National Columnist Mike Farrell is here with the 3-Point Stance ranking the Big 12 top-tier running backs, potential breakout players in the Big Ten, and the coaching debate — Jimbo Fisher vs. Brian Kelly.
Top Big XII Running Backs
— Let’s continue to roll through the elite running backs returning to college football with the Big 12.
1. Devin Neal, Kansas
— With so much talent lost at RB in the Big 12, some overlooked players from last season can emerge, and Neal is coming off a 1,000-yard season many didn’t notice.
2. Richard Reese, Baylor
— Reese fell just short of 1,000 yards last season but scored 14 touchdowns.
3. CJ Donaldson, West Virginia
— The massive back missed time last season and is still learning the RB position, but he has the highest ceiling of all.
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4. Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
— He’ll get more carries this season and could push 1,000 yards.
5. Jovantae Barnes, Oklahoma
— This could be one of many players, but I like Barnes’ upside the best for a breakout season.
Big Ten Breakout Players
— We move to the Big Ten for breakout players.
1. RB Jalen Berger, Michigan State
A former top-100 recruit, Berger left Wisconsin after his freshman season in 2020 and spent last two seasons splitting time in the Spartans backfield. But he’s the main man now and has shown flashes of greatness at times. A long strider with good hands as well, he can be a versatile piece in the pass game on top of being an effective runner.
2. WR Isaiah Williams, Illinois
The Illini’s leading receiver as a sophomore, he has a chance to put up much bigger numbers as a junior with new quarterback Luke Altmyer throwing him the ball. Altmyer is a more natural passer, and don’t be surprised when Williams tops 1,000 yards.
3. RB Roman Hemby, Maryland
The Terrapins are still a pass-first attack, but Hemby showed a lot as a sophomore as a reliable back who has a nose for the end zone. If he can improve his pass protection, he’ll barely come off the field in 2023.
The Coach Debate: Jimbo Fisher vs. Brian Kelly
— And the coaching debates continue with an interesting SEC West one — Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M vs. Brian Kelly, LSU
The case for Fisher:
While both coaches are technically national championship-winning coaches, only Fisher has done it at the FBS level (Kelly owns two D-II national titles). Fisher has repeatedly proven that he can recruit with the best of them, as evidenced by the Aggies’ number-one class nationally in 2022.
The case against Fisher:
Just look at what happened this past season: a 5-7 record with an embarrassing loss at home to Appalachian State and a mass exodus from the program. The hiring of Bobby Petrino reeked of desperation, and it’s starting to feel like he’s losing control of the program.
The case for Kelly:
Even the biggest Tigers fans couldn’t have expected an SEC West title in Kelly’s first year in town, but that’s just what happened. Kelly has a formula for winning that clearly has worked everywhere he’s gone, and he’s now using that same system with the best group of athletes he’s coached. With the way they’ve attacked the portal, he’s got LSU in prime position.
The case against Kelly
The Irish-Catholic guy from Boston still doesn’t quite feel like the appropriate cultural fit for LSU, despite the early returns looking good. He’s also going to need to find a way to prove that he can recruit with the Alabamas and Georgias (and Texas A&Ms) of the world if he’s going to build a consistent winner.
The verdict:
A year ago, this would have been an easy victory for Jimbo Fisher, coming off of signing the nation’s top class and a pre-season top-10 ranking. But after a terrible season on the field and off, the Aggies are in shambles and that falls on Fisher. Brian Kelly has someone managed to get LSU back into contention earlier than any of us thought. So coupling these two together, Kelly becomes the natural winner.
