With the 2017 season closed out, and the early entry list completed for the NFL Draft, we can now clearly take a look at who the best returning players are in college football for the 2018 season, continuing with our look at the running back position. While there are some tough losses, there is still a load of talent coming back. Here are our top 15 backs returning:
Bryce Love, Stanford
Love exceeded all expectations (and they were solidly high) in 2017 when he replaced Christian McCaffrey at RB for Stanford. Love was one of two backs that rushed for 2000 yards on the season (Rashaad Penny being the other), as he finished with 2118 yards rushing and 19 TDs. He averaged 162.92 yards per game, and shocked almost everyone by returning for his senior year, as he pursues a medical degree from Stanford.
Jonathon Taylor, Wisconsin
Taylor was the latest in a long line of collegiate superstar backs out of Wisconsin, and was the latest freshman phenom to take the field nationally, as he finished his debut season with a whopping 1977 yards rushing to go along with 13 TDs for the Badgers, who had another solid run in Big 10 play. Taylor will be one of the most watched players in the nation next season, but the Badgers get a big boost by knowing that they have him for two more seasons.
Devin Singletary, FAU
Lane Kiffin's offensive success came largely on the back of Singletary, who was a sophomore in 2017. He exploded onto the scene by rushing for 1920 yards and an eye popping 32 TDs to go with it. If you have not heard of Singletary by now, it's simply time to start paying attention.
AJ Dillon, Boston College
The freshman running back craze struck Chestnut Hill in 2017, as AJ Dillon exploded for 1589 yards rushing and 14 TDs. He finally gave the Eagles a dependable offensive threat, something they have lacked the last few seasons. Dillon returns in 2018 as the best back in the ACC, even if he plays for far from the best team in the league.
Justice Hill, Oklahoma State
Hill will likely be relied upon as never before at Oklahoma State in 2017, as QB Mason Rudolph and WR James Washington both depart. Hill was a true sophomore in 2017, and managed to rush for 1467 yards and 15 TDs. He may be one of the most important players returning in the Big 12 in 2018.
Lexington Thomas, UNLV
While the UNLV Rebels fell well short of expectations in 2017, one member of that team that did not was Thomas, who managed to rush for 1336 yards and 17 TDs. While the Rebels tried to break in a true freshman in Armani Rogers at QB, Thomas more than held up his end of the load and more, and he could be even better in 2018.
Myles Gaskin, Washington
A second team in the PAC-12 got major news when Gaskin decided to return for his senior season at Washington after he managed to rush for 1380 yards and 21 scores on the season. One of the premier weapons on the field for the Huskies, he gives the program one more season to develop what is shaping up to be solid talent behind him before he leaves for bigger things. He averaged 6.22 yards per carry last fall.
Benny Snell, Kentucky
Most people nationally have not heard of Snell, but every coach in the SEC East knows who he is. Snell rushed for 1333 yards and 19 scores in 2017, and Kentucky propelled to a second straight bowl appearance behind him. He averaged 20.15 carries per game last fall, a number that could increase in 2018.
JK Dobbins, Ohio State
Another in a talented group of freshmen, Dobbins broke through in fall camp, and then got the start in the season opener against Indiana due to injuries, and then he never looked back. Dobbins finished his debut season by rushing for 1403 yards and 7 TDs on the year, averaging 7.23 yards per carry. He will be a Heisman candidate with the right amount of work this season or next.
Spencer Brown, UAB
UAB was an amazing story in 2017, as they returned from the dead to win eight regular season games and got a bowl bid out of it. One of the better internal stories was Brown, who managed to carry the run game, rushing for 1329 yards and 10 scores as a freshman. Look for an even bigger season out of him in 2018.
Malcolm Perry, Navy
Perry was an underrated power back at Navy this season, and nobody really got to see him with any regularity. Perry rushed for 1182 yards last season, and scored double digits in TDs with 11, all while averaging over 8.5 yards per carry. If he can get his total carries per game up, he could turn into a major star nationally.
Darnell Woolfolk
Wilfork only managed to carry the football 15.7 times per game in 2017, but where he specializes is in the red zone. He scored 14 times as a sophomore last season, and should be more of a focal point in the triple option offense next fall.
Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma
Anderson had a huge sophomore season for the Sooners in 2017, as he managed to rush for 1123 yards and 13 scores, while averaging 6.18 carries per game. With Baker Mayfield gone, and Kyler Murry breaking into the QB job, Anderson's presence will be huge in 2018.
Patrick Taylor, Memphis
Taylor will be another heavily relied on presence in 2018, as Memphis loses QB Riley Ferguson. Taylor's rushing ability will be a softened bow for whomever wins the starting job in fall camp. Taylor averaged 5.52 yards per carry, while scoring 13 times on the season.
Travis Ettiene, Clemson
Ettiene was another young, inexperienced back who had a solid season in 2017. He rushed for 13 scores, and averaged 7.16 yards per carry for a Clemson team that defied the odds and went on to the national semifinal before losing to Alabama. Look for him to blow up as a junior in 2018.
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