Phil Steele Week
Get access to Phil Steele's football analysis and find his 2014 preview magazine at PhilSteele.com.
• Projecting Top 25 teams
• Preseason Top 5: FSU No. 1
• Top QBs | RBs
• Top 10 Heisman candidates
• Top 10 surprise teams for 2014
• Most improved teams for 2014
• Ranking every conference in CFB
Editor's note: This article was adapted from Phil Steele's college football preview magazine, which is available here.
When ranking the top individual position units for my 2014 preview magazine, I took into consideration the talent level and production of the starters and the overall depth of the unit. As at quarterback, the starting running back is weighted heavily into my overall position rankings, but what separates the 15 team RB units below from the rest of the country is that they have a great starter and strong backups -- in most cases, the top teams in these rankings possess at least two good backs. With that in mind, here is how I rank the top 15 RB depth charts in the country for the 2014 season.
(Author's note: In case you are unfamiliar with some of my abbreviations used below, the "PS" number assigned for each player stands for where I ranked that particular player at his position coming out of high school.)
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
T.J. Yeldon (PS No. 5) has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons on his resume and has averaged more than 6 yards per carry in both of his seasons running the ball for Alabama. Derrick Henry (PS No. 1) had 161 yards of total offense in the bowl and some feel he is more talented than Yeldon. Kenyan Drake (PS No. 31) added 694 yards last year and had a great spring, while Altee Tenpenny (PS No. 8), redshirt freshman Tyren Jones (PS No. 10) and true frosh Bo Scarbrough (PS No. 6) make for a pretty good bullpen.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
In 2012, two true freshman RBs -- Todd Gurley (PS No. 19) and Keith Marshall (PS No. 2) -- combined for 2,144 yards and 25 touchdowns and were given the nickname "Gurshall." Last year, both were injured and missed a combined 11 games, and their collective output dropped to 1,235 combined yards. There are some questions about whether Marshall could end up having to take a medical redshirt this fall after tearing his ACL last season. Still, Gurley is clearly one of the top RBs in college football. The Bulldogs also add in another dynamic true freshman combo in Nick Chubb (PS No. 9) and Sony Michel (PS No. 4).
3. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks have produced a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the past seven seasons. This year, they lose De'Anthony Thomas but return their top two rushers in Byron Marshall (PS No. 12) -- who rushed for 1,038 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry -- and Thomas Tyner (PS No. 3), who had 711 yards at 6.2 yards per carry. They also add a pair of talented freshmen in Royce Freeman (PS No. 11) and Tony James (PS No. 26) to the mix.
4. Wisconsin Badgers
No RB was selected in the first round of this year's NFL draft, but Melvin Gordon could break into that tier in 2015. He is an explosive 207-pounder who rushed for 1,609 yards and averaged 7.8 yards per carry after averaging an incredible 10 yards per carry in 2012. The Badgers do lose 1,000-yard rusher James White, but Corey Clement (PS No. 25) had 547 yards and averaged 8.2 yards per carry as a true freshman. The Badgers also have my No. 3 offensive line opening up holes for their backs.
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Ameer Abdullah is just 5-foot-9, but is a tough package who will get you the yards you need. Last year he ran for 1,690 yards and averaged 6 yards per carry. Imani Cross (PS No. 45) weighs 230 pounds and is a load to bring down, while Abdullah says Terrell Newby (PS No. 22) may be the best RB on the team. Redshirt freshman Adam Taylor (PS No. 32) is tough to tackle and adds quality depth.
6. Texas Longhorns
No other backfield in the country has a pair of PS No. 1 RBs but Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray have both been banged up the past couple of years. Now, if only these guys could stay healthy. Even so, they still combined for 1,684 rush yards last year and Brown finally looked like a PS No. 1 in the spring. Gray is expected to be fully healthy by fall camp while Joe Bergeron and former quarterback Jalen Overstreet are also impressive backups.
7. USC Trojans
Former Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin called Tre Madden (PS No. 20) a "no-flaw" RB. Madden backed up the talk last year, opening with three 100-yard games in 2013 before succumbing to injury. Javorius "Buck" Allen began as sixth string in the spring but was the No. 1 RB at the end, rushing for 648 yards in the last six games. Justin Davis (PS No. 13) and D.J. Morgan (PS No. 6) also add quality depth.
8. Arkansas Razorbacks
Jonathan Williams (PS No. 21) enjoyed the switch to Bret Bielema's run-based offense and rushed for 900 yards while averaging 6 yards per carry last year. True freshman Alex Collins (PS No. 11) also ran for 1,026 yards. Both return this year. While the top two backs are as good as any pair in the country, this RB corps is not as deep as some of the units I rank above them.
9. Army Black Knights
Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard won back-to-back Heisman Trophies for Army in 1945 and 1946, combining for 5,003 career yards. This year, Larry Dixon, Terry Baggett and Raymond Maples enter the year with a combined 6,002 career rush yards and will increase the total. Enough said.
10. South Carolina Gamecocks
Mike Davis really impressed me last year with 1,183 yards while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He also has good speed for a guy who weighs 216 pounds. His backups -- Brandon Wilds (PS No. 53) and Shon Carson (PS No. 23) -- have 973 career rush yards. And the Gamecocks add a PS No. 18 redshirt freshman, giving them even more depth.
11. Penn State Nittany Lions
Zach Zwinak (PS No. 13) did not get a lot of press prior to the 2012 season but rushed for 1,000 yards. In just eight starts last year, he rushed for 989 yards and was teamed with Bill Belton (PS No. 32), who rushed for 803 yards. The speed back, Akeel Lynch (PS No. 40), had 358 rush yards while averaging 6 yards per carry. They also bring in three highly touted true freshmen this year.
12. Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles lose their 1,000-yard rusher, Devonta Freeman, but will not miss a beat. Karlos Williams (PS No. 2) is a 6-1, 219-pound former safety who moved to RB last fall. He ran for a 65-yard touchdown on his first carry and was No. 2 on the team with 730 rush yards while averaging a superb 8 yards per carry. Ryan Green (PS No. 9) had 163 yards as a true freshman. Mario Pender (PS No. 6) was ineligible last year but is ready to make an impact. They also add in PS No. 2 true freshman Dalvin Cook.
13. Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Duke Johnson (PS No. 7) had 947 yards rushing while averaging 6.8 yards per carry as a true freshman in 2012. He was on his way to a big season last year but was out for the year against Florida State (broken ankle) after running for 920 yards in just eight games. Gus Edwards (PS No. 48) is nicknamed "The Bus." He weighs 235 pounds and had a great spring. They also add in PS No. 10 true freshman Joseph Yearby, who took some snaps in the spring.
14. Auburn Tigers
Cameron Artis-Payne (PS No. 45) was the star of the 2013 spring, but Tre Mason took over midyear, finished with 1,816 rush yards and was an All-American. This year, Mason is gone, but Artis-Payne is back after running for 610 yards while averaging 6.7 yards per carry. Corey Grant is back, too, and he averaged an incredible 9.8 yards per carry. They also add in redshirt freshman Peyton Barber (PS No. 45) and true freshman Roc Thomas (PS No. 5). Despite the loss of Mason, this unit remains among the best in the country.
15. Michigan State Spartans
Jeremy Langford did not have his first 100-yard game until Week 6 last year. But then he reeled off eight straight 100-yard efforts while powering his way to 1,422 yards on the ground. He has five solid backs behind him and three of them were just freshmen last year. The Spartans should be much improved depth-wise this year.