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Big Ten Football: Ranking the 30 best players of all time

By Quinn Douglas

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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14 Oct 2001: Ron Dayne #27 of the New York Giants runs behind the blocking of teammate Glenn Parker #62 during the game against the St. Louis Rams at the America’s Center and Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The St. Louis Rams beat the New York Giants 15-14. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/ALLSPORT
14 Oct 2001: Ron Dayne #27 of the New York Giants runs behind the blocking of teammate Glenn Parker #62 during the game against the St. Louis Rams at the America’s Center and Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The St. Louis Rams beat the New York Giants 15-14. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/ALLSPORT /

Ron Dayne Career Statistics, 1996-1999

  • Games Played: 50
  • Carries: 1,220
  • Rushing Yards: 7,125
  • Rushing Yards per Game: 142.5
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 71
  • Yards per Carry: 5.8
  • Receptions: 31
  • Receiving Yards: 304
  • Notable: 1999 Heisman Trophy, 1999 Maxwell Award, 1999 Walter Camp Award, 1999 Chic Harley Award, 1999 Doak Walker Award, 1999 Jim Brown Award, 1999 Chicago Tribune Silver Football, 1999 Consensus First Team All-American, former NCAA career rushing leader, #33 retired by Wisconsin.

It’s rare that coaches find their future star running backs throwing shotput in high school, but that’s exactly where Barry Alavrez found Ron Dayne in Pine Hill, New Jersey. Over the next four years, Dayne would etch himself into the college football history books. He would rush for 7,125 yards in his career, trailing only Donnel Pumphery of San Diego State, and scored 71 touchdowns.

Related Story: Wisconsin Football: 5 breakout players to watch for in 2018

Dayne started his career off with a bang, rushing for 2,109 yards as a true freshman, while his production dropped off over the next two seasons, he still managed to rush for 1,457 yards in 1997 and 1,525 yards in 1998, setting the stage for Dayne to make a run after Ricky Williams freshly cemented career rushing record.

In 1999, Dayne rushed for 2,034 yards, breaking Williams career rushing record in the Badgers home finale against Iowa. As senior he helped lead Wisconsin to the Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl win over Stanford. Dayne reaped in the awards during his senior season, he won the 1999 Heisman Trophy in a landslide. He was also the winner of the Maxwell, Walter Camp, Chic Harley, Doak Walker, Jim Brown and Chicago Tribune Silver Football awards.

Dayne was drafted by the New York Giants in the 2000 NFL Draft.

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