Breaking Down Texas A&M Position Groups: Running Backs
Part V of a multi-part series where we preview each position group for the 2021 season. By: The Hammer
Part V: RUNNING BACKS
Isaiah Spiller flexes in the end zone after a pivotal TD run against Florida. Photo by: Michael Miller, The Eagle
With the production returning, I think you’d be a fool not to consider Texas A&M’s backfield as one of the best in the country. With the release of the depth chart, it looks like Ainias Smith will be featured more out wide than in the backfield this year, which was expected. But don’t be surprised if there are some packages set up to hand the ball off to Smith either. He is so talented that Fisher and Dickey will try to give him the ball in many different ways. Plus, Jimbo isn’t a huge depth chart guy so that sheet of paper isn’t the end all be all.
Regardless of how often Smith is lined up at running back, I’m supremely confident in this group of guys. Isaiah Spiller was First Team All-SEC in 2020 and is a preseason First Team All-SEC running back this year. He finished third in the SEC in rushing last season with 1,036 yards in 10 games, averaging a healthy 5.5 yards per carry and adding 9 touchdowns. Spiller blossomed in his sophomore season turning into a complete back. He runs with power, elusiveness and has better speed than most people think in the open field. He blocks well. And he can catch the ball out of the backfield, catching 20 passes for 193 yards a season ago. The hype is real with Spiller, and he is poised for another excellent season.
Get off the tracks when the train is comin.
Then of course there is Orange Bowl MVP, Devon Achane. As a true freshman in 2020, Achane got limited touches with only 43 carries. But man he made the most of them racking up 374 yards (8.5 yards per carry) and 4 touchdowns. While Achane isn’t a big running back and he’s most well known for his track speed (he ran the 200 meter in 20.31 seconds for A&M’s track team, placing him 3rd in the NCAA and 6th in the world), the guy runs through people too. He is the kind of guy who runs angry, like he has something to prove. Just watch the Arkansas game from last year if you are skeptical. Sure, he can run by you and leave you in the dust, but he’s not afraid to run through you either, just like he did on his 76 yard touchdown to help clinch the Orange Bowl. A perfect change up to Isaiah Spiller, I can’t wait to see how Achane does with more touches in 2021.
Devon Achane breaking off a big run to seal the Orange Bowl win. Photo by: Michael Reaves, Getty Images
Behind Spiller and Achane, and I realize I sound like a broken record at this point, but the depth is solid. Earnest Crownover is the most experienced backup as he transferred in from JUCO and has one year under his belt at A&M, but don’t sleep on freshmen LJ Johnson and Amari Daniels either. LJ Johnson was a top 50 player in the country and the 5th best running back in the class of 2020 according to 247Sports, while Amari Daniels was another 4 star and top 300 player in that 2020 class.
With talent at the top of the running back stable, and Ainias Smith able to rotate in as needed, I don’t foresee many carries for Crownover, Johnson or Daniels but you never know. Running backs get dinged up a lot in the SEC, and any of these guys could see their number called if Spiller or Achane goes down. I have zero hesitation saying this is one of the best running back rooms in the nation and I’m looking for big things from the backfield in 2021.
In part VI of this series, we will look at the offensive line. Stay tuned.
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