Christian McCaffrey became one of college football’s great stories a year ago, breaking Barry Sanders’ record for all-purpose yardage in a season.

But prior to last year, McCaffrey was largely an unknown, a player lauded in recruiting circles — he was the No. 2 all-purpose back and the No. 91 overall prospect in the 2014 247Sports Composite — but still somewhat unproven on a college football field. Such is the nature of the cycle of college football talent.

So who will be this year’s Christian McCaffrey, a running back jetting from relative obscurity to All-America status?

These aren’t stylistic comparisons: none of the below running backs are going to remind people of McCaffrey’s all-purpose talents or skill set. Rather the below players are somewhat under-the-radar, either in terms of production or publicity, as McCaffrey was after rushing for 300 yards as a freshman. And like McCaffrey, who rushed for 2,019 yards a year ago, these players are capable of putting up 1,500-plus-yard seasons and emerging as All-America candidates. Not all of the five (technically, six) below will become stars, but all are capable of monster seasons if things come together.

Bo Scarbrough, sophomore, Alabama

The easiest pick on the list, Scarbrough has the ideal mix of both talent and situation, stepping in for carry-machine Derrick Henry behind a talented offensive line that includes Cam Robinson. A five-star prospect and the No. 16 overall player in the 2015 247Sports Composite, Scarbrough figures to pound away at defenses with his 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame. He rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown, averaging 5.8 yards per carry in limited action as a true freshman. Then there’s this: Trent Richardson rushed for 1,679 yards in 2011. Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon had 1,322 and 1,108, respectively, in 2012. Yeldon had 1,235 in 2013 and Henry had 2,219 a year ago. The only year Alabama didn’t produce a 1,000-yard rusher in the last five years was 2014, when Henry rushed for 990 yards and Yeldon 979. The point? Without a timeshare in place, Scarbrough appears well-positioned to make a major run at well over 1,000 yards himself. Scarbrough’s production in the Alabama Spring Game —Â nine carries for 20 yards —Â isn’t anything to worry about. Most teams are going to struggle to run the ball on Alabama’s first-team defense.

Michael Weber, redshirt freshman, Ohio State

The No. 9 running back in the 2015 247Sports Composite, Weber looked last fall like he might make a play to become Ezekiel Elliott’s understudy, but tore his meniscus in fall camp and took a redshirt. Now, he’s battling Bri’onte Dunn for the right to replace Elliott. That’s a battle Weber, who scored two touchdowns in Ohio State’s spring game, is well-equipped to win. And while Elliott is an elite running back draft prospect, Weber does bring some of the same traits that made Elliott special. At 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, he’s a tough, physical runner. And he’s capable of taking a well-blocked play the distance with his deceptive speed. It would be somewhat of a surprise if Weber failed to top the 1,000-yard mark this year, and he has serious upward potential.

D'Onta Foreman, junior, Texas

Foreman was somewhat overlooked as a recruit, as his brother Armanti Foreman, also a starter at Texas, was considered the bigger prize. But Foreman was always a special size/speed talent, a player who clocked 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash at Texas camp at nearly 220 pounds as a high-schooler. Now, Foreman’s grown more into his body, standing at an imposing 6-foot, 238-pounds, and he’s been able to retain his explosiveness, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. That would have ranked fourth in the nation a year ago had Foreman finished with enough carries … he fell just five carries short. With an improved offensive line and a running back friendly system, the main thing holding Foreman back is competition: sophomore Chris Warren is a serious talent himself. Baylor had a pair of 1,000-yard backs a year ago, and it wouldn’t be a surprise, should Foreman and Warren stay healthy, that the Texas duo could achieve the same feat. And if either Foreman or Warren were to get the lion’s share of the carries, 1,500 yards wouldn’t be a huge surprise.

Jovon Robinson, senior, Auburn

After getting just four carries in Auburn’s first seven games a year ago, Robinson finished the season on a major upward trend, rushing for at least 90 yards in five of the Tigers’ final six games, including 159 yards against Texas A&M and 126 in Auburn’s bowl win over Memphis. His production over those six games, when multiplied out for a full 13-game season, would have given him 1,348 yards and six touchdowns. Auburn has some talented runners in its backfield, including speedster Roc Thomas, but Robinson stands alone as a bell-cow type running back who will carry the main load. At 6-foot and 230 pounds, Robinson is capable of a big year, one that was foretold when he was ranked as top overall junior college prospect in the 2015 247Sports Composite.

Soso Jamabo, sophomore, UCLA; or Ronald Jones II, sophomore, USC

OK, so it might be cheating to pick two players here. But Jamabo and Jones have a lot in common. The two West Coast backs are both true sophomores who came to their college via Dallas-area high schools. Jamabo was slightly higher ranked coming out of high school as the No. 2 running back in the 2015 247Sports Composite, while Jones was No. 4. But Jones was slightly more productive as a freshman, rushing for 987 yards and eight touchdowns to Jamabo’s 404 yards and six scores. But Jamabo may have a clearer role to stardom as a sophomore, with Jones having to topple senior Justin Davis for carries. But both players have the potential for massive seasons should they get the touches.

