College Football's Top 25 Breakout Running Backs for 2021

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#18 Chris Smith, Louisiana

The Ragin’ Cajuns don’t lose much off of last year’s squad that went 10-1, but coach Billy Napier has to replace two standout running backs in Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas.

Smith was the No. 3 option last season and could slide into the No. 1 role now.

The Mississippi native averaged 10.4 yards per carry on just 32 attempts as a freshman in 2019 and posted 350 yards over 62 carries last year.

Smith was also a weapon on special teams, scoring twice on kickoffs in 2020.

If Smith assumes the No. 1 workload, he should end ’21 much higher on this list.

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AthlonSports
Lassan

[Turbine]

In the Athlon writers opinion, Louisiana will be facing the #1 breakout running back in week one.

[Cajunjeb]

The RB will get his. What the Cajuns D has to ensure no one else on the Texas O gets theirs. If the RB gets his yards but no TDs, that’s the cherry on top.

[CrazyCajun]

Louisiana knows how to win, Texas don’t

[cajun4life]

In the Athlon writers opinion, Louisiana will be facing the #1 breakout running back in week one.

Yeah that dude is incredible.

[Cajunrunner]

In the Athlon writers opinion, Louisiana will be facing the #1 breakout running back in week one.

That dude is absolutely legit.

[RaginDave]

That dude is absolutely legit.

I am a little over my halfway point of the Texas Longhorn Preview and I spend quite a bit of time talking about the Texas Running Backs, specifically Bijan Robinson, but also Roschon Johnson. They are both very good and I think we will see a ton of these guys when we play them, mostly because as I am doing this research, they are playing behind a very good and very veteran offensive line which includes 2 potential All Big 12 guys and 85 starts between 4 players. They really only have 1 new O Lineman on the team.