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Notre Dame Football: Top 5 running backs Irish will face in 2020

By Jack Leniart

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers runs the ball against Derion Kendrick #1 of the Clemson Tigers during the first quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers runs the ball against Derion Kendrick #1 of the Clemson Tigers during the first quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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2. Rakeem Boyd (Arkansas)

LITTLE ROCK, AR – NOVEMBER 29: Rakeem Boyd #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs the ball during a game against the Missouri Tigers at War Memorial Stadium on November 29, 2019 in Little Rock, Arkansas The Tigers defeated the Razorbacks 24-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
LITTLE ROCK, AR – NOVEMBER 29: Rakeem Boyd #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs the ball during a game against the Missouri Tigers at War Memorial Stadium on November 29, 2019 in Little Rock, Arkansas The Tigers defeated the Razorbacks 24-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

The lone back on this list that does not play in the ACC is Rakeem Boyd from Arkansas. Boyd is a dynamic running back, but I think he is flying under the national radar a bit. Probably because the Razorbacks have lived in the basement of the SEC in recent years.

There is a ton of buzz for the Razorbacks heading into 2020. The hired a new head coach, first last, in the off-season. They also added a talented quarterback in Feleipe Franks via the transfer portal.

Boyd earned a significant role in the offense as a true freshman in 2018. That season, he averaged 6 yards per carry and rushed for a total of 734 yards and two touchdowns.

As a sophomore last year, Boyd averaged 6.2 yards per carry and rushed for 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns. He brought a big-play threat to the Arkansas offense – ripping off runs of 52, 59, 74, and 86 yards throughout the year.

Boyd has also been active in the passing game. He presents a very tough matchup for the opposing linebackers tasked with covering him. As a freshman in 2018, he had 23 receptions for 165 yards. Last season, he had 19 receptions for 160 yards.

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