The Best Running Back in the ACC
Last Year’s Top ACC Rushers Now in the NFL
After the 2022 season, two of the top five rushers in the ACC left for the NFL. That opens up College Football odds for other players to break into the top tier in running backs for the ACC.
Israel Abanikanda, who led the ACC in rushing yards, and Sean Tucker, who finished third, have started their professional careers. Their absence now leads to some College Football predictions for what players will break into the top five.
NCAA football odds may already be leaning towards one name from 2022 repeating himself, but another running back can push for the top spot. That makes picking just one running back to be the best in the ACC a little more challenging.
Honorable Mentions
Outside of the top two names heading into 2023, Jawhar Jordan is the only other returning player that was in the top five in rushing yards last season. He would finish his second season with Louisville getting a much heavier workload, rushing for 815 yards on 142 carries.
Jordan’s main struggle was that he ended the season with only four touchdowns. If the number of touches keeps growing, like last season, he should have more chances to reach the end zone. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry, rushing for over 100 yards in the season’s final three games.
Justice Ellison from Wake Forest is a player that could thrive in a more prominent role in 2023. The Demon Deacons had a dynamic passing game but with the team’s quarterback headlining College Football news by transferring, they could end up leaning on Ellison more. While his numbers were not staggering, with one game over 100 yards and 4.2 per carry, Ellison still finished sixth in rushing yards at 707.
Another name to watch is Henry Parrish Jr. out of Miami, who averaged 4.7 yards per carry. However, injuries did slow him down, finishing the season with 131 carries for 617 yards. If he can stay healthy, that might change how the sportsbooks see him, possibly moving up these rankings.
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A Tie For the Top Spot
The two names at the top of this list are Will Shipley from Clemson and Florida State‘s Trey Benson. While Shipley is the safer option in College Football picks Benson has a chance to compete for the top spot.
Shipley finished last season with the second most rushing yards, 1,182, and was the only returning player to eclipse 1,000. On top of that, he finished second in touchdowns, with 15. Shipley was dominant last season and deserving of his 210 carries. There should not be much drop-off in 2023, giving him a good chance to become the top running back in the ACC.
Trey Benson is #good. https://t.co/naWI0VAVjL pic.twitter.com/el8EAcnDRp
— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) June 1, 2023
However, Benson would be considered the X-factor. He finished fourth in rushing yards last season, at 990, but with only 154 carries. With more touches this season, there is a good chance his numbers will increase, especially considering that Benson averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Furthermore, he did not lack in scoring touchdowns, getting nine on the ground. Benson’s upside could take him over Shipley if given the opportunity.
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