Dan Patrick named Memphis football the new “Running Back U”

On the Friday edition of his show, renowned sportscaster Dan Patrick discussed the recent success of a particular college football team whose alumni have had great success recently in the NFL.

The school may surprise you, since it’s not a traditional powerhouse like Alabama or Oklahoma or Georgia — it’s a Group of Five school.

Dan Patrick named Memphis football as being the “new running back U”

“Have you looked at the number of running backs, recently, in the NFL from Memphis,” Dan Patrick asked his crew. “Google that and you’re going to find, I’m going to guess, four or five running backs— and you probably have one there now who’s gonna be in the NFL. Memphis might be “Running back U,” Patrick said, seeming to talk himself into the idea.

The players named by Dan Patrick and his crew are all making big impacts with their respective NFL teams this season and in recent seasons.

Antonio Gibson of the Washington Football Team, played for Memphis from 2018-20, has been a stud for Washington. He’s scored 11 touchdowns and rushed for 954 yards during his rookie season plus the first two weeks of the 2021 NFL season.

Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys, played for Memphis football from 2015-18. He’s rushed for 1,023 yards and scored seven touchdowns through 33 games with Dallas.

Kenneth Gainwell of the Philadelphia Eagles, played for Memphis football from 2018-19. He sat out the 2020 season and was drafted 150th overall in 2021. Through two regular season games as a rookie, Gainwell has 15 rushes for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Darrell Henderson of the Los Angeles Rams, played for Memphis football from 2016-18. Henderson has appeared in 30 games so far for the Rams, accumulating 894 yards and rushing for seven touchdowns.

Patrick’s crew even mentioned Memphis football alumni DeAngelo Williams (2002-05), who had a fantastic career with the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers, racking up 61 touchdowns and rushing for more than 8,000 yards during his 11-year career.

Do you agree with Patrick’s take that Memphis football is the new hotbed for producing NFL running backs?