Before you get your panties in a wad remember that like the QB list the overall depth is what's being ranked, and returning production and proven talent are weighed more than potential talent or recruiting rankings.

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14. Ole Miss

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Top 3 Projected Running Backs (2016 stats)

1. Sr. Jordan Wilkins: Was academically ineligible

2. Sr. Eugene Brazley: 61 carries for 261 yards with two touchdowns

3. Soph. D'Vaughn Pennamon: 20 carries for 58 yards with one touchdown

Interesting fact

The last Ole Miss player to rush for 1,000 yards was Dexter McCluster (1,169) in 2009.

(Damn Ole Miss, you suck)

13. South Carolina

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The Gamecocks were last in the SEC in yards per attempt (3.68) and were 13th in rushing yards per game last season

Interesting fact

South Carolina has had only two 1,000-yard rushers since 2001.

12. Arkansas

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Interesting fact

Bret Bielema has had at least one 1,000-yard rusher every year he's been a head coach.

So no doubt they'll be dramatically higher after the season.

11. Tennessee
10. Mississippi State

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Interesting fact

Aeries Williams has just two 100-yard games

9. Florida

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If it weren't for other teams losing talent it would be hard to argue Florida, which was last in the SEC in rushing yards per game (128.23) last season, shouldn't be lower.

8. Kentucky

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Interesting fact

Kentucky was the only SEC team with two 1,000-yard rushers last season.

7. Missouri
6. Vanderbilt

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Interesting fact

Ralph Webb is the only returning SEC running back with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

5. Texas a&m

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Interesting fact

Williams was the first true freshman in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.

4. Alabama

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Top 3 Projected Running Backs (2016 stats)

1. Jr. Bo Scarbrough: 125 carries for 812 yards with 11 touchdowns

2. Jr. Damien Harris: 146 carries for 1,037 yards with two touchdowns

3. Soph. Josh Jacobs: 85 carries for 567 yards with four touchdowns

Interesting fact

Pro Football Focus gave Scarbrough an elusive rating of 147.3, which ranked third in the nation, as he forced 40 missed tackles on only 125 rushes.

3. Auburn

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Kamryn Pettway may be the most powerful running back in the SEC and when healthy he's nearly impossible for one defender to stop alone. For Pettway to have led the SEC in rushing yards per game last season despite not having a carry in the season opener and splitting time with Kerryon Johnson is nothing short of stunning. It's arguable whether Pettway and Johnson are the best tandem of backs in the SEC, but their durability questions and limited games in which they were both healthy has them just behind Georgia's Nick Chubb and Sony Michel entering the season.

Top 3 Projected Running Backs (2016 stats)

1. R-Jr. Kamryn Pettway: 209 carries for 1,224 yards with seven touchdowns

2. Jr. Kerryon Johnson: 182 carries for 895 yards with 11 touchdowns

3. R-Fr. Malik Miller: 16 carries for 69 yards with one touchdown before season-ending knee injury

Interesting fact

Auburn is 5-0 in games Pettway rushes for more than 150 yards.

2. Georgia

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Arguably the best 1-2 backfield team in the SEC, if not the country, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are both proven commodities. However, they both have endured injuries and that's what keeps the Bulldogs from claiming the No. 1 spot at the position entering the season. If they can both get through the season healthy, Georgia will be a brutal ground game to contain.

Top 3 Projected Running Backs (2016 stats)

1. Sr. Nick Chubb: 224 carries for 1,130 yards with eight touchdowns

2. Sr. Sony Michel: 152 carries for 840 yards with four touchdowns

3. Soph. Brian Herrien: 63 carries for 363 yards with three touchdowns

Interesting fact

According to Pro Football Focus, Nick Chubb forced a missed tackle once every 3.6 carries in 2014 and 2015, but only one every 5.7 carries in 2016. He has 19 career 100-yard games.

1. LSU

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LSU's running backs are extremely top heavy but when the top is Derrius Guice, that's as good as it gets in the SEC. He is the most explosive running back in the conference and outshined teammate Leonard Fournette last season even as Fournette went on to be the No. 4 pick in the NFL Draft.

LSU will need to get contributions from Darrel Williams to lessen the burden on Guice and there are several others vying for time, with freshman Clyde Edwards-Helaire making an early statement in fall camp.

Top 3 Projected Running Backs (2016 stats)

1. Jr. Derrius Guice: 183 carries for 1,387 yards with 15 touchdowns

2. Sr. Darrel Williams: 52 carries for 233 yards with three touchdowns

3. Fr. Clyde Edwards-Helaire: N/A

Interesting fact

According to Pro Football Focus, 12.9 percent of Guice's carries went for 15-plus yards, best among draft-eligible running backs and 32.8 percent of his carries went for either a first down or a touchdown.

The only thing I would change about the list is even with the unexpected loss of Rawleigh Williams, I would still bump Arkansas up above Tennessee, State, and Florida to #9. But I think Arky will actually end up #5 once the season gets going.

And it does seem odd that based on the criteria the team that is picked #1 only has one RB with any real experience. Although like the article points out, UGA and AU both have durability concerns with their top 2, and with Bama Bo only played at an elite level for the last 3 games.