Gator Running Backs: A Study in Genetic Freakiness

It has become a tradition in Gainesville every year to wonder aloud who will be the feature running back. In the past this question came about out of general concern. No real running back ever stood up to take over the helm. Not since C-4 graced the Swamp with his glorious presence had the Gators had a running back that they could turn to in dire situations. This year, the problem is a little different.

Last season, the Gators had an explosion of awesome out of the backfield. Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps and Percy Harvin provided defensive coordinators with fits. Coming into the 2009 season the Gators face an enviable problem. They have too many talented running backs. Who's gonna be the premiere back? Who will lose a lot of carries and disappear from the mix? Here's my completely accurate take on the situation.

Jeff Demps

Needless to say, Jeffrey Demps is the fastest of the Gator backs. This fact seems to get all of Gator Nation riled up and more excited than a redneck at Daytona. Every time I have the audacity to tell someone that Demps is just not a complete back yet, I get met with a lot of yelling and profane language. I think Demps will be the starter, and deservedly so. However, I think there are a few other backs on our roster that are just better all around. Of course, I won't care too much about all around play when Demps is breaking one loose against the Vols for a 75 yard touchdown run.




Chris Rainey

Rainey is one of those backs that I feel is a better all-around player than Demps. He has the speed, the elusiveness and he is a bit bigger than Demps. He does have a tendency to dance around too much, but I have the feeling Running Backs Coach Kenny Carter will get that straightened out this season. If Rainey can cut back on the amount of times he's dropped for a loss, his playing time could skyrocket.




Here's a little peak at what the two are capable of.




Emmanuel Moody
Moody is my personal favorite of the bunch. I still have not seen Moody go down on first contact. Unfortunately for Moody, and the Gators, he can't stay healthy. He was oft-injured last season, but when he played, he played great. Manny has already established himself in Gator lore. The supposed reasoning behind Urb calling those last minute timeouts against UGA was to get Manny more totes. He can add to his mystique by going off for 275 yards and 7 td's against against LSU in Tiger Stadium. The LSU fans will then rush the field, pushing their own players out of the way, to get to Moody and carry him off the field on their shoulders.

Eye candy.




Brandon James
Everyone knows about B. James as a kick returner, but he is a capable threat coming out of the backfield as well. Out of all the true Gator running backs, James is the most polished receiver. He an take a quick slant from Tebow and turn it into a huge gain. I don't know if James will see too much time in the backfield. But his carries will definitely increase with the departure of Harvin.




Highlights of James, including the greatest run back I have ever seen with my beautiful blue eyes.



Andre Debose
Debose is the one man on the roster capable of replacing Percy Harvin. That might not be this year though. He'll probably line up more at receiver this season. But look for him to take a lot of snaps in the "Percy" position.





Do I dare? Yes, I do...



Christopher Scott and Vincent Brown

These are two guys that will get some carries in blowouts this season. Scott has been impressing coaches all Spring, but I just don't see him overtaking the players listed above him. Brown got some playing time last season, and I see him getting about the same this year.

Don't forget about these guys coming out of the backfield either!

Top 25 RB'S

It's always hard to gauge how successful a running back will be, especially in college football. But since I am the epitome of greatness I will do just that.

Here are the top 25 running backs heading into the Fall.

1.Knowshon Moreno- An early Heisman favorite, Moreno had his coming out game against my Gators last season and I hate him for it.

2.LeSean McCoy- Is it a coincidence that the top 2 running backs have a different version of the name Sean? I'm naming my son Dontavishaun. Future Heisman winner baby!

3.Chris Wells- "Beanie" is continuing the tradition of tough runners at Ohio State. If the Buckeyes want to return to the NC, they will have to let Wells lead the way.

4.James Davis- Davis is a part of the best 1-2 punch in the land at Clemson. Davis will get more carries than Spiller so he's higher on the list.

5.P.J. Hill- Wisconsin has a stable of running backs that could start anywhere else in the nation. Hill is the returning leader of the running back corps. If he can stay healthy, he's one of the best.

6.C.J. Spiller- The other half of the deadly Clemson duo. I'm still a little peeved that he spurned his hometown Gators.

7.Noel Devine- Devine might not be the brightest of the running backs, but he definitely is one of the most talented. If Devine can stay out of trouble, there will be a whole lot of Heisman talk in Morgantown.

8.DeMarco Murray- Murray takes over as the feature back at Oklahoma this season. If he can keep Jermie Calhoun on the bench, Murray should be able to put up big numbers.

9.Mikell Simpson- Much like Moreno, Simpson came on strong in the middle of last season for Virginia. This guy is a speedster with plenty of open-field agility.

10.Joe McKnight- USC is adding to their legacy as Tailback U with McKnight. He'll soon have Trojan fans forgetting about Reggie Bush.

11.Eugene Jarvis- The leading returning rusher this season, Jarvis doesn't get too much pub because he plays at Kent State. Jarvis should put up huge numbers again this season with the total lack of a Golden Flash passing game.

12.Anthony Dixon- Dixon may be the toughest runner in the nation. I was thoroughly impressed with him last season. If Dixon plays well again, look for Mississippi St. to improve upon last season.

13.Javon Ringer- No matter how bad things get at Michigan St. they always seem to have a solid running game. Expectations are pretty high for the Spartans this season, and Ringer has a lot to do with that.

14.Ian Johnson- Johnson's numbers slipped a bit last season, but they were still pretty impressive. Ian Johnson and Boise St. should once again do some damage in the WAC.

15.Keiland Williams- Williams will team with Trindon Holliday to make a pretty fierce duo in LSU. Williams will get the bulk of the carries, and he should put up better than decent numbers.

16.Marcus Thigpen- Indiana will be a dangerous team in the Big Eleven this year. Thigpen, along with QB Kellen Lewis will have the Hoosiers bowling again.

17.Mike Goodson- The lightning to Jorvorskie Lane's thunder at Texas A&M, Goodson is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. His carries increased greatly last season and that trend should continue this year as well.

18.Marlon Lucky- The biggest move Bo Pelini made when he took over at Nebraska was getting Lucky to return for his senior season. The Huskers should be better than last season.

19.Damion Fletcher- Fletcher should find wider runner lanes at Southern Miss with the arrival of Larry Fedora. Look for a big senior season from Damion.

20.Kory Sheets- Sheets is an experienced back on an experienced Purdue Boilermaker team. Behind Anthony Dixon, Sheets may be the toughest runner on this list.

21.Luke Lippincott- Along with QB Colin Caepernick, Lippincott forms one of the better rushing attacks in the nation at Nevada.

22.Donald Brown- Connecticut has a solid duo in the backfield with Brown and Andre Dixon. Brown should get more of the carries as he enters Fall as the starter.

23.Jomario Thomas- Thomas had a down year, along with the rest of the North Texas team. Things should improve this season, and I expect Thomas to continue the North Texas tradition of producing 1,000 yard rushers.

24.Mike Ford- Jim Leavitt didn't use Ford as much as he should have last season at USF. I don't expect Grothe to take the same punishment he did last season, so that means more carries for Ford.

25.Chris Rainey- I'm not putting Rainey on here just because he's a Gator. I truly believe Rainey will be the answer for Florida at the running back position. Rainey, along with Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin, make a truly dangerous backfield.