Preseason lists continue to flow. One of them comes from USA TODAY College Wire regional editor Patrick Conn, who has come out with his list of the top 10 projected running backs in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
It’s a really good list. Patrick — whom I have podcasted with in the past — knows his college football inside and out. Patrick didn’t include Travis Dye or any other USC running back on his list. Is that a snub? Not really.
When you realize how good Caleb Williams is, and that having the ball in Williams’ hands is USC’s best approach on offense this season, it becomes a lot easier to understand why Travis Dye or Austin Jones won’t get top-tier preseason recognition. It’s not a verdict against them or their level of quality; it’s a reflection of the well-founded belief that Williams is going to throw a lot and often run the ball himself when a play breaks down. Putting the offense in Williams’ hands is the path to success.
Dye and Jones will be very important to this offense, but in secondary, supporting roles.
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