30 Best College Running Backs of All-Time
Career Statistics
- Games: 31
- Carries: 782
- Rushing Yards: 4,382
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 141.4
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,460.7
- Rushing Touchdowns: 36
- Yards Per Carry: 5.6
- Receptions: 33
- Receiving Yards: 258
- Receiving Touchdowns: 1
- Notable: All-American 1995-96
Troy Davis had one of the most remarkable college careers of any running back in history. He played sparingly as a freshman at Iowa State in 1993, and carried the football 35 times for 187 yards, but showed some big play ability by returning one of two kickoff returns for a touchdown.
As a sophomore, Davis exploded onto the national scene and led the country with 2,010 rushing yards and scored 15 touchdowns on the ground. He added 159 receiving yards and another TD, was named an All-American and finished fifth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. It was just the second time in Division I history that a player ran for more than 2,000 yards and didn’t win the Heisman.
In 1996, Davis became the first Division I college football player ever to run for more than 2,000 yards in two separate seasons (and he’s just one of three players to run for more than 1,900 yards twice). Davis led the nation in carries (402), rushing yards (2,185), touches (415) and yards from scrimmage (2,249) and scored 21 touchdowns. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in a close race with national champion Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel.
The most amazing thing about it? The Cyclones were 2-9 in 1996 (and 3-8 in 1995). Davis currently ranks No. 61 on the all-time Division I rushing list and did it in basically two seasons, and with little help.
Next: DeAngelo Williams