Utah’s Zack Moss Ranked Second Best RB In Pac-12
Jul 2, 2019, 11:02 AM | Updated: 1:56 pm
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Zack Moss, University of Utah running back, came in at number 11 on Athalon Sports’ list of the top 60 running backs in the nation.
More notable than the double-digit placement is where Moss ranks in the Pac-12. According to the list, Moss is the second best running back in the Pac-12 coming in only behind Eno Benjamin of Arizona State University. Benjamin is ranked at number three.
Utah State’s Gerold Bright is featured on the list as “one to watch.”
Zack Moss
Moss was on pace to have the best season of his career in 2018 before a knee injury forced him to miss the Utes’ last five games. He recorded 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns for Utah.
The star running back is going into his senior year. Some speculated he would leave school and enter the NFL Draft. Ultimately he decided to stick around and take care of “unfinished business.”
Moss was motivated to stay in school because he wants to finish his degree. He talked about being the first person in his family to get a degree.
“I want to stay in school and finish my degree. I’ll be the first person in my family to get my degree and that is important to both my mom and to me. I also want to be a part of our team goals for next year and graduate with (high school teammates) Demari (Simpkins) and Tyler (Huntley).”
In 2018 the Utes finished second in the Pac-12. Hopes are even higher for the team this year with many analysts predicting a Rose Bowl berth.
Time to cement my name. Let's do the damn thing 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/ZqJTfGHegP
— ❌ (@PresMoss2) January 7, 2019
Eno Benjamin
The only Pac-12 player coming in above Moss is the Arizona State star ball carrier.
Benjamin set a school record for with 1,642 yards in his first season as the starting running back with the Sun Devils. He is going into his junior year as one of Phil Steele’s Preseason All-American players.
Moss and Benjamin will face off at Rice Eccles Stadium on October 19, 2019.
I got a whole nother level I can tap into. pic.twitter.com/8OOOALTvJN
— EB3™️ (@eno_benjamin5) October 1, 2018
The Rankings
Rankings are determined by multiple factors and according to Athalon Sports, the list could look drastically different when the 2019/2020 season begins.
Athalon lists career statistics, pro potential and coaching changes among other factors that weigh-in on the calculations.
Here are the top 20 running backs from Athalon Sports:
- Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
- Travis Etienne, Clemson
- Eno Benjamin, Arizona State
- AJ Dillon, Boston College
- D’Andre Swift, Georgia
- Najee Harris, Alabama
- Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
- JK Dobbins, Ohio State
- Kennedy Brooks, Oklahoma (tie)
- Trey Sermon, Oklahoma (tie)
- Zack Moss, Utah
- Cam Akers, Florida State
- J.J. Taylor, Arizona
- Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
- Joshua Kelley, UCLA
- Michael Warren, Cincinnati
- Greg McRae, UCF
- Reggie Corbin, Illinois
- Anthony McFarland, Maryland
- Cuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
College football's top 60 running backs for 2019: There's plenty of talent to go around this season https://t.co/JdITSK1ngG pic.twitter.com/f1DEwvOGLz
— Athlon Sports (@AthlonSports) July 2, 2019