Prediciting every SEC teams leading rusher in 2022

Here are projections for the top running backs in the SEC next year.

The 2021 season may have just ended, but it is never too early to look ahead to next year.

The SEC has embraced the pass-heavy offences that are sweeping the college football landscape but that has not prevented the conference from continued to have some of the best running backs in the country. That should once again be the case in 2022 as several running backs will be looking to build on previous seasons and several talented backs have transferred in from other conferences.

Here is an early look at every team’s leading rusher next season.

Player spotlight: Missouri’s Elijah Young

Player spotlight: Missouri running back Elijah Young

When Tennessee plays Missouri Saturday, the Volunteers will face a former Knoxville, Tennessee high school star.

Tigers’ sophomore running back Elijah Young played at South-Doyle High School for head coach and former Vol Clark Duncan.

Young was Tennessee Titans Class 5A Mr. Football for the Cherokees as a senior in 2019.

This season, Young has rushed for 80 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries for Missouri (2-2, 0-1 SEC).

He has recorded four receptions, including a touchdown, totaling 22 yards. Last season, in limited action, Young totaled 10 carries for 78 yards.

Young was a Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at South-Doyle, totaling 2,481 all-purpose yards and 43 touchdowns.

He rushed for 2,170 yards and 39 touchdowns in 2019 when he led the Cherokees to an 8-4 record and an appearance in the TSSAA Class 5A quarterfinals.

Kickoff for the game between the Vols (2-2, 0-1) and Missouri is scheduled for noon EDT. The game will be televised on SEC Network.

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VFL Clark Duncan: Elijah Young ‘is everything you ever want in a player’

Elijah Young has decommitted from Missouri.

[jwplayer OSBA6oIu-er0jUifI]

KNOXVILLE — South-Doyle High School senior football player Elijah Young has decommitted from Missouri.

The four-year starter for the Cherokees at running back, wide receiver and defensive back announced his decision on Twitter.

Young re-opened his recruitment after Tigers’ head coach Barry Odom was fired following a 6-6 season.

Tennessee offered Young on June 13, 2017, when Butch Jones was UT’s head coach. Jeremy Pruitt also reaffirmed Tennessee’s offer to Young when he replaced Jones as head coach.

South-Doyle High School head coach and former Tennessee Volunteer, Clark Duncan (1977-80), discussed Young’s recruitment with Vols Wire following his decommitment from Missouri.

“He is everything you read about,” Duncan said of Young. “He is a quality young man. Athletically, he is as good as they come. He is fast and has great feet, vision and physical — he is everything you ever want in a player.”

Duncan also discussed Young still considering signing with Missouri during the Tigers’ search to hire a new head coach.

“Right now because of the unknown of what is going to happen, they have assured him that his scholarship will be honored,” Duncan said. “So they just told him to always keep your options up because when the new guy comes in he does have final say, but I feel certain that whoever the new head coach is they are going to be excited about having Elijah.”

2020 recruiting class signing dates

The 2019 Early Signing Period will take place Dec. 18-20 and National Signing Day will be held on Feb. 5.

The Vols’ 2020 commitment tracker can be followed below.

University of Tennessee’s 2020 football recruiting class tracker

 

VFL Clark Duncan: Elijah Young ‘is everything you ever want in a player’

Elijah Young has decommitted from Missouri.

[jwplayer OSBA6oIu-er0jUifI]

KNOXVILLE — South-Doyle High School senior football player Elijah Young has decommitted from Missouri.

The four-year starter for the Cherokees at running back, wide receiver and defensive back announced his decision on Twitter.

Young re-opened his recruitment after Tigers’ head coach Barry Odom was fired following a 6-6 season.

Tennessee offered Young on June 13, 2017, when Butch Jones was UT’s head coach. Jeremy Pruitt also reaffirmed Tennessee’s offer to Young when he replaced Jones as head coach.

South-Doyle High School head coach and former Tennessee Volunteer, Clark Duncan (1977-80), discussed Young’s recruitment with Vols Wire following his decommitment from Missouri.

“He is everything you read about,” Duncan said of Young. “He is a quality young man. Athletically, he is as good as they come. He is fast and has great feet, vision and physical — he is everything you ever want in a player.”

Duncan also discussed Young still considering signing with Missouri during the Tigers’ search to hire a new head coach.

“Right now because of the unknown of what is going to happen, they have assured him that his scholarship will be honored,” Duncan said. “So they just told him to always keep your options up because when the new guy comes in he does have final say, but I feel certain that whoever the new head coach is they are going to be excited about having Elijah.”

2020 recruiting class signing dates

The 2019 Early Signing Period will take place Dec. 18-20 and National Signing Day will be held on Feb. 5.

The Vols’ 2020 commitment tracker can be followed below.

University of Tennessee’s 2020 football recruiting class tracker

 

South-Doyle’s Elijah Young decommits from Missouri

Elijah Young decommits from Missouri.

[jwplayer OSBA6oIu-er0jUifI]

KNOXVILLE — South-Doyle High School senior football player Elijah Young has decommitted from Missouri.

The four-year starter for the Cherokees at running back, wide receiver and defensive back, announced his decision on Twitter.

He was recently named 2019 Class 5A Tennessee Titans Mr. Football, receiving the honor Monday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

Young re-opened his recruitment after Tigers’ coach Barry Odom was fired following a 6-6 season that saw Missouri break a five-game losing streak with a 24-14 victory over Arkansas on Friday, Nov. 30.

Missouri lost consecutive Southeastern Conference games to Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.

The Tigers also lost to Wyoming to open the 2019 campaign.

Young also has offers from several schools including Kentucky, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas.