Preseason practice begins in mere weeks around the Big Ten, so it’s time again to examine the league’s personnel at every position group.

Up next: Running back

Best of the best: Ohio State

You don't really need to think long about this one. Ezekiel Elliott is the best running back in the nation so, almost by default, the Buckeyes boast the best corps in the conference. He's incredibly strong -- he had 3x as many rushing yards between the tackles (213) as Oregon's entire team (67) -- and he's just as quick, as he showed during an 85-yard TD run against Alabama. We'll be talking about his three-game stretch to end the season for decades because we might never see dominance like that again. (In case you need a refresher, he set the B1G championship record with 220 yards vs. Wisconsin, then set a Sugar Bowl record with 230 yards against Alabama and followed it up by setting a championship-game record, since the BCS era, with 246 yards vs. Oregon.) He's already being compared to first-round selection Todd Gurley, has his own Heisman hype song and isn't the type to grow complacent. "The one thing you love about Zeke is he is hungry," RB coach Tony Alford told The Lantern. Put simply, he's a beast -- and he puts the Buckeyes right at the top.

Next up: Wisconsin

No Melvin Gordon? No problem ... sort of. There's no question that the Badgers will receive at least a slight downgrade at running back this season. (Gordon's 2,587-yard, 29-TD season might've been the best since Barry Sanders' performance in 1988.) But that doesn't mean Corey Clement isn't talented. Far from it. After Elliott, Clement definitely appears to be the running back to watch. And, even with Gordon in the backfield last season, Clement showed over and over again that he's not one to sleep on. Against Rutgers, for instance, he flashed his speed and even out-rushed Gordon by three yards to the tune of 131 yards, 9.4 yards per carry and two TDs. Since 2009, Wisconsin has had a running back rush for at least 1,500 yards in all but one season. Clement's penchant for the big play should keep that streak alive.

Sleeper: Rutgers

If you disagree with this pick, maybe you're forgetting just how good Paul James was early on, before a season-ending torn ACL. In four games last season, he powered his way for 363 yards and 5 TDs. And, in our "By the numbers" feature, he was named as the best player in the nation wearing No. 34. But what if he isn't quite his old self, or the injury bug starts to bite once more? Well, for Rutgers, that really wouldn't be a problem. The Scarlet Knights would still likely be the B1G sleeper here because they're so deep at this position. They return five running backs that had at least 300 yards apiece last season and several with enough talent to take over as the primary back, should the need arise. Josh Hicks and Robert Martin both impressed as true freshmen last season -- Martin had 434 yards and 7 TDs; Hicks had 440 yards and 2 TDs -- and should be even better this year. Justin Goodwin and Desmon Peoples are likely just behind them on the depth chart, but have more experience (both are juniors) and are quality backups. The big question here: Are there enough carries to go around?

Problem for a contender: Michigan State

This position isn't without potential. Redshirt freshman Madre London made my spring list of five freshman breakout players, and true freshman L.J. Scott is already generating plenty of hype as the headliner of the Spartans' 2015 recruiting class. But Jeremy Langford is irreplaceable, and there are plenty of other question marks at this position. For one, Delton Williams' status remains in limbo. (He no longer appears to be indefinitely suspended but, after flashing a gun on campus, he still might not play a big role this season.) London and Scott also have no game experience, and Gerald Holmes has 15 career carries for a 2.9 yard average. That doesn't exactly inspire confidence when your top three definitely-available backs have a combined 44 career rushing yards and are replacing a guy that put together consecutive 1,400-yard seasons. Michigan State still has a long way to go at running back; that's why it could end up being a problem.