Auburn Football: Spring SEC Running Back Power Rankings

Oct 25, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels running back Jaylen Walton (6) carries the ball down field in front of LSU Tigers defensive end Danielle Hunter (94) in the first quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Ole Miss had a very good year in 2014 despite the lack of a consistent rushing attack. The Rebels averaged only 155.5 yards per game last season, which ranked tenth in the SEC and 70th nationally, but won nine games with a stingy defense and solid passing game.

However, with the team needing to replace three-year starting quarterback Bo Wallace, it would be nice for Ole Miss to be able to rely on a strong ground game to ease in a new signal-caller. Unfortunately for head coach Hugh Freeze, the Rebels have the fewest quality options at running back in the league.

Last season’s leading rusher – Jaylen Walton – returns. As a junior, Walton accounted for 586 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 106 carries (one of which was a 91-yard scoring run). Walton is talented, but at 5-foot-8 and 161 pounds, he’s not an every-down SEC running back that can give you 20 to 25 carries per game. In fact, the most he carried the football in a game last season was 14 attempts against Mississippi State and the most he has had in his career was a 19-carry performance against LSU in 2013.

Freeze needs 6-foot-1, 209-pound rising sophomore Jordan Wilkins (52 carries, 361 yards, 1 TD in 2014) to take a bigger role, especially since depth was depleted over the off-season due to two transfers.

Next: 13. Vanderbilt