From Heisman Trophy winners to All-Americans, we rank the 30 best college running backs to ever play the game.
Some say 2015 is the Year of the Running Back. With superstars like Leonard Fournette, Nick Chubb, Ezekiel Elliott, Paul Perkins and Derrick Henry racking up big yardage through the first few weeks of the season, it very well could be. Some could even end rank among the best running backs of all-time like the players on this list.
Throughout college football history, most of the best teams of all-time had run-first philosophies. Some chose to emphasize the running game because it was safer than passing. Others were defensive-oriented and wanted to run the clock. Some had the luxury of handing the football to an elite running back who could overcome poor blocking and use his elite physical ability to break tackles and/or outrun 11 other players en route to the end zone.
This is a list of those players: The 30 best running backs in college football history.
We focused on the highest level: Division I, Division I-A (after the split) and FBS, and included only players that have exhausted their eligibility (so Fournette and Chubb aren’t eligible…yet). There are Heisman Trophy winners, All-Americans, and record holders, as well as a few players you may have overlooked. Before getting to the 30 best running backs of all-time, here’s the players who just missed the cut.
Next: Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention
Understandably, cutting the list of the greatest running backs in college football history to just 30 names was difficult, and it would be impossible to move forward without mentioning many extraordinary running backs who made huge impacts on their teams, schools, and in some cases, the game itself.
Honorable Mention (in Alphabetical Order):
- Damien Anderson, Northwestern 4,485 rushing yards, 38 TD
- Montee Ball, Wisconsin, 5,140 rushing yards, 77 TD
- Jay Berwanger, Chicago, 1935 Heisman Trophy
- Doc Blanchard, Army, 1,670 rushing yards, 30 TD, 1945 Heisman Trophy
- Billy Cannon, LSU, 1,876 rushing yards, 19 TD, 1959 Heisman Trophy
- Avon Cobourne, West Virginia, 5,039 rushing yards, 43 TD
- Anthony Davis, USC, 3,724 rushing yards, 44 TD
- Ernie Davis, Syracuse, 2,386 rushing yards, 20 TD, 1961 Heisman Trophy
- Glen Davis, Army, 2,309 rushing yards, 36 TD, 1946 Heisman Trophy
- Damion Fletcher, Southern Miss, 5,302 rushing yards, 44 TD
- Clint Frank, Yale, 1937 Heisman Trophy
- Mike Garrett, USC, 1965 Heisman Trophy
- Eddie George, Ohio State, 3,768 rushing yards, 44 TD, 1995 Heisman Trophy
- Tom Harmon, Michigan, 1940 Heisman Trophy
- Michael Hart, Michigan, 5,040 rushing yards, 41 TD
- Mark Ingram, Alabama, 3,261 rushing yards, 42 TD, 2009 Heisman Trophy
- Terry Miller, Oklahoma State, 4,754 rushing yards, 49 TD
- Ray Rice, Rutgers, 4,926 rushing yards, 49 TD
- Rashaan Salaam, Colorado, 3,057 rushing yards, 33 TD, 1994 Heisman Trophy
- Frank Sinkwich, Georgia, 1942 Heisman Trophy
- Ken Simonton, Oregon State, 5,044 rushing yards, 59 TD
- Kevin Smith, UCF, 4,679 rushing yards, 45 TD
- Darren Sproles, Kansas State, 4,979 rushing yards, 45 TD
- Thurman Thomas, Oklahoma State, 4,847 rushing yards, 43 TD
- Anthony Thompson, Indiana, 5,299 rushing yards, 67 TD
- Doak Walker, SMU, 1948 Heisman Trophy
- Lorenzo White, Michigan State, 4,887 rushing yards, 43 TD
- Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, Auburn, 3,831 rushing yards, 45 TD
If that’s the list of players who didn’t make the cut, you can imagine the success of those that did. Ranking them 30-1 was even harder, and with such an exercise, there is sure to be controversy, so leave your thoughts in the comments section.
So, without further ado, we count down the 30 best running backs of all-time in college football.
Note: Stats referenced come from sports-reference.com. In some cases, bowl game statistics not recognized by the NCAA are included.
Next: No. 30 Running Back of All-Time
Nov 22, 2014; Iowa City, IA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) flips the football to the official after scoring against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Career Statistics
- Games: 45
- Carries: 631
- Rushing Yards: 4,915
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 109.2
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,228.8
- Rushing Touchdowns: 45
- Yards Per Carry: 7.8
- Receptions: 22
- Receiving Yards: 228
- Receiving Touchdowns: 4
- Notable: All-American, Doak Walker Award, Jim Brown Trophy, 2014
Had he not spent two seasons backing up the talented duo of Montee Ball (who ran for 5,140 career rushing yards) and James White (4,015), had he played his full four years of eligibility, or had a groin injury not limited him to three games as a true freshman in 2011 and resulted in a medical redshirt, Melvin Gordon III would likely be remembered as one of the very best running backs in NCAA Division I history.
As it stands, Gordon is one of the 30 greatest running backs in college football history because his junior season was arguably the second best in the history of the game. With 2,587 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns in 2014, Gordon not only led the nation, but he finished second on the single-season rushing list to Barry Sanders’ (2,628 rushing yards) unbelievable 1988 campaign, and fifth all-time for touchdown runs in a single year. Gordon actually out-paced Sanders to 2,000 yards, needing just 241 carries to do it, making him the fastest of the 23 players in college football history to run for more than 2,000 yards in a season.
Gordon also led the nation with 2,740 total yards from scrimmage and 32 total touchdowns thanks to 153 receiving yards and three TD catches. He finished as the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting and earned the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back.
During the season, Gordon broke the NCAA single-game rushing record with 408 yards against Nebraska and needed only three quarters to do it. Unfortunately, that record – which had not been broken since LaDainian Tomlinson set it in 1999 – was broken the very next week by Oklahoma freshman Samaje Perine.
But Gordon was no one-year wonder. He gained 1,609 rushing yards and scored 12 TDs as a sophomore while splitting carries with White and gained 621 yards and scored three times on only 62 carries as a redshirt freshman – an incredible 10.0 yards per carry – and added 65 receiving yards and a TD among two catches.
Next: Garrett Wolfe
Career Statistics
- Games: 33
- Carries: 807
- Rushing Yards: 5,164
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 156.5
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,721.3
- Rushing Touchdowns: 52
- Yards Per Carry: 6.4
- Receptions: 58
- Receiving Yards: 588
- Receiving Touchdowns: 5
- Notable: MAC Offensive Player of the Year, 2006
One of the few players on this list to receive no playing time as a freshman (he redshirted in 2002 and sat out the 2003 season for academic reasons), Garrett Wolfe earned his first career carry at Northern Illinois as a sophomore in 2004. Listed at just 5-foot-7 and 185 pounds, few expected Wolfe to come close to replicating the production of the man he replaced in the starting lineup for the Huskies: Michael Turner, whose 4,941 career rushing yards ranked No. 15 on the all-time list at the end of his career.
However, Wolfe needed just three years (and remarkably, only 33 games) to pass Turner to become NIU’s all-time leader. His 5,164 career rushing yards currently rank No. 13 all-time, and Wolfe ranks second among players behind Herschel Walker among those that played only three seasons.
In 11 games as a sophomore, Wolfe gained 1,656 rushing yards and scored 18 touchdowns on 256 carries (6.5 yards per attempt) and caught 10 passes out of the backfield for 117 yards and three more scores. Injuries limited Wolfe to just nine games as a sophomore, yet he still ran for 1,580 yards and 16 touchdowns and added 222 receiving yards and a TD catch as well.
Finally able to play a full season as a senior in 2006, Wolfe led the nation with 1,928 rushing yards and 2,177 yards from scrimmage. He scored 18 touchdowns on the ground and was on the receiving end of another TD pass, and earned MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Next: Travis Prentice
Career Statistics
- Games: 44
- Carries: 1,138
- Rushing Yards: 5,596
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 127.2
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,399
- Rushing Touchdowns: 73
- Yards Per Carry: 4.9
- Receptions: 54
- Receiving Yards: 522
- Receiving Touchdowns: 5
- Notable: MAC Offensive Player of the Year, 1999
One of the more under-the-radar players on our list because he played at Miami University in the Mid-American Conference, running back Travis Prentice finished his prolific career with seven NCAA records including rushing touchdowns (73), total touchdowns (78), points (468), games scoring, at least, one touchdown (35), games scoring multiple touchdowns (25), consecutive carries without a fumble (862), and consecutive carries without a fumble in one season (365).
Prentice also finished fifth on the NCAA Division I career rushing list with 5,596 yards – which currently ranks sixth all-time. Had he played more as a freshman, Prentice would have had a shot at the all-time record. Instead, he ran for 601 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first season in Oxford. In 1997 as a sophomore, Prentice led the nation in carries for the first of three consecutive seasons, and gained 1,549 yards and scored 25 touchdowns – which led the nation – on 296 attempts.
As a junior, Prentice was at his best with 1,787 rushing yards on 365 carries, and 19 rushing touchdowns. He added his first career receiving touchdown as well. Prentice was used even more as a receiver in 1999, grabbing 19 passes for 270 yards and four scores in addition to 1,659 rushing yards and 17 TDs on 354 carries.
Next: Eric Dickerson
Career Statistics
- Games: 44
- Carries: 790
- Rushing Yards: 4,450
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 101.1
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,112.5
- Rushing Touchdowns: 47
- Yards Per Carry: 5.6
- Receptions: 19
- Receiving Yards: 190
- Receiving Touchdowns: 1
- Notable: All-American 1982
One of the most highly recruited players in the nation, Eric Dickerson made waves when he decided to sign with SMU instead of Texas A&M after committing to the Aggies early in his high school senior season. Dickerson shared playing time early in his career with the Mustangs and gained 477 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 115 carries as a freshman in 1979. The following season, Dickerson emerged as the team’s primary ball carrier, and he ran for 928 yards and scored five touchdowns, and caught his first and only career TD pass.
As a junior in 1981, Dickerson became one of the best running backs in college football in a second-team All-American season where he piled up 1,428 rushing yards and scored 19 touchdowns. Dickerson was named a consensus All-American as a senior after gaining 1,617 yards on the ground on only 232 carries (7.0 yards per carry) and scoring 17 TDs.
That performance made Dickerson SMU’s all-time leading rusher (he also became the all-time leader in Southwest Conference history), and his 80 career touchdowns tied the great Doak Walker for the most in school history. He finished third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy behind legendary stars Herschel Walker and John Elway and was selected second overall in the 1983 NFL Draft.
Next: Derrick Henry
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) carries the ball past Clemson Tigers safety Jayron Kearse (1) on a 50-yard touchdown run during the first quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Career Statistics
- Games: 39
- Carries: 602
- Rushing Yards: 3,591
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 92.1
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,197
- Rushing Touchdowns: 42
- Yards Per Carry: 6.0
- Receptions: 17
- Receiving Yards: 285
- Receiving Touchdowns: 3
- Notable: Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Consensus All-American, 2015
Derrick Henry’s 2015 season was one of the greatest ever for a college football running back, and it helped him to become the most highly decorated player in Alabama football history. It was also enough to push him onto our list of the top 30 college running backs of all-time.
Henry led the nation with 2,219 rushing yards (which ranks No. 5 on the all-time FBS list for a single season) and 28 touchdowns (No. 8 all-time) on an FBS-high 395 carries in 2015. He also averaged 147.9 yards per game in 2015.
Though his raw numbers are inflated by having played in 15 games because of the Crimson Tide’s SEC Championship Game victory and participation in both the College Football Playoff semifinal and championship game, he averaged more rushing yards per season (1,197) than all-time greats like Eric Dickerson (1,112.5), Reggie Bush (1,056.3), Earl Campbell (1,110.8), and Barry Sanders (1,185.3).
Henry’s 2015 totals also point to his dependability. At 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds, Henry possessed a unique blend of power and speed that made him the biggest running back ever to win the Heisman Trophy, and one of the biggest players at any position to win college football’s top individual honor. In an era dominated by quarterbacks, Henry was also the first running back to win the Heisman since Alabama’s Mark Ingram in 2009.
In addition to the Heisman, in which Henry faced stiff competition from Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Florida native also won the Doak Walker Award, the Maxwell Award, was named Walter Camp Player of the Year and earned Consensus All-American recognition.
Though he started only one year at Alabama, Henry led the Crimson Tide in rushing in 2014 with 990 yards. He gained just 382 rushing yards as a little-used true freshman in 2013, but still pushed his career totals to 3,591 rushing yards – surpassing Shaun Alexander for the most in school history – and 42 TDs – which tied Ingram for the Alabama record.
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
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
Career Statistics
- Games: 49
- Carries: 1,112
- Rushing Yards: 5,540
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 113.1
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,385
- Rushing Touchdowns: 64
- Yards Per Carry: 5.0
- Receptions: 69
- Receiving Yards: 621
- Receiving Touchdowns: 3
- Notable: Doak Walker Award, 2004
One of the most decorated running backs in Texas high school history, and a star baseball player that spent time in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization after being drafted in the 12th round of the 2001 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Cedric Benson signed with Texas as one of the nation’s most highly sought-after recruits.
Benson quickly emerged as the starting running back for the Longhorns and ran for 1,053 yards and 12 touchdowns as a true freshman. He also caught 17 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown. As a sophomore, Benson carried the ball 305 times for 1,293 yards (4.2 yards per attempt) and scored 12 touchdowns, and followed with 1,360 rushing yards and a nation-leading 21 touchdowns on 258 carries (5.3 yards per carry) as a junior. Benson also caught a touchdown pass, to push his total to 22 touchdowns from scrimmage, which also led the country.
Benson’s senior season was his most successful, both personally and for the Longhorns, who finished 11-1 with a Rose Bowl victory over Michigan. On a workman-like 326 carries, Benson gained 1,834 yards – a career-high 5.6 yards per carry – scored 19 touchdowns, and won the Doak Walker Award. He finished second on the school’s all-time rushing list and became the first Texas player to run for more than 1,000 yards in four separate seasons – making him one of the first eight players in NCAA history to do so.
Next: LaMichael James
Career Statistics
- Games: 37
- Carries: 771
- Rushing Yards: 5,082
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 137.4
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,694
- Rushing Touchdowns: 53
- Yards Per Carry: 6.6
- Receptions: 51
- Receiving Yards: 586
- Receiving Touchdowns: 4
- Notable: Doak Walker Award, All-American, 2010
Overlooked at times because of the uptempo, no-huddle offense he played in under Oregon head coach Chip Kelly, and because he played in an era that has awarded only two running backs with the Heisman Trophy in 14 seasons, LaMichael James posted one of the most impressive three-year college careers ever for a running back. In fact, James is one of only three players in NCAA Division I history to run for more than 5,000 career yards in just three years, joining Garrett Wolfe and Herschel Walker.
Expected to back up LeGarrette Blount as a freshman, James was thrown into the starting role when Blount was suspended early in the 2009 season and responded by rushing for 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns on 230 carries (a BCS-leading 6.7 yards per carry). James was even better as a sophomore and led the nation with 1,731 rushing yards, 1,939 yards from scrimmage, and 24 total touchdowns (21 rushing, three receiving) as a sophomore in 2010, and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, won the Doak Walker Award and was named an All-American. Oregon went undefeated in the regular season and lost to Auburn in the BCS National Championship Game.
As a junior, James eclipsed 2,000 total yards for the first time with 1,805 rushing yards and 210 receiving yards. He scored 18 touchdowns on the ground, was on the receiving end on one TD pass, and also scored on a punt return. James declared for the NFL Draft and finished his career as the all-time leader in Oregon history with 5,082 rushing yards.
Next: Marshall Faulk
Career Statistics
- Games: 35
- Carries: 766
- Rushing Yards: 4,589
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 131.1
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,539.7
- Rushing Touchdowns: 57
- Yards Per Carry: 6.0
- Receptions: 82
- Receiving Yards: 973
- Receiving Touchdowns: 5
- Notable: All-American 1992-93
A Louisiana native, Marshall Faulk ended up at San Diego State because many of the schools recruiting him closer to home pursued him as a defensive back instead of a running back. As the story goes, the Aztecs were one of the few Division I schools that said they would give Faulk an opportunity to compete for playing time at running back as a freshman and were handsomely rewarded with one of the most impressive careers in college football history.
Faulk immediately made his presence known with 1,429 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on just 201 attempts as a true freshman (7.1 yards per carry), including a then-NCAA record 386 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in a single game against Pacific. Always a competent receiver out of the backfield, Faulk caught 17 passes for 201 yards and two TDs, which pushed him to 23 total touchdowns, which led the nation.
As a sophomore, Faulk led the nation in rushing with 1,630 yards and he scored 15 touchdowns on the ground. The performance earned him All-American status, and Faulk finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy behind Miami quarterback Gino Torretta.
As a junior, Faulk was a workhorse and gained 1,530 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 300 carries and added 644 receiving yards and three TDs on 47 receptions. The 367 plays, 2,174 total yards, and 24 touchdowns from scrimmage all led the nation. Faulk was named an All-American for the second time and finished fourth in the Heisman voting before leaving school early to enter the NFL Draft.
Next: Emmitt Smith
Career Statistics
- Games: 31
- Carries: 700
- Rushing Yards: 3,928
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 126.7
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,309.3
- Rushing Touchdowns: 36
- Yards Per Carry: 5.6
- Receptions: 56
- Receiving Yards: 463
- Receiving Touchdowns: 1
- Notable: All-American, 1989
Emmitt Smith was an immediate success at the University of Florida. Smith the starting job at tailback as a true freshman and in his third collegiate game broke the school’s single-game rushing record with 224 yards in an upset victory over Alabama.
Smith ran for 1,341 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman, won honors as SEC and National Freshman of the Year honors and placed him in the top ten of the Heisman Trophy voting. Due to a knee injury, Smith was limited to only nine games as a sophomore in 1988, though he still ran for 988 yards and scored nine touchdowns.
As a junior, Smith exploded for a school-record 1,599 rushing yards and scored 14 touchdowns to earn All-American honors. Through three years, Smith gained 3,928 career rushing yards and 36 TDs, both of which were the best in school history. In all, Smith set 36 career records at Florida before he decided to forego his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.
Of course, Smith went on to have an, even more, successful career in the NFL – perhaps the most successful of all-time. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro, three-time Super Bowl Champion, and finished with the NFL career records in rushing yards (18,355), rushing touchdowns (164), and 100-yard rushing games (78) before being selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Next: Ed Marinaro
Career Statistics
- Games: 27
- Carries: 918
- Rushing Yards: 4,715
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 174.6
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,571.7
- Rushing Touchdowns: 50
- Yards Per Carry: 5.1
- Receptions: 23
- Receiving Yards: 232
- Receiving Touchdowns: 2
- Notable: Maxwell Award Winner, 1971; All-American, 1971
Simply put, Ed Marinaro is the greatest college football running back that most everyday college football fans have never heard of.
In three seasons at Cornell, Marinaro set the NCAA Division I rushing record with 4,715 yards – and was actually the first player to ever run for more than 4,000 yards over the course of a career. Marino’s rushing record stood for four seasons until Archie Griffin broke it after four seasons at Ohio State. More than 40 years after he graduated, Marinaro still ranks No. 35 on the FBS all-time rushing list (he played at Cornell before the Big Red and the rest of the Ivy League moved to Division 1-AA).
Marinaro’s production was incredible for several reasons. First, freshmen were not eligible to play varsity football in 1968 when he enrolled. Also, he never played more than nine games in any one season due to a long-standing tradition of Ivy League football programs playing fewer games than the rest of the nation in the regular season, and because Ivy League teams do not participate in postseason games.
As a sophomore in 1969, Marinaro ran for 1,409 yards and 14 touchdowns and added 1,425 yards and 12 TDs on the ground the following season (plus two touchdown receptions). As a senior, Marinaro led the nation with 356 rushing attempts and 1,881 rushing yards (209 yards per game). He also scored 24 touchdowns. That performance earned Marinaro All-American honors and he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Auburn quarterback Pat Sullivan.
After playing six seasons in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks, Marinaro began an acting career.
Next: Reggie Bush
Career Statistics
- Games: 39
- Carries: 433
- Rushing Yards: 3,169
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 81.3
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,056.3
- Rushing Touchdowns: 25
- Yards Per Carry: 7.3
- Receptions: 95
- Receiving Yards: 1,301
- Receiving Touchdowns: 13
- Notable:
Heisman Trophy Winner, 2005; All-American 2004, 2005; Doak Walker Award, 2005; Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, 2005
Many of the players on our list of the greatest college football running backs of all-time were bruising ball carriers that took handoff after handoff and plunged into the offensive line. Reggie Bush, because of his abilities as both a runner and as a receiver, in addition to his danger as a return man, was a completely different kind of back.
As a freshman, Bush gained 521 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns and added 314 receiving yards and four TDs on 15 receptions (20.9 yards per catch), and scored on a kickoff return. Bush exploded onto the national scene as an all-purpose home run threat as a junior with 908 rushing yards and six touchdowns as well as 509 receiving yards and seven TD catches, two punt returns for a touchdown and even a 52-yard TD pass. USC won the BCS National Championship after winning the AP National Title the season before.
Then, Bush’s 2005 Heisman winning season was one of the most impressive ever. He gained 1,740 rushing yards on the ground on just 200 carries – an eye-popping average of 8.7 yards per attempt – and scored 16 rushing touchdowns, which ranked second nationally. Bush also caught 37 passes for 478 yards and two more scores and took one of the 18 punts he returned to the house.
Bush’s 2,218 yards from scrimmage led the nation and made him the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, Bush’s trophy was later vacated because of improper benefits he received as a student-athlete.
Next: LaDainian Tomlinson
Career Statistics
- Games: 45
- Carries: 943
- Rushing Yards: 5,387
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 119.7
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,346.8
- Rushing Touchdowns: 56
- Yards Per Carry: 5.7
- Receptions: 43
- Receiving Yards: 267
- Receiving Touchdowns: 0
- Notable: Doak Walker Award, All-American, 2000
Because his career got off to a relatively slow start, and because TCU was a member of the WAC while he was on campus, LaDainian Tomlinson flew under the radar on the national stage until his junior season. The future Hall of Famer gained 538 rushing yards as a freshman in 1997 and followed with 717 yards as a sophomore, and scored a combined 14 touchdowns through his first two seasons.
However, during his junior season, Tomlinson broke the single-game rushing record with 406 yards against UTEP. The performance helped him to a nation-leading 1.975 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. The following season, Tomlinson once again led the nation in rushing with 2,158 yards and scored 22 TDs. At that point, only Barry Sanders (1988) and Marcus Allen (1981) had ever rushed for more yards in a single-season.
Interesting enough because he became one of the best receiving running backs in NFL history, Tomlinson did not catch a single touchdown pass in four seasons at TCU. Across four seasons in Fort Worth, Tomlinson only had 43 career receptions for 267 yards. Perhaps he was simply too busy carrying the football nearly every play. With 5,287 career rushing yards, Tomlinson finished his career at No. 7 on the all-time FBS career rushing list and currently ranks ninth all-time.
Next: Adrian Peterson
Career Statistics
- Games: 31
- Carries: 748
- Rushing Yards: 4,041
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 130.4
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,347
- Rushing Touchdowns: 41
- Yards Per Carry: 5.4
- Receptions: 24
- Receiving Yards: 198
- Receiving Touchdowns: 1
- Notable: All-American 2004
One of the best college football running backs never to win the Heisman Trophy, Adrian Peterson came closer to taking home the hardware as a true freshman than any player before him, finishing second to USC quarterback Matt Leinart.
Peterson’s freshman season at Oklahoma was simply incredible. He led the nation in rushing attempts with 339 and ran for 1,925 yards (which is still an Oklahoma single-season school record and ranks No. 34 on the all-time FBS single-season list) and 15 touchdowns. Had Peterson not had to compete with his own quarterback, Jason White, who won the award the previous year and finished third in the voting in 2004, Peterson may have been able to overtake Leinart and become the first freshman to win the Heisman.
Unfortunately, Peterson has the odd distinction of declining production over the course of his collegiate career. As the result of foot and ankle injuries, Peterson played in only 11 games as a sophomore and gained 1,104 rushing yards and 14 TDs that season. As a junior in 2006, a broken collarbone limited Peterson to just seven games, though he still cracked the 1,000-yard mark with 1,012 yards and scored 12 touchdowns on the ground and added another with a TD reception.
Had he been able to stay healthy, Peterson would probably have gone down in history as one of the top ten running backs in college football history. As it stands, earns the No. 16 spot on our list, just ahead of fellow Sooner, Billy Sims.
Next: Billy Sims
Career Statistics
- Games: 56
- Carries: 544
- Rushing Yards: 3,820
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 68.2
- Rushing Touchdowns: 48
- Yards Per Carry: 7.0
- Receptions: 2
- Receiving Yards: 77
- Receiving Touchdowns: 0
- Notable: Heisman Trophy, 1978
Similar to Adrian Peterson a quarter of a century later, had injuries not cut into Oklahoma running back Billy Sims’ career, he might have become one of the top ten or top five greatest running backs in college football history. However, in his first three years on campus, Sims gained a total of 552 rushing yards and six touchdowns. However, after his historic junior and senior seasons, Sims left Oklahoma as the Sooners’ all-time leading rusher.
Sims was granted a medical redshirt after the 1975 season, in which he gained just 95 yards on 15 attempts. His ankle injuries persisted the following year as well, and Sims only carried the football three times for the Sooners and gained 44 yards.
Sims’ junior season was his best, and after rushing for 1,762 yards and led the nation with 20 touchdowns on only 231 carries (7.6 yards per attempt), Sims became the ninth player in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy as a junior.
In his fifth year of eligibility, Sims gained 1,506 rushing yards on 228 carries (6.7) and set a new personal best with 22 TDs, which led the country for the second consecutive season. He nearly won the award again in 1979 but was the runner-up to USC running back Charles White, who will make an appearance later on this list.
Next: Earl Campbell
Career Statistics
- Games: 40
- Carries: 765
- Rushing Yards: 4,443
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 111.1
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,110.8
- Rushing Touchdowns: 40
- Yards Per Carry: 5.8
- Receptions: 6
- Receiving Yards: 128
- Receiving Touchdowns: 1
- Notable: Heisman Trophy Winner, 1977; All-American, 1977
After signing with Texas one of the most celebrated recruits in the nation, Earl Campbell made an immediate impact for the Longhorns as a freshman in 1974 with 928 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
As a sophomore, Campbell was even better and cracked the 1,000-yard mark for the first time with 1,118 yards and scored 13 touchdowns on the ground. A torn hamstring in the spring of 1976 limited the “Tyler Rose” to 653 yards and three TDs in seven games, but Campbell emerged as the nation’s best player the following year as a senior.
In 1977, Campbell led the nation in rushing yards (1,744) and rushing touchdowns (18) and won the Heisman Trophy. His 19 total touchdowns and 1,855 yards from scrimmage were also the best in the country, and Campbell gained an impressive 6.5 yards per carry on 267 rushing attempts.
Campbell is one of just three players in the history of the game to win a Heisman Trophy, be selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft, and be elected to both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. O.J. Simpson and Paul Hornung are the others.
Next: Bo Jackson
Career Statistics
- Games: 39
- Carries: 650
- Rushing Yards: 4,303
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 110.3
- Yards Per Season: 1,075.8
- Rushing Touchdowns: 43
- Yards Per Carry: 6.6
- Receptions: 26
- Receiving Yards: 272
- Receiving Touchdowns: 2
- Notable: All-American 1983, 1985; SEC Player of the Year, Walter Camp Award, Heisman Trophy Winner, 1985
One of the greatest pure athletes of all-time, Bo Jackson was obviously one of the best running backs in college football history.
An immediate impact player at Auburn, Jackson gained 123 yards and two touchdowns on just ten carries in his first career game and finished his freshman season with 829 yards and nine TDs on 127 carries. The biggest carry of Jackson’s freshman year was the iconic “Bo Over the Top” play that helped the Tigers beat Alabama 23-22 in the Iron Bowl.
As a sophomore, Jackson cracked the 1,000-yard mark with 1,213 yards on 158 carries (7.7 yards per attempt) and scored 12 times on the ground and added two touchdown receptions. Auburn finished the season 11-1, won the SEC and the Sugar Bowl, and Jackson earned All-American honors.
Bo missed a large part of his junior season because of a shoulder injury and was held to 475 yards and five touchdowns on just 87 carries. However, Jackson was back to full strength for his senior campaign, when he emerged as the nation’s best player and won the Heisman Trophy. In 1985, Bo ran for 1,786 yards and 17 touchdowns to earn All-American honors for the second time. Jackson’s 6.6 yards per carry over four years set an SEC record.
Had he not missed half the 1984 season, Jackson ranks much higher on this list. And, if not for a hip injury he suffered while playing for the Los Angeles Raiders, which cut his NFL career short, Bo may have gone down in history as the greatest athlete of all-time. Of course, Jackson is still in that discussion – he’s the only player ever to make it to a Pro Bowl and Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Next: Darren McFadden
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
Career Statistics
- Games: 46
- Carries: 927
- Rushing Yards: 5,091
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 110.7
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,272.8
- Rushing Touchdowns: 31
- Yards Per Carry: 5.5
- Receptions: 43
- Receiving Yards: 389
- Receiving Touchdowns: 2
- Notable: All-American, Heisman Trophy Winner, 1980
The greatest player in South Carolina football history, running back George Rogers is one of the best to play college football. A big 6-foot-2 and 228-pound ball carrier, Rogers gained 623 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns as a true freshman in 1977 and added 1,006 rushing yards and scored six TDs as a sophomore.
Rogers exploded onto the national scene as a junior when he ran for 1.681 yards on 311 attempts (5.4 yards per carry) and scored eight rushing touchdowns. He added 140 receiving yards and a score on 14 catches and finished seventh in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. Rogers was even better in 1980 and won the award after leading the nation with 1,781 rushing yards on 297 carries (6.0 yards per carry) and scored 14 times on the ground.
After his college career was over, Rogers was selected first overall in the 1981 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and was an immediate success, earning Pro Bowl honors in both 1981 – when he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the league in rushing – and 1982. A statue of Rogers now stands outside Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
Next: Charles White
Career Statistics
- Games: 49
- Carries: 1,147
- Rushing Yards: 6,245
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 127.4
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,561.3
- Rushing Touchdowns: 49
- Yards Per Carry: 5.4
- Receptions: 59
- Receiving Yards: 541
- Receiving Touchdowns: 4
- Notable: All-American 1978-79, Pac-10 Player of the Year, 1978-79, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Heisman Trophy Winner, 1979
As a true freshman in 1976, White gained a school freshman record 858 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on 156 carries. He also caught six passes for 65 yards and a TD. The next season, White nearly doubled his production with 1,478 yards on 285 carries and scored seven touchdowns on the ground. He added 138 receiving yards and two more scores as a receiver out of the backfield.
In 1978, White was the biggest offensive weapon for the Trojans, who went 12-1 and won a national championship. White led the nation with 1,859 rushing yards on 374 carries and scored 13 rushing TDs. Factoring in 193 receiving yards, White also led the nation in total offense with 2,052 yards. He caught 22 passes and scored another TD.
As a senior, White became the third USC player to win a Heisman Trophy. Despite missing one full game due to injury, White still led the nation with an official 1,803 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Unofficially (once bowl game statistics were added), White had 2,050 rushing yards on 332 carries (6.2 yards per attempt) and scored 19 TDs. Following the season, White finished his career as the second most prolific ball carrier in NCAA history with 6,245 yards.
White was extraordinary, not only because of his production on the field but because he was able to keep his spot atop the depth chart while the No. 9 greatest running back in college football history patiently waited for White to graduate.
Next: Marcus Allen
Career Statistics
- Games: 48
- Carries: 932
- Rushing Yards: 4,810
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 100.2
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,202.5
- Rushing Touchdowns: 45
- Yards Per Carry: 5.2
- Receptions: 86
- Receiving Yards: 801
- Receiving Touchdowns: 2
- Notable: Heisman Trophy Winner, Maxwell Award Winner, Walter Camp Award, All-American, 1981
Had he not spent the first two years of his collegiate career playing behind another of the greatest running backs in college football history, Marcus Allen may have been considered the best of all-time. In 1981, Allen won the Heisman Trophy and became the first college player ever to run for more than 2,000 yards in a season.
Allen’s overall production is amazing given that he only earned 31 carries as a freshman and 114 as a sophomore. Those first two years on campus, Allen combined to rush for 820 yards and nine touchdowns in 25 games as a backup. He was a quality receiver as a sophomore and grabbed 22 passes for 314 yards.
As a junior, Allen carried the football 354 times (more than anyone else in the nation) and gained 1,563 and scored 14 touchdowns and also had a team-high 30 receptions for 231 yards and another TD. Allen also led the Trojans in receptions as a senior with 34 catches and gained 256 yards and a touchdown.
In 1981, Allen put together what at that time was arguably the best season ever for a college player. He not only led the nation in carries (433), rushing yards (2,427), rushing touchdowns (22) and total touchdowns (23), he set 14 NCAA records. No one in history had run for as many yards in one season, and no one else had rushed for a higher per-game average (212.9).
Allen eclipsed the 200-yard mark eight times in 1981, including five in a row, to bring his career total to 11 200-yard games – all of which were NCAA records at the time.
Next: Mike Rozier
Career Statistics
- Games: 35
- Carries: 668
- Rushing Yards: 4,780
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 136.6
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1.593.3
- Rushing Touchdowns: 49
- Yards Per Carry: 7.2
- Receptions: 20
- Receiving Yards: 216
- Receiving Touchdowns: 2
- Notable: Heisman Trophy Winner, 1983; All-American 1982-83; Maxwell Award, 1983; Walter Camp Player of the Year, 1983
After being lightly recruited in high school, Mike Rozier came to Nebraska as a sophomore in 1981 following a short stint at Coffeyville Junior College. He ran for 943 yards and five touchdowns that season – including a 93-yard score against Kansas State – while splitting carries with Roger Craig. In 1982, Rozier burst onto the national scene with a school-record 1,689 yards and 15 touchdowns, while averaging 7.0 yards per attempt, as the primary ball carrier for the Cornhuskers. The performance earned him a spot on the All-American team and helped Nebraska go 12-1 and finish third in the AP Poll.
In 1983, Nebraska had one of the greatest seasons of any team in the history of college football, but because Huskers’ head coach Tom Osborne decided to go for a two-point conversion trailing 31-30 to Miami in the Orange Bowl, and missed, Nebraska came up one point shy of a national championship. Rozier wasn’t on the field for that doomed play-call, having suffered an ankle injury earlier in the game.
However, Rozier posted what was at that point the second greatest season ever by a running back with a staggering 2,148 yards, and he set an NCAA Division I record with 29 touchdowns. He also averaged an eye-popping 7.8 yards per carry.
Next: Barry Sanders
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
Career Statistics
- Games: 46
- Carries: 924
- Rushing Yards: 5,589
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 121.5
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,397.3
- Rushing Touchdowns: 26
- Yards Per Carry: 6.0
- Receptions: 30
- Receiving Yards: 350
- Receiving Touchdowns: 1
- Notable: Heisman Trophy Winner 1974, 1975; All-American 1974-75; Walter Camp Award 1974-75; Maxwell Award 1975
Only one player in college football history has won the Heisman Trophy twice, and that player was Archie Griffin, who did it in 1974 and 1975.
Griffin was a standout running back who had three seasons of 1,450 rushing yards or greater. As a freshman in 1972, Griffin ran for 867 yards and had three scores, but became the primary ball carrier for Ohio State and head coach Woody Hayes as a sophomore. That year, Griffin had 1,577 rushing yards and scored seven times on the ground, and caught the only touchdown pass of his career.
The best season Griffin had with they Buckeyes was his junior Heisman-winning campaign in 1974. Griffin led the nation with 1,695 rushing yards and 1,772 total yards from scrimmage. In an era of three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust, he averaged 6.6 yards per carry and scored 12 touchdowns.
Interestingly enough, Griffin’s senior season was probably the third best season of his career. Griffin carried the football 262 times for 1,450 yards and four touchdowns in 1975, which was the least productive performance since his freshman season. However, Griffin led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 season, the only loss coming in the Rose Bowl against UCLA, which cost the team a national title.
Next: O.J. Simpson
Dec 30, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the 1968 Heisman Trophy of Southern California Trojans tailback O.J. Simpson (not pictured) at Heritage Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Career Statistics
- Games: 22
- Carries: 674
- Rushing Yards: 3,423
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 155.6
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,711.5
- Rushing Touchdowns: 36
- Yards Per Carry: 5.1
- Receptions: 36
- Receiving Yards: 320
- Receiving Touchdowns: 0
- Notable: Heisman Trophy Winner, 1968; All-American, 1967-68; Walter Camp Player of the Year, 1967-68; Maxwell Award, 1968
Had he played more than just two seasons at USC, O.J. Simpson may have gone down in history as the greatest college running back of all-time. With only three years to play because freshmen were ineligible, Simpson starred as a junior college player before transferring to USC prior to the 1967 season.
Simpson immediately became one of the best players in college football and led the nation with 1,543 rushing yards, 291 carries, and 301 plays from scrimmage. He scored 13 touchdowns, was named an All-American and won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, and helped the Trojans win the national championship.
As a senior, Simpson again led the nation in carries, rushing yards and total plays from scrimmage, but added rushing touchdowns, total yards from scrimmage and total touchdowns. He carried the football an astounding 383 times for 1,880 yards and 23 scored and added 211 receiving yards on 26 carries. The performance earned Simpson the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and his second All-American and Walter Camp honors.
Next: Ricky Williams
Career Statistics
- Games: 46
- Carries: 1,011
- Rushing Yards: 6,279
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 136.5
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,569.8
- Rushing Touchdowns: 72
- Yards Per Carry: 6.2
- Receptions: 85
- Receiving Touchdowns: 927
- Notable: Heisman Trophy Winner, 1998, Doak Walker Award 1997, 1998, All-American 1997, 1998, Big 12 Player of the Year 1997, 1998
One of the most productive running backs in college football history, Ricky Williams got better and better each season during his historic career. After rushing for 990 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman in 1995, Williams tallied 1,272 yards and 12 TDs as a sophomore. He then emerged as one of the nation’s best players as a junior and led the nation with both 1,893 rushing yards and 25 scores.
With 2,124 rushing yards as a senior in 1998, Williams posted one of the top ten performances in the history of college football at the time. That mark still ranks No. 11 on the all-time single-season list. His 27 rushing touchdowns led the nation and helped Williams win the Heisman Trophy.
Often underrated is Williams’ ability as a receiver out of the backfield. In four seasons with the Longhorns, Williams had 927 receiving yards on 85 receptions and scored three TDs. He never had fewer than 150 receiving yards in a single season.
Also, when his eligibility ran out after the 1998 season, Williams ranked second on the all-time Division I rushing list – behind only the No. 3 player on our list: Tony Dorsett.
Next: Tony Dorsett
Career Statistics
- Games: 47
- Carries: 1,163
- Rushing Yards: 6,526
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 138.9
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,631.5
- Rushing Touchdowns: 59
- Yards Per Carry: 5.6
- Receptions: 42
- Receiving Yards: 415
- Receiving Touchdowns: 4
- Notable: Heisman Trophy Winner, All-American, Maxwell Award, 1976
One of the early beneficiaries of freshman eligibility in college football, Tony Dorsett exploded onto the scene in his first season with the Pitt Panthers in 1973 – just one year after the NCAA allowed freshmen to compete in intercollegiate athletics.
Dorsett carried the football 318 times in his first year on campus, which led the nation, and he gained 1,686 rushing yards and scored 13 touchdowns as a freshman. His 332 touches and 1,777 yards from scrimmage were also more than anyone else in the country.
Over the next two season, Dorsett ran for 1,004 and 1686 yards, respectively, and scored a total of 27 touchdowns. However, he saved the best for last. As a senior in 1976, Dorsett amassed a then single-season record 2,150 rushing yards on an eye-popping 370 attempts. He scored 22 touchdowns on the ground, added one more on a TD reception, and led the Panthers to a 12-0 record and the national championship. Dorsett also won the Heisman Trophy.
When Dorsett left Pitt, he was the all-time Division I leader with 6,526 rushing yards. That record stood for more than 20 years.
Next: Herschel Walker
Career Statistics
- Games: 33
- Carries: 994
- Rushing Yards: 5,259
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 159.4
- Rushing Yards Per Season: 1,753.0
- Rushing Touchdowns: 49
- Yards Per Carry: 5.3
- Receptions: 26
- Receiving Yards: 243
- Receiving Touchdowns: 3
- Notable: Heisman Trophy Winner, 1982; All-American 1980, 1981, 1982
Had he not been lured to the USFL after his junior season at Georgia, Herschel Walker would have undoubtedly become the greatest college running back of all-time. However, his three-year stint with the Bulldogs was so impressive, he’s worthy of the No. 2 spot on our list.
With 5,259 career rushing yards, Walker ranks No. 12 on the Division I all-time list and he ranks first among players that only played three seasons. He exploded onto the college football scene as a true freshman in 1980 first by running through Tennessee defensive back Bill Bates in the season opener, and then by leading Georgia to the national championship with 1,616 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
As a sophomore, Walker took one step closer to the Heisman and finished as the runner-up after rushing for a career-high 1,891 yards and 18 TDs and by leading the Bulldogs to a 10-1 regular season record. He finally captured the hardware in 1982 with 1,752 rushing yards and 16 scores – which makes him the only player ever to finish in the top three of the Heisman vote in all three of his college seasons.
Walker was such a gifted athlete that he was a two-time All-American sprinter at Georgia, was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team and competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics in the two-man bobsled (while he was in the middle of a 16-year professional football career), and fought professionally in two MMA bouts in 2010-11.
Next: Ron Dayne
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.