30 Best College Running Backs of All-Time
Career Statistics
- Games: 38
- Carries: 785
- Rushing Yards: 4,590
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 120.8
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,530
- Rushing Touchdowns: 41
- Yards Per Carry: 5.8
- Receptions: 46
- Receiving Yards: 365
- Receiving Touchdowns: 2
- Notable: All-American 2006-07, Doak Walker Award 2006-07
Though Arkansas struggled to a 4-7 record during his freshman season in 2005, Darren McFadden was a bright spot for the Razorbacks. On the strength of five 100-yard performances, McFadden set a freshman school record with 1,113 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He was named a Freshman All-American and the Freshman of the Year in the SEC.
The following season, McFadden was a huge reason why the Razorbacks won ten games and captured the SEC West title. In one of the most well-rounded seasons in college football history, the sophomore set a school rushing record with 1,647 rushing yards and scored 14 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught a touchdown pass, and as the “Wildcat” quarterback in new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn’s offense, McFadden even completed seven of nine passes for 69 yards and three touchdowns. He also took a kickoff to the house. McFadden was named an All-American, won the Doak Walker Award and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting.
As a junior, McFadden was even better and broke his own school record with 1,830 rushing yards and he scored 16 rushing touchdowns, one receiving TD and added four more scores through the air. For the second year in a row, McFadden finished as the runner-up for the Heisman and won the Doak Walker Award.
Next: George Rogers