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We move to the second part of our 2013 Big South Rankings and check out a much more wide open race at the RB position with the offseason changes:

Charleston Southern

Teddy Allen 111 Rushes 576 Yards 9 TDs
Zach Frazier 23 Rushes 128 Yards 0 TD

Senior Allen continued to improve in 2012, after taking over as the feature back in 2011. Frazier is the only other back returning from last year that logged carries, but look for Christian Reyes, Breyon Deberry and Anthony Simmons to also try to work their way into the Bucs two deep at the tailback position under first year head coach Jamey Chadwell

Coastal Carolina

Lorenzo Taliaferro 80 Rushes 357 Yards 5 TD
Travis Small 37 Rushes 152 Yards 1 TD

Taliaferro, a junior college transfer from Virginia, did very well stepping in as the second tailback behind Jeremy Height with Marcus Whitener and Travis Small (see below) dealing with injuries during the first part of 2012.

Small, who began the 2012 season dealing with an ankle injury before finishing 5th on the team in rushing yards (4th among RBs), is back and looks to be healthy after and will likely compete with Taliaferro for the #1 position on the depth chart. Another one to watch is Bucky Kennedy, a transfer from The Citadel just a couple hours down the road, who saw some action in mop up time throughout last season

Gardner-Webb

Juanne Blount 133 Rushes 489 Yards 6 TD
J.J. Hubbard 32 Rushes 109 Yards 2 TDs

Blount, who jumped in as a true freshman in 2010 before missing most of 2011 with an injury, offered a much improved 2012, finishing 10th in the league in rushing, while occasionally serving as the "wildcat QB" under Ron Dickerson.

Fellow junior Hubbard was often the recipient of handoffs from Blount (he scored one of his two TDs against Liberty from that formation), although we will see how he is used under new offensive coordinator Dale Steele

Liberty

Desmond Rice 11 Rushes 44 Yards 0 TD
Clifton Richardson (UVa Transfer) 24 Rushes 59 Yards 0 TD

Liberty's running back race was turned completely on its head in the offseason when likely 2013 starter Aldreakis Allen was suspended from the program following his second arrest stemming from an incident just prior to 2013 spring practice. Rice came out of the spring with the #1 spot but with former Cavalier Richardson in the fold, Rice's spot as the starter became a lot more tenuous. Both will be absolutely crucial to Liberty's success on the ground this year as well as sophomore D.J. Abnar, who electrified Williams Stadium on his first kick return last year against Gardner-Webb.

Presbyterian

DeMarcus Rouse 67 Rushes 427 Yards 9 TD
Seth Moreland 8 Rushes 29 Yards 0 TD

Rouse, after playing behind Lance Byrd the last two season, finally gets his chance to be "the guy" in 2013, and hopes to build on his solid 2012 campaign, where he finished tied for fourth in TDs with 9. Moreland is the only other RB with experience on the roster but word from the Blue Hose message board is that they are very high on junior college transfer LaQua Mayes (Hutchinson Community College, the same school where Minnesota Vikings rooke Cordarrelle Patterson played before transferring to Tennessee).

VMI

Jabari Turner 110 Rushes 375 Yards 4 TD
Derrick Ziglar 68 Rushes 239 Yards 0 TD

Turner, a junior will look to build on his 2012 season as well after becoming the starting running back last season following the graduation of Chaz Jones. Ziglar, who is more of a fullback much like Hardy Temoney, will be available to spell Turner in the backfield.

Team Rankings:

1. Coastal Carolina
2. Presbyterian
3. Gardner-Webb
4. Charleston Southern
5.VMI
6. Liberty

Individual Rankings

1. Lorenzo Taliaferro, CCU
2. DeMarcus Rouse, PC
3. Juanne Blount, G-W
4. Travis Small, CCU
5. Teddy Allen, CSU
6. Jabari Turner, VMI
7. Desmond Rice, LU
8. Clifton Richardson, LU
9. J.J. Hubbard, G-W
10. Zach Frazier, CSU

This was a tough ranking because Stony Brook was often the top dog (no pun intended) in the conference the last few years, but with their move to the CAA, and the upheaval at Liberty, it makes this a very wide open position ahead of Big South Football Media Day next month

bjtheflamesfan wrote:We move to the second part of our 2013 Big South Rankings and check out a much more wide open race at the RB position with the offseason changes:

VMI

Jabari Turner 110 Rushes 375 Yards 4 TD
Derrick Ziglar 68 Rushes 239 Yards 0 TD

Turner, a junior will look to build on his 2012 season as well after becoming the starting running back last season following the graduation of Chaz Jones. Ziglar, who is more of a fullback much like Hardy Temoney, will be available to spell Turner in the backfield.

Coaches expect Turner to really have a fine year. Soph Cody Shirley came along pretty good in November, and R-Freshman Bradley Lipscomb was moved from OLB to HB, and reportedly was very impressive with his speed and hard running. He'll get reps this Fall, for sure. VMI has numbers, at least, at HB for 2013. Zigler should be strictly a FB, maybe get the ball in some inside trap plays.......

Good to finally hear from you kd. Feel free to contribute much like you have the last couple seasons.

One interesting variable here is also the adjudication of Aldreakis Allen (who probably would have been the top RB in the conference coming back if he had not have been arrested). Once this works itself out in the legal system, if he is acquitted, you have to think he will be let back on the team which will make for a real logjam at the top at Liberty, and give the Flames one of the most loaded backfields outside of former member Stony Brook.

Another interesting twist to consider here is that Aldreakis Allen, who was suspended from the team, is still listed on the roster for Liberty, which tells me that there is a chance he could return if the adjudication he is currently undergoing ends in his favor, which probably moves Liberty to the top of the conference in my view as Allen probably was the top RB in the conference after Maysonet

Aldreakis ALlen was reinstated by Liberty last week following his bench trial. He was found guilty of a misdemeanor and received a suspended jail sentence, but he was acquitted on felony charges. He will sit out the first two games (Kent State and Monmouth) and will be activated for the Hall of Fame Game vs. Morgan State September 14)

JUCO transfer Christian Reyes may be the surprise RB of the season this year for CSU.

He could be...I didn't rank him because I went with the top two returning backs from each school. Allen is going to be THE guy.

Not true BJ. Chadwell named Reyes the starter for the Citadel game last night.

Well color me surprised on that one. Did he really look like that much of an upgrade over Allen in practice?

Sure did to me in the 4 practices I attended. Kid had nearly 2,000 yards rushing last season at his JUCO. Perfect size to at 5'11" 208 with speed to burn.

Who makes the rankings?

I make the rankings myself. What I usually do is take the top two returning players (or three depending on the position) and compare them statistically, then place them where I feel they would likely rank in the conference based on an upward trend in their numbers from 2012. Is it perfect? No, and I will be the first to admit that.

bjtheflamesfan wrote:I make the rankings myself. What I usually do is take the top two returning players (or three depending on the position) and compare them statistically, then place them where I feel they would likely rank in the conference based on an upward trend in their numbers from 2012. Is it perfect? No, and I will be the first to admit that.

You seem to know what you're doing, so I won't judge.

Haha...why thank you! I try to do my due diligence when I research for these position previews. Im no insider like some of the guys out there but I just do what I can and try to use the objectivity I learned as a freelance writer to make them the best quality they can be

bjtheflamesfan wrote:Haha...why thank you! I try to do my due diligence when I research for these position previews. Im no insider like some of the guys out there but I just do what I can and try to use the objectivity I learned as a freelance writer to make them the best quality they can be

Really? I thought everyone here was an "insider". At least, compared to me. I'm mostly here to read posts and get information on all the teams.

I'm a fan first and foremost, but I was a freelance writer for two years so I learned a thing or two about doing research and giving due diligence and objectivity to my writing so I end up sounding a lot more official when I put these together