There is no lack of talent in the backfield for Penn State entering the 2009 campaign. Last year sophomore Evan Royster took the majority of the load proving he is the next great running back in a line of greats that have carried the ball for the Nittany Lions.

Also returning are sophomores Stephfon Green and Brandon Beachum, who will add play making ability and depth behind Royster.

Before we look at Green and Beachum, let’s first take a peak into what type of season Royster might have by looking back at his 2008 season.

He rushed for 1,236 yards, good for the tenth-highest single season total in Penn State history. His 6.5 yards per carry average was phenomenal and he also showed a nose for the end zone, scoring 12 rushing touchdowns. The terrific season landed Royster the honor of being named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2008 Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s top running back and he was named second team All-Big Ten.

Royster enters 2009 as the Big Ten’s leading returning rusher from last season. He has been named as one of 30 players on the Walter Camp Football Foundation's Player of the Year watch list and will look to join John Cappelletti and Larry Johnson as Penn State running backs who have won the award.

He is also on the Doak Walker Award watch list, as well as being named second team pre-season All-American by Athlon Sports, Sporting News and Phil Steele’s College Football.

In two seasons Royster has amassed 1,749 yards rushing, leaving him 1,649 yards shy of breaking Curt Warner’s record of 3,398 yards. It will be a tall order to ask him to break the record this season, as he would have to rack up almost 100 more yards than Lydell Mitchell’s 1,567 yard season, which sits second on the Penn State single season rushing list.

On a side note to his running ability, Royster is the team’s leading returner in terms of receptions from the 2008 season, when he caught 17 balls for 155 yards.

With Royster’s talent level and NFL scouts saying he is possibly a potential top-ten pick come the end of the season; this might be his last season in Happy Valley.

Health has always been a concern for Royster, as he gets banged up quite a bit, but he is at 100 percent entering the 2009 campaign.

The same thing might not be able to be muttered about Green. He suffered a broken leg in Penn State’s Rose Bowl loss to USC, and has been rehabbing ever since. Green however is expected to be back up to full speed for the start of the season, and full speed for him is absolutely flying.

Last season, as a redshirt freshman, Green tallied 578 rushing yards, which interestingly enough was more than what Royster had his freshman year. What really stood out was his ability to be productive in the passing game. He caught 15 balls for 268 yards, to sport a 17.9 yards per catch average. Green is Penn State’s leading returner in receiving yards from last year.

Penn State is hoping he has not lost a step with the broken leg.

Brandon Beachum saw limited action as a freshman, carrying the ball 28 times for 114 yards and one touchdown. Look for him to get more reps than he did last season, especially if Royster or Green go down with any type of injury.

Whichever way you slice it, there is no mistaking it; the running back position is the strength of this offense coming into 2009.