Editor's note: This article was adapted from Phil Steele's college football preview magazine, which is available here.
When ranking the top individual position units for my 2013 preview magazine, I took into consideration the talent level and production of the starters and the overall depth of the unit.
As at quarterback, the starting running back is weighted heavily into my overall position rankings, but what separates these team RB units from the rest of the country is that they have a great starter and strong backups, in most cases possessing two good backs.
With that in mind, here is how I rank the top 15 RB depth charts in the country for the 2013 season.
(Author's note: In case you are unfamiliar with some of my abbreviations used below, the "PS" number assigned for each player stands for where I ranked that particular player at his position coming out of high school.)
1. Georgia Bulldogs
UGA is known for its long history of producing outstanding young running backs, going all the way to back to Herschel Walker in the 1980s. Last season, the Bulldogs' true freshman tandem of Todd Gurley (PS No. 19) and Keith Marshall (PS No. 2) combined for 2,144 rush yards (6.3 yards per carry) and 25 touchdowns. Neither player was even around for spring last year. Both backs are big, at 215-plus pounds, and both possess power and speed. Gurley made my preseason All-American second team.
