranking third for most career scores behind Todd Gurley and T.J. Yeldon with 19 … Gurley and Yeldon’s numbers are almost identical as the anchors in two of the SEC’s most productive rushing offenses … Tennessee’s Marlin Lane’s a workhorse with the league’s third-most career carries, but hasn’t received much love in the red zone with only eight touchdowns … It appears Alex Collins is well on his way at Arkansas after just one season as one of only six current running backs who has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark.

Brad Crawford