Running backs: Five things to know about FSU's backfield in 2017

Replacing an all-time great is never an easy task, and that's the reality for Florida State heading into the 2017 season.

The Seminoles lost star junior tailback Dalvin Cook, who is the school's all-time leading rusher, to the NFL after he broke his own single-season record with 1,765 yards last season. Cook also ran for 19 touchdowns, which tied his previous school record from his sophomore year in 2015.

Despite losing Cook's big-play ability, FSU enters preseason camp with its running back depth being one of its major strengths on offense. From a talent standpoint, the Seminoles could feature one of their more impressive collection of running backs. It's a group that includes three former five-star prospects in junior Jacques Patrick and freshmen Cam Akers and Khalan Laborn.

FSU also will have two former four-stars in sophomore Amir Rasul and freshman Zaquandre White. Another incoming freshman, Deonte Sheffield, was a three-star prospect. And FSU will have two more veterans in redshirt senior Ryan Green and redshirt junior Johnathan Vickers.

Despite all that talent, there still is some concern regarding the group's overall lack of experience. Three of FSU's running backs -- Akers, Laborn and White -- are first-year players. Patrick is the team's most experienced option in terms of carries and yards followed by Green, Vickers and Rasul. Together, the foursome have a combined 1,137 career rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.