Now that practice is officially over, it’s time to begin our post-spring position rankings.
Up next: Running backs
1. LSU: The Tigers possess the SEC's best running back and one of the nation's best players overall in Leonard Fournette. Embarrassingly, Fournette, who finished last year with 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns, wasn't a Heisman Trophy finalist. I'm sure that isn't motivating or anything. Right behind him, Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams did most of the work this spring. Guice, who 436 yards and three touchdowns is the No. 2 back, with Williams (296 and four TDs) behind him.
2. Tennessee: Jalen Hurd might be the best back no one is really talking about in the SEC. The tall, physical runner has 2,187 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in two seasons. The shifty Alvin Kamara provides a nice change-of-pace with his speed and athleticism. He also worked on his blocking this spring. He hit nearly 700 yards and had seven touchdowns last year. Sophomore John Kelly also showed a lot of breakaway ability this spring.
3. Georgia: This all rests on the health of Nick Chubb. He looked like the SEC's best back at times last year before his nasty knee injury in early October. Chubb, who has 2,294 yards and 21 touchdowns in one and half seasons, is the key to this offense and running game. Sony Michel performed admirably in his place last year (1,161 yards/ eight TDs), and senior Brendan Douglas will get some carries here and there, but incoming freshman Elijah Holyfield will be one to watch this fall. Shaquery Wilson also moved from receiver to running back this spring.
4. Auburn: Even with Peyton Barber gone, the Tigers return a solid group. Senior Jovon Robinson should some promise last year and if Auburn finds the right quarterback, he should easily move past his 639 yards and three touchdowns from last year. Roc Thomas bounced back from a rough first season to share first-team carries with Robinson this spring, and he's also a solid receiving option. Kerryon Johnson missed spring with a shoulder injury, but brings some wiggle to the position, while true freshman Malik Miller had a solid spring before his spring game ankle injury.
5. Alabama: If Bo Scarbrough is as good as advertised, the Crimson Tide will be much higher on this list. The hype machine is pushing him hard, but he has just 18 carries to go along with two knee injuries and a broken ankle in his past. Still, huge things are expected from him. With Ronnie Clark out with an Achilles injury, the health of Damien Harris (46 carries) is very important. Incoming freshman B.J. Emmons was the No. 1-rated high school running back last year.
6. Kentucky: This might be the offensive position with the fewest questions for the Wildcats. Stanley "Boom" Williams has plenty of potential, but off-field issues have eaten into his production. He averaged 7.1 yards per carry last year, but should have been better than his 855 yards. Jojo Kemp added 555 yards, while Mikel Horton got a fresh start after registering 318 yards last fall.
7. Florida: The Gators lost 1,000-yard back Kelvin Taylor, but have two solid sophomores and a possible stud JUCO transfer to turn to. Jordan Cronkrite (157 yards/three touchdowns) led for most of the spring, but Mark Thompson started to adjust from the JUCO ranks to impress in the spring game with 46 yards and touchdown. Jordan Scarlett battled a hamstring injury during the spring and was behind Taylor with 181 yards last year. Former walk-on Mark Herndon will get carries, as should incoming freshman Lamical Perine, the brother of Oklahoma's Samaje Perine.
8. Vanderbilt: Ralph Webb is the offensive star. He has 2,059 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons. He's a tough runner who can also hit a big run with a couple of moves. However, he needs help. Dallas Rivers, Josh Crawford and Jaire George will all get that shot, but keep an eye on former linebacker Khari Blasingame. He was the only back to score in the spring game and have two carries of more than five yards.
9. Arkansas: Gone are Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams, leaving major holes here. Those holes got bigger with Rawleigh Williams III being non-contact this spring and Kody Walker going down with a broken foot. Damon Mitchell moved from receiver and had a good spring, but how he adapts to SEC play will be interesting. Denzell Evans had a solid spring game with 43 yards and a touchdown, but Bret Bielema is very high on incoming freshman Devwah Whaley.
10. Ole Miss: A position that has frustrated Hugh Freeze. Bigger backs Jordan Wilkins and Akeem Judd combined for 804 yards behind starter Jaylen Watkins. They appear to be the leaders at the position, but the 5-foot-9 Eugene Brazley has some burst and elusiveness to change things up. Redshirt freshman Eric Swinney has bruiser qualities, and the staff moved D.K. Buford from defensive back to running back.
11. Texas A&M: The Aggies must replace 1,000-yard rusher Tra Carson, and it looks like it'll be by committee for now. Oklahoma transfer Keith Ford is eligible and has high expectations on his back, but he missed parts of spring with an ankle injury. Junior James White (196 yards last season) has every-down-back size, but isn't that explosive. Redshirt freshman Kendall Bussey is back from a knee injury, and early enrollee Trayveon Williams showed exciting ability in space this spring. Walk-on Kwame Etwi led all rushers with 72 yards in the spring game.
12. Mississippi State: No Mississippi State running back rushed for at least 100 yards in a game last season. Inconsistency along the line didn't help, but these running backs have to make some sort of statement. Brandon Holloway has big-play ability and led the running backs with 413 yards but had zero rushing touchdowns. The bigger Aeris Williams a runner who can complement Holloway as a pounding back at the position, and Williams had a strong spring after leading all backs with three touchdowns. Ashton Shumpert played running back and linebacker in the spring game.
13. Missouri: There wasn't much of a running game at all in 2015. Ish Witter is the lead back (518 yards and a touchdown last year). He looked more physical this spring, which this position desperately needs. With Chase Abbington gone and Morgan Steward medically retiring, this position is very thin. Trevon Walters, Ryan Williams and Shaun Conway also went through spring, but some of the focus could shift to freshmen Natereace Strong and Damarea Crockett this fall.
14. South Carolina: Losing Brandon Wilds leaves a major hole at running back. A.J. Turner and David Williams have the potential to be a solid duo, as they distanced themselves this spring, but there's still a ton both need to prove in actual games. Williams is the leader here, but Turner will provide a potentially nice change-of-pace. Williams rushed for 299 yards last year, while Turner redshirted.