Top Returning College RBs in 2022

There will be no shortage of talent at the skill positions in college football in 2022. Below is a look at some of the top returning running backs in college football.

Note: This listing is in no particular order and may not include all returning running backs.

Nichols averaged 142 yards per game, which was tops in the FBS and helped lead the Chippewas to a 9–4 record. Rushing for 100+ yards in 10 games in 2021, Nichols totaled 1848 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. He recorded two games of over 200 yards rushing, including 215 yards and 4 TDs in 54–30 win over Kent St.

Nichols also led the nation in all-purpose yards with 2186 and was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year and 1st Team All-MAC.

Tucker rushed for 1496 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging six yards per carry. For his efforts, Tucker was named 1st Team Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), 2nd Team All-American by the Associated Press, and 1st Team All-ACC for a Syracuse team that posted a 5–7 record.

He posted nine games of over 100 yards rushing, including 207 yards and a touchdown in a 21–6 win over Boston College.

On a Longhorns team that posted a 5–7 record (and a six-game losing streak) under first year head coach Steve Sarkisian, Robinson was the lone bright spot. He led the team in rushing yards (1127) and rushing touchdowns (11) on his way to being named 1st Team All-Big 12.

Robinson posted six games of 100+yards rushing, including a 216-yard effort and three touchdowns in a 32–27 win over TCU.

The Wildcats posted an 8–5 record last season, led by Vaughn. He rushed for 1404 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging almost six yards per rush. Vaughn also accounted for 468 receiving yards and scored four receiving TDs.

He rushed for over 100 yards in 9 games, and in three of those games he scored three rushing touchdowns. Against LSU in the Texas Bowl, Vaughn rushed for 146 yards and scored four touchdowns (3 rushing, 1 receiving) in a 42–20 victory.

Vaughn was named Consensus All American and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (by Pro Football Focus).

Ali led the FBS in total touchdowns (25) while rushing for 1401 yards and 23 scores on the ground. He also had a receiving touchdown and scored on a 97-yard kick-off return for a Thundering Herd team that went 7–6 last season.

Ali turned in six games of over 100 yards rushing. He scored three touchdowns in a game four times and posted one game with four rushing touchdowns. He rushed for 203 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 49–28 win over Charlotte.

Ali was named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), and also named 1st Team All-CUSA.

The next in line of great Wisconsin running backs, Allen averaged a whopping 6.82 yards each time he carried the rock for a Badgers team that went 9–4 in 2021. He rushed for 1268 yards and 12 touchdowns, including eight games of over 100 yards rushing.

He rushed for 228 yards and 3 TDs in a 35–28 win over Nebraska. Allen was named 2nd Team All-Big Ten and Freshman All-American (by FWAA).

One of many talented freshmen at the skill positions for the Buckeyes, Henderson rushed for 1255 yards and 15 touchdowns as Ohio State went 11–2 and a defeated Utah in the Rose Bowl. He posted three games over 100 yards rushing, including 277-yards and three touchdowns in a 41–20 win over Tulsa.

Henderson was also named Freshman All-American (by FWAA) and 2nd Team All-Big Ten.

The Men of Troy suffered through a 4–8 season, prompting a coaching change that resulted in Lincoln Riley being lured away from Oklahoma. The Trojans then got some help from that pesky transfer portal when Oregon running back Travis Dye decided to change teams.

Dye rushed for 1271 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging six yards per carry. He rushed for 211 yards in a 26–16 win over Washington and scored four rushing touchdowns in a victory over UCLA.

As a 2nd Team All-CUSA selection, McBride rushed for 1371 yards and 13 touchdowns and averaged an incredible 6.72 yards per rush. He rushed for over 100 yards six times, including 210 yards and four touchdowns in a 52–38 win over La. Tech.

Selected as a 1st Team All-SEC performer for a 10–3 Kentucky team, Rodriguez rushed for 1379 yards and scored nine touchdowns and averaged over six yards per carry. He turned in seven games of over 100 yards rushing, including in each of his last five games to end the season.

His high game of the season was 207 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 35–28 win over Missouri.

The Utes went 10–4 in 2021, led by Tavion Thomas and his school-record 21 rushing touchdowns. He rushed for 1108 yards on his way to being named 1st Team All-PAC 12, and he posted six games scoring multiple rushing touchdowns.

Thomas scored four rushing TDs in victories over UCLA and Stanford and recorded five games of over 100 yards rushing.

2022 should be another exciting season in college football.

Thanks for reading.

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