It’s time to roll out our SEC Running Back Room Rankings as we continue our comprehensive previews for the 2025 college football season. This position group always sparks plenty of debate, and this year was no different. Each of us—Caleb, Craig, and Matt—submitted our own rankings of all 16 SEC running back units, using a simple scoring system: 16 points for a first-place vote, 15 for second, and so on down to 1 point for the last-place team. The totals were then tallied to produce our composite rankings. While we came close to unanimous agreement at the top with teams like Texas and Texas A&M, we didn’t give a perfect No. 1 score to any single team. That lack of full consensus made for a fun, sometimes heated conversation as we worked through the final order.
Interestingly, the tightest cluster of teams came in the middle of the rankings. Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt all finished in a dead heat, creating a three-way tie at No. 10 and highlighting how tightly packed the SEC’s backfield talent is this year. We did see some strong areas of agreement—Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida were consistently near the top of all three ballots, while Auburn and Kentucky landed near the bottom across the board. On the other hand, some programs sparked wide gaps in opinion. Alabama and Mississippi State, for example, had significant variance in where each of us placed them, with differences in how we evaluated top-end talent versus depth and scheme fit.
With so much turnover, transfers, and fresh coaching staffs across the league, projecting running back success for 2025 required weighing past production, spring reports, and anticipated offensive roles. Whether it’s star power like Trevon Wisner at Texas, breakout potential in places like Florida, or bounce-back candidates such as Jaydn Ott at Oklahoma, the SEC boasts a wealth of intriguing storylines at the position. Scroll down to view the full composite rankings, along with each writer’s individual picks and brief analysis. Let us know where you agree—or think we completely missed the mark.
Heartland Sports Consensus SEC Offensive Line Rankings
| RANKING | POINTS |
|---|---|
| 1. Texas | 47 |
| 2. Texas A&M | 44 |
| 3. Oklahoma | 43 |
| 4. Florida | 39 |
| 5. LSU | 34 |
| 6. Tennessee | 32 |
| 7. Georgia | 31 |
| 8. Mississippi State | 23 |
| 9. Missouri | 20 |
| 10. Ole Miss | 17 |
| 10. South Carolina | 17 |
| 10. Vanderbilt | 17 |
| 13. Alabama | 14 |
| 14. Arkansas | 13 |
| 15. Auburn | 12 |
| 16. Kentucky | 5 |
Individual Rankings
Caleb
1. Texas A&M | Le’veon Moss was one of the best backs last season before his injury. Moss will be looking to pickup where he left off last season, his backup, Amari Daniels, is back for his redshirt senior season after posting an 80.2 rushing grade with 661 rushing yards in 2024 with a talented young RB in Ruben Owens behind him.
2. Texas | Quintrevion Wisner is back for his junior year after placing third among SEC backs in 2024 with 1,060 rushing yards and 695 yards after contact. With C.J Baxter back from injury, Texas should have a great 1 2 punch with a lot a young talent behind them.
3. Oklahoma | Oklahoma added one of the top RB transfers in Jaydn Ott. Ott had a lackluster season due to an ankle injury. Ott is looking to prove to everyone he is still a top back in the country. Ott also has a lot of talent to back him up in Jovantae Barns, Taylor Tatum, and Xavier Robinson.
4. LSU
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Georgia
8. Mississippi State
9. Missouri
10. Alabama
11. South Carolina
12. Mississippi State
13. Ole Miss
14. Arkansas
15. Auburn | Replacing Jarquez Hunter, who ran for 1,201 yards a year ago is going to be hard. Damari Alston will likely get the start but doesn’t have a lot to back him up.
16. Kentucky | The Kentucky running back room is a big question mark. Dante Dowdell will most likely be RB1 but he doesn’t have a lot of proven talent behind him. Seth Mcgowan transfers in from New Mexico with 1,100 all purpose yards and 6 touchdowns.
Craig
1. Texas | The Longhorns have the best running back duo in the country in Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter. Wisner tallied up over 1,300 all purpose yards in 2024 and will be the leading returning rusher in the SEC. Texas is hopeful that CJ Baxter can return to his old form after recovering from injury. If he can indeed do that, the Longhorns will have a dangerous backfield.
2. Oklahoma | The Sooners get an immediate boost from last season after landing Jaydn Ott from Cal. He brings in to Oklahoma’s offense a total of 30 touchdowns and over 2,500 yards. The Sooners also have Jovantae Barnes who rushed for 577 yards last season despite missing the final four games of the season due to an ankle injury.
3. Florida | The Gators have a future 1,000 yard rusher on their hands in Jadan Baugh. He rushed for 673 yards last season as a true freshman. He managed to cause 32 missed tackles a year ago. I expect another breakout season from the sophomore.
4. Texas A&M
5. Mississippi State
6. Tennessee
7. Georgia
8. LSU
9. Vanderbilt
10. Missouri
11. Alabama
12. South Carolina
13. Ole Miss
14. Arkansas
15. Auburn | The Tigers will be looking to replace a 1,000 yard rusher in 2025. Damari Alston will be the premier back after rushing for only 276 yards in 2024.
16. Kentucky | The Wildcats come in last on my list due to the fact that this is a completely rebuilt running back room. Transfer Dante Dowdell who is on his third team in college football will lead the way
Matt
1. Texas | The Longhorns enter the 2025 season with one of the most complete running back rooms in the SEC, combining experience, versatility, and depth. Leading the group is junior Trevon Wisner, who racked up a league-best 1,375 yards from scrimmage among returning players in 2024, proving himself as both a dynamic rusher and capable receiver. CJ Baxter, a former top recruit, returns from a knee injury and is expected to be a physical force in the backfield, while Jaydon Blue and Christian Clark—both highly regarded recruits in their own right—add further explosiveness and competition. With a mix of proven production and untapped upside, the Longhorns are well-positioned to feature one of the most dangerous ground games in the league.
2. Texas A&M | The Aggies running back room looks to be a major asset in 2025, anchored by a trio of experienced and dynamic returners. Le’Veon Moss is expected to take on a lead role and be a central piece of the Aggies’ offense, while Rueben Owens II adds big-play ability on the perimeter. Amari Daniels brings depth, versatility, and veteran experience to round out a well-balanced group. With the addition of top recruiting targets like Deondrae “Tiger” Riden and James Simon also in the mix, the Aggies are building a deep, talented stable of backs capable of carrying the offense under Mike Elko’s new regime.
3. Oklahoma | The Sooners running back group enters the 2025 season with renewed hope and much-needed depth after a 2024 campaign plagued by injuries and inconsistency. The Sooners finished near the bottom of the SEC in rushing, but the addition of former All-Pac-12 standout Jaydn Ott from Cal offers the promise of immediate impact—assuming he’s fully recovered from the ankle injury that limited him last year. Behind him, returning backs Jovantae Barnes, Xavier Robinson, and Taylor Tatum each bring valuable experience and upside, having all logged meaningful reps in a rotation-heavy backfield. Robinson flashed star potential in 2024, while Tatum showed promise as a freshman despite ball security issues. With a stronger offensive line and improved health, this position could become a major strength under new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, with freshman Tory Blaylock also waiting in the wings as a potential breakout candidate.
4. Florida
5. LSU
6. Georgia
7. Tennessee
8. Ole Miss
9. Auburn
10. Arkansas
11. USC
12. Missouri
13. Vanderbilt
14. Kentucky
15. Mississippi State | The Bulldogs enter the 2025 season aiming to revitalize its ground game under second-year head coach Jeff Lebby, with a running back room that offers both experience and upside. Leading the charge is Davon Booth, a dynamic runner granted an extra year of eligibility after a strong finish to 2024. He’s expected to be the featured back in Lebby’s offense, while Fluff Bothwell, Johnnie Daniels, and Xavier Gayten round out a deep and competitive group. With Booth’s explosiveness and the added depth behind him, the Bulldogs have the tools to take a meaningful step forward in the run game this fall.
16. Alabama | Alabama enters the 2025 season with a clear lead back in Jam Miller, who chose to return for his senior year and step into the No. 1 role following Justice Haynes’ transfer to Michigan. Miller rushed for 668 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024 while also contributing as a receiving threat, and his workload is expected to increase under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. Behind him, redshirt sophomore Richard Young is healthy and poised to contribute, while true sophomore Daniel Hill turned heads during spring ball with his blend of size, agility, and toughness. Louisiana transfer Dre Washington brings experience and depth, having logged over 1,300 career rushing yards, while redshirt freshman Kevin Riley and true freshman A.K. Dear round out a crowded room of six scholarship backs. With Jalen Milroe no longer consuming carries at quarterback, Alabama’s run game could see a boost, though it remains to be seen how prominently the ground attack will feature in Grubb’s revamped offense.
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