There may be no deeper position group on campus than the running back corps at the disposal of Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott this season. The gap between the functional top and bottom is very small, but a clear pecking order has developed over the course of time.

At the top of this food chain is Wayne Gallman. The rising sophomore became the go-to back for the Tigers a year ago—albeit by default due to injury and inconsistency issues elsewhere—and did nothing but strengthen his stranglehold on the starting job during spring practice. The coaching staff lauded his progress, both in his physical bulk and in his running style.

Though Gallman earned the starting nod by midseason a year ago, he only surpassed 15 carries in four games. The dispersal of carries was largely based on the hot-hand philosophy, rather than a more defined series of roles. From game to game, the mix could vary significantly, and there are both positives and negatives to this approach. Which ones are manifested is primarily the product of the individuals involved in sharing playing time.

It remains to be seen whether the roles in the backfield will be more defined in 2015, but the post-spring depth chart seems to indicate it might be—at least at the top. Gallman is the lone starter, but a trio of other runners is listed beneath him as co-backups.

C.J. Davidson is the first name on the list. The graduate student saw his role diminish significantly toward the end of last season. In the last five games, the local product and former track athlete managed only 15 yards on ten carries—and in two of those games, he didn’t see the football at all. Sadly for Davidson, his fumble against Florida State defined his season for fans, but it seems the coaches are willing to give him another shot to earn a share of the workload.

Perhaps the most forgotten tailback of the bunch is Zac Brooks. Just 11 months ago, Elliott told reporters Brooks was the best all-around back on campus. That was right before a foot injury ended his season before it began. Brooks is back now and his skill set hasn’t diminished. He possesses the versatility to catch passes out of the backfield and run between the tackles. He should get the ball a bunch this season.

Tyshon Dye burst onto the scene with a vengeance in November after missing the first two-thirds of the 2014 season. He might be the best traditional tailback of the crew, as his stature (5-11, 215) allows him to more naturally run with a solid base. Health is a bit of a concern here, but if he can go all out, Dye is the kind of player who could tote the rock 20 times in a game and provide consistent production.

All of this leaves C.J. Fuller off the depth chart, but the redshirt freshman from nearby Easley almost assuredly won’t leave the season empty-handed. He was lauded throughout spring practice for the leaps he made from the end of the season until then, and there’s no reason to believe that process is stopping. Expect Fuller to have a say at some point this season, especially if injury strikes again.

A wild card to consider at tailback is the presence of Ray-Ray McCloud. The talented freshman will likely spend a great deal of time in the slot, but it’s possible he could be utilized in the backfield as a speed option on the edge. Until he gets onto the practice field in August, no one will be able to say for sure how much he can handle, but McCloud could bring a different element to the backfield.