By: Drayton Hogarth

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

When most think of the running back position, thoughts of the work horse running back toting the ball over and over again likely come to mind.

Names like Jim Brown, OJ Simpson, Archie Griffin, Herschel Walker, and Bo Jackson go down in the annals for college football history.

However, there has been an evolution at the running back spot. Most of the major programs have transitioned from the one running back that would have to get thirty plus carries per game; now the modus operandi is to utilize a stable of multiple backs.

Teams can utilize different style backs or just come at opposing defenses with a one-two punch of power. What is the reason for the change of approach?

There are a few reasons that come to mind. After years of seeing careers cut short from taking so many shots, in games and practice, players and coaches alike realized that every running back typically only has a certain number of carries in their career. Utilizing two or even three running backs can extend playing careers, and allow them to hopefully make it to the NFL and have multiple contracts available to them in order to maximize their earning years.

As well, with the renewed emphasis on player safety and concussion prevention, it only makes sense on all sides for college coaches to pitch the idea of spreading out the number of carries equally among talented running backs.

From the NFL perspective, the running back position has lost a fair amount of its glamour. NFL teams have been able to find extremely productive running backs in later rounds of the draft, thus allowing front offices to hold off on drafting or paying more for a young running back until they can prove their worth and ability in the league.

This is why college players always want to get to that second contract at the professional level, because on average that is the pinnacle of a player’s earning potential. Let’s take a look at some of the best running back groups from around college football this season.

Let’s start with the Clemson Tigers, one of the favorites to get back to the college football championship will be led by Wayne Gallman and Tavien Feaster as their lead running backs.

Gallman is a hard-nosed back and the do-everything back for the coach, Dabo Swinney. Feaster comes in as a freshman speedster who will provide yet another weapon on the offensive side of the ball.

Georgia’s Nick Chubb returns from a gruesome knee injury, and it appears that he has gotten back to his elite level of play. Sony Michel stepped in and rushed for over 1,000 yards in Chubb’s absence and has shown an ability to carry an offense on his own.

LSU most likely has the most dynamic running back in Leonard Fournette, who rushed for 1,900 yards in only 12 games. However, Derrius Guice provides the Tigers with a second back that allows the offense to not miss a step when Fournette takes a break.

A couple of reasons that Tennessee is expected to challenge for the SEC East title this season are Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara. Both could start for many teams all over the country, but having them together in Knoxville gives the Volunteers one of the top running back duos in all of college football.

When I think back to when the thought process switched to the running back by committee approach, it seems to go back to the Auburn Tigers of Tommy Tuberville and his use of Ronnie Brown and Carnell “Cadillac” Williams.

The duo led the Tigers to an undefeated season, but were denied a spot in the BCS title game. There were others before this Auburn team to have great running back combos, but it seemed to solidify the thought process to coaches across the country that this is the way to go, and that it is in the best interest of both team and individual.

It certainly doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.