Not so long ago we counted down the top 10 G5 QBs. Today we take a look at the best RBs in the group of five. We have a few transfers, a pair of teammates, a few known names, and several thousand-yard rushers.
10. Nate Noel, Appalachian State
Noel has accumulated over 2,000 yards on the ground in this career and found the endzone 13 times. In 2022 he was on the preseason watchlist for the Doak Walker Award. He is a great fit for the Mountaineer scheme. New offensive coordinator Frank Ponce returns to App State after a year at Miami as the QB coach, look for him to find ways to get Noel the ball on the ground and through the air.
https://twitter.com/joebroback/status/1472238784381079553
9. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Jeanty is the first Bronco we see on this list, but he will not be the only one. As a freshman in 2022, he appeared in all 14 games, running for 826 yards while averaging over 5 YPC. A 3-star recruit out of Texas who played WR in high school, it makes you wonder if he’d ended up at a P5 school if he’d played RB his whole high school career. Look for him to continue his growth and get better as he matures.
https://twitter.com/LGCounselor1of1/status/1653887219491393537
8. Jalen White, Georgia Southern
In 2022 there were not many guys that new head coach Clay Helton trusted more than White. White already has 35 games under his belt and has run for over 1,300 yards with 14 TDs. Adding transfer QB Davis Brin from Tulsa through the portal should help open up some running room for White. No one expected much from the Eagles in Helton’s first season. In 2023, White and the Eagles won’t sneak up on anyone.
7. Sieh Bangura, Ohio
As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Bangura led the Bobcats with over 1,000 yards on the ground and 13 touchdowns. The reigning MAC freshman of the year teams with QB Kurtis Rourke to form the best backfield duo in the conference. Look for a balanced year where he runs for a grand again and catches upwards of 30 balls.
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https://twitter.com/OhioFootball/status/1608976939456540674
6. Marquez Cooper, Ball State
Cooper has found a new home at Ball State after playing three seasons at MAC rival Kent State. Last Fall he ran for over 1,300 yards and 13 TDs (I’m seeing a statistical theme in this article,) and was named All-MAC. His season total was the 5th highest in Golden Flash history. Cooper has 13 games with over 100 rushing yards in his career.
5. La’Damian Webb, South Alabama
The former junior college product Webb hit the 1,000 yard mark and 13 TDs on the ground and another 200 yards and two scores receiving. The balanced attack of the Jags return both Webb and QB Carter Bradley. A good season from these two and HC Kane Wommack might be on the shortlist for P5 coaching jobs next winter.
https://twitter.com/SouthAlabamaFB/status/1596595363666067456
4. George Holani, Boise State
The 2nd Bronco to make our top 10. The 5th year senior is just shy of 3,000 career rushing yards while finding the endzone 19 times and averaging 5.2 YPC. He’s also accrued a very impressive 71 receptions for an additional eight touchdowns. He has led the team in rushing three separate seasons, and, barring injury, should make it four this fall. He’ll be at or near the top of most Boise State rushing records after this season.
3. Kevorian Barnes, UTSA
In 2022 Barnes was the leading rusher on a team that featured a three-headed rushing attack with RBs Barnes and Brenden Brady accompanying QB Frank Harris, each rushing for over 600 yards, with Barnes at 845 and six touchdowns. With Brady having exhausted his eligibility, Barnes looks for an even larger share of the ball in 2023. This could be a huge year for the Roadrunners and Jeff Traylor.
https://twitter.com/ConferenceUSA/status/1591535538627964928
2. Rasheen Ali, Marshall
In 2021 Ali was one of the top backs in America, rushing for over 1,400 yards while catching 45 passes and finding the endzone a total of 24 times. In 2022, Ali took a step back from football and Khalen Laborn led the attack for Charles Huff’s squad. Ali will be as dangerous as they come in the ground game, and for those of you, like me, who play college fantasy football Ali will be one of the first names off the board. He is a multi-purpose back who has all the skills to succeed at the next level. There aren’t many P5 backs better than him.
https://twitter.com/joebroback/status/1645834098424807433
1. Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss
A preseason Doak Walker Award candidate, Gore is the head of the class for G5 running backs so far. He’ll hit 3,000 career yards early this fall, and he’s run for 16 scores, caught another, and thrown for eight more. Through his first three seasons in Hattiesburg, there have been times when Gore IS the Southern Miss offense. With a very limited passing game, he’s had to do it on his own and has succeeded. Opposing defenses will zero in on Gore this Fall, but that is nothing new. How he can respond will be the key to success for USM in 2023.
