Top Ten SEC Running Backs: Where Do Artis-Payne and Grant Rank?
Oct 12, 2013; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Alex Collins (3) runs with the ball during a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. South Carolina defeated Arkansas 52-7. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports
7. Alex Collins, Arkansas
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Collins was chosen by the Associated Press to be the SEC Freshman of the Year. Though he is technically the second-team running back at Arkansas, Collins led the Razorbacks with 1,026 yards on 190 carries last season and tied for the team lead with four rushing touchdowns.
At 5-foot-11 and 216 pounds, Collins looks like a Keith Marshall clone and runs with the same great vision. Not a burner, the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida native hits the hole hard and utilizes cutback lanes well, leading to big gains. He’ll share carries with starter Jonathan Williams and sophomore speedster Korliss Marshall, but Alex Collins has great upside and deserves this spot.
8. Kelvin Taylor, Florida
Apr 12, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Kelvin Taylor (21) carries the ball during the first half of the spring game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports
It took a while for Kelvin Taylor to emerge as an option for the Florida Gators at running back. After gaining 43 yards on five carries against Toledo in the season opener, Taylor ran only once in the team’s next four games.
However, the son of longtime NFL running back and former Gator Fred Taylor worked his way up the depth chart over the course of his true freshman season. Taylor carried the ball ten times for 52 yards against LSU, then started the following week against Missouri. After accounting for 74 yards and his first career touchdown on only 12 carries, Taylor held on to the top spot on the depth chart for the rest of the season.
Taylor has yet to hit the century mark in a game, but hit his career high with 96 yards and two scores against South Carolina. He finished the season with 508 yards and four touchdowns on 111 carries. Now a sophomore, Taylor enters the fall as the Gators top tailback.