As we said in yesterday’s post ranking the SEC’s quarterback units, Tennessee shows up in the Top 4 in five of eight SEC unit rankings in the 2020 edition of our Gameday on Rocky Top magazine. The Vols QBs were ranked No. 4 yesterday, and today, the running backs also come in at No. 4.
2020 SEC Running Back Rankings
 | Alabama returns 94% of its 2,067 rushing yards from last season, including 1,224 from stud running back Najee Harris alone, who also ended 13 carries in the end zone. Harris accounted for 59% of Alabama’s rushing yards, so his return was welcome news. But he isn’t alone. Also returning are Brian Robinson Jr. (441 yards and 5 TDs) and Keilan Robinson (254 yards and 2 TDs). In all, Alabama loses only about 6% of its rushing attack, so expect the Tide to lead the way in the league this fall. | |||
| Returning Production (in yards) | Unit Recruiting Ranking | |||
| 1 | Rushing | Receiving | Overall | |
| 1941 | 428 | 2369 | 4 |
 | Returning Production | Unit Recruiting Ranking | The Wildcats led the SEC in rushing offense last season, and all of the running backs return, including Asim Rose and Kavosiey Smoke. | ||
| Rushing | Receiving | Overall | |||
| 2 | 2084 | 95 | 2179 | 12 | |
 | Returning Production | Unit Recruiting Ranking | Like the Wildcats, the Tigers return 100% of their rushing yards from their running backs this fall. Leading the way is Larry Rountree III. | ||
| Rushing | Receiving | Overall | |||
| 3 | 1569 | 453 | 2022 | 11 | |
 | Returning Production | Unit Recruiting Ranking | The Vols return their three-headed attack of Ty Chandler, Eric Gray, and Tim Jordan from last season and hope for more behind a big offensive line. | ||
| Rushing | Receiving | Overall | |||
| 4 | 1654 | 224 | 1878 | 10 |
| Returning Production | |||||
| Rank | Team | Rushing | Receiving | Overall | Unit Recruiting Ranking |
| 5 | Mississippi State | 1451 | 204 | 1655 | 7 |
| 6 | Georgia | 794 | 169 | 963 | 3 |
| 7 | Mississippi | 1303 | 265 | 1568 | 9 |
| 8 | Auburn | 822 | 210 | 1032 | 2 |
| 9 | Arkansas | 1222 | 170 | 1392 | 14 |
| 10 | LSU | 669 | 157 | 826 | 6 |
| 11 | Texas A&M | 946 | 203 | 1149 | 8 |
| 12 | Florida | 463 | 75 | 538 | 1 |
| 13 | South Carolina | 290 | 26 | 316 | 5 |
| 14 | Vanderbilt | 350 | 67 | 417 | 13 |
Additional comments
With Tua gone and an outstanding offensive line, this may be the year we see Alabama return to its run game roots, and it will be in good hands not only with Najee Harris, but with a couple of excellent complements as well.
Kentucky’s running game wasn’t the best in the league just because of Lynn Bowden, but also because of Asim Rose, Kavosiey Smoke, and Christopher Rodriguez. And Missouri is likely to lean on Larry Rountree III to help ease the transition to a new-look offense.
Then there’s Tennessee, led by Ty Chandler, Eric Gray, and Tim Jordan. With the way Gray finished last season, he is probably going to push Chandler for some serious playing time, and with their own outstanding offensive line, these guys should be primed for a solid season.
Your thoughts
What do y’all think? Where did we get it right? Where are we wrong?