The upcoming college football season features a number of fascinating situations. Among the topics high on a list of intrigue is the running back picture in the Big Ten. Certain players are going to be targets for opposing defenses. Knowing that defensive coordinators will be gunning for them, can some of the Big Ten’s better-known running backs still rise above the competition? Here are the ones most likely to get the job done in 2017:
1) Justin Jackson, Northwestern Wildcats
The Pinstripe Bowl marked a situation in which it was clear that Northwestern was going to rely on its running game. The Wildcats had been comparatively weak at quarterback and needed to establish a power game between the tackles. Pittsburgh had every reason to stuff the tackle box and dare Northwestern to throw. It did not matter.
Justin Jackson busted loose for the Wildcats, breaking several big runs and becoming hard to bring down in open space. He powered Northwestern to a high-scoring win, setting the stage for a 2017 season in which he is expected to carry a large workload for the NU offense. Skeptics will say that Northwestern has to develop more of a passing game to put Jackson in good position to succeed, but in the Big Ten West, most of the defenses won’t be powerful enough to stop Jackson, even though they know he will get the ball a lot. As long as the Northwestern offensive line does not get dominated, Jackson should be able to get past the first point of contact on a reasonable percentage of Northwestern’s running plays. That should be enough to free him up for a big season and be very productive in terms of college football fantasy.
2) Saquon Barkley, Penn State Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions will certainly be challenged by Ohio State and Michigan, which have excellent defenses and will not suffer in terms of the sum total of athleticism on the field. Because of this, Barkley will run into games in which he is contained. However, in the other games Penn State plays, he should dominate. Barkley is a gifted runner, chiefly because he knows how to maneuver in tight spaces to shake defenders. When he does evade the first defender to either get around the corner or into open space, he makes abrupt turns and cuts which give safeties and cornerbacks very little chance to close in and make a quick tackle. He is probably a better player than Jackson, but in terms of who will post the better stats, Jackson is in better shape because Northwestern plays in the easier Big Ten division, the West, and because Barkley is on a team which will pass the ball a lot more than Northwestern will.
3) Akrum Wadley, Iowa Hawkeyes
When Iowa plays well, Wadley usually is there to spearhead the running game. Iowa loves to use a ball-control approach, but that doesn’t mean Wadley can’t – or won’t – bust loose for a home-run play. Wadley is a decisive north-south runner who doesn’t fall into the trap running backs often succumb to, of running several yards backward in the hopes of a 50-yard gain. He’ll shoot between the tackles and take the eight-yard gain when it is there. He fits Iowa’s approach and offensive personality.
4) Ty Johnson, Maryland Terrapins
The running back who is coming off a season with more than 1,000 yards rushing will take the ball into the teeth of Big Ten defenses once again. This is a challenge because unlike Jackson and Wadley, Johnson must play most of his Big Ten games against the tougher East Division. Unlike Barkley at Penn State, Johnson does not have a big-time passing game to support him. Yet, quality rises to the top, and since Maryland has noticeably gotten better and tougher on the offensive line – enabling the program to be a lot more competitive last season – the Terrapins should be able to carve out enough holes to enable Johnson to flourish. He’ll be a real asset for college football teams next season, so keep an eye on him in your draft.
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