30 Best College Running Backs of All-Time
Career Statistics
- Games: 35
- Carries: 766
- Rushing Yards: 4,589
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 131.1
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,539.7
- Rushing Touchdowns: 57
- Yards Per Carry: 6.0
- Receptions: 82
- Receiving Yards: 973
- Receiving Touchdowns: 5
- Notable: All-American 1992-93
A Louisiana native, Marshall Faulk ended up at San Diego State because many of the schools recruiting him closer to home pursued him as a defensive back instead of a running back. As the story goes, the Aztecs were one of the few Division I schools that said they would give Faulk an opportunity to compete for playing time at running back as a freshman and were handsomely rewarded with one of the most impressive careers in college football history.
Faulk immediately made his presence known with 1,429 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on just 201 attempts as a true freshman (7.1 yards per carry), including a then-NCAA record 386 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in a single game against Pacific. Always a competent receiver out of the backfield, Faulk caught 17 passes for 201 yards and two TDs, which pushed him to 23 total touchdowns, which led the nation.
As a sophomore, Faulk led the nation in rushing with 1,630 yards and he scored 15 touchdowns on the ground. The performance earned him All-American status, and Faulk finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy behind Miami quarterback Gino Torretta.
As a junior, Faulk was a workhorse and gained 1,530 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 300 carries and added 644 receiving yards and three TDs on 47 receptions. The 367 plays, 2,174 total yards, and 24 touchdowns from scrimmage all led the nation. Faulk was named an All-American for the second time and finished fourth in the Heisman voting before leaving school early to enter the NFL Draft.
Next: Emmitt Smith