Depth is also an important factor just like the quarterbacks when determining which groups make the top five heading into the 2024 college football season. In some ways, depth is even more important than when grading the quarterback groups because no running back will get all of the carries, and a lot of running backs get hurt, thus moving another back to the starting role.
The Top Five Running Back Groups for the 2024 College Football Season
5. Penn State
Many of the experts have the Nittany Lions running back room rated in the top three in the country. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are the top two backs in the rotation for the team from Happy Valley. Last season, Allen led the way with 919 yards and six touchdowns while Singleton had 776 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2022, Singleton was the top-producing back on the team.
This season Penn State adds highly touted freshman Quinton Martin to an already loaded backfield. The only reason we don’t have this group rated higher is because we’re not sold on the level of quarterback play which may cause defenses to load up in the box to stop the run.
4. North Carolina
Omarion Hampton is an absolute beast. As the ACC leader in rushing last season, Hampton gained 1,504 yards on the ground and put it in the end zone 15 times. He also caught 29 balls out of the backfield, enough that opposing defenses have to account for his receiving abilities as well.
The Tar Heels also have significant depth at the running back position. Caleb Hood is a respectable backup even though his production from last year doesn’t suggest it. The Heels also landed USC transfer Darwin Barlow and added explosive true freshman Davion Gause to the mix. Expect North Carolina to rely heavily on the running game with the departure of quarterback Drake Maye to the NFL.
3. Liberty
As a Group of Five team, the Flames led the country in rushing in 2023. Liberty had five backs and a quarterback who was productive last season and all return for the 2024 campaign. Quinton Cooley led the team last season with 1,409 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns followed closely by Kaidon Salter (the quarterback) who put up 1,186 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Rounding out the top five returning backs in terms of production last season are Billy Lucas with 607 yards and six touchdowns, Aaron Bedgood with 564 yards and three touchdowns, James Jointer with 255 yards and two touchdowns, and lastly Vaughn Blue with 121 yards but no scores. Liberty has arguably the deepest running back pool in the country. The only thing keeping them from the first or second spot is the star power from the top two groups. But make no mistake, the Flames’ backfield will produce big numbers in 2024.
2. Oklahoma State
Returning for the Cowboys is stud running back and Doak Walker award winner, Ollie Gordon III. After being rumored to either enter the transfer portal or the NFL draft, Gordon is back in Stillwater for another season. Gordon was on fire all of last season, putting up 1,731 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. He also had 39 catches for 330 yards but only one touchdown. He could find the end zone out of the backfield more this year.
While the Cowboys lost their second and third-string backs, they did pick up two quality transfers in AJ Green from Arkansas and Trent Howland from Indiana. At the very least, Green and Howland can give Gordon an occasional spell and let him get a drink of water.
1. Ohio State
The Buckeyes enter the 2024 season with the definition of a two-headed monster. Returning starter TreVeyon Henderson is joined by incoming transfer Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss. Henderson only rushed for 926 yards in part due to missing time for injury but he did find paydirt 11 times. He also caught 19 passes out of the backfield so he can’t be completely discounted as a receiving threat.
Last season for Ole Miss, Judkins was clearly the lead dog, piling up 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. He also had 22 receptions for another two touchdowns.
It’s no secret that offense wins games in college football. You can only go so far with a great defense and no offense. Think Iowa. Running backs and quarterbacks are the players most likely to take home the Heisman. Like every season, we have some great backs to watch throughout the season. It’s almost time. Get ready.
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Ollie Gordon being at the top of a running back list makes sense, but not running back group. OK State was 9th in the big 12 at rushing last season. For reference UCF and WVU averaged 78 more rushing ypg last season in the same conference and are returning their stars as well. And if transfers are the excuse, UCF had two better ones in Penny Boone and Myles Montgomery while returning their main two guys from last season. 1731 is a lot for one guy, but the 4 I mentioned put up 3800 rushing last season which is why most of these lists have UCF up there with Ohio State and no Oklahoma State to be seen 🙂 And seems like you factored in quarter back rooms for liberty which would push UCF even higher over most teams with KJ Jefferson capable of throwing up big rushing numbers. Sorry if this is coming off rude, but I’m tired of RJ Harvey not getting any respect solo, but at least they get respect as a group until I saw this. OK State was nowhere close to UCF in rushing last year, and this year UCF has kept and added better pieces to likely widen the gap further this year.