Here is a handful of talented running backs whose decision to transfer has provided their new teams with a big boost out of the backfield.
Jordan Cronkrite
Florida to USF
The Buzz: Cronkrite was a four-star prospect out of Miami who left Florida following two seasons where he spent much of the time buried on the Gators depth chart. He rushed for 302 yards on just 75 carries during his time in Gainesville, Fla. He transferred to USF in 2017 and sat out per NCAA transfer rules. The Bulls finished last season with the second-best rushing offense in the American Athletic Conference and have produced a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the past four seasons. The departures of Darius Tice and D'Ernest Johnson open the door for Cronkrite to assume a larger rule in the offense in 2018.
Jon Hilliman
Boston College to Rutgers
The Buzz: Rutgers desperately needed some depth and experience at the running back position with the departures of Gus Edwards and Robert Martin, the top two rushers from last season. Enter Hilliman, who spent the previous three seasons at Boston College, where he totaled more than 1,378 yards and 13 career touchdowns. Hilliman was the team's leading rusher in 2016 and while he started nine games for the Eagles in 2017, he quickly became the secondary option behind freshman AJ Dillon, who earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors after rushing for 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Madre London
Michigan State to Tennessee
The Buzz: John Kelly's early departure to the NFL leaves Tennessee without a proven starter at running back. London, who shared time in a crowded Spartans backfield the past three seasons, should provide the Volunteers with some much-needed size and speed. London finished with just 924 career rushing yards and eight total touchdowns but his 4.0 yards per carry should be a nice addition to a unit that averaged just 3.41 yards per carry in 2017.
Travon McMillian
Virginia Tech to Colorado
The Buzz: Colorado hopes McMillian can return to form of the explosive running back who rushed for 1,042 yards with seven touchdowns in just seven starts back in 2015 for Virginia Tech. Since then, McMillian struggled to find his place in the up-tempo offense put in by new coach Justin Fuente back in 2016. Last season, he started eight games during the regular season before surprisingly sitting out the team's bowl game after announcing his decision to transfer. He's looking to replace Phillip Lindsay, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons for the Buffs.
Tre Watson
California to Texas
The Buzz: Texas clearly needs help in its ground game after the team finished last season ranked No. 96 nationally in rushing offense. Watson provides the Longhorns with some much-needed veteran leadership after spending the previous four seasons at Cal where he was used not only out of the backfield but also in the return game. He finished his career with the Bears with 1,380 yards with eight touchdowns and an impressive 5.1 yards per carry average. He can also be used out of the backfield as a receiver, where he had 379 yards on 37 catches during his time at Cal.
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