By Tony Thomas
Teams from the SEC, the Big Ten, and the ACC will benefit from these ball carriers pounding the rock on Saturdays in the fall. Here we profile the top running back commitments of the 2024 transfer portal cycle.
Raheim “Rocket” Sanders (#5)
South Carolina Gamecocks (from Arkansas)
6’2”, 242 lbs.
2023 was an injury-plagued season for Raheim Sanders, the former Arkansas Razorback turned South Carolina Gamecock. Sanders missed six games due to a knee injury suffered in the season opener, gaining 209 yards, and scoring two touchdowns.
BREAKING: South Carolina Football picks up a commitment from All-SEC RB and Arkansas Transfer Rocket Sanders 🚀🚀
HUGE get for the Gamecocks as Sanders rushed for 1443 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022, averaging 6.5 YPC!
Per @mzenitz pic.twitter.com/aJyVnnRy48
— Gamecocks and Cougs (@CougsxGamecocks) December 13, 2023
2022, however, was a breakout year for the “rocket man”, leading the Razorbacks with 1,443 yards and 10 TDs, averaging 6.50 yards per carry.
He recorded seven games of 100+ yards, including a season-high 24 carries, 232 yards, and three touchdowns in a 42-27 win over Ole Miss, averaging 9.67 yards per carry. As a result, Sanders was named 2nd Team All-SEC.
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Marcus Carrol (#4)
Missouri Tigers (from Georgia State)
5’10”, 210 lbs.
A 1st Team All Sun Belt selection in 2023, Marcus Carroll rushed for 1,340 yards and 13 touchdowns. Carroll posted six games of 100+ yards rushing, including a season-high 208 yards and two touchdowns in 44-27 loss to Georgia Southern.
Marcus Carroll with a 8-yard TD rush and Georgia State is on top now 27-10. pic.twitter.com/RWp7S4r7ZY
— James (@mountaineerjdub) September 22, 2023
In the first six games last season, Carroll rushed for 10 touchdowns (642 yards). Carroll, ranked #6 in the FBS with 112 yards per game, comes to a Missouri team needing a replacement for hard-charging RB Cody Schrader, who has declared for the NFL Draft.
Trevor Etienne (#3)
Georgia Bulldogs (from Florida)
5’9”, 205 lbs.
The brother of former Clemson standout and NFL running back Travis Etienne, little brother Trevor Etienne is carving a niche for himself, rushing for 1,472 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons with the Florida Gators.
TREVOR ETIENNE TURNED ON THE JETS‼️ pic.twitter.com/WRVvl8xgoE
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 16, 2023
In 2023, Etienne posted a season-high 172 yards and a touchdown in a 29-16 win over Tennessee. Against LSU, Etienne scored three rushing TDs. Now he moves on to the Georgia Bulldogs to provide Kirby Smart & Co. with a spark between the tackles.
Peny Boone (#2)
Louisville Cardinals (from Toledo)
6’1”, 242 lbs.
In 2023, Peny Boone ran his way to the MAC Offensive Player of the Year with 1,400 yards rushing and scored 15 touchdowns for Toledo, averaging a whopping 7.22 yards per carry.
Boone posted eight games of 100+ yards, including five straight, including a season-high 211 yards and two TDs in a win over Western Michigan. In that game, Boone averaged a phenomenal 8.79 yards per carry.
Dequan Finn finds Peny Boone for six!
Toledo extends its lead to double-digits 💪 pic.twitter.com/eUt1zH090S
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 3, 2023
For his collegiate career, one that includes two seasons at Maryland, Boone has 2,101 yards and 20 touchdowns. Coach Jeff Brohm and the Louisville Cardinals have themselves a bruiser of a running back.
Quinshon Judkins (#1)
Ohio State Buckeyes (from Ole Miss)
5’11”, 210 lbs.
A 2X All-SEC selection, Quinshon Judkins rushed for 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023 and 1,565 yards and 16 TDs in 2022 as a true freshman with the Ole Miss Rebels.
With 31 touchdowns in his first two seasons, Judkins was the first SEC player to accomplish that feat since the great Heschel Walker was leaving scorched earth in his wake between the hedges in Athens.
QUINSHON JUDKINS, HELLO!🔥
Ole Miss leads Kentucky 14-0!
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 1, 2022
Last season, Judkins posted six games over 100 yards rushing, including a season-high 177 yards and one TD in a 55-49 win over LSU. Judkins scored at least one rushing touchdown in six straight games (10 TDs total).
Judkins joins the scarlet and gray running back room that also includes TreVeyon Henderson. Both players bodies of work, so far in their careers, are very similar:
· Quinshon Judkins: 2,723 yards, 31 touchdowns
· TreVeyon Henderson: 2,752 yards, 32 touchdowns
With the addition of transfer players like Judkins, OL Seth McLaughlin, QB Will Howard, QB Julian Sayin, and CB Caleb Downs, the Buckeyes have ascended the throne as the new Kings of the Transfer Portal.
