Where were the star running backs week one?
Anyone else notice the star running backs week one? Or better yet, fail to notice? Heading into the 2010 season the running back position was without a doubt the most exciting position I was looking forward to watching in 2010. With the quarterbacks – Tebow, McCoy, Bradford – finally gone from college football, I was thinking a five man Heisman race at running back could have taken place this season. Those five being Alabama’s Mark Ingram, last season’s Heisman winner, Oregon’s LaMichael James, Pittsburgh’s Dion Lewis, Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers, and Virginia Tech’s Ryan Williams.
If week one is any indication, I may be well off. Ingram was sidelined week one following knee surgery after an undisclosed injury. The hardware holder will miss Alabama’s next game against Penn State, and a timetable return date has yet to be set. James was serving a one game suspension for Oregon, following an offseason arrest and is expected back for the Ducks week two matchup against Tennessee.
Both Lewis and Rodgers played week one accumulating 75 yards a piece, but their 3.0 and 4.2 yard averages were what left me scratching my head. Williams faced off against the stingy Boise defense Monday, managing just 44 yards on 21 carries; he did however score three total touchdowns on short yardage situations, including one catch near the goal line.
A total of just 194 yards between the three who played was what I was expecting for one of the three's single game performance, not a combined yardage. To be fare, the defenses they faced week one – Utah, TCU, Boise State – are all outstanding defenses, non BCS, but terrific none the less. But big time players make big time plays in big time games. Something all three didn’t exactly produce Saturday.
So who stepped up Saturday?
The absence of the 2009 standouts week one gave way to other running backs to steal the spotlight. Three of the nation’s top five rushers week one came from the Big 12 conference in 
Oklahoma States Kendall Hunter, Kansas States Daniel Thomas (right), and Oklahoma’s DeMarco Murray. Hardly unknown players, Hunter brought in over 1,500 yards in 2008 before an injury plagued 2009, Thomas rushed for over 1,200 yards last season and Murray has been a staple of the Sooners rushing game for years. This season, all three put up 200 yard games in their first 2010 action. Hunter brought in 257 yards and four scores on a 12.2 average, Thomas had 234 yards and two scores and Murray, 208 yards and two scores. It could be a sign of good things to come for the Big 12 ground game in 2010.
With Oregon’s LaMichael James suspended, return specialist Kenjon Barner stepped into the starting position rushing for 147 yards with five total touchdowns against New Mexico. Barner just may have pushed himself into a joint backfield duty after the performance.
The argument can be made that Clemson running back CJ Spiller was last season’s most exciting college player. With Spiller gone, questions surrounded the Tigers backfield heading into their week one game about what player would fill in for the electrifying running back. Tiger backs Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper laid to rest any remaining questions about the Clemson backfield. The two rushed for 122 and 102 yards respectively with three total touchdowns. More impressive were their 10.2 and 11.3 yard averages.
Two sleepers for this year’s best ‘back, Wisconsin’s John Clay and West Virginia’s Noel Devine, turned in good performances against weak competition week one. Clay rushed for over 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns against UNLV, while Devine brought in 111 yards and a score against Coastal Carolina. I would have liked to see a better average than 4.8 for Devine against a porous defense however. Both are running backs to keep an eye on.
I’m not putting too much into the performances of the ‘big five’ week one. If anything, I’m just adding to the list. Maybe a nine or 10 man race for the Heisman, you never know. Invite them all.
Photo Credit: Jeff Gross/ Getty Images
Nobody open downfield…no problem
Keep an eye on a few select quarterbacks during week two. Don’t only watch for these players passing stats, but keep an eye on what they do with their legs. Week one saw the likes of six quarterbacks rush for over 125 yards and lead their respective teams in rushing. Not bad considering week one of 2009 had just one quarterback rush for more than 100 yards.
David Isabelle – Alabama Birmingham
22 att. 214 rush yards, 3 TD’s – lost to Florida Atlantic – Next up: SMU
Isabelle follows in the footsteps of Joe Webb, the NCAA’s leading quarterback rusher of 2009. Webb was the only quarterback last season to open the year with a 100 yard performance, going for 194 yards on the ground.
Denard Robinson – Michigan
29 att. 197 rush yards, 1 TD – beat Connecticut – Next up: Notre Dame
Who hasn’t heard of Robinson at this point? He carved through the Huskies defense like a steak knife through kobe beef, but wasn’t the leading quarterback rusher of week one.
Cameron Newton – Auburn (left)
15 att. 171 rush yards, 2 TDs – beat Arkansas State – Next up: Mississippi State
Newton, an ex-Gator, is a tremendous athlete at 6-foot-6 250 pounds, and can break the long run on any play. On one play against Arkansas State in the second quarter Newton avoided the rush, broke three tackles, stiff-armed another and picked up 15 yards and the first down. Calling Newton a dark horse for the Heisman isn’t an understatement. He’ll go on display again Thursday night against Mississippi State, a far better defense than Arkansas State.
16 att. 130 rush yards, 3 TDs Beat South Carolina State – Next up: Kansas
It’s really no surprise what Nesbitt did in week one, the offense has been run through the legs of the senior for three years now. I’m more surprised he didn’t bring in more yards week one.
Taylor Martinez – Nebraska
7 att. 127 rush yards, 3 TDs – Beat Western Kentucky – Next up: Idaho
Taylor who? The unheralded redshirt freshman beat out last year’s starter Zac Lee, and highly touted sophomore Cody Green for the starting job. I think we saw week one why he was able to do so. Might Nebraska have an offense to go with that defense this year? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t see this one coming.
Alex Gillett – Eastern Michigan
18 att. 126 rush yards, 1 TD – Lost to Army – Next up: Miami (OH)
Gillett’s legs are clearly under him, it’s his passing game that the sophomore needs to get working. If Eastern wants to surprise some in the MAC this year, it will be on the legs and arm of Gillett to produce.
Photo Credit: AP Image
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