We're on to part two of our preseason rankings! Today we tackle — if you can tackle these guys — the best running backs in all of college football.
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There is a lot of turnover at the top of this position from the start of last season. Georgia's Todd Gurley, Alabama's T.J. Yeldon, Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah, and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon all went in the first two rounds of the 2015 NFL draft. So who takes their spots on this list?
1. Nick Chubb, Georgia
2014 stats: 13 G, 219 rush attempts, 1,547 rush yards, 7.06 YPG, 14 TDs
With Gurley battling suspensions and then injuries in the 2014 season, Chubb emerged as the workhorse of the Georgia offense. As a true freshman, Chubb finished second in the SEC in rushing yards (1,547) despite only starting in eight games.
Chubb has reportedly put on more muscle since the end of last season. With the Bulldogs have a rather lackluster quarterback race, expect Chubb to be the team's workhorse again and flirt with 2,000 yards with increased carries this season.
2. Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
2014 stats: 15 G, 273 rush attempts, 1,878 rush yards, 6.88 YPG, 18 TDs
Elliot was the unsung hero of the Buckeyes in the national championship, rushing for over 200 yards in the win. Regardless of who wins the quarterback race in Columbus, Elliot will be the constant in the backfield that will always have a chance to break a big play. Expect Elliott to have a huge season while gaining more attention in the national spotlight.
3. Leonard Fournette, LSU
2014 stats: 13 G, 187 rush attempts, 1,034 rush yards, 5.53 YPC, 10 TDs
Fournette entered last season as a freshman with a lot of hype. He promptly disappointed in his first few games, lacking to the super-high Adrian Peterson comparisons that he had drawn. He turned in on late, though, rushing for over 140 yards in each of LSU final two games of the 2014 season.
LSU projects to be better this season and Fournette's development from his freshman year will play a big part of that. With Fournette no long splitting carries in the backfield, expect him to have a huge year down in Baton Rouge.
4. Derrick Henry, Alabama
2014 stats: 14 G, 172 rush attempts, 990 rush yards, 5.76 YPC, 11 TDs
Henry and Chubb had similar seasons last year, with both shining through despite having another star player on their team at their position. (Henry actually outrushed T.J. Yeldon on fewer carries) This season, Henry will still have some split in carries with an always talented Alabama running back corps, but he is clearly the best of the bunch and will demand the most attention of any player on the Alabama offense.
5. James Conner, Pittsburgh
2014 stats: 13 G, 298 rush attempts, 1,765 rush yards, 5.92 YPC, 26 TDs
If you did not know James Conner last year, then know this: Pittsburgh scored 52 offensive touchdowns in 2014; the then-sophomore Conner had half of those on the ground by himself. Conner also averaged over 20 carries per game and still managed to have an efficient yards per carry number. He will continue to be the engine of Pittsburgh's offense and if Pitt can manage to establish a better passing game, then Conner's efficiency will go way, way up.
Honorable mentions: Corey Clement, Wisconsin; Samaje Perine, Oklahoma; Royce Freeman, Oregon; D.J. Foster, Arizona State
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