Conference USA Position Rankings Part 2: Running Backs

Conference USA has been putting a lot of quality running backs into the NFL lately (Chris Johnson, ECU; DeAngelo Williams, Memphis; Kevin Smith, UCF; Matt Forte, Tulane) and 2009 was a banner year for rushing in the conference. C-USA boasted nine 1,000 yard rushers in 2009 led by UTEP's Donald Buckram (1,594 yards). Buckram is back but 7 of those rushers are gone. There will be a lot of new faces carrying the ball in C-USA in 2010, lets see who's got the best.

12. Tulane Green Wave

Projected Starter: Albert Williams, Jr.

Tulane finished dead last in rushing a season ago, and that was with Sr. Andre Anderson rushing for 1,016 yards. After Anderson the leading rusher in '09 was WR Jeremy Williams with 167 yards. So who is the Green Wave's leading returning running back? That would be Sophomore Payten Jason who carried the ball 19 times for 85 yards last season. Albert Williams, Stephen Barnett, and J.T. McDonald combined for 19 carries and 27 yards. Tulane doesn't return a RB who scored a touchdown last year either.

11. UAB Blazers

Projected Starter: Pat Shed, Jr.

UAB got very little from their RBs in 2009, and most of what they had is gone. Top RB Rashaud Slaughter who only had 250 yards on 44 carries with one TD is gone and there isn't much left to replace him. The leading returning RB is Senior Daniel Borne who had 188 yards on 50 carries and 1 TD. He will compete with East Mississippi Community College transfer, Pat Shed for the starting duties. Three star recruit Chad Winbush (6'0" 200lb) could also compete for playing time as a true freshman. Last year QB Joe Webb did the majority of the running, and with him gone the Blazers' rushing attack could be pretty meager this season unless one of these unproven running backs steps up.

10. Memphis Tigers

Projected Starter: Lance Smith, Sr.

The Tigers are yet another team to lose a 1,000 yard rusher in Curtis Steele who rushed for 1,239 yards and 15 TDs and an impressive 6.3 yd/att average. Memphis has a few RBs coming back who carried the ball in 2009. RS Senior Lance Smith got the majority of those touches, gaining 149 yard and a touchdown on 46 attempts. Marcus Hightower (So.) gained 34 yards on 5 carries and Gregory Ray (Sr.) added 16 yards on 4 carries. The Tigers bring in a couple of good recruits in Jerrell Rhodes (5'10" 195) and Ketauras Stanton (6'1" 225) to add depth to the unit. JR Darcel Johnson, 6'0" 235 lb, could also make an impact.

9. SMU Mustangs

Projected Starter: Zach Line, So.

SMU's RB situation looking a little bleak for 2010. Shawnbrae McNeil and his 1,188 yards and 12 TDs from 2009 are gone to the NFL. Sophomore Zach Line is the leading returning rusher from last years squad and he only had 189 yards on the ground on 49 carries, although he did have 7 TDs. The only other returning players with rushing attempts in 2009 are Kyle Padron and Punter Matt Szymanski. YIKES! Senior Chris Butler did gain 116 and 174 yards in 2007 and 2008 respectively and totaled 3 rushing TDs, but didn't factor into the backfield in '09.Darryl Fields, a 3 star recruit with a big 6'2" frame as well as some good speed, and Kevin Pope, a tough runner at 5'10" 225 lb, are incoming freshman that could compete for the starting job. The Mustangs were 10th in rushing last year and will likely finish in a similar position in 2010 unless one of the young guys can make a quick transition to the college game. Lucky for the Mustangs the passing game is their forte.

8. Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Projected Starter: V.J. Floyd

Southern Miss lost their top two RBs from 2009 to graduation. Seniors Damien Fletcher and Tory Harrison combined for 1,662 yards and 18 TDs and were largely responsible for USM finishing second in the league in rushing. V.J. Floyd and Tracey Lampley are the top returning RBs from 2009. Floyd finished with 17 carries for 59 yards and a 3.5 average while Tracey Lampley gained 122 yards on 21 attempts averaging 5.8 yards per rush and scoring 1 touchdown. Southern Miss will likely have a running back by committee look in 2010 and true freshmen Jeremy Hester and Allan Howze, both 3 star recruits, could see some playing time early in their careers, as could 2009 4 star recruit Kendrick Hardy.

7. Rice Owls

Projected Starter: SamMcGuffie, So.

Rice was one of 3 teams that didn't have a 1,000 yard rusher in '09. Charles Ross looked impressive for the Owls rushing for 491 yards and 11 TDs on only 97 carries for a 5.1 avg as a Freshman. RS Junior, Tyler Smith added 428 yards and a TD. Marcus Knox (Sr.) and Shane Turner (So.) each got a handful of carries last season. Rice will also have the services of youtube superstar, Sam McGuffie who transfered from Michigan. McGuffie rushed for 486 yards and 3 touchdowns for Michigan in 2008. All in all, not a bad group. They should improve from last year when Rice was ranked 11th in the conference in rushing.

6. ECU Pirates

Projected Starter: Jonathan Williams, Sr.

Dominique Lindsay rushed for over a 1,000 yards in 2009 and has earned a spot on the Tennessee Titans pre season roster. Even with his departure ECU has a wealth of experience returning at running back. The downside is that almost every one of those backs have been in the dog house at one point or another at ECU. With a new coaching staff at ECU there seems to be a clean slate policy so it could be a great unit if everyone can keep their nose clean. Johnathan Williams rushed for 380 yards on 75 attempts averaging 5.1 yds/att and scored 5 touchdowns in 2008 including an 82 yard 2 touchdown performance against WVU before being benched for disciplinary reasons. Norman Whitley took over at that point and rushed for 698 yards and 4 TDs with a 4.9 yard average. With both players in the doghouse last year, and 2009's second leading rusher Brandon Jackson off the team, Giavanni Ruffin is the leading returning rusher from last season. Ruffin rushed for 308 yards and 5 TDs last year. Freshmen Michael Dobson and Alex Owah are also in contention for the starting job.

5. Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Projected Starter: Jamad Williams, Sr.

Jamad Williams ran for just 389 yards and one touchdown last season, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. He was the top running back for a Tulsa team that finished 6th in the conference in rushing due in large part to the rushing ability of QB G.J. Kinne and several WRs. Charles Opeseyitan (Jr.) ran for 218 yards and 2 TDs on 45 carries. The Golden Hurricane also return H-Back Charles Clay, who rushed for 236 yards and 7 touchdowns to go with 530 yards and 5 TDs receiving, and FB Willie Carter who added 165 yards and one TD. Tulsa has brought in a pair of talented Freshmen in Ja'Terian Douglas and DeMaro Nelson who could also grab some playing time.

4. Marshall Thundering Herd

Projected Starter: Martin Ward, So.

Marshall has a very capable in Martin Ward who returns from last years team. Ward spent the season backing up Darius Marshall who rushed for 1,131 yards and 11 TDs . Ward rushed for 393 yards and 3 TDs on his 82 touches for an average of 4.8 yards per carry. Terrell Edwards also got some touches last year rushing for 217 yards and 3 touchdowns. Andre Booker saw limited action at RB gaining 73 yards on only 15 carries but was impressive as a return man. He averaged 20.4 yards per punt return and took one back for a TD. If 4 star recruit Travon Van can meet eligibility requirements he could have an impact in the Herd's backfield as well.

3. Houston Cougars

Projected Starter: Bryce Beall, So.

Last years leading rusher Charles Sims, who was named C-USA Freshman of the Year, has been ruled ineligible for the 2010 season. Sims had 698 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground to go with 70 receptions for 759 yards (4th on the team) and 1 TD. Bryce Beall returns though, and he had an impressive 2009 of his own. Beall rushed for 670 yards and 7 TDs averaging 4.8 yards/carry and added 311 yards and 3 TDs on 32 receptions. Justin Johnson added 84 yards and 2 TDs on 18 carries. Houston should be just fine with Beall at RB but it would have been nice to have had Sims back this year to create a good duo. Houston does add true freshman Xavier Brown, a 6ft 197 lb back with 4.5 speed, for 2010. An injury to Beall and the experience level really drops off, still it's an impressive unit overall especially considering Houston's reputation as a passing team.

Beall will be a crucial part of Houston's offense in 2010.

2. Central Florida Knights

Projected Starter: Brynn Harvey, Jr.

The Knights are one of two C-USA teams to return a 1,000 yard rusher in Brynn Harvey. As a Sophomore Harvey rushed for a rather impressive 1,109 yards and 14 TDs while averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Behind Harvey, rising Sophomore Jonathan Davis rushed for 310 yards and 4 touchdowns with an average of 4.8 yards per carry. Also returning is RS Junior Ronnie Weaver who gained 86 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown. The Knights finished 8th in the conference in rushing in '09 but should improve greatly upon that ranking in 2010. UCF is one of the few teams in C-USA that make their living rushing the ball and playing defense and with the stable of backs they have in place they could be making a real push for the East Division this year.

1. UTEP Miners

Projected Starter: Donald Buckram, Sr.

Buckram was one of the most impressive players at any position in C-USA in '09. He led the conference in rushing yards and scoring and was second in all purpose yards. Buckram racked up 1,594 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground to go with 453 yards and 3 touchdowns receiving. His season was good enough to rank him 4th in the nation in rushing yards and 11th in all purpose yards. The downside for UTEP is that there isn't a ton of proven talent behind Buckram. Jason Williams (So.) was the Miners' second leading rusher a year ago with 126 yards and 5 TDs on 42 carries. Behind that there is no one of real signifigance returning. Still, with Buckram leading the unit the Miners' edge out UCF for the tops in C-USA as far as RBs go.