Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Historical Debate ... Running Back U.
By Pete Fiutak
Unlike Richard Cirminiello, I don't care a lick about pro production when it comes to schools producing great running backs. Is San Diego State a great running back school because Marshall Faulk went there? All I care about is college production in college careers.
Also, forget about NFL-type talent and go by what actually happened on the field. Go back to 1970 and knowing what you know now, which schools had the best running back production at the highest level?
Running back is college football's glamour position with the most stars, the most big names, and the most legends. Players like Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson and Ron Dayne can elevate the history of a whole program, while some schools have consistently cranked out great back after great back.
So without further ado, here are the 20 schools that produced the best college running backs since around 1970 along with the five greatest backs for each team. Once again, this is based on production and not just talent. Only college players from, roughly, the past 35 years have been considered.
1. USC
Even if you didn't take players from the 1960s like O.J. Simpson and Mike Garrett, USC would still be number one with Heisman winners Reggie Bush, Charles White, Marcus Allen and should've-been-winners Ricky Bell and Anthony Davis. I'm counting O.J. but for the purposes of this exercise, but I'm not counting Garrett with his fantastic career ending in 1965. You know a list is strong when Sam Cunningham, who would've made the top five of almost every other team on this list, doesn't come close to cracking the USC elite. You know the list is really, really strong when record-setters and superstars like Bush and LenDale White don't make the top five (check out how many 100-yard days Bush had against defenses with a pulse). I won't argue if you want to complain that those two belong in the top five, but you'd better come correct with your reasoning to knock off one my choices.
USC's five greatest running backs
1) O.J. Simpson - Before he became an NFL legend, a ground-breaking advertising pitchman and a tireless searcher for his wife's murderer, Simpson was one of the greatest college football players of all-time. He should've been the first two-time Heisman winner cranking out a 1,543-yard, 13 touchdown junior season leading USC to the 1967 national title. He won the 1968 Award by the largest margin ever after a 1,880-yard, 23 touchdown campaign.
2) Charles White - Talk about your great careers, White tore off 6,245 yards and 49 touchdowns and won the 1979 Heisman. He set 22 NCAA, Pac 10, USC and Rose Bowl records.
3) Marcus Allen - A fullback for White in 1978 and 1979, Allen blossomed into a star of his own ripping off a 1,563-yard, 14 touchdown season before his record-setting Heisman campaign in 1981 with 2,427 yards and 22 touchdowns.
4) Anthony Davis - Davis ran for over 1,000 yards for three straight seasons finishing with 3,724 yards and 44 rushing touchdowns. Even more impressive were his talents as a kick returner averaging 34 yards per return with six touchdowns. He also caught 47 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
5) Ricky Bell - Bell should have won the 1975 Heisman over Archie Griffin with a 1,957-yard, 14 touchdown junior season. He was strong in 1976 with a 1,433 yard, 14 touchdown season, but that just happened to be the year that Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett went nuts.
2. Auburn
Think of Auburn running backs and most college football fans will instantly recall Bo Jackson. The Tiger running attack has enjoyed a ton of fantastic performers other than just the two-sport superstar, and few backfields have had as many good runners splitting time. Imagine having Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown to choose from. How about Lionel James and Brent Fullwood to go along with Bo? Don't forget about James Brooks, Joe Cribbs and Willie Andrews. It's nearly impossible to narrow the list down to a top five leaving out players like Rudi Johnson, Stephen Davis and Kenny Irons.
Auburn's five greatest running backs
1) Bo Jackson - The 1985 Heisman Trophy winner was actually more dangerous in his sophomore season when he averaged 7.7 yards per carry. Injuries kept him from reaching his full potential over his final two seasons getting knocked out of two of the biggest games of the 1985 campaign against Tennessee and Florida making the Heisman race closer than it should have been.
2) Carnell Williams - The Cadillac would've put up mega-numbers if he didn't have to split time with Ronnie Brown. While other great Tiger backs could lay claim to the number two spot, Williams was too good to move down further.
3) Joe Cribbs - After seeing a little bit of time in his freshman season, Cribbs took off rushing for 3,056 yards in his final three campaigns finishing with 34 touchdowns. He was the school's all-time leading rusher before James Brooks barely passed him in 1980.
4) Brent Fullwood - The program's most spectacular back not named Bo, Fullwood averaged 7.2 yards per carry with a scary-good 8.3 average in his senior. An argument could be made that he was a better home-run hitter than Jackson.
5) James Brooks - Rudi Johnson and Stephen Davis deserve this spot, but Brooks was the school's all-time leading rusher before Jackson came along running for 3,523 yards and 24 touchdowns averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
3. Texas
Talk about your big-time producers, Texas has cranked out two Heisman winners (Ricky Williams and Earl Campbell), a third-place finisher (Roosevelt Leaks), and a 2004 Heisman favorite (Cedric Benson). Williams and Campbell are college football legends with Williams finishing his career as the NCAA's all-time leading rusher and Campbell the star of the devastating Longhorn wishbone attack. How loaded is the list? Great backs like Priest Holmes, Eric Metcalf, "Jam" Jones, and Heisman finalist Steve Worster didn't make it.
Texas' five greatest running backs
1) Ricky Williams - Earl Campbell might be a bit more of a legend for Longhorn fans, but Williams had the better career finishing with 6,279 yards and 75 touchdowns. There were few more charismatic, dramatic, and exciting players in college football history.
2) Earl Campbell - A star from day one, the Tyler Rose was only slowed down by a bad hamstring in his junior year. He came roaring back with a 1,744-yard, 18 touchdown senior season on his way to the Heisman.
3) Cedric Benson - The superstar recruit blossomed into a superstar with 65 touchdowns and four straight 1,000+-yard seasons. No other Texas back accomplished that feat (although Williams did it if you count his 62-yard day against Virginia Tech in the 1996 Sugar Bowl).
4) Roosevelt Leaks - Leaks finished third in the 1973 Heisman race as a junior with 1,415 yards and 14 touchdowns averaging 6.2 yards per carry. His senior year should have been his shining moment, but a freshman from Tyler, Texas had arrived to take away the workload.
5) Hodges Mitchell - Mitchell had a great unsung career blossoming in his final two years finishing with 2,644 yards and 20 touchdowns.
4. Georgia
A frightening array of production has come out of Athens despite not running a pure ground attack like others over the years. An argument could be made that Herschel Walker is the greatest college player of all-time, while some Bulldog teams were so loaded that future NFL stars like Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary had a hard time seeing the field. While there were many great backs in Georgia history, Walker is the reason the program is this high in the rankings.
Georgia's five greatest running backs
1) Herschel Walker - If Superman had stayed for his senior year, he would've set the NCAA rushing record going at least 500 yards past where Ron Dayne ended up setting the bar. His blend of power and speed were breathtaking.
2) Garrison Hearst - The only back to come within ten miles to many of Walker's records, Hearst finished his career with 3,232 yards and 35 total touchdowns. He won the 1992 Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back, but he finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
3) Rodney Hampton - Despite splitting carries in most games with talents like Tim Worley and Lars Tate, Hampton still finished with 2,668 yards and 22 touchdowns averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He was also a great receiver and kickoff returner.
4) Lars Tate - Often overlooked on a national scale, Tate had a nice and steady career finishing with 3,017 yards and 36 touchdowns.
5) Robert Edwards - One of the best all-around backs in Georgia history, the former defensive back cranked out 2,033 rushing yards and scored 30 career touchdowns when moved over to offense.
5. Ohio State
From a two-time Heisman winner in Archie Griffin, to pounding backs like Pete Johnson, Eddie George, Jim Otis and many others, Ohio State runners have always cranked out yards as well as any backs in college football. While there aren't too many flashy stars, there are so many good, productive players that you could easily make a case for the Buckeyes to be in the top three. Don't laugh, but Maurice Clarett probably deserves the number five spot.
Ohio State's five greatest running backs
1) Archie Griffin - I'm fully prepared to incur the wrath of the Buckeye faithful; Griffin shouldn't have won two Heismans. USC's Anthony Davis should have won in 1974 and Cal's Chuck Muncie, Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett and USC's Ricky Bell were better backs in 1975. It doesn't matter since facts are facts, and Griffin is the only two-time winner finishing his career with 5,589 yards and 26 touchdowns with a six-yard-per-carry average.
2) Eddie George - George capped off a stellar career with the 1995 Heisman rushing for 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns highlighted by a 314-yard performance against Illinois. He finished with 3,768 yards and 45 scores.
3) Keith Byars - All set for a huge Heisman run in 1985, Byars suffered a foot injury holding him to a mere 208 yards and four scores. His sophomore and junior seasons were legendary tearing off 2,963 yards and 46 touchdowns leading the nation in scoring in 1984.
4) Pete Johnson - Known as the other back behind Archie Griffin and a top blocker, Johnson was deadly around the goal line with a whopping 58 career touchdowns. "Big Pete" wasn't bad outside of the red zone as well with 2,308 career yards with a 1,058-yard junior season. He was an automatic short-yardage man on third downs.
5) Tim Spencer - The Ohio State ground game in 1981 and 1982, Spencer ran for 2,755 yards scoring 15 times in his senior year.
6. Penn State
While Nittany Lion backs have been big-time duds in the pros over the years (with a string broken by Larry Johnson), that doesn't make a difference to college fans. Joe Paterno's runners have always been among the top college backs with a Heisman winner in John Cappelletti and finalists in Lydell Mitchell, Ki-Jana Carter and Johnson. How good have the Penn State running backs been? Players like Johnson, Franco Harris, Blair Thomas, and D.J. Dozier don't make the list.
Penn State's five greatest running backs
1) Curt Warner - Warner finished his career as the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,398 yards and 24 touchdowns leading the Nittany Lions to the 1982 National Championship. He was the consistent rushing threat to balance out Todd Blackledge and the Penn State passing attack.
2) Ki-Jana Carter - Known now for the unfortunate breaks in his NFL career, Carter was a blur of a college back finishing second in the 1994 Heisman race averaging a serious 7.8 yards per carry rushing for 1,639 yards and 23 touchdowns.
3) John Cappelletti - He won the Heisman in 1973 with 1,522 yards and 17 touchdowns averaging 5.3 yards per carry. His two-season total of 2,639 yards and 29 touchdowns is good by any measure.
4) Lydell Mitchell - While he was decent during his first two years rolling up 1,367 yards, his senior season was something special rushing for 1,567 yards and 26 touchdowns averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
5) Curtis Enis - Larry Johnson, Blair Thomas and D.J. Dozier could be here as well. Enis was phenomenal over his final two seasons rushing for 2,573 yards and 32 touchdowns, but Penn State fans have a hard time forgiving him for his involvement with an agent keeping him out of the 1998 Florida Citrus Bowl.
7. Oklahoma
The Sooners have enjoyed some of the most exciting and talented backs college football has ever seen. Getting to play in one of college football's premier rushing attacks during the 1970s and 1980s, players like Billy Sims, Greg Pruitt, Joe Washington and Marcus Dupree were some of biggest stars in the game. Even though the offense became more pass oriented under Bob Stoops, there were still some decent backs highlighted by the underrated Quentin Griffin.
Oklahoma's five greatest running backs
1) Billy Sims - The two-time All-American and 1978 Heisman winner was one of the greatest players of all-time. He ran for 4,108 yards and 53 touchdowns scoring a whopping 45 times in his final two seasons. Most impressive was his career 6.9 yard-per-carry average.
2) Adrian Peterson - This might be a bit premature, but few backs have ever possessed the combination of size, speed and skills Peterson has shown.
3) Steve Owens - Yeah, he breaks the 1970 rule for these rankings, but he comes close enough. The 1969 Heisman winner was a touchdown machine setting the OU record with 57 in his three seasons to go along with his 4,041 yards.
4) Joe Washington - The two-time All-American ran for 3,995 career yards and scored 39 touchdowns finishing his career as OU's all-time leading rusher. He finished third in the 1974 Heisman as "Little Joe" led the Sooners to the national title.
5) Quentin Griffin - The diminutive Griffin never received the credit he deserved amassing 4,732 total yards over his last three seasons to go along with 41 rushing touchdowns. Even with all of his touches, he almost never fumbled. Greg Pruitt should probably be here.
8. Wisconsin
Regularly cranking out 1,000-yard rushers, Wisconsin has boasted some of the nation's most productive backs over the last several years. With a 1,000-yard back every year from 1993 to 2002, this is one of the nation's most dominant running schools. The system and the offensive lines have had a lot to do with it, but the backs have also been great. Ron Dayne, the greatest ground gainer in NCAA history, is just one of the stars as Michael Bennett, Anthony Davis. Brian Calhoun and Billy Marek were all among the best players in college football in their respective seasons. Don't forget about 1,000-yard seasons from Terrell Fletcher, Rufus Ferguson and Carl McCullough.
Wisconsin's five greatest running backs
1) Ron Dayne - The most disrespected superstar in college football history because he happened to take over the spotlight a year after the flashier Ricky Williams, Dayne is the NCAA's all-time leading rusher leading the Badgers to two Rose Bowls and three bowl victories in four years. What more do you want out of a back?
2) Anthony Davis - The little star can started his career out with 3,021 yards before suffering a setback his junior year with an ankle injury, but he still ran for 682 yards and seven scores. He ran for 11 touchdowns in senior year.
3) Billy Marek - Marek tore off three straight 1,000-yard seasons from 1972 to 1974 as the focal point of the Badger attack. He held all the UW records before Dayne and Davis came along.
4) Brent Moss - The first big star of the Barry Alvarez era, Moss was the workhorse for the 1993 Big Ten champions working with Terrell Fletcher in the devastating ground attack. He finished his career with 3,428 yards and 34 touchdowns.
5) Terrell Fletcher - Rufus Ferguson, Brian Calhoun and Michael Bennett could take this spot, but Fletcher was the better performer for four years finishing with 3,414 yards and 25 touchdowns averaging a whopping 5.6 yards per carry.
9. Miami
Remember, this list is based on actual college production and not pro potential. If you're going by NFL caliber backs, Miami would be near the top with pro talents like Clinton Portis, Ottis Anderson, Willis McGahee, Alonzo Highsmith, Edgerrin James, Cleveland Gary and several others. In fact, ten Hurricane backs have been first round picks. Without a Heisman winner (even though McGahee was robbed) and without a ton of big-time stats, it's hard to put Miami too much higher than this based on college production.
Miami's five greatest running backs
1) Edgerrin James - While he didn't play on national title teams and didn't get the spotlight that Willis McGahee and Clinton Portis received, James was still a force averaging 6.2 yards per carry with 2,960 yards and 35 career scores.
2) Ottis Anderson - In the rush of great Hurricane running backs over the last few years, it's easy to forget about Anderson. He's the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,331 yards and second in all-purpose yards with 4,265.
3) Willis McGahee - He only had one season as the starter, but it was a big one with a school record 1,753 yards and 28 touchdowns. He wasn't just consistent, he was clutch making the big runs when needed to keep a march for a second straight national title appearance alive.
4) Clinton Portis - The workhorse for the 2001 national champions, Portis finished his career with 2,523 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns.
5) Stephen McGuire - A scoring machine, McGuire is tied for the career lead in total Miami touchdowns with 35 while rushing for 1,953 yards as a key cog in two national title winning attacks.
[SIZE=14pt]10. Nebraska[/SIZE]
The Huskers should probably be higher than this with several All-Americans to go along with Heisman winner Mike Rozier. The Husker rushing machine was one of the most devastating offenses in all of sports thanks to one of the best offensive lines year-in-and-year-out and quarterbacks that knew how to run the attack. All-Conference caliber players like Jarvis Redwine, Roger Craig, I.M. Hipp, Jeff Kinney, and Derek Brown don't make the cut. As a side note, for this piece, Johnny Rodgers is considered a receiver rather than a running back.
Nebraska's five greatest running backs
1) Mike Rozier - A devastating weapon for three seasons, Rozier capped off his career with all of the 1983 hardware rushing for 2,148 yards and 29 touchdowns. He finished averaging 7.16 yards per carry with 4,780 yards and 52 total scores amassing 5,445 all-purpose yards.
2) Ahman Green - Nebraska's number two all-time leading rusher with 3,880 yards, he helped lead the Huskers to a share of a national title. He averaged a whopping 6.76 yards per carry with 42 rushing scores.
3) Tom Rathman - Call this a nod to all the great Husker fullbacks that were so instrumental in making the Big Red Machine go. Rathman wasn't a bad ball-carrier with 881 yards and eight touchdowns in 1985.
4) Lawrence Phillips - Yeah, he was far more trouble than he was worth, but he was a brilliant college runner with 2,177 yards and 21 rushing scores. It's a shame he couldn't stay under control off the field with as much talent as any Nebraska runner.
5) Calvin Jones - While not a sexy pick, Jones was an effective producer finishing his career as the school's number two all-time leading rusher (before Green and Eric Crouch passed him by) with 3,153 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Honorable U.
The next ten greatest running back schools over the last 35 years (remember, based on college production)...
11. Tennessee - The main man: Jamal Lewis
12. Oklahoma State - The main man: Barry Sanders
13. Florida - The main man: Emmitt Smith
14. Michigan - The main man: Chris Perry
15. West Virginia - The main man: Avon Cobourne
16. Minnesota - The main man: Laurence Maroney
17. Colorado - The main man: Chris Brown
18. North Carolina - The main man: Amos Lawrence
19. Boston College - The main man: William Green
20. SMU - The main man: Eric Dickerson
By Pete Fiutak
Unlike Richard Cirminiello, I don't care a lick about pro production when it comes to schools producing great running backs. Is San Diego State a great running back school because Marshall Faulk went there? All I care about is college production in college careers.
Also, forget about NFL-type talent and go by what actually happened on the field. Go back to 1970 and knowing what you know now, which schools had the best running back production at the highest level?
Running back is college football's glamour position with the most stars, the most big names, and the most legends. Players like Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson and Ron Dayne can elevate the history of a whole program, while some schools have consistently cranked out great back after great back.
So without further ado, here are the 20 schools that produced the best college running backs since around 1970 along with the five greatest backs for each team. Once again, this is based on production and not just talent. Only college players from, roughly, the past 35 years have been considered.
1. USC
Even if you didn't take players from the 1960s like O.J. Simpson and Mike Garrett, USC would still be number one with Heisman winners Reggie Bush, Charles White, Marcus Allen and should've-been-winners Ricky Bell and Anthony Davis. I'm counting O.J. but for the purposes of this exercise, but I'm not counting Garrett with his fantastic career ending in 1965. You know a list is strong when Sam Cunningham, who would've made the top five of almost every other team on this list, doesn't come close to cracking the USC elite. You know the list is really, really strong when record-setters and superstars like Bush and LenDale White don't make the top five (check out how many 100-yard days Bush had against defenses with a pulse). I won't argue if you want to complain that those two belong in the top five, but you'd better come correct with your reasoning to knock off one my choices.
USC's five greatest running backs
1) O.J. Simpson - Before he became an NFL legend, a ground-breaking advertising pitchman and a tireless searcher for his wife's murderer, Simpson was one of the greatest college football players of all-time. He should've been the first two-time Heisman winner cranking out a 1,543-yard, 13 touchdown junior season leading USC to the 1967 national title. He won the 1968 Award by the largest margin ever after a 1,880-yard, 23 touchdown campaign.
2) Charles White - Talk about your great careers, White tore off 6,245 yards and 49 touchdowns and won the 1979 Heisman. He set 22 NCAA, Pac 10, USC and Rose Bowl records.
3) Marcus Allen - A fullback for White in 1978 and 1979, Allen blossomed into a star of his own ripping off a 1,563-yard, 14 touchdown season before his record-setting Heisman campaign in 1981 with 2,427 yards and 22 touchdowns.
4) Anthony Davis - Davis ran for over 1,000 yards for three straight seasons finishing with 3,724 yards and 44 rushing touchdowns. Even more impressive were his talents as a kick returner averaging 34 yards per return with six touchdowns. He also caught 47 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
5) Ricky Bell - Bell should have won the 1975 Heisman over Archie Griffin with a 1,957-yard, 14 touchdown junior season. He was strong in 1976 with a 1,433 yard, 14 touchdown season, but that just happened to be the year that Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett went nuts.
2. Auburn
Think of Auburn running backs and most college football fans will instantly recall Bo Jackson. The Tiger running attack has enjoyed a ton of fantastic performers other than just the two-sport superstar, and few backfields have had as many good runners splitting time. Imagine having Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown to choose from. How about Lionel James and Brent Fullwood to go along with Bo? Don't forget about James Brooks, Joe Cribbs and Willie Andrews. It's nearly impossible to narrow the list down to a top five leaving out players like Rudi Johnson, Stephen Davis and Kenny Irons.
Auburn's five greatest running backs
1) Bo Jackson - The 1985 Heisman Trophy winner was actually more dangerous in his sophomore season when he averaged 7.7 yards per carry. Injuries kept him from reaching his full potential over his final two seasons getting knocked out of two of the biggest games of the 1985 campaign against Tennessee and Florida making the Heisman race closer than it should have been.
2) Carnell Williams - The Cadillac would've put up mega-numbers if he didn't have to split time with Ronnie Brown. While other great Tiger backs could lay claim to the number two spot, Williams was too good to move down further.
3) Joe Cribbs - After seeing a little bit of time in his freshman season, Cribbs took off rushing for 3,056 yards in his final three campaigns finishing with 34 touchdowns. He was the school's all-time leading rusher before James Brooks barely passed him in 1980.
4) Brent Fullwood - The program's most spectacular back not named Bo, Fullwood averaged 7.2 yards per carry with a scary-good 8.3 average in his senior. An argument could be made that he was a better home-run hitter than Jackson.
5) James Brooks - Rudi Johnson and Stephen Davis deserve this spot, but Brooks was the school's all-time leading rusher before Jackson came along running for 3,523 yards and 24 touchdowns averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
3. Texas
Talk about your big-time producers, Texas has cranked out two Heisman winners (Ricky Williams and Earl Campbell), a third-place finisher (Roosevelt Leaks), and a 2004 Heisman favorite (Cedric Benson). Williams and Campbell are college football legends with Williams finishing his career as the NCAA's all-time leading rusher and Campbell the star of the devastating Longhorn wishbone attack. How loaded is the list? Great backs like Priest Holmes, Eric Metcalf, "Jam" Jones, and Heisman finalist Steve Worster didn't make it.
Texas' five greatest running backs
1) Ricky Williams - Earl Campbell might be a bit more of a legend for Longhorn fans, but Williams had the better career finishing with 6,279 yards and 75 touchdowns. There were few more charismatic, dramatic, and exciting players in college football history.
2) Earl Campbell - A star from day one, the Tyler Rose was only slowed down by a bad hamstring in his junior year. He came roaring back with a 1,744-yard, 18 touchdown senior season on his way to the Heisman.
3) Cedric Benson - The superstar recruit blossomed into a superstar with 65 touchdowns and four straight 1,000+-yard seasons. No other Texas back accomplished that feat (although Williams did it if you count his 62-yard day against Virginia Tech in the 1996 Sugar Bowl).
4) Roosevelt Leaks - Leaks finished third in the 1973 Heisman race as a junior with 1,415 yards and 14 touchdowns averaging 6.2 yards per carry. His senior year should have been his shining moment, but a freshman from Tyler, Texas had arrived to take away the workload.
5) Hodges Mitchell - Mitchell had a great unsung career blossoming in his final two years finishing with 2,644 yards and 20 touchdowns.
4. Georgia
A frightening array of production has come out of Athens despite not running a pure ground attack like others over the years. An argument could be made that Herschel Walker is the greatest college player of all-time, while some Bulldog teams were so loaded that future NFL stars like Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary had a hard time seeing the field. While there were many great backs in Georgia history, Walker is the reason the program is this high in the rankings.
Georgia's five greatest running backs
1) Herschel Walker - If Superman had stayed for his senior year, he would've set the NCAA rushing record going at least 500 yards past where Ron Dayne ended up setting the bar. His blend of power and speed were breathtaking.
2) Garrison Hearst - The only back to come within ten miles to many of Walker's records, Hearst finished his career with 3,232 yards and 35 total touchdowns. He won the 1992 Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back, but he finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
3) Rodney Hampton - Despite splitting carries in most games with talents like Tim Worley and Lars Tate, Hampton still finished with 2,668 yards and 22 touchdowns averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He was also a great receiver and kickoff returner.
4) Lars Tate - Often overlooked on a national scale, Tate had a nice and steady career finishing with 3,017 yards and 36 touchdowns.
5) Robert Edwards - One of the best all-around backs in Georgia history, the former defensive back cranked out 2,033 rushing yards and scored 30 career touchdowns when moved over to offense.
5. Ohio State
From a two-time Heisman winner in Archie Griffin, to pounding backs like Pete Johnson, Eddie George, Jim Otis and many others, Ohio State runners have always cranked out yards as well as any backs in college football. While there aren't too many flashy stars, there are so many good, productive players that you could easily make a case for the Buckeyes to be in the top three. Don't laugh, but Maurice Clarett probably deserves the number five spot.
Ohio State's five greatest running backs
1) Archie Griffin - I'm fully prepared to incur the wrath of the Buckeye faithful; Griffin shouldn't have won two Heismans. USC's Anthony Davis should have won in 1974 and Cal's Chuck Muncie, Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett and USC's Ricky Bell were better backs in 1975. It doesn't matter since facts are facts, and Griffin is the only two-time winner finishing his career with 5,589 yards and 26 touchdowns with a six-yard-per-carry average.
2) Eddie George - George capped off a stellar career with the 1995 Heisman rushing for 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns highlighted by a 314-yard performance against Illinois. He finished with 3,768 yards and 45 scores.
3) Keith Byars - All set for a huge Heisman run in 1985, Byars suffered a foot injury holding him to a mere 208 yards and four scores. His sophomore and junior seasons were legendary tearing off 2,963 yards and 46 touchdowns leading the nation in scoring in 1984.
4) Pete Johnson - Known as the other back behind Archie Griffin and a top blocker, Johnson was deadly around the goal line with a whopping 58 career touchdowns. "Big Pete" wasn't bad outside of the red zone as well with 2,308 career yards with a 1,058-yard junior season. He was an automatic short-yardage man on third downs.
5) Tim Spencer - The Ohio State ground game in 1981 and 1982, Spencer ran for 2,755 yards scoring 15 times in his senior year.
6. Penn State
While Nittany Lion backs have been big-time duds in the pros over the years (with a string broken by Larry Johnson), that doesn't make a difference to college fans. Joe Paterno's runners have always been among the top college backs with a Heisman winner in John Cappelletti and finalists in Lydell Mitchell, Ki-Jana Carter and Johnson. How good have the Penn State running backs been? Players like Johnson, Franco Harris, Blair Thomas, and D.J. Dozier don't make the list.
Penn State's five greatest running backs
1) Curt Warner - Warner finished his career as the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,398 yards and 24 touchdowns leading the Nittany Lions to the 1982 National Championship. He was the consistent rushing threat to balance out Todd Blackledge and the Penn State passing attack.
2) Ki-Jana Carter - Known now for the unfortunate breaks in his NFL career, Carter was a blur of a college back finishing second in the 1994 Heisman race averaging a serious 7.8 yards per carry rushing for 1,639 yards and 23 touchdowns.
3) John Cappelletti - He won the Heisman in 1973 with 1,522 yards and 17 touchdowns averaging 5.3 yards per carry. His two-season total of 2,639 yards and 29 touchdowns is good by any measure.
4) Lydell Mitchell - While he was decent during his first two years rolling up 1,367 yards, his senior season was something special rushing for 1,567 yards and 26 touchdowns averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
5) Curtis Enis - Larry Johnson, Blair Thomas and D.J. Dozier could be here as well. Enis was phenomenal over his final two seasons rushing for 2,573 yards and 32 touchdowns, but Penn State fans have a hard time forgiving him for his involvement with an agent keeping him out of the 1998 Florida Citrus Bowl.
7. Oklahoma
The Sooners have enjoyed some of the most exciting and talented backs college football has ever seen. Getting to play in one of college football's premier rushing attacks during the 1970s and 1980s, players like Billy Sims, Greg Pruitt, Joe Washington and Marcus Dupree were some of biggest stars in the game. Even though the offense became more pass oriented under Bob Stoops, there were still some decent backs highlighted by the underrated Quentin Griffin.
Oklahoma's five greatest running backs
1) Billy Sims - The two-time All-American and 1978 Heisman winner was one of the greatest players of all-time. He ran for 4,108 yards and 53 touchdowns scoring a whopping 45 times in his final two seasons. Most impressive was his career 6.9 yard-per-carry average.
2) Adrian Peterson - This might be a bit premature, but few backs have ever possessed the combination of size, speed and skills Peterson has shown.
3) Steve Owens - Yeah, he breaks the 1970 rule for these rankings, but he comes close enough. The 1969 Heisman winner was a touchdown machine setting the OU record with 57 in his three seasons to go along with his 4,041 yards.
4) Joe Washington - The two-time All-American ran for 3,995 career yards and scored 39 touchdowns finishing his career as OU's all-time leading rusher. He finished third in the 1974 Heisman as "Little Joe" led the Sooners to the national title.
5) Quentin Griffin - The diminutive Griffin never received the credit he deserved amassing 4,732 total yards over his last three seasons to go along with 41 rushing touchdowns. Even with all of his touches, he almost never fumbled. Greg Pruitt should probably be here.
8. Wisconsin
Regularly cranking out 1,000-yard rushers, Wisconsin has boasted some of the nation's most productive backs over the last several years. With a 1,000-yard back every year from 1993 to 2002, this is one of the nation's most dominant running schools. The system and the offensive lines have had a lot to do with it, but the backs have also been great. Ron Dayne, the greatest ground gainer in NCAA history, is just one of the stars as Michael Bennett, Anthony Davis. Brian Calhoun and Billy Marek were all among the best players in college football in their respective seasons. Don't forget about 1,000-yard seasons from Terrell Fletcher, Rufus Ferguson and Carl McCullough.
Wisconsin's five greatest running backs
1) Ron Dayne - The most disrespected superstar in college football history because he happened to take over the spotlight a year after the flashier Ricky Williams, Dayne is the NCAA's all-time leading rusher leading the Badgers to two Rose Bowls and three bowl victories in four years. What more do you want out of a back?
2) Anthony Davis - The little star can started his career out with 3,021 yards before suffering a setback his junior year with an ankle injury, but he still ran for 682 yards and seven scores. He ran for 11 touchdowns in senior year.
3) Billy Marek - Marek tore off three straight 1,000-yard seasons from 1972 to 1974 as the focal point of the Badger attack. He held all the UW records before Dayne and Davis came along.
4) Brent Moss - The first big star of the Barry Alvarez era, Moss was the workhorse for the 1993 Big Ten champions working with Terrell Fletcher in the devastating ground attack. He finished his career with 3,428 yards and 34 touchdowns.
5) Terrell Fletcher - Rufus Ferguson, Brian Calhoun and Michael Bennett could take this spot, but Fletcher was the better performer for four years finishing with 3,414 yards and 25 touchdowns averaging a whopping 5.6 yards per carry.
9. Miami
Remember, this list is based on actual college production and not pro potential. If you're going by NFL caliber backs, Miami would be near the top with pro talents like Clinton Portis, Ottis Anderson, Willis McGahee, Alonzo Highsmith, Edgerrin James, Cleveland Gary and several others. In fact, ten Hurricane backs have been first round picks. Without a Heisman winner (even though McGahee was robbed) and without a ton of big-time stats, it's hard to put Miami too much higher than this based on college production.
Miami's five greatest running backs
1) Edgerrin James - While he didn't play on national title teams and didn't get the spotlight that Willis McGahee and Clinton Portis received, James was still a force averaging 6.2 yards per carry with 2,960 yards and 35 career scores.
2) Ottis Anderson - In the rush of great Hurricane running backs over the last few years, it's easy to forget about Anderson. He's the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,331 yards and second in all-purpose yards with 4,265.
3) Willis McGahee - He only had one season as the starter, but it was a big one with a school record 1,753 yards and 28 touchdowns. He wasn't just consistent, he was clutch making the big runs when needed to keep a march for a second straight national title appearance alive.
4) Clinton Portis - The workhorse for the 2001 national champions, Portis finished his career with 2,523 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns.
5) Stephen McGuire - A scoring machine, McGuire is tied for the career lead in total Miami touchdowns with 35 while rushing for 1,953 yards as a key cog in two national title winning attacks.
[SIZE=14pt]10. Nebraska[/SIZE]
The Huskers should probably be higher than this with several All-Americans to go along with Heisman winner Mike Rozier. The Husker rushing machine was one of the most devastating offenses in all of sports thanks to one of the best offensive lines year-in-and-year-out and quarterbacks that knew how to run the attack. All-Conference caliber players like Jarvis Redwine, Roger Craig, I.M. Hipp, Jeff Kinney, and Derek Brown don't make the cut. As a side note, for this piece, Johnny Rodgers is considered a receiver rather than a running back.
Nebraska's five greatest running backs
1) Mike Rozier - A devastating weapon for three seasons, Rozier capped off his career with all of the 1983 hardware rushing for 2,148 yards and 29 touchdowns. He finished averaging 7.16 yards per carry with 4,780 yards and 52 total scores amassing 5,445 all-purpose yards.
2) Ahman Green - Nebraska's number two all-time leading rusher with 3,880 yards, he helped lead the Huskers to a share of a national title. He averaged a whopping 6.76 yards per carry with 42 rushing scores.
3) Tom Rathman - Call this a nod to all the great Husker fullbacks that were so instrumental in making the Big Red Machine go. Rathman wasn't a bad ball-carrier with 881 yards and eight touchdowns in 1985.
4) Lawrence Phillips - Yeah, he was far more trouble than he was worth, but he was a brilliant college runner with 2,177 yards and 21 rushing scores. It's a shame he couldn't stay under control off the field with as much talent as any Nebraska runner.
5) Calvin Jones - While not a sexy pick, Jones was an effective producer finishing his career as the school's number two all-time leading rusher (before Green and Eric Crouch passed him by) with 3,153 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Honorable U.
The next ten greatest running back schools over the last 35 years (remember, based on college production)...
11. Tennessee - The main man: Jamal Lewis
12. Oklahoma State - The main man: Barry Sanders
13. Florida - The main man: Emmitt Smith
14. Michigan - The main man: Chris Perry
15. West Virginia - The main man: Avon Cobourne
16. Minnesota - The main man: Laurence Maroney
17. Colorado - The main man: Chris Brown
18. North Carolina - The main man: Amos Lawrence
19. Boston College - The main man: William Green
20. SMU - The main man: Eric Dickerson
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