30 Best College Running Backs of All-Time
Career Statistics
- Games: 47
- Carries: 1,220
- Rushing Yards: 7,125
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 151.6
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,781.3
- Rushing Touchdowns: 71
- Yards Per Carry: 5.8
- Receptions: 31
- Receiving Yards: 304
- Receiving Touchdowns: 0
- Notable: Heisman Trophy Winner, 1999
One of the biggest players to ever play the running back position, Ron Dayne had a better career than any of them. Recruited by most schools as a fullback because he weighed in well over 250 pounds as a high school senior in New Jersey, Dayne chose Wisconsin because head coach Barry Alvarez convinced him he would have a chance to compete for carries at tailback.
Dayne got that chance as a freshman in 1996. In 13 games, Dayne carried the football 325 times for 2,109 yards – which was the fifth greatest single season in history at that point – and 21 touchdowns. The 2,109 rushing yards Dayne gained as a freshman now ranks 12th all-time for a single season. He followed that outstanding performance with 1,457 rushing yards and 15 TDs in 1997 and 1,525 rushing yards and 15 more scores in 1998.
Despite an opportunity to leave early for the NFL, Dayne ran for 2,034 yards as a senior in 1999, which led the nation. It also makes him one of only two players in the history of college football to run for more than 2,000 twice during his collegiate career. Dayne’s 20 rushing touchdowns led the nation. He broke Tony Dorsett’s career rushing mark and won the Heisman Trophy.
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In four seasons with the Badgers, Dayne ran for 6,397 rushing yards officially, which still stands as the most in college football. However, when taking into account his production in bowl games – which were not included in official statistics in the NCAA until 2002, Dayne actually amassed 7,125 yards.
At an average of 1,781.3 yards per season over a four-year career – in an age when NFL-caliber ball carriers usually turn pro after three seasons – that is a record that will be very difficult to break.