Ad Disclosure
As we continue to honor the SEC’s rich past and present when it comes to running backs, let’s take a moment to look at the SEC’s current crop of running backs and what they do best.
Biggest — Derrick Henry, Alabama: Henry isn’t built like a running back. At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, he’s built a lot more like an outside linebacker than a ball carrier. Unfortunately for those outside linebackers, they have to worry about tackling the rising junior, who will take over as Alabama’s lead ball carrier after splitting carries with T.J. Yeldon the last two years. Good luck bringing down a Mack truck that also runs somewhere around 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Smallest — Russell Hansbrough, Missouri: Despite his stature, Hansbrough doesn’t run like a small man. Missouri lists him at 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by the way he carries himself. Hansbrough might be the most underrated 1,000-yard rusher in the country, as he was the only consistent option in Missouri’s offense last year. He’ll be asked to shoulder an even bigger load this year with Marcus Murphy in the pros.
Fastest — Leonard Fournette, LSU: There are plenty of speedsters in the SEC, but none use their speed as terrifyingly as Fournette. The rising sophomore is built like a cinder block at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, but he’s reportedly been clocked at 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash — roughly as fast as guys like Boom Williams, Kenyan Drake and David Williams, but Fournette is a much bigger player than any of them. Once Fournette gets rolling in the open field, he can either sprint right past defenders or use his momentum to blast them backwards. Neither option is all that great for defenses.
Best pass catcher — Kenyan Drake, Alabama: There aren’t many running backs in the SEC capable of spending time at wide receiver, but that’s exactly what Drake did this spring as he works his way back from a broken leg. With great speed, good hands and elusiveness, Drake will make for quite a change of pace from Henry as the best backfield receiving option in the conference this year. He averaged more than 31 yards per catch last year, and while that number likely won’t stay so high this year, he’s still capable of taking a swing pass the distance or running routes downfield.
Biggest home-run threat — Stanley “Boom” Williams, Kentucky: You don’t earn a nickname like “Boom” for being a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust runner. No, Williams lives up to his name with his explosive speed and game-breaking ability. His first touchdown as a Wildcat was a 53-yard sprint to the end zone, and his next two touchdowns came on plays longer than 50 yards as well. As Williams takes on a bigger role as the ‘Cats starting running back, expect the big plays to keep on coming.
Best blocker — Nick Chubb, Georgia: Perhaps the best running back in the SEC last year, you don’t think of Chubb blocking. Instead, the attention goes to the excellent offensive line that blocks for him. Chubb is one of the few backs in the SEC capable of staying on the field all three downs, and that’s due to his physical nature taking on defenders. There are indications he’s improved as a blocker this spring, as well as catching passes, making him an even more valuable cog. Plus, how many guys can send teammates with big blocking pads flying as a freshman?
Best short-yardage option — Jonathan Williams, Arkansas: With Williams returning for his senior season, Arkansas got back an absolute sledgehammer in short-yardage situations. He averaged 4.45 yards per carry in the red zone last year, most of anyone with 20 or more carries, and scored 11 red zone touchdowns, tied for most in the SEC. He also, somehow, managed to pick up 13 first downs for Arkansas in the red zone, converting one-third of his rushing attempts into first downs there.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
