3-Point Stance: Top SEC Running Backs, 2023 G5 Recruits to Know, Saban vs. Smart

National Columnist Mike Farrell is here with the 3-Point Stance ranking the SEC top-tier running backs, some 2023 Group of Five recruits to know, and the great coaching debate — Saban vs. Smart.

Top SEC Running Backs

— Let’s roll on to the SEC with the top-tier running backs as a lot of talent returns.

1. Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss

— Coming off a 1,500-yard season as a freshman, his ceiling is off the charts, and he’s clearly the big dog in the SEC this season.

2. Raheim Sanders, Arkansas

— Rocket is back, coming off a 1,400-yard season that a lot of people outside of Fayetteville might not have noticed.

3. Jarquez Hunter, Auburn

— I’ve liked Hunter better than Tank Bigsby for a while, and now we get to see if he can be better as RB1.

4. Montrell Johnson Jr., Florida

— The depth at RB at Florida might keep his numbers down again, but he’s a churner who should reach 1,000 yards this season.

5. Jaylen Wright, Tennessee

— Like Johnson, his numbers won’t wow you, but climbing above 1,000 yards this season should happen.

Top Group of 5 Recruits 

— We’ve gone through the Power Five with some underrated recruits to watch from the 2023 class. But here are some Group of Five recruits that could make a difference.

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1. DB Brandon Ramirez, Fresno State

A thick, hard-hitting safety, Ramirez displays enough versatility to line up in the box, in the slot, or in deep center field. He's got a motor that should have him seeing time on special teams right away too. Oh, and he's a darn good running back too.

2. LB Alex Kilgore, SMU

A huge pickup for Rhett Lashlee, Kilgore was one of the best linebackers in the state of Texas in 2022. He's fast, physical, and hits like a ton of bricks.

3. DE Matthew Fobbs-White, Tulane

An undersized but effective pass rusher, the Louisiana native shows a lightning-quick first step on film. He chose to stay with in-state Tulane over some much bigger offers, and could see the field early in his career.

4. WR Brennan Wooten, Western Michigan

Already 6'4" and 230 lbs., Wooten is physically ready for the college game coming out of Indianapolis. He presents matchup problems as he's comfortable moving out into the slot as well as lining up as an old school Y.

5. OL Thomas Paasch, Northern Illinois

A big lineman from Green Bay, Paasch carries his 290 pounds really well on a 6'5" frame, and should be a physical mismatch for a lot of G5 players early on. He's got enough positional versatility to play anywhere on the line as well.

Nick Saban vs. Kirby Smart

— And now that we’ve done the debate on the coaching hires that matter, let’s sink our teeth into some big questions like Saban vs. Kirby.

The case for Saban:

He's the greatest of all time, hands down. His success on the field is second-to-none, and no one navigated the past 20 years of college football better than Saban. The Tide have six national titles during his tenure in Tuscaloosa, and they haven't had more than 3 losses in a season since 2010. Alabama is still bringing in top recruiting classes every season and they put more players in the pros than anyone. They're the model CFB program.

The case against Saban:

All good things must come to an end, and Saban is now 71 years old. He doesn't act his age by any means, but father time remains undefeated. Additionally, the hire of Tommy Rees as the new offensive coordinator is a bit curious and has the potential to backfire.

The case for Smart:

Going back-to-back is very hard to do - just ask Saban - and the Dawgs just did it with relative ease. The recruiting machine that he has had going in Athens continues to recruit the trenches better than anyone in the country on a year-in and year-out basis. And he's still a relatively young man in the coaching game with a ton of time ahead of him. It's not out of the realm of possibility for the Dawgs to win three of the next five titles in addition to the two they're already sitting on.

The case against Smart:

The SEC East has been very poor behind the Dawgs over the past few seasons, with the best competition routinely coming from Kentucky. Tennessee and South Carolina have both made big strides, and the division as a whole will be much better moving forward. Also, relying on a walk-on quarterback probably isn't the best way to go in the long run.

The verdict:

Kirby Smart is on a real run right now and in a year from now, I might tell you that he's the top dog. But Saban is the GOAT for a reason, and you can simply never count him out.