Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

Two former B1G RBs are dominating the NFL right now

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

The B1G is dominating the NFL right now. Well, at least two former running backs are at the moment.

Former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys) and fresh-out-of-Penn State star Saquon Barkley (New York Giants) have put together masterful seasons in 2018, and are currently leading the NFL in scrimmage yards. Elliott leads the way with 1,764 yards and Barkley is in a close second with 1,753 yards.

Todd Gurley, former Georgia running back, is in third with 1,707 yards.

SEC speed? More like B1G speed.

Elliott has been dominant at the NFL level since leaving Ohio State and joining the Cowboys. He rushed for 1,631 yards in his rookie season with Dallas, leading the league in the category. He also totaled 15 rushing touchdowns that season.

For his career, the former Buckeye has totaled 3,876 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground.

Barkley was expected to be a difference-maker in New York, but nobody really anticipated this type of early success. On Sunday, the former Penn Stater became the first rookie in Giants franchise history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in rushing yardage in a single season.

So while everyone tries to talk to you about that SEC speed and how dominant that conference is at producing NFL-level talent, just remind them that the two most exciting players in the league right now hail from the B1G.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB