Preseason injury bug is hitting multiple SEC running backs

Football is quite often a game of attrition. That will become more true in the 12-team playoff format, where teams will be required to play 16 games to win a national championship. Keeping your roster healthy and having some built-in depth answers is more important than ever.

In the SEC, the injury bug has arrived, and it has knocked two high-profile players out for the season.

Texas officially lost projected starter and former top-50 recruit CJ Baxter for the season on Tuesday due to a knee injury. Five days later, Texas A&M lost a former top-50 recruit who was expected to play a big role for offensive coordinator Collin Klein.

Reuben Owens was a former Louisville commit who flipped to Texas A&M following Scott Satterfield leaving the Cardinals for Cincinnati. As a true freshman, the blue-chip prospect rushed for 385 yards in year one and also chipped in 12 receptions. Owens owns a unique all-purpose skill set and was one of the most dynamic athletes in the 2023 class.

Those are not the only injuries at tailback in the SEC.

Florida starting tailback Montrell Johnson Jr. had his knee scoped and is having to miss time during training camp. There is optimism that the former Louisiana transfer — who has rushed for at least 800 yards in each of the last three seasons — will be back for that huge Week 1 contest against Miami at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. At South Carolina, Rocket Sanders missed the first team scrimmage on Saturday, but head coach Shane Beamer claims that the Arkansas transfer is 100 percent healthy.

At Kentucky, the running back room appears to be in good shape following the first fall camp scrimmage, but this position can be one of attrition. Some teams around the league are now being forced to test their depth at tailback.