SEC StatCat's Top5 Hardest Rushers to Tackle for 2021

Some backs are just too hard too handle. Even for a conference stacked with future professionals defenders sideline to sideline, there are just some dudes opponents just don’t want to mess with in the open field or in a phone booth. (hey arnold - Torvald football) Whether by bruising, bludgeoning, or bewildering would be tacklers with shifty moves, here are the SEC’s hardest rushers to tackle returning for 2021 based off their performances last season. 

5. Chris Rodriguez

In 2019, Chris Rodriguez very much laid the groundwork for his breakout performance in efficiency. Though his volume was lacking within UK’s Lynnsanity Offense, his stable metrics versus SEC defenses were some of the best amongst returners entering last season. For the second straight campaign, Rodriguez averaged over four yards after contact. His 4.20 was a conference-high among dudes with at least 50 carries and obviously leads the way for 2021. Since our cutoff is 40 for this exercise, he currently dons the SEC’s silver medal. Despite holding a share of the league’s best Broken Tackle Rate as a freshman, his sophomore clip dropped about 8 percentage points year-over-year to where its only the 8th-best clip amongst qualifiers. But to end on a high note, no SECer eliminated negative runs per opportunity at a greater rate than his 57.1% figure. Don’t underestimate his game.

4. Dillon Johnson

It’s hardly a secret the ground game is a secondary facet in the Air Raid. While his results and snooze-worthy stat sheet reflects a ho-hum runner, Dillion Johnson unquestionably ran with fire. His line barely did anything in order to earn trust from the Bulldogs, which frequently resulted DJ being hit early and often. Knowing his production would overly come from the effort he gave when the rock in his hands, his stable metrics impressed to the tune of a top8 YAC average, 4th-best Broken Tackle Rate, and holding the conference’s top spot with Rodriguez in Gumption Conversion Rate. To further encapsulate his environment, only two returners logged a higher percentage of their runs come after contact than Johnson’s 66.7% clip. 

3. Tank Bigsby

Among the volume rushers — or dude’s who composed over 25% of their team’s designed carries — no SECer trumped Tank Bigsby’s might 42% Broken Tackle Rate. Regardless of the context or situation, he was a consistently great at fighting through contact and displaying value. So much that many are prematurely labeling War Eagle’s ramrod as the top running back in the country ahead of this season. Though his TD Rate underwhelmed, his stable metrics fueled by his great Broken Tackle Rate as well as a top5 YAC average and Gumption Conversion Rate that signify him as one of the most difficult ball carriers to corral within the conference. But with this position, that hints a few newcomers who didn’t log a lot of volume were even more proficient at busting out of tackles last year. 

2. Devon Achane

Devon Achane immediately made an impression as an imposing rusher once he started seeing regular snaps late in 2020. Yes, Texas A&M’s line was one of the best units in the country, the Aggie only logged 8 first half carries, and primarily feasted against backups. But, his bottomline is is worthy of some acclaim. While averaging a broken tackle on every other carry across his 43 attempts, his breakaway ability fueled the top YAC average within the conference amongst qualifiers. As desirable as Rodriguez’s 4.2 clip was, Achane stood out with his outstanding 5.23 figure while finishing the the SEC’s top TD Rate ahead of 2021. But since he was given more cushion and was less effective negating contact behind the line than our top performer, the Aggie has to settle for the 2-spot. 

1. Kenny McIntosh

The Bulldogs have like a half-dozen quality running backs with varying abilities and skill sets. While most have proven to be among the top tackle breakers within the SEC, only one of them can carry the ball at a time. Only one with at least 35 carries failed averaged more than 2.5 yards after contact, but none came close to matching Kenny McIntosh’s robust 55.3% Broken Tackle Rate. Obviously with a mark that marvelous, he holds the top spot on this list. Most of McIntosh’s production came through shear effort. Only Alabama’s Brian Robinson saw a lower makeup of his yards occur before contact than his 30.8% clip last season. To further cement his case as the conference’s hardest rusher to tackle, the Dawg posts a top3 Gumption Conversion Rate and top4 YAC average amongst his peers.