SEC Position Breakdown: Top 5 Returning Running Backs

Shockingly to the casual college football fan, Arkansas has a stout backfield, and it's led by one of the best backs in the country: Alex Collins. Collins rushed for over 1000 yards last year, and could very well do it again in 2014, even though second string stud Jonathan Williams will be sharing his workload. Arkansas may not have much else to brag about from a talent perspective, but they can boast one of the best backfields in college football.

Will this make some Alabama fans scratch their heads? Absolutely. But it is difficult to place a running back as the best returning player when he only has 36 career rushing attempts. However, reality does set in after a while and we all have to realize how talented this young man is. He doesn't have many stats to lean on, but on his 36 attempts, he averaged 10.6 yards per carry... Henry gained a first down, on average, every time he ran the ball... That is unreal.

Oh, and there are two running backs who were technically ahead of him on the depth chart.

South Carolina is one of the favorites to win the SEC East, and the main man running the ball is one of the reasons. Davis is a beast on the field, gaining just under 1200 yards on the ground and 11 touchdowns, and had it not been for the injury bug last season, he would have had an absolute monster of a year. With a completely healthy Davis, South Carolina will be in the running for the SEC title.

What else is there to say about Gurley? He possesses power, speed, quickness, and he blocks well. Yes, Keith Marshall will split carries with him, who would have been #6 on this list, but Gurley is a man among boys. He only trails the legend Herschel Walker with most rushing yards by a freshman, and with another 1,000 yard season, he will again only trail Herschel Walker for most rushing yards in a career in Georgia history.

How about that for a stud running back?

If you are close to owning the all-time Alabama rushing record, you must be a decent running back. Yeldon was highly touted coming out of high school, and hasn't disappointed. He has put up better numbers over two seasons than Alabama greats Johnny Musso, Bobby Humphrey, Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, and Shawn Alexander over that same period of time. His only fault the past couple seasons has been untimely fumbles, but it's hard to argue against 26 rushing touchdowns and 2,343 yards in only two seasons.

However, to bring up the counter argument, he will be splitting carries with #4 on this list.