30 Best College Running Backs of All-Time
Career Statistics
- Games: 30
- Carries: 523
- Rushing Yards: 3,556
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 118.5
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,185.3
- Rushing Touchdowns: 48
- Yards Per Carry: 6.8
- Receptions: 23
- Receiving Yards: 164
- Receiving Touchdowns: 1
- Notable: Heisman Trophy Winner, 1988; All-American, 1988; Maxwell Award, 1988; Walter Camp Award, 1988; Single-Season Records 2,628 rushing yards and 37 rushing TDs
There has never been a greater single-season performance in the history of college football than what Barry Sanders did in 1988. By that measure alone, Sanders would be a top ten all-time running back. And, because Sanders spent his first two seasons at Oklahoma State backing up Thurman Thomas, we didn’t get much of a chance to see what he could do until that historic ’88 season.
Through his first two years in Stillwater, Sanders had 928 rushing yards and eleven touchdowns and four receptions for 58 yards and another TD. As a sophomore, he proved to be one of the nation’s most dangerous special teams performers and returned two punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns. However, it was Sanders’ junior season that introduced him to the world.
In just 11 games in 1988, Sanders ran for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns – an average of 238.9 yards per contest – all of which are still college football single-season records. He also averaged 7.6 yards per carry, which is astounding because the Cowboys gave it to him an eye-popping 344 times – meaning the box was often stacked nine and ten defenders deep. Sanders also caught 19 passes out of the backfield for 106 yards and scored on both a kickoff return and a punt return.
Oklahoma State finished the season 10-2, and was ranked 11th in the final AP Top 25, and Sanders won the Heisman Trophy.
Next: Archie Griffin