30 Best College Running Backs of All-Time
Career Statistics
- Games: 45
- Carries: 943
- Rushing Yards: 5,387
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 119.7
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,346.8
- Rushing Touchdowns: 56
- Yards Per Carry: 5.7
- Receptions: 43
- Receiving Yards: 267
- Receiving Touchdowns: 0
- Notable: Doak Walker Award, All-American, 2000
Because his career got off to a relatively slow start, and because TCU was a member of the WAC while he was on campus, LaDainian Tomlinson flew under the radar on the national stage until his junior season. The future Hall of Famer gained 538 rushing yards as a freshman in 1997 and followed with 717 yards as a sophomore, and scored a combined 14 touchdowns through his first two seasons.
However, during his junior season, Tomlinson broke the single-game rushing record with 406 yards against UTEP. The performance helped him to a nation-leading 1.975 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. The following season, Tomlinson once again led the nation in rushing with 2,158 yards and scored 22 TDs. At that point, only Barry Sanders (1988) and Marcus Allen (1981) had ever rushed for more yards in a single-season.
Interesting enough because he became one of the best receiving running backs in NFL history, Tomlinson did not catch a single touchdown pass in four seasons at TCU. Across four seasons in Fort Worth, Tomlinson only had 43 career receptions for 267 yards. Perhaps he was simply too busy carrying the football nearly every play. With 5,287 career rushing yards, Tomlinson finished his career at No. 7 on the all-time FBS career rushing list and currently ranks ninth all-time.
Next: Adrian Peterson