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SEC Football: Ranking the Top 10 Running Backs entering 2023 season

By Elliot Reeder

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - NOVEMBER 12: Quinshon Judkins #4 of the Mississippi Rebels carries the ball during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - NOVEMBER 12: Quinshon Judkins #4 of the Mississippi Rebels carries the ball during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

8. Jaylen Wright – Tennessee

2022 Stats: 146 carries, 875 rushing yards, 10 TD’s

The other member of Tennessee’s two-headed monster at RB is Wright. Wright was one of the top players in the SEC a year ago in yards per carry (eighth in the SEC a year ago at 6.0). Wright was in the top 10 in the SEC a year ago in rushing yards, yards per carry, and rushing TD’s. It’s easy to see why Tennessee feels so comfortable with either guy, and why Wright finds himself in our top 10. Wright has career totals of 231 carries, 1,284 rushing yards, 8 receptions, 30 receiving yards, and 14 TD’s.

One thing that might surprise people is just how much the Vols ran the ball last year (and how successful they were at it), even with an exceptional passing attack. Tennessee ran the ball 523 times a year ago, which ranked fourth in the SEC. The Vols also ended up fifth in rushing yards as a team with 2,593. A lot of that had to do with the talent of Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small. With both returning, it makes sense that Tennessee will once again have a very strong rushing attack in 2023.

7. Ray Davis – Kentucky

2022 Stats: 232 carries, 1,042 rushing yards, 29 receptions, 169 receiving yards, 8 total TD’s (at Vanderbilt)

Re’mahn “Ray” Davis transferred to Kentucky this offseason after two years at Vanderbilt. Davis previously played at Temple in 2019 and 2020 before transferring to Vandy. It has been a stop-and-start career at times for Davis. After bursting onto the scene for the Owls in 2019 as a freshman with 936 rushing yards, Davis was limited to just four games played in the Covid 2020 season, rushing for 323 yards. Davis then transferred to Vanderbilt, but was limited to just three games in 2021 (while rushing for 211 yards) due to a season-ending toe injury. Then Davis exploded this past season, finishing fourth in the SEC in rushing a year ago (and being one of only four players to top the 1,000 yard plateau).

For his career, Davis has 547 carries, 2,512 rushing yards, 61 receptions, 439 receiving yards, and 20 total TD’s, making him one of the most experienced and accomplished RB’s in the SEC.

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