Ranking the SEC running backs after Week 1
Other than Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott, the SEC’s biggest stars entering this season are running backs.
Nick Chubb, Leonard Fournette and Derrick Henry even got considerable preseason mentions as Heisman Trophy contenders.
In an effort to track the SEC’s best running backs, we’ll release a running top 10 each Monday. The criteria will involve a mix of talent, past performance, production and outlook.
There will be some deserving snubs each week, or at least omitted players for which one can build a credible argument. We’ll address a few of those here.
In spite of Texas A&M’s stubborn insistence on running the ball, Tra Carson (96 yards on 3.3 ypc) did not make our top 10. Neither did Ole Miss starter Jaylen Walton (3 carries, 2 TDs). Perhaps Shon Carson (75 yards on 4 carries) will inherit more touches in South Carolina’s backfield and make a push for the top 10.
After Week 1, though, here are the SEC’s 10 best running backs:
10. Russell Hansbrough, Missouri: One of five SEC returnees who rushed for 1,000 yards last year, Hansbrough figured to be an even bigger focal point of the Tigers’ offense in 2015. He carried twice for 23 yards Saturday before a sprained ankle sidelined him for good. Hansbrough may be on his way off this list, as the team listed him as “questionable” for Saturday’s game at Arkansas State.
9. Keith Marshall, Georgia: Chubb and the rest of the Bulldogs have been regaling us with tales of a lighter, rejuvenated Marshall. But most everyone took a stance of “I’ll believe it when I see it.” That moment arrived Saturday, as Marshall averaged 7.3 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns against Louisiana-Monroe.
8. Kenyan Drake, Alabama: 12 touches, 125 total yards and one touchdown. Not a bad re-emergence after a gruesome injury. Said an exasperated coach Nick Saban during Monday’s press conference: “I’ve been trying to convince you all that the guy is fine. Now you know it. So how do you feel about it? … Do you believe me now?”
7. Peyton Barber, Auburn: Bet you didn’t expect this name to emerge as Auburn’s top back. Durability concerns for Roc Thomas resurfaced in the opener as he missed the entire second half due to injury, as did Jovon Robinson. But Barber was steady, gaining 115 yards on 24 carries. Expect Barber to continue to compile yards until others prove healthy and capable enough to displace him.
6. Boom Williams, Kentucky: Perhaps underutilized last season, Williams ran 75 yards for a score on the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage Saturday. The rest of his day wasn’t bad either, as he managed nine more carries for 60 more yards. He caught 17 passes as a freshman in 2014. UK stuck with the Air Raid offense through a coordinator change, so expect the team to utilize him as a receiver out of the backfield as well.
5. Jalen Hurd, Tennessee: We’re still giving the larger Hurd the nod ahead of his teammate Alvin Kamara, thinking he’ll get more touches and production during SEC play. But it’s possible that both players could crack the top 5 by year’s end, especially if the Vols approach Saturday’s 399 yards rushing on a regular basis. With more help around him, Hurd seems like a good bet to point toward a 1,000-yard season.
4. Alex Collins, Arkansas: As the unrivaled No. 1 running back, Collins rushed 12 times for 127 yards and one touchdown against UTEP. Considering true freshman Rawleigh Williams carried 16 times for just 45 yards, Collins’ performance stood out. It’s imperative that Arkansas gets more out of Collins post-September. But he easily could challenge for the conference rushing lead if the team relies on him more heavily during SEC play.
3. Leonard Fournette, LSU: We dinged Fournette a little here due to the missed opportunity against McNeese State. Mother Nature almost certainly crippled Fournette’s Heisman chances by limiting LSU’s season to 11 games. It will be very difficult for Fournette to catch Chubb and Henry for the rushing lead as well, if all three stay healthy. On talent alone, though, he’s still a top three back in the SEC. We can’t move him down too far for something that was out of his control.
2. Derrick Henry, Alabama: The SEC’s offensive player of the week ran for touchdowns of 37, 56 and 2 yards against a ranked Wisconsin team. The Badgers’ best tackler, potential All-American safety Michael Caputo, left on the third play with a head injury. The Tide’s offensive line looked impressive, though, wedging giant openings for Henry in the middle of the defense. If that continues, the 242-pound “El Tractorcito” is in store for a special season.
1. Nick Chubb, Georgia: Chubb played long enough to record his ninth consecutive 100-yard game against Louisiana-Monroe. Apparently ULM had the gall to suggest the Warhawks could slow down Chubb. “… when it was time to play, we’re going to realize those guys thought they were going to stop our running game, which (is) our bread and butter,” Chubb told DawgNation.com. “That was kind of disrespectful to us, so we came out here and showed them we can run the ball against them.”
Based on the first weeks performance, and that is all we have, Hansborough can’t miss 50min.of the game and still be on the list. Missouri fans will be the first to back you up on this. We know the SEMO d.line played very well and we know our o.line played below average. We also know that when he comes back healthy he will then average about 7ypc and go to the top of the list again.
Couldn’t agree with ya more…….In fact, ranking someone with 2 carries, even if they had two 75 yd ones, would be ridiculous.
Henry is the SEC offensive player of the week but only the second best RB this week? I think you missed the fact that Bama played a quality opponent while Georgia did not.
While Wisconsin is better than ULM they were overrated and not what most would consider “quality”
Wait wait wait…Wisconsin is not a quality opponent? What are you smoking and why haven’t you thrown it in the trash yet?
And just what would you consider a “quality opponent”, if not one ranked in the top 20? I don’t know if the Green Bay Packers were available last weekend. Who did your team play?
So because Wisconsin “was ranked” that makes them a quality opponent? Average defense, just lost their good RB, lost and replaced their RB coach. Oh wait because Bama plays them that already qualifies for them being quality opponents that had bids to be in the playoffs.
Funny how when Wisconsin beat us in the Outback bowl, we lost to a weak team. But now that Bama beat them, they are they cream of the crop….
Going to extremes, aren’t you? They have to be the worst or the best? Come on, Alabama was the only team in the country who started their season against a ranked opponent. It’s not easy to break in a new QB that way. Playing them at the end of the season? Yeah, you’re expected to win that one in the SEC.
Edit: meant to say they were the only ranked team to play another ranked team in week 1.
So, you admit that Wisconsin is better than ULM. Henry achieved better stats against said better team. Wouldn’t that qualify him to be better than Chubb week 1? Granted, no doubt Chubb will probably have better weeks than Henry, but this is a week 1 discussion, and comparatively, Henry was the best RB of week 1, hands down.
This was @ .357mag
Oh crap, denied a 97th NC!
Bamatime is that you? You’ve been missing in action since the site let everyone run wild on that bama video where everyone was racing to get Saban’s autograph.
Alatide, better watch what you say about ULM. I believe your almighty RT lost to them years back at home under Saban, Arkansas lost to them at home as well, and I do believe Auburn almost lost to them in overtime at home.
That’s about the least relevant comment on here.
“The criteria will involve a mix of talent, past performance, production and outlook.”
The list is not based on just this past Saturday.
Yeah, I saw that, but he said it’s a weekly list so it’s gotta be about week to week performance. That other stuff (talent and outlook?) is not really possible to rate on a weekly basis.
Chubb did it in a game that only went 3 quarters.
Henry did the same essentially as Bama ended up playing 3rd string in addition to Drake.
Chubb: 16 carries for 120 yds, 2 TDs against the Sisters of the Poor at home. Henry: 13 carries for 147 yds, 3 TDs against a ranked Power 5 team on a neutral field, plus SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Hmmm….
I must say Henry is a good running back, BUT he didn’t make any noise until MICHAEL CAPUTO the all American line backer from Wisconsin got hurt.
Is that the guy that got hurt trying to tackle Henry?
you do realize that he got hurt on the third play of the game, so I’m not sure what “noise” he could of possibly made on the first 2 plays, but good try.
Caputo is a safety, not a linebacker.
DAWG NATION, I don’t actually LOL often but your comment almost made me spit my coke on my keyboard. Caputo came out on the third play of the game after taking Henry’s knee to his head.
For the record: I earnestly hope Caputo passes his concussion tests and can get back on the field soon.
Gravityboots, Sisters of the poor?!?!? I believe this is the same team that beat you guys a few years ago at home. I’m not saying Chubb did better than Henry but c’mon man, sisters of the poor, haha. I guess you and Arkansas are the only SEC teams to get beat by the sisters of the poor at home, lol. They almost beat Auburn too but lost in overtime a couple of years ago as well.
Not the same team (unless their players from the 2007 team have each been granted eight extra seasons by the NCAA.
“The criteria will involve a mix of talent, past performance, production and outlook.”
Not to Knock Henry and his play in the least but the Georgia Game was only 3 quarters and as everyone knows. in the SEC the defenses are broke by the 4th quarter which would have allowed Chubb to run up the stats..
Love to see Boom getting some respect. 10 carries is too few for him though. Mikel Horton took some, Jojo Kemp took a few as well..but we have to get it to Boom more often.
I expect we’ll get it to him plenty out of the backfield though, like last year. He’s a good receiving back, probably one of his biggest strengths.
Alvin Kamara should be on this list. He didn’t even make your little honorable mention list. If you’re seriously ranking them according to how they played this past weekend, Hansbrough and Fournette should not be on it.
Congrats with a tough school like Bowling Green
Henry the offensive player of the week and they played a ranked team but Chubb number 1 in your poll. Played nobody. Makes sense. Not.
“The criteria will involve a mix of talent, past performance, production and outlook.”
Coming into the season both were pretty comparable to what they have done over their career. (Chubb had 175 more yards on 12 more carries, both had 14 rush td’s; Henry played tougher competition in the west). I had them at 1a and 1b in no particular order coming into the season. Henry CLEARLY had the more impressive game one, so you have to give him the top spot. This could change once we see Chubb against a defense with a pulse this year.
For proper context, Chubb has 175 more yards on 12 more carries and 14TD, in one year vs Henry’s two. Don’t give me the whole Henry played behind Yeldon spiel either, Chubb split time with Gurley.
I do agree with you though that Henry should be #1 on this list. Dude is a genetic freak. No one that damn big should be consistently outrunning DBs like that.
Actually, a more proper context would be the body of work as a whole. As a freshman Henry only had 35 carries. He averaged 10.9 yards a carry. He only went above 5 carries 3 times in a game that season (6 rushes for 111 against arkansas, 6 for 66 against ut chattanooga, and 8 for 100 against oklahoma). Derrick Henry was the #3 behind Yeldon and Drake as freshman and backed up Yeldon all year last year(Yeldon missed one game in 2013 while he played in front of Henry). Chubb didn’t split time with Gurley, unless you count the seven games that Gurley missed last year due to injury and suspension as “splitting time’.
“The criteria will involve a mix of talent, past performance, production and outlook.”
It makes no sense because your a Bama fan. The GA Game only played for 3 quarters and Chubb still had his 9th consecutive 100+ Rushing game. As anyone who knows and understands CFB. defenses are usually broke and winded by the 4th quarter and that would have only allowed Chubb to run up the stats and Broke 200 yards and tack on another touchdown or 2.
I hate to say this as a Tennessee fan but Henry should top the list. Followed by Alex Collins then probably Alvin kamara with his 144 on 12 carries for his first fbs game ever. And for those saying some don’t need to be on the list the guy wrote that it’s based on past performance and season outlook as well.
Something else that you have to remember when it comes to the best running back for the week, is the fact that while Georgia did play ULM, Chubb racked up those yards before the game was called with 9 minutes to go in the THIRD quarter. Imagine what would happen with another full 24 minutes of rushing to go. Not trying to take anything away from Henry or anyone else, especially with the opponent or yards put up, but Chubb would have had well over 200 yards if the game was not called due to lightning
@bigcountry…Alex Collins only had 12 carries. his day was done early in the 2nd half as well! Im sure most starting tailbacks in the league were as well.
You can use the same argument for Henry, and he played against a team with a pulse.
FWIW, it was the 4th quarter, not 3rd.
Henry racked up those yards before he was pulled out of the game in the THIRD quarter. Imagine what would happen with another full 15+ minutes of rushing to go. Not trying to take anything away from Chubb or anyone else, especially with the opponent or yards put up, but Henry would have had well over 200 yards if his game was not called due to him running all over Wisconsin.
I believe Jalen Hurd(23 rushes 123 yards and 3 TD’s) and Alvin Kamara( 12 or so rushes for 144 yards and 2 TD’s) were tops in the SEC. It’s a shame the writer of this article didn’t display thier stats. Guess due to fact it would but them 1 and 2 on this list. Chubb ran well. Yet, these 2 were dynamic and combined for almost 200 yards and 5 TD’s. That is Best on this list in week 1.
Seriously, Kamara runs for the most yards of any back in the SEC in his FIRST GAME and doesn’t even make the top 10. Cmon SDS.
Alvin Kamara….15 rushes 144 2 td
Derrick Henry…13 rushes 147 3 td
Are you guys really this stupid?
Kamara had 12 rushes not 15. Do a little YPG test on that ;)
Oops YPC
Are you just pulling stats out of thin air. This is why i love Tennessee fans the most ignorant fan base in the country.
I agree with both of you on Kamara, he played well and was exciting to watch. SDS needs better writers like Murf Baldwin ,lol. Chubb did good but was splitting time with 3 other backs. He’s not going to put up the same numbers this year because of the loaded backfield we have. Either way, the SEC has some dominant backs and all of them will be exciting to watch this year.
Who did Tennessee play again?
If Kamara does it against OU on Saturday then you’ll have something to talk about.
Almost 200? Make that over 260. Dumbass
Maybe you were getting the 12 carries in your previous post from the same guy that thinks 144 and 123 is almost 200. Sorry for the ignorant comment, should have directed at the guy that thinks those were the highest two rush totals in the SEC this week.
Ignorant Fans i think not, keep poking the bear and get bitten in October elephant head
I’ll take Chubb over Henry any day, but give credit where it is due. Henry had the better week 1 against a much tougher opponent. I see these two both in NYC when it is over.
Alvin Kamara looked better than Jalen Hurd in my opinion.
Collins at #4? Kody walker did a better job. Collins barely averaged 5 yds a carry if you take away his last carry of the game, a 70 yard effort. Sadly, the highly touted Hog offensive line didn’t manhandle UTEP’s D-Line at all. The hogs should have had over 300 yards on the ground and at least 3 rushing TD’s. If they don’t get better, it’s going to be a long season…..
5 ypc is a respectable average and anything over 5 is considered good for RBs. UTEP were sold out on stopping the run and stacked the box; making the Hogs pass it and that’s exactly what happened. While I do agree that there’s always room for improvement, averaging 5 plus yards per carry is a good day even if the total yardage isn’t what’s expected. The offense simply took what the defense gave them and executed the passing game well.
This comment section is basically a collection of people who lack basic reading comprehension.
“The criteria will involve a mix of talent, past performance, production and outlook.”
This is not a ‘Who had a better week’ list. It’s a list of the best running backs that is updated over time. Nick Chubb didn’t suddenly become a worse RB because of Louisiana Monroe. Getting angry that Henry wasn’t ahead of him is missing the whole point.
Then why are they doing it every week?
Henry, Chubb, and Fournette are all beast of a running back and all can be interchangeably move between 1, 2, and 3 each week. Mad props to all three, each bring different skill sets and running styles but like I said, all are in beast mode.
First, Alvin Kamara should be on this list just looking at week 1 production, but it’s hard to debate which player should be dropped from the list based on the full criteria of the post in order to make up for an impressive showing against a solid but less talented Bowling Green team.
Second, Nick Chubb is the best running back in the SEC and probably the country, period. There’s no debating it. Derrick Henry had a better day than Chubb against a better opponent, but that’s not the only criteria.
1. Past performance (career): Chubb – 9 100+ yard games (2 200+ yard games); Henry – 6 100+ yard games
2. Production (career): Chubb – 1667 yards, 16 TDs on 235 carries (7.09 YPC) | 18 receptions for 213 yards, 2 TDs; Henry – 1519 yards, 17 TDs on 221 carries (6.87 YPC) | 8 receptions for 206 yards, 3 TDs
3. Outlook(potential remaining games assumes the players play their full remaining eligibility and play in the regular season plus one bowl game per year. Obviously, the SEC Championship game and playoffs are strong possibilities for both players, but it is much less practical to forecast those than a single preseason game per year.) : Chubb – Sophomore with the potential to play 38 more games. At his current rate, look for Chubb to add around 4,500 yards and 43 more touchdowns to his career total by the time he’s done at UGA. Henry – Junior with the potential to play 25 more games. At his current rate, Henry should add just over 1,580 yards and 18 TDs. It’s safe to assume that Henry will add more than 1,580 yards now that he’s appears the feature back for the next 2 seasons, but the wide deviation in projected totals should be noted.
I left out the talent section because that’s subjective. Some people would say barreling through a line for 5 yards to get to a clear 50 yards path to a touchdown is the greater talent. Some people would say that making moves in space and making defenders miss is better. Some would go for the guy that just flat out outruns every defender on the field. There’s too much that isn’t based in tangible data to use. All of the above is based strictly on stats.
If you made it this far, congrats on reading it all and remember… this argument seriously started because an Alabama fan was upset at not getting first place, even if it was just a Saturday Down South article that doesn’t affect the shape of college football in anyway. Whoddathunkit?
That’s just a bama fan being a bama fan. They will forever personify the stereotype. We ALL know what stereotype I’m talking about.
Well, you just identified yourself as an unlettered idiot. It’s so boring and tiresome hearing people attempt to trash entire fan bases as if everyone is the same. Do you really have to be told that all fan bases contain all kinds of people?
The Alabama fan base is in a class all its own. You attempting to run down and reply to every comment on this article shows your stupidity. I apologize if I’ve given you the impression that I give a d@mn about your opinion.
Whoddathunkit? Looks like you overthunkit with this windbag response. The comment about Henry not being number 1 was made by several people on here from different fan bases, so obviously it’s a valid point. This is a weekly list SDS is doing so obviously the thing that will matter most is what each player did that week, unless you think they will really ponder the careers and outlook for each player every week.
Hahaha, K. If you believe that “Henry not being number 1 was made by several people on here from different fan bases” is true, then there’s no point in talking to you – hit Ctrl+F, type “Henry” and start hitting Enter and see what emblem is beside every “Henry should be #1” comment. I think you’ll find all of them but three have an Alabama icon next to their name, and one of the two that doesn’t have one is named crymsontyde3. Some how I feel like you’ll still find a way to argue that inarguable concrete fact.
Then consider the bammer mentality that 30014 mentioned… you encompass. You are literally still complaining because Derrick Henry wasn’t #1 on the list. You are a picture perfect example of what I am talking about. I appreciate you proving my point. I’m done. Not going to discuss anything with anyone that can’t make those basic observations and feels entitled enough to decide how to weigh categories in a ranking system that was completely made up by the writer.