Mike Farrell Sports

College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

Ranking the Big XII’s Best Running Backs for 2023

Mike Farrell ranks Devin Neal, Jovantae Barnes, and the rest of the top backs in the Big 12

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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.

Sep 17, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal (4) runs with the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium.

2. Richard Reese, Baylor

— Reese fell just short of 1,000 yards last season but scored 14 touchdowns.

Baylor’s running back Richard Reese (29), center, attempts to avoid Texas Tech’s defensive back Reggie Pearson Jr. (2) s tackle, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

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.

Oct 29, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers running back CJ Donaldson (12) runs the ball during the first quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium.

4. Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech

— He’ll get more carries this season and could push 1,000 yards.

More Sports News

Dec 28, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs with the ball as Mississippi Rebels cornerback Miles Battle (6) defends during the first quarter in the 2022 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium.

5. Jovantae Barnes, Oklahoma

— This could be one of many players, but I like Barnes’ upside the best for a breakout season.

Oklahoma’s Jovantae Barnes (2) runs past Oklahoma State’s Kendal Daniels (5) during a Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022.
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