In an age when running back by committee is becoming a more and more popular option, the SEC is loaded with top-end feature backs. With three legitimate early Heisman candidates at running back in Leonard Fournette, Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry, there are a handful of teams who will lean heavily on one back.

There are still plenty of others that will split their carries up among a host of backs. Even with those feature backs, there will be carries abound for backup running backs this fall, and they’re sure to make an impact on the races in both divisions.

Who are the best of the backups? Here are our top five after spring practice.

5. Roc Thomas, Auburn — Prior to Jovon Robinson’s arrival, it looked like Thomas was set to be the next player in a line of highly successful Auburn running backs. Robinson appears to be the starter heading into fall after his arrival from junior college, but that doesn’t mean Thomas won’t be a factor this year. He has some of the best straight-line speed in the conference, and if the former five-star focuses on going north-south like he did in Auburn’s spring game, he and Robinson could end up with an even split in the running game.

4. Sony Michel, Georgia — Before injuries hit last year, many thought it would be Michel who broke out as a star behind Todd Gurley. Instead, Chubb picked up the mantle when Gurley, Michel and Keith Marshall were unavailable. Once he gets healthy after missing spring with a collarbone injury, Michel will provide a nice counter to Chubb, a legitimate Heisman contender heading into 2015. Michel averaged 7.3 yards per offensive touch last year, so Georgia won’t experience any drop off when Chubb has to come out of the game this year.

3. Kenyan Drake, Alabama — Drake could well be the most dynamic running back in the conference in 2015. He spent some time this spring working out wide at receiver, and he’s as dangerous of a big-play threat as there is in the SEC coming out of the backfield, evidenced by his 31.8 yards per catch last season. Drake’s speed and versatility have helped him pick up 6.9 yards per carry for his career and will make him a perfect complement to the bruising Derrick Henry this fall.

2. Alvin Kamara, Tennessee — We haven’t seen Kamara play an SEC game yet, but the reports from spring practice indicated that the coaching staff is more than impressed with the junior college transfer. He was the only fully healthy scholarship running back in practice, and he used to opportunity to show off not just his skills on the field but an excellent work ethic in the film and weight rooms. Jalen Hurd heads into fall as the starter by default, but he and Kamara form one of the most potent one-two punches in the country.

1. Alex Collins, Arkansas — It’s almost unfair to call Collins a backup, considering he’s actually had more carries than Jonathan Williams over the last two seasons. However, heading into summer, he’s firmly behind Williams on the depth chart. Collins has shown a tendency to fade late in the season, but he’s good enough to start for just about any team in the nation. After all, there aren’t many No. 2s capable of putting up 1,000-yard seasons.