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The state of the running back position in the SEC has been deceiving in the last year.
Sure, there’s as much elite talent as ever. Players like Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb, Leonard Fournette and Derrick Henry have left a mark.
But at several programs, the depth beyond the first back (or two) has underperformed. Add to that the fact that the learning curve for a running back isn’t as steep as it is at other positions, and it’s easy to project several early SEC contributors from the 2016 class.
Here are five players we think will make an impact for their respective teams this fall.
B.J. Emmons, Alabama
After watching DeSherrius Flowers get ruled academically ineligible after practicing with the team last year, the Tide has been holding its breath with Emmons academically as well. But for now, it appears that the No. 2 running back in the ’16 class will arrive in Tuscaloosa this summer as planned.
This spring, Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris are trying to solidify themselves as the 1-2 on Alabama’s depth chart. But those two have combined for 64 carries at the college level. Thanks to attrition behind Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake in the last 18 months, and then the departure of those two players, there’s room for a third ball-carrier to get some spot handoffs — at minimum.
As his high school coach noted in an interview with AL.com, Emmons, listed at 232 pounds, is yet another big-bodied ball-carrier who should fit well in the Tide’s downhill running scheme. A powerful runner with good speed for his size, Emmons has an opportunity to be the most complete Bama back in some time, with soft hands and good route-running ability. If he impresses during fall camp, it wouldn’t be out of the question for Emmons to barge his way into major playing time this season.
Devwah Whaley, Arkansas
If there’s a better fit in the 2016 running back class in terms of player-scheme-personality, I’ve yet to find it. Arkansas did a tremendous job to pull Whaley out of Texas. It’s a double whammy considering the team lost Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams to the NFL draft, and Rawleigh Williams III, though expected to play, still is recovering from a career-threatening neck injury.
The early projection is that Whaley and Williams III could enter the season as options 1a and 1b out of the backfield, with big-bodied sixth-year senior Kody Walker getting some carries as well. The Arkansas backfield picture looks way, way better now after a somewhat scary December.
Like Emmons, Whaley was committed to Georgia at one point. He played at just over 200 pounds as a senior, but has the frame to carry 220 pounds or more. In addition to his breakaway speed, Whaley, with the extra muscle, should be able to run with a physicality that Arkansas wants to see from its backs. Don’t be shocked if he gets the first carry of the season for the Hogs.
Elijah Holyfield, Georgia
After missing out on the two guys above him on this list, UGA “settled” for Holyfield, the son of the former boxing heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.
Although the younger Holyfield isn’t going to qualify for college football heavyweight status — he was listed at 5-foot-10 and 204 pounds during his final year of high school — he did inherit his father’s exceptional balance.
Holyfield may see the field sooner than expected, as A.J. Turman has elected to transfer elsewhere and Nick Chubb still is rehabbing from a serious knee injury. Even if Chubb and Sony Michel stay healthy the entire season, and that’s a big “if” considering Georgia’s recent backfield history, Holyfield could find himself carrying the ball late against non-conference opponents like Nicholls State and Louisiana-Lafayette.
Mark Thompson, Florida
Considering Kelvin Taylor left, the Gators have good backfield depth.
The two Jordans, Scarlett and Cronkite, combined for 338 rushing yards behind Taylor last year. But, at least from the outside, it appears that the competition to replace Taylor as the lead ball-carrier was wide open entering spring practice.
At 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, Thompson rushed for nearly 1,300 yards for Dodge City (Kan.) Community College last season. He’s drawn praise from Jim McElwain on multiple occasions this spring for his pass-catching ability.
Demarcus Robinson and Jake McGee are departing, and Antonio Callaway faces an indefinite suspension. It may be no small thing for Luke Del Rio or whomever starts at quarterback to know there’s a dependable safety valve out of the backfield.
Whatever happens in the three-way competition, expect Thompson to see the field in some capacity in 2016.
Natereace Strong, Missouri
Mizzou ought to roll out the red carpet for Strong, as the Tigers are going to be borderline desperate for him to contribute in 2016.
Originally a member of the program’s very good 2015 class, Strong did not qualify academically and had to spend one season at Hinds Community College. Since then, Morgan Steward has retired due to injury and Chase Abbington decided not to continue playing football.
Add in the fact that Ish Witter seems better suited to operate in space perhaps as a third-down back and Mizzou is searching for a true between-the-tackles ball-carrier.
Close high school friends with Terry Beckner Jr., Strong got attention from Ohio State, Florida State and Nebraska, among others. He’s also got a history of injury troubles, including at Hinds in 2015. But one has to believe that if he’s healthy this fall, he’ll at least get a long look as the starter.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
