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Last year, seven SEC tailbacks broke the 1,000-yard plateau, and five of those backs are back for another year in the SEC in 2015.
The return of so many talented backs and the likelihood that a few more will emerge over the course of the 2015 season makes predicting next year’s rushing champion incredibly difficult. Will Auburn produce its third-straight SEC rushing champion, using three different backs to do so? Will super sophomores Nick Chubb and Leonard Fournette show growth or suffer a sophomore slump? How will Arkansas manage its two returning 1,000-yard rushers?
Those questions and the bevy of tailback talent throughout the SEC make a tough task even tougher. But we at SDS have never been known to shy away from a challenge. That’s why our staff members decided to share their own predictions as to who will lead the SEC in rushing this fall.
Check out who they like and why, and let us know if you agree.
WHO WILL LEAD THE SEC IN RUSHING IN 2015?
Jon Cooper (@JonSDS): Jovon Robinson, Auburn
If we’ve learned anything under Gus Malzahn it’s that the Tigers will run the football. Tre Mason and Cameron Artis-Payne led the SEC in rushing in consecutive seasons, and 2015 will be the year of Jovon Robinson. In fact, Robinson may be more talented than Mason or Artis-Payne. With Jeremy Johnson expected to have a big season and the offense remaining balanced, Robinson will give the Tigers the running game they need to make a push to the SEC Championship. Robinson will lead the SEC in rushing for 2015, and I’ll even wager he’ll rush for 1,550 yards.
Ethan Levine (@EthanLevineSDS): Nick Chubb, Georgia
Chubb came out of nowhere a year ago to finish second in the SEC in rushing despite only starting eight games. He ran for at least 100 yards in each of those eight starts, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t pick up in 2015 where he left off in 2014. Georgia returns a wealth of talent along the offensive line, it still lacks a quarterback to enable a productive passing game, and Chubb has already proven he can handle a heavy workload and a tremendous amount of contact over the course of a few months. If new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer maintains Chubb’s steady diet of carries in a run-dependent offense, there’s no reason he shouldn’t lead the SEC in rushing at year’s end.
Brad Crawford (@BCrawfordSDS): Derrick Henry, Alabama
Alabama’s Derrick Henry will lead the SEC in rushing for two reasons: the Crimson Tide’s extremely thin on experience in the backfield, and Lane Kiffin will probably feel more comfortable feeding his primary ballcarrier rather than putting the game in his quarterback’s hands.
Brett Weisband (@WeisbandSDS): Jovon Robinson, Auburn
There’s not going to be any drop off for Auburn’s rushing offense even with Nick Marshall moving on, and Gus Malzahn’s potent attack is primed to produce its third straight SEC rushing champion in Robinson. Built like an armored truck with the speed of a sports car, Robinson is more than ready for SEC play after transferring from junior college. While the Tigers will be able to air it out even more proficiently with Jeremy Johnson steering the offense, don’t forget that Johnson is also among the fastest QBs in the SEC. Putting an elite running back next to a passer with wheels is almost always beneficial, especially in Malzahn’s offense.
Christopher Smith (@CSmithSDS): Leonard Fournette, LSU
Nick Chubb will share the backfield with too many other talented players. Derrick Henry could lead the SEC in rushing. Auburn, if Jovon Robinson or Roc Thomas becomes a clear-cut No. 1, has proven it will produce an individual with huge rushing totals each and every year. Alex Collins or Jonathan Williams also have a chance, if one of them gets hurt. But Fournette should hit the jackpot. The quarterbacks still aren’t good. Kenny Hilliard and Terrence Magee are gone. The overall talent should get them leads. And Fournette topped 1,000 yards as a true freshman even though he just started tapping into his natural ability at the end of the year.
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
