In order to measure the SEC’s best running backs in 2016, SDS updates a fresh top 10 each Monday. The criteria involves a mix of talent, recent past performance, 2016 production and outlook.
Here’s how the Top 10 looks after Week 5.
10. Jordan Scarlett, Florida: Injuries to running backs seem to be all the rage in the SEC right now, but something different is preventing Scarlett from reaching his potential: his own coaching staff. The sophomore was one of very few bright spots in No. 23 Florida’s ugly 13-6 win against Vanderbilt, producing the game’s only touchdown by dodging a tackler in the backfield from 4 yards out. His 24-yard rumble to set up that score was fueled by sheer willpower as well, yet Scarlett didn’t receive a single carry in a third quarter during which the Gators gained just 19 total yards. Coach Jim McElwain insists on a four-headed rushing attack of Scarlett (55 carries), Mark Thompson (47), Lamical Perine (37) and Jordan Cronkrite (23), corralling the most talented among them in a committee system. If given the lion’s share of touches, Scarlett could shine.
This week: 12 carries, 55 yards, 1 touchdown
Season: 55 carries, 274 yards, 4 touchdowns; 2 receptions, 9 yards
9. Nick Chubb, Georgia: I can’t blame Kirby Smart for trying. Georgia’s coach gave Chubb a carry early in the game against Tennessee before determining his star running back was a no-go with a sprained ankle. That was all the action the junior saw as the No. 11 Volunteers completed a last-second Hail Mary to win 34-31 at the No. 25 Bulldogs. Sony Michel and Brian Herrien again proved themselves as capable backups, but a healthy Chubb is still one of the best running backs in the country. Whether Chubb can return to full health is the key. He had been trending downward in these rankings over the past three weeks, and basically not playing only hurts him more.
This week: 1 carry, 3 yards
Season: 84 carries, 425 yards, 3 touchdowns; 1 reception, 12 yards
8. Stanley “Boom” Williams, Kentucky: Chalk it up to playing Alabama. Williams was as quiet as could be as the Wildcats lost a 34-6 game against the Crimson Tide, which boasts the third-best rushing defense in the nation. The junior split carries almost evenly with senior Jojo Kemp and freshman Benjamin Snell Jr., neither of whom fared much better on their portion of touches. Despite the meager outing, Williams has still been one of the most consistent backs in the conference, warranting him a spot in these rankings as the schedule thickens into SEC play.
This week: 9 carries, 22 yards; 1 reception, 3 yards
Season: 67 carries, 486 yards, 2 touchdowns; 4 receptions, 26 yards
7. Jalen Hurd, Tennessee: This week held a bit of good and bad news for Hurd, aside from No. 11 Tennessee pulling out a miraculous 34-31 victory at No. 25 Georgia. The good news: The junior is becoming a fixture in the Volunteers’ passing game after catching a touchdown for the second straight week and finishing tied for the team-high in receptions last Saturday. The bad news? Talented backup Alvin Kamara received six more carries than Hurd, with the former rushing almost as many times in that game as he had all season. I still believe Hurd is the better all-around back, and while it’s encouraging to see him heavily involved in the passing game, a decreased workload on the ground could hurt him in these rankings.
This week: 10 carries, 42 yards; 3 receptions, 50 yards, 1 touchdown
Season: 101 carries, 407 yards, 2 touchdowns; 7 receptions, 82 yards, 2 touchdowns
6. Rawleigh Williams III, Arkansas: If not for Devwah Whaley, who knows what ridiculous stat line Williams might have had. The true freshman ran 9 times for 135 yards, the bulk of which came on a 75-yard touchdown scamper. Williams, meanwhile, rushed for 126 yards on a relatively light workload of 13 carries, but make no mistake that’s he’s still the feature back in this offense. Arkansas thrashed FCS Alcorn State 52-10, so coach Bret Bielema spreading rushes between eight players is understandable. Bielema said following the game that he’d like to give Whaley more carries every week, but Williams should still see most of the carries ahead of the true freshman.
This week: 13 carries, 126 yards
Season: 101 carries, 559 yards, 4 touchdowns; 4 receptions, 11 yards
5. Leonard Fournette, LSU: For the second time this season, a lingering ankle injury prevented Fournette from playing. And for the second time this season, he isn’t falling too far in these rankings. I’d honestly prefer a hobbled Fournette over most running backs in the SEC, and possibly the country. His 128.7 yards per game are the best in the league and the eighth-best nationally, even though the junior hasn’t looked half as good this year as he did in 2015. I still firmly believe Fournette is the best back in the SEC, but I can’t justify ranking him No. 1 after he didn’t even play. Much like Chubb, it’s just a matter of getting healthy enough to show his stuff.
This week: Did not play (ankle)
Season: 67 carries, 386 yards, 2 touchdowns; 9 receptions, 69 yards
4. Kerryon Johnson, Auburn: Kamryn Pettway was sidelined with a bruised quadriceps muscle, giving Johnson the carries he needed to shine as Auburn demolished Louisiana-Monroe, 58-7. The two sophomores have shared the load for the better part of 2016, but Johnson proved he’s able to handle the bulk of the carries by himself. The 6-foot, 211-pound back gained more than 6 yards per carry, showing his dependability even against a lesser foe while racking up a career-high 146 yards. Johnson was a mainstay in these rankings even when splitting carries with Pettway, and he should continue to enjoy a spot here over the next few weeks.
This week: 24 carries, 146 yards, 2 touchdowns
Season: 102 carries, 517 yards, 6 touchdowns; 8 receptions, 70 yards
3. Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M: Williams undoubtedly remains one of the most electrifying running backs in the SEC, as evidenced by his 49-yard touchdown early in the second half of No. 9 Texas A&M’s 24-13 win at South Carolina. But the Gamecocks held him in check otherwise despite ranking in the bottom-third of FBS rushing defenses. Still, Williams is good for at least one home run play every week, which is a valuable asset for a team that spreads the ball around the field. Even better for Williams: Keith Ford, who looked to be coach Kevin Sumlin’s go-to back early in the season, received just one carry last Saturday.
This week: 14 carries, 98 yards, 1 touchdown; 2 receptions, 14 yards
Season: 54 carries, 487 yards, 4 touchdowns; 12 receptions, 71 yards
2. Derrius Guice, LSU: When Guice had to fill in for an injured Leonard Fournette against Jacksonville State earlier this season, I erroneously claimed he could start for 80 other FBS schools. Truth is, the sophomore would probably start at 100-plus schools. Guice gained more rushing yards in the first half (136) than Missouri had given up on average per game this year (131.8) entering Saturday. The power and elusiveness displayed on his 13 first-half carries helped LSU coast to a 42-7 win against Missouri, though his stat line could have been even more eye-popping had he not received less than a third of LSU’s rushes. Even while playing mostly as a backup, Guice’s 8.7 yards per carry is second-best in the SEC. Oh, did I mention he’s the leading rusher on a team that also has a guy named Leonard Fournette?
This week: 17 carries, 163 yards, 3 touchdowns; 1 reception, 21 yards
Season: 46 carries, 402 yards, 4 touchdowns; 3 receptions, 54 yards
1. Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt: Webb failed to find the end zone, but he still topped 100 yards against a Florida defense that allowed just 76.5 rushing yards per game (No. 8 nationally) entering last weekend. With his performance, the junior surpassed Frank Mordica for second all-time on Vanderbilt’s career rushing list and hit the 100-yard mark against the Gators for the second time in as many seasons. For perspective, no other Commodores running back has done that once since the turn of the century. Vanderbilt ended up losing to No. 23 Florida in an incredibly ugly 13-6 game, but Webb remains the SEC’s rushing leader in terms of yards gained despite being held down by the pieces — or lack thereof — around him. How did the Commodores even land this guy in the first place?
This week: 24 carries, 110 yards; 2 receptions, 17 yards
Season: 118 carries, 582 yards, 5 touchdowns; 10 receptions, 59 yards
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
