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College Football: 15 best running backs in 2016

By Brad Weiss

Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 5, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) stiff arms Southern California Trojans cornerback Iman Marshall (8) on a kickoff return during the first quarter in the Pac-12 Conference football championship game at Levi
Dec 5, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) stiff arms Southern California Trojans cornerback Iman Marshall (8) on a kickoff return during the first quarter in the Pac-12 Conference football championship game at Levi /

It is not easy being the son of a former NFL star, but Christian McCaffrey makes it look that way. McCaffrey’s father is former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, who is a three-time Super Bowl Champion. However, the younger McCaffrey may be the better player of the two.

In 13 games as a freshman for the Stanford Cardinal, McCaffrey did a little bit of everything. He racked up 796 all-purpose yards as a running back, receiver, and returner, scoring two touchdowns. He would be given a bigger role in 2015, and he certainly ran with it.

Where does one start in describing the season he put up in 2015? McCaffrey was named the AP Player of the Year, a consensus All-American, as well as the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, he finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, losing out to Alabama running back Derrick Henry.

For the season, McCaffrey set the NCAA record for all-purpose yards in a season, racking up 3,864. He shattered the record held previously by Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders (3,250). His 2,019 yards were the second-highest total in the country, and he became the first Stanford running back to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season.

To cap it all off, McCaffrey became the first player in Rose Bowl history to have both 100 rushing and receiving yards in a single game.

All eyes will be on McCaffrey this season, as he is a contender for the Heisman Trophy. He is also on the watch list for the Doak Walker and Maxwell Awards, and will likely be taking home a lot of hardware at season’s end.

Next: 1. Leonard Fournette, LSU

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