30 Best College Running Backs of All-Time

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Career Statistics

  • Games: 44
  • Carries: 969
  • Rushing Yards: 6,026
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 137.0
  • Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,506.5
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 55
  • Yards Per Carry: 6.2
  • Receptions: 70
  • Receiving Yards: 723
  • Receiving Touchdowns: 5
  • Notable: Three-time C-USA Player of the Year

Like Garrett Wolfe and Travis Prentice, DeAngelo Williams’ collegiate production flew largely under the radar, but with more than 7,000 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns in the NFL, most football fans now know his name. Still, what Williams did at Memphis was remarkable.

After a modest freshman season in which he gained 684 rushing yards and five touchdowns, Williams exploded for 1,430 rushing yards and ten TDs as a sophomore. He also added a career-high 384 receiving yards and three touchdown catches and won the first of three Conference USA Player of the Year Awards.

As a junior, Williams led the nation with 22 touchdown runs, 23 touchdowns from scrimmage, and 2,158 total yards from scrimmage. Williams ran for 1,948 yards on 313 carries (6.2 yards per attempt), and scored 22 times on the ground, and added 210 receiving yards.

The following season, Williams led the nation in rushing with 1,964 yards and scored 18 rushing touchdowns, both of which pushed his C-USA career records to 6,026 rushing yards and 55 TDs. That figure now ranks No. 5 on the Division I all-time list. Williams also became only the third player in NCAA Division I history to run for more than 1,900 yards twice in a season.

Next: Cedric Benson