One thing is for certain about the LSU football schedule heading into 2023. There’s no shortage of talent. Recently, ESPN released its list of the top running backs in college football. The Tigers are set to face off against three out of their top 10: Quinshon Judkins, Raheim Sanders and Trey Benson.
LSU football will face three of the top 10 running backs in college football
A season in the SEC is never easy. Not only is it one of, if not the best, conference in college football, but it also has some of the best players in the country.
The 2023 season should be no exception, particularly at the running back position. ESPN released its list of top 10 running backs on Tuesday, July 4, and the SEC featured two of the top three.
LSU football is tasked with playing three of the ball carriers on the list.
Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins was the highest ranked of the three, sitting at No. 2 on the list. Raheim Sanders from Arkansas is just behind Judkins at No. 3. Finally, the only non-SEC top 10 running back the Tigers will face is Florida State’s Trey Benson, who came in at No. 9.
Quinshon Judkins might be the best running back in the SEC
In addition to being one of the best running backs on the list, Quinshon Judkins is one of the youngest. He broke out in a major way in 2022, carrying the ball 274 times for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Coming out of high school as a three-star and the No. 53 running back in the class of 2022, to say he outperformed his rating would be an understatement.
Heading into the 2023 season, expectations are much higher for the standout sophomore. Not only is he the best player on his team, but he could be one of the best in the entire country.
The 5-foot-11, 220-pound back has the ability to run through you, past you or over you. It’s just a matter of how he’s feeling that particular day.
In 2022, Judkins ran the ball 25 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns versus LSU football. While it wasn’t necessarily a dominant day on the ground, the Tigers will undoubtedly be looking to do better when they face the Rebels in 2023.
Raheim Sanders is a dark horse for the Heisman Trophy
There’s really no good reason for a man that size to be able to run as fast as he does. Standing at 6-foot-2, 227 pounds, Raheim “Rocket” Sanders can run past – or through – just about anyone in the country.
The former four-star out of Rockledge, FL, tore through almost anyone who tried to get in his way last season. He ran the ball 222 times for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, one of the most impressive stats is that he averaged 6.5 yards per carry.
In his matchup versus the Tigers, Sanders carried the ball just 12 times for 46 yards. It was a relatively low-scoring, defense-heavy game, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him look to have a stronger showing in 2023.
Sanders, ranked the No. 3 running back heading into the 2023 college football season, should live up to the hype. Alongside quarterback KJ Jefferson, the Arkansas offense has an almost unfair amount of star power. The Tigers must be on their A-game when facing the Razorbacks on September 23.
Trey Benson could be an early season test for the Tigers
Don’t let the No. 9 ranking fool you with Florida State running back Trey Benson. With all the attention on quarterback Jordan Travis, Benson could be sneaky good in 2023.
Through the 2022 season, Benson recorded 154 carries for 990 yards and nine touchdowns. While his stats from last season won’t necessarily “wow” you, his stats this coming season very easily might.
In his sophomore season with the Seminoles, he ran for an average of 6.4 yards per carry. He is more than capable of putting on a show for his team if they need it.
In the 2022 matchup, Benson wasn’t much of a worry for the Tigers. When the two teams faced off for the opening game of the season, Benson ran the ball just six times for 15 yards.
Now, heading into 2023, Benson will be a much bigger part of the Florida State offense, and coach Brian Kelly should see lots more of him during the rematch.
Overall, there is plenty of talent that the Tigers will be faced with in 2023. Coach Brian Kelly will have his hands full with their schedule, but if they can get through relatively unscathed, the sky is the limit for this Tiger team. First things first, though, Kelly’s squad will need to stop the run in a big way.
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