The Case for Texas A&M’s 2025 Running Back Room as the Best in College Football History
Look, I’ve been around football longer than a goalpost’s shadow on a late November afternoon, and I’ve seen running back rooms that could make a grown man cry, Oklahoma’s wishbone stable in the ’70s, USC’s tailback U days with Marcus Allen and Charles White, Miami’s early-2000s crew that churned out NFL stars like Portis and McGahee. But let me tell you something, folks: the Texas A&M Aggies’ running back room heading into 2025 isn’t just great, it’s got a case to be the greatest ever assembled in college football history. Yeah, I said it. And before you start chucking Lone Star cans at your screen, hear me out. This isn’t just a hot take; it’s a five-alarm fire.
Let’s start with the names: Le’Veon Moss, Rueben Owens, Amari Daniels, and EJ Smith. Sounds like a law firm, runs like a freight train. Moss, a senior, was a human highlight reel in 2024 before a knee injury cut him down against South Carolina. He racked up 765 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 121 carries, 6.3 yards a pop, second-best in the SEC. That’s not a running back; that’s a guided missile. Then there’s Owens, a former five-star recruit who missed most of last season with a Lisfranc injury but still showed up in the final games, including 56 yards in the Las Vegas Bowl. This kid’s got jets, Devon Achane with a mean streak. Daniels, another senior, stepped up when Moss went down, piling up 661 yards and eight scores while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. And EJ Smith? The son of Emmitt freakin’ Smith was Stanford’s leading rusher in 2023 and gives A&M a pass-catching threat out of the backfield. Add in youngsters like Deondrae “Tiger” Riden and Jamarion Morrow, and this isn’t a depth chart, it’s a depth *ocean*.
Now, let’s talk numbers, because they don’t lie. In 2024, despite injuries to Moss and Owens, A&M’s ground game averaged 195.5 yards per game, good for 26th in the country and second in the SEC. That’s with their top two backs missing chunks of the season. The Aggies return *every* key ball carrier for 2025, Moss, Owens, Daniels, Smith, plus the young bucks—and they’re running behind an offensive line that brings back all five starters, including studs like Trey Zuhn III and Chase Bisontis. Pro Football Focus ranks this group No. 5 nationally among running back units, but I’m telling you, that’s too low. When you’ve got three guys, Moss, Owens, Daniels, who’ve combined for 3,326 career yards and 34 touchdowns, and they’re all healthy, you’re not just a top-10 unit; you’re a historic one.
Compare that to the all-time greats. USC’s 1979 backfield had Charles White and Marcus Allen, sure, but it leaned hard on White’s 2,050 yards. Depth? Not really. Oklahoma’s 1987 crew with Jamelle Holieway and a cast of wishbone backs was lethal, but they were more about scheme than raw talent. Miami’s 2001 unit had Clinton Portis and Frank Gore, but Gore was a freshman backup, not a co-star. A&M’s 2025 group has *three* backs who could start for any Power Four program, plus a fourth in Smith who’s a matchup nightmare. And don’t forget Marcel Reed, the quarterback, who ran for 543 yards and seven touchdowns last year. This offense, under Collin Klein’s pin-and-pull wizardry, can line up multiple backs at once, with guys like wideout KC Concepcion adding jet-sweep juice. It’s a defensive coordinator’s fever dream.
But it’s not just about talent, it’s about fit. Mike Elko’s got this team playing like they’re mad at the ground, and the running back room is the heart of it. Moss is the power guy, plowing through linebackers like they’re tackling dummies. Owens brings the home-run speed, turning slants into 60-yard sprints. Daniels is the all-purpose grinder, good for 90 yards against Auburn or a clutch catch. Smith’s the wild card, a pass-catcher who can moonlight as a slot receiver. And with Klein’s offense emphasizing tempo and misdirection, these guys aren’t just running; they’re reading defenses and making choices like a chess grandmaster. The last time A&M had a duo this good was 2021 with Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane, who combined for 1,921 yards. This group’s deeper and more versatile, and they’re playing in an era where defenses are spread thin by RPOs and up-tempo attacks.
Skeptics will point out the injuries, Moss’s ACL, Owens’s foot, and say, “What if they break down again?” Fair, but Elko’s confirmed Moss is 100% for fall camp, and Owens was back to full speed by the bowl game. Plus, the depth means no single injury kills them. Others might argue that A&M’s not tested enough against elite defenses. True, they struggled against Texas (91 rushing yards), but they gashed LSU for 238 and Missouri for 237. With a healthy roster and a veteran O-line, those numbers could climb. And let’s not forget history: A&M’s best running back rooms, like the 1986 crew with Darren Lewis or the 2000s with Jorvorskie Lane, never had this kind of depth *and* star power.
Picture this: it’s November 2025, A&M’s 9-1, and they’re facing Texas in Austin. Moss rumbles for 120 yards, Owens breaks a 70-yard touchdown, Daniels grinds out a fourth-down conversion, and Reed scrambles for a score. The Longhorns’ defense, already gassed from chasing Concepcion, throws up its hands. Kyle Field’s rocking, and the Aggies are Playoff-bound. That’s not a pipe dream; it’s what this backfield can do. No team in college football history has ever had this many weapons at running back, healthy and ready, with an O-line this seasoned and a scheme this perfect.
So, yeah, I’m planting my flag. Texas A&M’s 2025 running back room, Moss, Owens, Daniels, Smith, and the rest—isn’t just the best in the country. It’s the best there’s ever been. Better than USC’s, better than Miami’s, better than anybody’s. And if they stay healthy, they’ll run their way into the history books, one broken tackle at a time.
**AgJack's Parting Shots:**
- If A&M’s backs don’t have at least three 500-yard rushers in 2025, Billy Big Shot will eat a scoop of cold dog shit. He just told me he would.
- Collin Klein deserves an apology if he maximizes this group. He’s got the keys to a Ferrari.
*Got a better running back room in mind? Argue with me on X @AgJack10 or send your case to the AgKnocks mailbag. Good luck topping this one.*
