NFL Draft: The history of running backs taken No. 2 overall
player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Running Back. San Diego State. Marshall Faulk. 1. 46
Marshal Faulk is the top running back to be selected second overall in NFL History. He was selected with the second pick of the 1994 NFL Draft out of San Diego State.
Faulk, who stands at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, signed with the Aztecs and proceeded to run for 4,589 yards and score 62 touchdowns from scrimmage in three seasons of college football. He had over 600 receiving yards his junior year at San Diego State setting up his future as a dynamic hybrid scorer in the NFL. He ended his college career a three time first-team All-American and is now a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Indianapolis Colts drafted Faulk with their second overall pick after the Cincinnati Bengals took Dan Wilkinson, a defensive tackle, first overall. For five seasons he was a dominant force for the Colts out of the backfield breaking the 1,000-yard rushing barrier four times and even had 900 receiving yards with 1,300 rushing yards in 1998.
Bill Polian decided to trade Faulk to the Rams and draft Edgerrin James after Faulk threatened a holdout. Once in St. Louis with the Rams, Faulk never looked back.
Faulk’s Rams career spanned 1999-2006 and put him in the NFL Hall of Fame. He amassed dozens of awards over his career including seven Pro Bowl trips, three first-team All Pro selections and three second team All-Pro selections as well as the NFL MVP in 2000.
Next: Complete 7-round 2018 NFL Mock Draft
The Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV over the Titans as Faulk had five receptions for 90 yards even if his running game was shut down. Faulk is a deserving member of the NFL Hall of Fame having ran for 12,280 yards and 100 touchdowns while bringing in 6,875 yards receiving and another 36 touchdowns through the air.