Projecting the Depth Chart at Running Back

Sure, we’re a month away from football season. But it’s never too early to get started with projections, so we can reflect back in two months and laugh at ourselves. I’ll be doing full depth chart projections on a positional basis over the next week or so, starting with the running backs. Feel free to interject in the comments if you feel differently than I do.

RB3: Justice Hill (Fr.)

Hill is in line to be a big time back at Oklahoma State, based off his high school career at Booker T. Washington. He’s shifty and has some wiggle and elusiveness, but where he shines is his vision on the field and explosiveness through the holes. You see running backs hesitate to burst through gaps at times even in college, but Hill isn’t one of those guys. I’m not sold that he can be an early contributor making the jump from high school to college as a freshman, but I’d be decently comfortable with him getting some snaps as a frosh. We’ll see how it unfolds throughout fall camp.

True Freshman RB Justice Hill is, um, quite jacked. #BodyByGlass (via @osusportsphotog and @OSUAthletics) pic.twitter.com/tTqCBvngdv

— Cowboys Ride For Free (@CowboysRFF) August 2, 2016

RB2: Jeff Carr (So.)

Jeff Carr is returning with legitimate experience from a season ago in which he frankly was not ready to contribute. He was undersized, played timidly-ish (can you blame him?) and could have benefitted from a redshirt last year. But coming into year 2, he’s up almost 15 pounds and looks more the part of a college running back. With his experience and work ethic, he’s earned respect from players and coaches already. He’ll be used situationally as a scatback again this year, and I think he’ll make an improvement in the jump from year 1 to year 2.

Jeff Carr looking jacked pic.twitter.com/PCkjjnt1s1

— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson) August 2, 2016

RB1C: Rennie Childs (Sr.)

Childs is Mr. Reliable, so I’ve been called out for understating his value this preseason. I think he’s a very good back who hits the hole with force and obviously has the veteran experience, so he knows what is necessary. I liked his usage last year in a more moderated workload — he seems to bog down as games progress. Keeping Rennie fresh is the key. If he can stay healthy, he’ll be one of the biggest keys in a very experienced backfield of playmakers.

RB1B: Barry J. Sanders (Sr.)

Just like the majority of the backfield, Barry has the experience that will make him a valuable contributor. And running backs coach Marcus Arroyo admits that is a huge part of why his arrival is key: “Having experience is so monumental at the running back position, because if there’s a guy inexperienced with 65,000 people when the lights come on, you can’t put that in front of them on a Monday through Thursday practice,” Arroyo said in July. “Fortunately Barry has been through that.”

I think with his experience and preparation at Stanford mentally he’ll be ready to go from Day 1, and given his lack of playing time, I’d suspect physically he should be fairly fresh. OSU will be able to take full advantage of that.

RB1A: Chris Carson (Sr.)

I have Carson listed at 1A at the moment but my early prediction is that Childs / Sanders / Carson are used in a rotation of sorts, with Sanders used as a change of pace back and Carson as the power runner. He has a lot to improve on from last year, but I think year No. 2 will be more kind to him. The offensive line returns a year of experience and like I mentioned yesterday, I think he has a chip on his shoulder going into his final year of eligibility. I’m ready to see what No. 32 can do.

Not listed

Jakeem Johnson (R-Jr.)

The former NEO A&M back impressed me at the spring game earlier this year with his ability to both run and catch passes out of the backfield. That versatility is something OSU could definitely use, but rarely do they go to a running back in the passing game. Especially when you have James Washington on your team. He could be a quality backup this season and given his experience, I don’t think it’d be much of a drop off from a physical standpoint.

La’Darren Brown (Fr.)

Brown is an absolute burner out of the backfield who was a running back and track star for DeSoto. He would, and likely should, benefit from a redshirt season to put some weight on his frame. He should be really fun to watch when he eventually lands on the field.

Given the competition at the top of the chart, at the moment I think it’ll shake out in that order, with Carson and Sanders commanding the majority of the load and Childs getting good reps as well. All three are battle tested, so I think while fall camp could help shake out competition, the live game reps in the first few games could eventually be the real trial and error for the coaches to determine who they want to ride. It’s looking to be a pretty stiff competition and with fall camp just getting started, it should be really, really fun to follow.