Southern Conference Football 2015: Ranking The Running Backs

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I sure like his pick at #1...and the OL shout-out(s)

1. Alex Lakes (Mercer) — Bobby Lamb has seen some great running backs heading into his 12th year as a head coach at both Mercer and before that a nine-year stint at Furman, however, he might be coaching the most talented running back he’s had right now, in rising redshirt sophomore Alex Lakes.

Lakes was the SoCon’s rushing champion last season in what was Mercer’s first as a Southern Conference member, and the feature runner in the Bears’ offense, which ranked fourth in the league in rushing yards per game last season (203.1 YPG).

The native of Newnan, GA comes off a 2014 season, which saw him rush for 1,107 yards and and 17 TDs on 200 rush attempts, which converts to an average of 5.5 YPC. In Lamb’s tenure as a head coach, no running back he’s coached has ever been more productive.

While Lakes’ rushing was no doubt impressive, it’s important to note that he was running behind one of the most talented, yet underrated offensive lines in the league, which is headed up by 2015 preseason All-American left guard Wilson Heres. Still, Lakes is no doubt talented and apart of the first Mercer team in Southern Conference history, as well as becoming part of the program’s history by putting his name among the league’s elite, garnering coaches and media First-Team All-SoCon accolades in 2015.

Lakes enjoyed six 100-yard rushing efforts during the 2014 season, with his best coming against Stetson in a lopsided non-conference win, rushing for a career-best 151 yards and three scores. In league action, Lakes produced his best performance against title contender Western Carolina, rushing for 128 yards and a TD on 34 carries.