The 10 best running backs LSU faces in 2023

LSU’s defense was navigating several new pieces and a new scheme under Matt House last year, but still managed to put together some excellent performances when the Tigers’ needed them most. This year, the SEC West continues to pose a massive challenge for LSU, but Brian Kelly’s team enters as one of the favorites to win the division.

Here, we’re ranking the ten best running backs LSU faces in 2023, with the only caveat being we can only use one player per opponent. Here’s our full rankings with thoughts on each player and rushing attack the Tigers face.

Previous opponent rankings: Quarterbacks

10. Tyson Riley, Army

Riley was Army’s second leading rusher in 2022, finishing with 441 yards and two touchdowns on 4.6 yards per carry. This year, Army moves to a shotgun offense, changing the overall scheme, but still basing their offense around the run game. Riley is set to be the starting back, but as always it’s a crowded running back room at Army and he likely shares time with several players on the roster in the backfield. The overall Army rushing attack is always potent, but this year it will look different.

9. Cody Schrader, Missouri

The Tigers return their leading rusher from 2022 with Schrader coming off of a year where he totaled 745 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s in line to once again get a majority of the carries and hopes to improve on the 4.4 yards per carry average from last year. Missouri returns some quality offensive talent, but overall last year was a disappointment for the Tigers as an offensive unit. Schrader will have to really stand out this year to help push Missouri to a winning season.

6. Jo’Quavious Marks, Mississippi State

It will be a very different offense for Mississippi State in 2023, moving from the Mike Leach Air Raid to Kevin Barbay, the former offensive coordinator at Appalachian State. Barbay was excellent at running the ball in the Sun Belt with some really talented backs in recent years and now he has Marks to turn to. The No. 2 back from last year’s team, Dillon Johnson, is no longer with the team, therefore giving Marks an even bigger workload.

He’s had to be a versatile pass catcher and pass blocker the last three years, but this season should rack up the carries. He has 289 carries through three years, I expect close to 200 carries this year alone.

7. Reuben Owens, Texas A&M

The No. 2 running back in the 2023 class according to On3 and 247Sports, Owens is the definition of dynamic. At 5-foot-11, Owens’ agility and versatility have yielded comparisons to Alvin Kamara as he’s the best pass catcher of any running back in the 2023 cycle according to On3. With all the tools, the question is how quickly will Owens be one of the best running backs in the SEC? We’ve seen freshman running backs come in and excel in year one before and Owens should be able to get a significant share of the carries now as he looks to replace Devon Achane.

6. Jase McClellan, Alabama

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

McClellan was a speedy running back prospect out of Aledo, Texas in the 2020 class and over the past two years has had to patiently wait his turn in the running back room at Alabama. Last year, in year three, he finally had his shot, getting 112 carries for 655 yards and seven touchdowns to go with 14 receptions for 174 yards and three touchdowns. He has the potential to replace Jahmyr Gibbs with his versatility, fitting the same mold, but we’ll have to see how he handles getting a lion’s share of the carries. Alabama also brings in two top 10 running backs in the 2023 class to compete for snaps.

5. Montrell Johnson, Florida

COLLEGE STATION, TX – NOVEMBER 05: Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2) cuts back to the sideline during the football game between the Florida Gators and Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on November 5, 2022 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Johnson and Trevor Etienne are the best 1-2 punch at running back in the SEC this year and Etienne would be on this list if we didn’t limit it to one per team. Johnson totaled 841 yards and ten touchdowns on 155 carries, but Etienne was more efficient, averaging 6.1 yards on his 118 carries last year.

Johnson is a more bruising back than Etienne and is a massive part of why the Gators will once again lean heavily on the run game in 2023. Anthony Richardson had 103 carries of his own last year and with his departure to the NFL, Johnson and Etienne will stack up the carries this season. Johnson should hit 1,000 yards rushing and Etienne around 800.

4. Jarquez Hunter, Auburn

Jarquez Hunter hurdles a Penn State defender on the way to a touchdown. (Photo by Erik Rank/Auburn Live)

It’s officially Hunter’s time to shine after two years behind Tank Bigsby, one of the best backs in the SEC. Hunter is a different type of back from Bigsby, who averaged 5.4 yards per carry on 179 carries. Hunter is more elusive and faster between cuts, which explains his impressive 6.4 yards per carry last year on 104 totes. Hunter will have to round out his game to be a complete back, but a player that averages 6.5 yards every time he’s handed the ball is an explosive player that any team would love to have.

3. Trey Benson, Florida State

(Don Juan Moore / Getty Images)

Benson was the lead back in a potent rushing attack for the Seminoles last year, ending with 990 yards and nine touchdowns on 154 carries. He also averaged 11.1 yards per reception and was one of the best playmakers in the ACC. This year, the Seminoles run it back with Jordan Travis at quarterback, another potent receiver room, and Benson as the go-to running back as Treshaun Ward transferred out. It will be a surprise if Benson doesn’t surpass 1,000 yards rushing this season as Florida State has a myriad of offensive weapons to attack defenses with. Benson has been incredibly consistent and enters his redshirt junior season as one of the top ten backs in the country.

2. Raheim Sanders, Arkansas

(Andy Altenberger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

ESPN ranked Sanders as the No. 3 running back in the country for 2023, lofty praise for the Razorbacks’ star back. Coming off of a year where he accounted for 1,443 yards and ten touchdowns on the ground, Sanders solidified himself as a workhorse back who could really punish defenses both on the edges and in between the tackles. The loss of Kendal Briles creates some pause for national media when assessing Arkansas, but with KJ Jefferson and Sanders in the backfield, it’s hard to imagine the Razorbacks not having another potent offense in 2023.

1. Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss

As a freshman, Judkins led the SEC in rushing yards with 1,567 and also set the single-season rushing record at Ole Miss. Averaging 5.7 yards on 274 carries with 16 touchdowns made for a truly special freshman season. He was one of the best freshmen in the country despite only being a three-star prospect from Alabama. Lane Kiffin constructed his entire offense around him, sufficiently making up for the inconsistent pass game in most cases. The physicality of his run style makes him an incredibly fun back to watch.

The statistics are incredible and it will be interesting to watch and see if he reaches those marks in his sophomore season. Zach Evans is no longer in the room, but Ole Miss does add the No, 6 running back in the 2023 class in Kedrick Reescano who should help Judkins. There’s no question Ole Miss’ offense will once again be the focal point of Kiffin’s offense, and yet again be a handful for any defense to handle.

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