2013 College Football Rankings: Top 5 Running Backs – Ka’Deem Carey Nation’s Top RB

2013 College Football Predictions: Top 5 Quarterbacks – Johnny Football Tops the List: In recent years, many college football teams have made a transition from traditional offenses to some type of version of the spread attack. While this shift has caused players at several positions to adapt new skills, running backs have arguably been impacted the most. Instead of having a single workhorse back, many teams have gone to a committee approach with short-yardage backs, third-down backs and change-of-pace backs. However, there are still a few every-down backs out there that the combination of size, speed and hands to handle all the roles by themselves. Not surprisingly, these backs are the top players at their position, and in many cases, the focal points of their team’s offense. On that note, here is a closer look at the top running backs in college football for the upcoming 2013 season.

1.      Ka’Deem Carey, Arizona Wildcats

Whether you knew it or not, Carey led the country in rushing last year, totaling 1,929 yards on 6.4 yards per carry. He also found the end zone 24 times, and added 36 grabs for more than 300 yards. Even if you throw out the 366-yard performance against lowly Colorado, Carey still had a great year. As the centerpiece of Rich Rodriguez’s offense, he should be a safe bet to notch more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage for the second year in a row. Heck, he might top 2,000 yards on the ground alone. Carey does benefit from Rodriguez’s system, but he also has the power and agility to make tacklers miss in space and the high-end speed to break off long runs. He could easily grab his second-straight rushing title.

2.      Todd Gurley, Georgia Bulldogs

His freshman season at Georgia was extremely impressive. Gurley ran for more than 1,300 yards on 6.2 yards per carry and also scored 17 times. Those are great numbers for any back in the SEC, let alone a player in his first year at the collegiate level. Perhaps even more impressive was Gurley’s consistency. He didn’t pad his numbers with one or two monster games. He scored at least once in 11 of Georgia’s 13 games and topped 100 yards on nine separate occasions. Gurley’s blend of speed and power allows him to run over, around and right by defenders, and his follow-up campaign should be fun to watch.

3.      T.J. Yeldon, Alabama Crimson Tide

As a freshman at Alabama last year, Yeldon split carries with Eddie Lacy but still managed 12 touchdowns and more than 1,110 yards on the ground. Of course, it helps when you are averaging more than six yards per carry as Yeldon did. With Lacy departing for the NFL, Yeldon is set for an even bigger workload in 2013. Granted, losses along the offensive line may hurt his yards per carry a bit, but his overall numbers stand to explode. Heck, the Crimson Tide offense produced two 1,000-yard rushers last year so a 2,000-yard campaign isn’t out of the question depending on how many carries Yeldon cedes to the next wave of five-star recruits. After this season, expect him to be mentioned among the likes of former Alabama greats Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson.

4.      Lache Seastrunk, Baylor Bears

He basically played in just six games last year, but Seastrunk still managed to top 1,000 yards on the ground. Of course, it helps when you can tally 637 yards on 9.1 yards per carry in four games as he did to close 2012. Seastrunk proclaimed himself a Heisman favorite during the offseason, and while I’m not sure I’d go that far just yet, he does have the speed to produce highlight-reel runs on a weekly basis. Seastrunk will undoubtedly shatter his yardage total from a year ago, but he still has to prove he can physical handle the beating that comes with starting for an entire year while continuing to produce dominating numbers. Seastrunk has enormous potential, but six games is a small sample size.

5.      Duke Johnson, Miami Hurricanes

Johnson was named a Freshman All-American last year, and he has the speed and explosiveness that the Hurricanes have been lacking recently. In fact, he had at least one play go for more than 50 yards in five separate games in 2012. Overall, he ran for 947 yards in his freshman campaign, averaging 6.8 yards per carry and scoring 10 times. Johnson was also dangerous in the passing game, adding 221 more yards on 8.2 yards per reception. It’s safe to assume that his role is only going to increase this season, which is going to do wonders for the numbers of guy that can score whenever he touches the ball.

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