How many teams can say that they have four capable running backs and a talented quarterback? Clemson football certainly can.
How many teams across the nation have as deep of a backfield as Clemson football? The answer is not many.
Many teams have a talented quarterback and a really good running back or two. Several have one or the other.
But, there aren’t many that can boast a Heisman-caliber running back, a talented quarterback and three backup running backs that are all capable of quality carries.
Perhaps the only other backfields in the nation that could boast something like that would be Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia.
I know there are some other teams that have solid backfields, but they don’t have the depth that Clemson has.
When looking at that Tiger backfield, I’ve come to really believe that this group could be the best in the nation.
It all starts with Travis Etienne at running back and Trevor Lawrence at quarterback. Etienne, in my opinion, is one of the top-three running backs in the country. You could make a very good argument that he is the best running back in the country.
Trevor Lawrence is a very talented freshman. He is still learning and is growing up right before our eyes, but you can see that the talent and ability is there.
What we have behind Etienne in the running back group is what impresses me the most, though. You’ve got a veteran in Adam Choice that is running the ball the best he has his entire career. You’ve got a very talented and explosive back in Tavien Feaster and behind those two you’ve got a freshman in Lyn-J Dixon who may be the second-best back out of the group.
That backfield should be almost impossible for opposing defenses to prepare for. Clemson should start with the rushing attack and force defenses to stop it. After all, the Tigers are averaging 6.96 yards per carry.
Once the defense commits to stopping the run, you can let Trevor Lawrence carve them apart through the air with a plethora of talented wide receivers.
In the end, I can’t quite tell you how good this Clemson football backfield is going to be yet. I do believe, though, that this unit has the ability to be one of the best in the nation.