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As we did with the QB1’s, MGAF picks this seasons top running backs.  With the losses of backfield heavyweights Darren McFadden, Rashad Mendenhall, and Felix Jones to the NFL, this year’s crop of backs look to put their stamp on NCAA record books.

1.  Chris Wells - Ohio State - junior

“Beanie” may be the closest thing to Jim Brown that our generation has seen.  With a brutal combination of speed and size, Wells stiff-armed his way to over 1600 yards and 15 touchdowns last season; all while being injured.  After an off-season of rest and healing, Beanie returns this season with his focus on a Heisman and National Championship run (which we’ll probably see OSU lose to Vanderbilt in the title game).

However, if the Buffalo Buckeyes slip up and get throttled at USC on Sept 13th, who knows what the media will think of the future NFL star.

2. Knowshon Moreno - Georgia - sophomore

As a freshman, Moreno led a surging Bulldog team into the BCS and a dominant win over the Rainbow Homos of Hawaii.  Many experts claimed that Georgia actually belonged in the title game.  At 210 pounds, Knowshon has decent size to go with his speed.  Rushing for 1,334 yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman is causing many media folks to compare him to former UGA greats such as Herschel Walker and Terrell Davis.

With all this hype and pressure, we’ll wait and see how Jesus-in-Cleats does this year before MGAF starts making any comparisons.

3. James Davis - Clemson - senior / CJ Spiller - Clemson - junior

These two Tiger backs have became as deadly of combination as Pop Rocks and soda.  Crossing the goaline 19 times and racking up over 2850 total yards last season, the Clemson duo can score from anywhere on the field rushing, receiving, or returning.  Sure, one can argue that other backs are better than either of these Tigers individually, but it’s our blog and I’m combining them into one, super-human running back.

As usual, there’s high expectations on Clemson this year to finally make some national BCS noise.  Quarterback Cullen Harper should be the best in the league giving Tommy Bowden a dynamic backfield.  As Clemson does every year, they’ll start off 6-0 gaining boatloads of national exposure and then get rocked by North Carolina and Virginia to ruin their season.

4. Javon Ringer - Michigan State - senior

The Dayton, Ohio native has been playing football at Michigan State for what seems to be 13 years.  As a true junior in 2007, Ringer covered 1447 yards on the ground and scored 6 times.  While this may not seem like the stats of a Top 5 running back, his former wrecking-ball backfield mate Jehuu Caulcrick graduated along with his 21 touchdowns.

This year, when Ringer runs the ball to the red zone, he’ll get to keep it.  Look for JRing to put up close to 1700 yards and 20 touches this year.

5. LeSean McCoy - Pittsburgh - sophomore

While some may not know the incoming sophomore yet, they certainly will by the end of 2008.  As a freshman, super recruit McCoy rushed for a Big East rookie record 1328 yards; all without the help of a passing game.  He also ran for 14 touchdowns and caught another.

Dave “The Mustache” Wandstedt is ecstatic for this season now that McCoy actually knows the playbook and doesn’t have to rely on pure talent to rack up the stats.  At a good size, McCoy should compete for the Big East rushing title.

As always, check out where/when these big names will be playing in our 2008 NCAA Helmet Schedules.