Big Ten running back rooms rankings: Iowa has a stacked RB room
Running backs can be both the heroes of a game for one team and the villains for the other. Running backs can literally carry a team on their back in order to win games.
The Big Ten in the past has been known to have great running backs like Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, Mike Hart, and many others.
Iowa has struggled in recent years with their offense, but it seems like the running back position has always been a bright spot for the Hawkeyes. This season doesn't seem to be any different for Iowa as their running back group is absolutely stacked with four guys that could each be a starter.
The Hawkeyes have hopes that their offense can be better this season, and a lot of that may come from the running back position being successful. How will Iowa's running backs stand up against the rest of the Big Ten though?
Here are the rankings of the Big Ten running backs rooms.
18. Northwestern
Top running backs: Cam Porter and Joseph Himon II
Northwestern's offense seems like it could struggle this season as their running back room is not one to necessarily be afraid of. Last season Cam Porter had 166 carries for 651 yards which is nothing to scoff at, but he only averaged about 4 yards a carry and had four touchdowns. Joseph Himon's second season with the Wildcats was highlighted by an 85-yard touchdown, but that was about it.
17. Indiana
Top running backs: Kaelon Black and Justice Ellison
The Indiana running games will not be a huge part of the offense, especially with who they brought in at quarterback. Both running backs come in as transfers from Wake Forest and James Madison, most likely coming in because of new head coach Curt Cignetti. Black had 637 yards and four touchdowns and averaged almost five yards per carry while Ellison led his backfield at Wake Forest with 1,901 yards and 15 touchdowns over the last four years.
16. Illinois
Top running backs: Kaden Feagin and Josh McCray
The running back room from Illinois has the potential to be great, but they have to stay healthy which could be an issue. Josh McCray showed signs of greatness in both 2022 and 2023 but suffered season-ending injuries in both seasons. Kaden Feagin was a true freshman last season with only 438 yards and two touchdowns. The Fighting Illini needs a lot more production from this group this season.
15. Nebraska
Top running backs: Gabe Ervin Jr. and Emmett Johnson
Nebraska is most likely going to lean on their quarterback play this season, but if Dylan Raiola doesn't pan out the way the Cornhuskers hope he does, the running back room will have to pick up the slack. Both running backs combined for three touchdowns in 2023 with Johnson rushing for 411 yards and Ervin Jr. rushing for 196 yards.
14. Maryland
Top running backs: Roman Hemby and Noaln Ray
Maryland's offense is a bit in the air right now, but the running back group might be somewhat solid for them. Roman Hemy and Noaln Ray had some success last season with Hemby having 680 yards and four touchdowns while averaging almost five yards per carry. He needs to show more consistency however as he scored 10 touchdowns in 2022. With Hemby coming back as a three-year starter, there isn't much of a duo with Ray.
13. Purdue
Top running backs: Devin Mockobee and Reggie Love III
Devin Mockobee comes back after a season with Purdue last year with 807 yards and six touchdowns but he only averaged 4.7 yards per carry. Reggie Love III, however, was a big pickup in the transfer portal with 567 yards and four touchdowns last season. These two could compliment each other well on the field, but the Boilermakers aren't hanging their offense on running back play.
12. Wisconsin
Top running backs: Chez Mellusi and Tawee Walker
Chez Mellusi has shown that he can be a great running back when he is healthy, but coming off of injury will show what he truly can do. Tawee Walker is a transfer from Oklahoma with good pop so this duo will work well on the field and give the Wisconsin running back room a good look on any down.
11. Michigan State
Top running backs: Nate Carter and Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams
Nate Carter just had a solid season in 2023 with 798 yards and four touchdowns, but he averaged 4.3 yards per carry, which he will need to step up if the Spartans want a lethal running game. Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams comes in as a UMass transfer and rushed for more than 1,300 yards in 2023, but he will have to show he can do it in a bigger conference.
10. USC
Top running backs: Woody Marks and Quinten Joyner
Woody Marks had a great four-year stint at Mississippi State with 573 yards and four touchdowns in 2023 but he also averaged 4.7 yards per carry. Quinten Joyner does have experience in the USC offense as the backup last season with 125 yards and one touchdown. USC is known as a passing team, but how will they adapt to the Big Ten, a known rushing conference?
9. UCLA
Top running backs: TJ Harden, Keegan Johnson, and Anthony Frias
UCLA looks pretty solid in the running back room, especially with TJ Harden who had 827 yards and eight touchdowns last season averaging 5.3 yards per carry. After losing Dante Moore, the Bruins will have to rely on the running game and it might end up being a committee with Keegan Johnson and Anthony Frias.
8. Washington
Top running backs: Jonah Coleman and Cameron Davis
Washington will have a different look at the running back position after appearing in the National Championship last season. Jonah Coleman was one of many Arizona Wildcats to follow Jedd Fisch to Washington and Huskies can benefit from that. Coleman had 871 yards and five touchdowns last season with a monster 6.8 yards per carry.
7. Iowa
Top running backs: Leshon Williams and Kaleb Johnson
This Iowa running back duo could be lethal in the Big Ten this season. Leshon Williams and Kaleb Johnson both complement each other very well and they have two guys behind them that can also pick up the slack when need be. Williams and Johnson rushed for a combined 1,284 yards last season and that was with being on one of the worst offenses in college football last season.
6. Minnesota
Top running backs: Darius Taylor and Sieh Bangura
Darius Taylor is going to be a special player this season and the Golden Gophers will probably lean on him a lot this season. With only 138 carries in 2023, Taylor has 799 yards and five touchdowns and averaged 5.8 yards per carry. The running game will probably be the toughest thing to defend for Minnesota this season.
5. Michigan
Top running backs: Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings
Donovan Edwards is being regarded as one of the best running backs in college football this season, but without Blake Corum leading the way. Edwards will have to do it all himself. He has the potential to do so but he needs to prove he can first before he moves into the best position.
4. Oregon
Top running backs: Jordan James and Noah Whittington
Jordan James has some great-looking stats from 2023 with 11 touchdowns, but a lot of those were goal-line touchdowns as he only had 759 yards but averaged 7.1 yards per carry with only 107 carries. James and Noah Whittingham will be a great one-two punch but there are just some other running backs that will be better in 2024.
3. Penn State
Top running backs: Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen
The top three running back rooms are tight as all three are great rooms, but Penn State will have a great one-two punch with one of the best duos in the country. Nick Singleton will most likely get be the starter with 752 yards and eight touchdowns last season, but Kaytron Allen is one of the best RB2s in the country and this duo will scare defenses.
2. Rutgers
Top running backs: Kyle Monangai and Samuel Brown V
The running back position is no doubt the best part of the Rutgers offense with Kyle Monangai being the starter. In 2023 Monangai had 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. He is a scary running back that backs bulldoze his way throw defenses and will be the highlight for Rutgers in 2024.
1. Ohio State
Top running backs: TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins
Of course, Ohio State is at the top of this list but they have two of the best running backs in the country as their one-two punch. Either guy could be the starter for the Buckeyes, but TreVeyon Henderson had 926 yards on 156 carries and 11 touchdowns in 2023 averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Now add Quinshon Judkins to the mix and the Buckeyes offense continues to be one of the scariest in college football.
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