By Carlos Pineda
SouthernPigskin.com

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Ranking the top five running backs in the ACC.

1. James Conner, Pitt x94 Projected at one point to be a defensive end, the 6-2, 250-pound back bulldozed his way through defenses in 2014, rushing for 1,765 yards and an ACC single-season record 26 touchdowns during his sophomore campaign. A one-man wrecking crew, Conner led the ACC in rushing (averaging 135.8 yards per game) while finishing seventh nationally. Conner, a first team All-American, will once again be looked at to lead the Panther offense.

2. Dalvin Cook, Florida State x94 Cook had the most productive season by a first-year running back in Tallahassee. He rushed for a freshman record 1,008 yards and tallied five 100-yard rushing games as he led the Seminoles in rushing. Cook was named ACC Championship Game MVP after gaining a career-high 177 rushing yards and a touchdown against Georgia Tech. He was named to the All-ACC second team by the media.

3. Shadrach Thornton, NC State x94 One-third of NC States highly effective rushing attack, Thornton led the Wolfpack in rushing for the third straight year. Rushing for 907 yards and nine touchdowns, Thornton enters his senior year ranked 10th all-time on NC States career rushing list and fourth in the ACC’s active career rushing list, with 2,369 yards. He hit the century mark twice last year and averaged nearly 70 yards rushing.

4. Jon Hilliman, Boston College x94 As a freshman, Hilliman led all Boston College running backs with 860 yards and 13 touchdowns. He rushed for over 100 yards in a game three times, including a career-high 148 yards in the Pinstripe Bowl against Penn State. Hilliman was a key piece in BCs rushing juggernaut which ranked 14th nationally in rushing offense.

5. Wayne Gallman, Clemson x94 Gallman had a major impact in the second half of the season, leading the Tigers with 769 rushing yards. He gained over 100 rushing yards in three of the final six games of the season, including a 191-yard performance against South Carolina, the most rushing yards in a game by a Clemson freshman in 62 years. Gallman averaged a shade less than 60 yards per game and was the starter for the final eight games of the season.

Honorable mentions

Matt Dayes, NC State x94 In a backfield stacked with three talented running backs, Dayes stood out with his versatility, leading the Wolfpack with 1,278 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns. Dayes, named the offensive MVP, finished second on the team in rushing with 573 yards, and receiving, with 321 yards. He scored the game-winning touchdown catch (35 yards) against Georgia Southern in the season opener. Dayes started in three of the last four games of the season.

Joe Yearby, Miami x94 Playing backup to the Hurricanes all-time leading rusher (Duke Johnson) wasnt an issue for the freshman back. Even with only 86 rush attempts, Yearby managed to gain 509 yards on the ground, averaging nearly six yards per carry. He hit the 100-yard mark twice during the season, including the North Carolina game, where Yearby and Johnson each rushed for over 100 yards. With Johnson now in the NFL, Yearby, along with Gus Edwards will be the featured backs this upcoming season.