SEC StatCat's Top5 3rd Down Rushers for 2021

3rd Down is a result oriented situation. If you don't succeed, it's time bring on the punt unit and get your defense ready to save face. There’s a reason why it’s referred to as the do or die down. It’s vastly important to make the most of these instances to sustain drives, keep your offense on the field , and wear down your opponent. For me, third downs ought to be avoided. But there’s no denying teams have to suck it up and just eat...or risk leaving a bad taste in their mouths. Since 3rd downs are inherently volatile and generally one-off situations, there’s no guarantee the top returners in this context will stay as such by year’s end. That said, here are the SEC’s top5 3rd Down running backs based on their performances last fall.

5. Isaiah Spiller

Texas A&M finished right behind the national champs within this conference in terms of 3rd Down Conversion Rate. Not only did Kellen Mond turn in one of the SEC’s most successful showings in these spots as a passer, but his backfield mate Isaiah Spiller experienced great efficiency as well. No SECer averaged more yards to gain than his 6.4 clip. But thanks to fantastic cushion from the Maroon Goons, his 3.4 yards before contact average was tops within the conference in 2020. Though the Aggie dons a top5 Broken Tackle Rate, his environment ensured that his Success Rate, Explosive Run Rate, and Negative Run Rate on 3rd downs met that criteria as well amongst returners for this fall. 

4. Kevin Harris

Kevin Harris had to make do with incredible variance down-to-down. Only Georgia’s James Cook averaged more rush yards before contact overall, but the Gamecocks finished bottom3 within the conference in terms of Run Havoc Rate allowed. Despite the erratic circumstances, Harris sported some of his most consistent figures on unstable 3rd down tries. His such Success Rate trumped his 44.3% overall clip by about 13 percentage points as his Explosive Run Rate improved in these spots as well. His 19.1% clip was an SEC-high last fall. But hammering home South Carolina’s inconsistency, he was just as likely to experience contact behind the line of scrimmage. Despite that adversity and the 2nd-highest average yards to gain amongst his peers, Harris responded with a top5 Yards/Carry, YAC average, and Broken Tackle Rate. 

3. Zamir White

Zamir White might not have truly excited as a sophomore, but he is one of three returning SECers to see at least two-thirds of their 3rd down attempts end in success. Only Spiller averaged a higher yards before contact clip. But besides this list’s top performer, no returner bests his YAC average. Despite being hit behind the line on a sixth of his money down tries, the Bulldog negated logging a single negative attempt. Like his strong YAC clip hints, White took it up a notch in terms of breaking tackles. His 38.9% clip owns the bronze medal ahead of this fall while no SECer outdid his outstanding 6.0 Yards/Carry last season. 

2. Chris Rodriguez

Chris Rodriguez is a bruising back that tends to fall forward, so he’s a natural ball carrier in these spots. No returning back logged a higher attempt makeup on 3rd downs than him besides Mississippi State’s Jo’quavious Marks. Following the Big Blue Wall, he benefited from the 3rd highest yards before contact clip. Not that he didn’t use his size, but CRod was underwhelming in terms of physicality per a single-digit Broken Tackle Rate and YAC average outside this year’s top5.  Until UK’s bowl game, Chris Rodriguez only logged a single failed later down try all season, which happened to come against the nation’s best defense in Georgia. By year’s end, the Wildcat’s 3rd Down Success Rate finished at 78.9%. I don’t think anyone in the bluegrass is ultimately going to be up in arms over a figure that sturdy even if the process could’ve been better from the league’s arguably best back. 

1. Tank Bigsby

Behind phenomenal results, unmatched might, and general upside, Auburn’s Tank Bigsby is the conference’s undisputed best 3rd down rusher ahead of this fall since he accomplished that feat comfortably as a freshman. Yes, his result-based metrics like Success Rate, Explosive Run Rate, and TD Rate could look a lot different come late November, but the Tigers’ process metrics hint stability could be on the horizon. Despite suffering from the lowest rush yards before contact clip among our top performers, no returner can boast a preferable YAC average, Broken Tackle Rate, or Gumption Rate. Despite behind hit behind the line on 16.7% of his tries, Bigsby matched White by preventing a single negative 3rd down attempt. Though big gainers were seldom, he still finished with a top3 Yards/Carry in addition to his 91.7% Success Rate dominating the rest of the conference.