SI.com Spring Position Rankings: RBs

[KingInExile]

Top-10 running backs based on SI.com's spring rankings:

1. Darren McFadden...Arkansas...Jr...6-2/212...Little Rock, AR
(He has a chance to score whenever he touches the ball.)

2. Steve Slaton...West Virginia...Jr...5-10/195...Levittown, PA
(Slaton enters the year as the most exciting player in the nation.)

3. Mike Hart...Michigan...Sr...5-9/196...Syracuse, NY
(He gets stronger in the second half and never fumbles.)

4. Ray Rice...Rutgers...Jr...5-9/195...New Rochelle, NY
(Can he have similar success behind a new line?)

5. Ian Johnson...Boise State...Jr...5-11/194...San Dimas, CA
(A new QB puts more pressure on Johnson to carry the offense.)

6. Jonathan Stewart...Oregon...Jr...5-11/234...Lacey, WA
(He could emerge as a Heisman candidate if he stays healthy.)

7. Mike Goodson...Texas A&M...Jr...6-0/197...Klein, TX
(Goodson averaged 6.7 yards per carry last year.)

8. Tashard Choice...Georgia Tech...Sr...6-1/205...Riverdale, GA
(He has rushed for at least 100 yards in each of his last seven games.)

9. Yvenson Bernard...Oregon State...Sr...5-9/202...Boca Raton, FL
(Bernard is the best pass-catching threat on this list.)

10. Branden Ore...Virginia Tech...Jr...5-11/207...Chesapeake, VA
(Ore can be great if he just avoids injuries.)

This won't come to much surprise from some, but I will say this very emphatically...YVENSON BERNARD IS UNDERRATED!!! Give me a break! He is easily a top-5 RB in the nation and IS a legitimate Heisman candidate for next year. To have him ranked at #9 is just absurd.

[john2jer]

If easily means the highest he could be ranked is #5, then sure, whatever.

The top 4 are clearly a notch above everyone else.

But it's pre-season rankings, absurd? Settle...

[Icness]

That's potentially a very strong draft class for 2008.

For those that haven't seen Brandon Ore, dude is the next coming of Ricky Williams with his running style. Too bad he pulls a hamstring brushing his teeth every other week.

[NO-KG-AI]

Joe Mcknight, that is all.

[SugarRay34]

No PJ Hill?? the guy just ran for 1500 yards as a freshman

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Yvenson Bernard should be ahead of Choice and Goodson for sure but NO WAY IN HELL should he be ahead of J-Stew. I'm sorry.

Jonathan Stewart has reportedly been having amazing spring practices...at one point, he ran someone over with such force that every single player working on drills could hear it. Jeremiah Johnson (who in and of himself is a top-25 RB) also reportedly looks great. And both are healthy.

[NO-KG-AI]

Joe Mcknight, that is all

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Joe Mcknight, that is all

Doesn't USC have six 5-star-caliber running backs? McKnight's gonna have to be the lovechild of Reggie Bush and Jesus Christ if he wants to start.

[NO-KG-AI]

-= original quote snipped =-



Doesn't USC have six 5-star-caliber running backs? McKnight's gonna have to be the lovechild of Reggie Bush and Jesus Christ if he wants to start.

He is....

I watched him play in person in HS, and I have never seen a HS player as good as him, not even close. He is like Reggie Bush but already bigger at the same age. BTW I hate USC, he is just a local guy that I kept up with.

Here are some stats for you:

36 carries 500 yards, 9 touchdowns

20 receptions 497 yards, 5 touchdowns

OR 56 touches 997 yards, 14 touchdowns= 17.8 yards per touch, 1 TD every 4 touches.

He's a big play machine, he put the games away so quickly that he didn't even need to touch the ball anymore.

[JoeJohnson2two]

How in the hell did PJ Hill get shafted off this list? That's alright. Rather be underrated then overrated.

GO BUCKY