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While the large number of returning quarterbacks in the SEC has many fans excited about the offensive potential in 2017 – 12 of 14 teams potentially return last year’s starting QB – the running back position figures to be just as glamorous in 2017.
Eight SEC running backs return after rushing for at least 1,000 yards last season, including the conference leaders in rush yards – LSU’s Derrius Guice, 1,387 yds – and rush yards per game – Auburn’s Kamryn Pettway, 122.4.
Returning RB rushing leaders
[table “” not found /]But everyone gets their yards in different ways. Here’s an Inside the Numbers look at how the top 5 returning running backs in the SEC gained their yards in 2016.
Derrius Guice: Second half yards
Almost 60 percent of Guice’s 1,387 rushing yards last season came in the second half/overtime (58 percent). His 804 second-half yards were not only the most in the SEC, but No. 8 in the entire FBS.
However, what really stood out for Guice was the fact that he averaged almost 9 yards a carry in the second half (8.7). Among players with at least 50 carries in the second half, no one in the FBS averaged more in the second half and OT than Guice.
Ralph Webb: Yards at home
Too quietly, Ralph Webb has had a record-breaking career at Vanderbilt. In just three seasons Webb has become the school’s all-time leading rusher (3,342 yards). He also set the school single-season record for rush yards last season with 1,283.
And no player in the SEC did a better job of rushing in front of the home crowd than Webb. In 2016, Webb rushed for 780 yards in six home games, tops in the SEC. In addition, no one in the SEC averaged more rush attempts per game than Webb (20.5).
Kamryn Pettway: Yards in wins
Last season, Kamryn Pettway played in just 10 games. Auburn was just 6-4 in those games.
And yet, in those six wins, Pettway gained 80 percent of his total rushing yards – 983 yards. Pettway averaged over 25 carries a game Auburn’s six wins, and just 14 carries a game in the Tigers’ four losses.
No running back in the SEC had more rushing yards in team wins than Pettway (Note: Mississippi State QB Nick Fitzgerald led all SEC players in rush yards in wins – 996).
Nick Chubb: Yards away from home
About 63 percent (62.8) of Nick Chubb’s total rushing yards came in road or neutral site games. In fact, Chubb’s 710 rush yards in road/neutral games were second-most among SEC players (Derrius Guice: 740 yds).
Chubb’s two biggest rushing games in 2016 came on a neutral field against non-conference opponents. In last year’s season opener against North Carolina in Atlanta, Chubb rushed for 222 yards, his second-highest total in a game. And in the Liberty Bowl against TCU, Chubb had 142 yards.
Benny Snell: October yards
Despite being a true freshman in 2016, Benny Snell made an impact. He topped 1,000 yards rushing (1,091), despite playing alongside another 1,000-yard running back at Kentucky, Stanley “Boom” Williams (1,170 yards).
Snell enjoyed his most success in October. In four October games, Snell rushed for 452 yards (113 YPG), which was the second-most that month among SEC players.
Snell’s production got better with each game that month. After just 38 yards in a loss to Alabama, Snell had 94 yards vs Vanderbilt, 128 yards against Mississippi State and a season-high 192 yards at Missouri.
Michael covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
