Greatest Running Back From Every Power Five School

Here are our picks for every Power Five football program's greatest running back of all time.

Greatest Running Back From Every Power Five School

It may be difficult to comprehend now, but for the majority of college football history, the dominant position on the field was the running back.

The modern-day offense just doesn't work that way. While 46 running backs have won the Heisman Trophy in its 88-year history, only two have won the Heisman since 2009. None have won it since 2015. In the hierarchy of offensive skill positions, despite touching the ball more than anyone but the quarterback, running backs now fall behind wide receivers and tight ends in terms of importance. The game has changed.

For anyone with a sense of history, the great running backs in college football are the ones who made the game the billion-dollar monolith it is today. Without them, you don't have the massive TV contracts and larger-than-life bowl games.

Let's honor those guys. Here's a look at the greatest running back from every single Power Five school as well as Notre Dame.

Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

Pitt's Tony Dorsett wins 1976 Heisman Trophy

Current schools: Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech

National championships: 15 (Miami 5, Florida State 3, Clemson 3, Pittsburgh 2, Georgia Tech 1, Syracuse 1)

Note: Notre Dame is not a member of the ACC in football but considered a Power Five football program.

Boston College: Andre Williams (2010-2013)

Boston College running back Andre Williams

Born: Aug. 28, 1992 (Poughkeepsie, New York)

High school: Parkland High School (South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania)

Height/weight: 6-foot, 220 pounds

Career highlights: Doak Walker Award (2013), AP All-American (2013), All-ACC (2013)

Bottom line: Andre Williams was mostly an afterthought for Boston College's offense his first three seasons — including a four-win season in 2011 and two-win season in 2012 — before new head coach Steve Addazio put his faith in him in 2013.

Williams rewarded his coach and his team by rushing for 2,177 yards on the way to being named an All-American and winning the Doak Walker Award. Williams went on to play four seasons in the NFL and one season in the XFL.

Clemson: C.J. Spiller (2006-2009)

Born: Aug. 5, 1987 (Lake Butler, Florida)

High school: Union County High School (Lake Butler, Florida)

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 200 pounds

Career highlights: ACC Player of the Year (2009), AP All-American (2009), two-time All-ACC (2008, 2009), ACC Offensive Player of the Year (2009)

Bottom line: C.J. Spiller was a do-it-all dynamo for Clemson, racking up over 1,000 yards of total offense each of his four seasons in college to go with over 2,000 career return yards.

Spiller was a two-time All-ACC selection and ACC Player of the Year in 2009, along with earning All-American honors. And he was actually an All-American in three different sports — football, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field.

Spiller was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and played eight seasons in the NFL for five different teams, making the Pro Bowl in 2012.

Duke: George McAfee (1937-1939)

Born: March 13, 1918 (Corbin, Kentucky)

Died: March 4, 2009, 90 years old (Durham, North Carolina)

High school: Ironton High School (Ironton, Ohio)

Height/weight: 6-foot, 178 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1939), All-Southern (1939), three-time NFL champion (1940, 1941, 1946), NFL All-Pro (1941), Pro Bowl (1941), NFL 1940s All-Decade Team

Bottom line: George McAfee was the star player for Duke for three seasons. The Blue Devils went 24-4-1 in that stretch, including back-to-back Southern Conference titles and a berth in the Rose Bowl, where they came one game short of winning the national championship in 1939 with a 7-3 loss to USC. McAfee led Duke in rushing, receiving, scoring, kickoff returns, punt returns, interceptions and punting in 1939 and was also the 100-meter Southern Conference champion and was also batting .353 for the Duke baseball team.

McAfee was the No. 2 overall pick by the Chicago Bears in the 1940 NFL Draft, where he won three NFL championships and was an NFL All-Pro in 1941, all while taking a three-year break to fight in World War II. McAfee still owns the NFL record for career punt return average and is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Florida State: Warrick Dunn (1993-1996)

Born: Jan. 5, 1975 (New Orleans, Louisiana)

High school: Catholic High School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 187 pounds

Career highlights: National Champion (1993), AP All-American (1996), three-time All-ACC (1994-96), PFWA All-Rookie Team (1997), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1997), three-time Pro Bowl (1997, 2000, 2005), Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2004)

Bottom line: Warrick Dunn helped lead Florida State to its first national championship as a true freshman in 1993. He then ran for over 1,000 yards each of the next three seasons and was an All-American as a senior in 1996. The Baton Rouge native also ran for Florida State's track and field team.

Dunn was selected No. 12 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL Draft and was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1997. He played 12 seasons in the NFL and made three Pro Bowls.

Georgia Tech: Robert Lavette (1981-1984)

Born: Sept. 8, 1963 (Cartersville, Georgia)

High school: Cartersville High School (Cartersville, Georgia)

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time All-ACC (1982, 1984)

Bottom line: Robert Lavette led the ACC in all-purpose yards as a freshman and sophomore. Almost 40 years after he last played for Georgia Tech, he's still the school's career rushing leader (4,066 yards) and career all-purpose yards leader (5,393 yards).

Injuries shortened Lavette's pro career — he played three seasons in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.

Louisville: Howard Stevens (1971-1972)

Born: Feb. 9, 1950 (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

High school: Harrisonburg High School (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

Height/weight: 5-foot-5, 165 pounds

Career highlights: Louisville Cardinals Ring of Honor

Bottom line: Howard Stevens played his first two seasons of college football at NCAA Division III Randolph-Macon, where he was the NCAA Division III Player of the Year and a two-time All-American. For his final two seasons, Stevens transferred to Louisville, where he racked up 2,723 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns.

Stevens is the smallest running back to make this list, clocking in at 5-foot-5 and 165 pounds, but he still played five seasons in the NFL and led the NFL in kick returns and punt returns in 1974.

Miami: Edgerrin James (1996-1998)

Born: Aug. 1, 1978 (Immokalee, Florida)

High school: Immokalee High School (Immokalee, Florida)

Height/weight: 6-foot, 220 pounds

Career highlights: All-Big East (1998), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1999), three-time NFL All-Pro (1999, 2000, 2004), four-time Pro Bowl (1999, 2000, 2004, 2005), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, NFL All-Rookie Team (1999)

Bottom line: Edgerrin James was the first Miami running back to post back-to-back seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards — he also set a record having 14 games with over 100 rushing yards.

James played 11 seasons in the NFL, where he rushed for over 10,000 career yards and was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2000s. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

North Carolina: Natrone Means (1990-92)

Born: April 26, 1972 (Harrisburg, North Carolina)

High school: Central Cabarrus High School (Concord, North Carolina)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 245 pounds

Career highlights: Pro Bowl (1994), San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team

Bottom line: Natrone Means was a bowling ball/running back who mowed down defense at North Carolina, where he had over 1,000 yards of total offense for three consecutive seasons and rushed for over 1,000 yards each of his last two seasons.

Means had great hands as well. Along with 3,074 career rushing yards, he also had 61 receptions for 500 yards — an average of 8.1 yards per catch.

Means played eight seasons in the NFL. He had his best season in 1994 when he rushed for 1,350 yards, had 235 receiving yards and became the youngest player in NFL history to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

North Carolina State: Ted Brown (1975-1978)

Born: Feb. 15, 1957 (High Point, North Carolina)

High school: T. Wingate Andrews High School (High Point, North Carolina)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 206 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1978), four-time All-ACC (1975-78), ACC Rookie of the Year (1975)

Bottom line: Ted Brown was a four-time All-ACC pick at North Carolina State and held the ACC career rushing record (4,602 yards) for over 40 years until Clemson's Travis Etienne broke his record in 2020. Brown played eight seasons in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings, including five after he accidentally shot himself in the thigh with a revolver.

Brown was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

Pittsburgh: Tony Dorsett (1973-1976)

University of Pittsburgh running back Tony Dorsett

Born: April 7, 1954 (Rochester, Pennsylvania)

High school: Hopewell High School (Aliquippa, Pennsylvania)

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 192 pounds

Career highlights: Heisman Trophy (1976), National Champion (1976), Maxwell Award (1976), Walter Camp Award (1976), three-time AP All-American (1973, 1975, 1976), Super Bowl champion (1978), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1977), three-time NFL All-Pro (1981-83), four-time Pro Bowl (1978, 1981-83)

Bottom line: Perhaps the greatest pound-for-pound college football running back of all time, Tony Dorsett led Pittsburgh to the national championship and won the Heisman Trophy in 1976. Dorsett, who was also a three-time All-American, was selected No. 2 overall in the 1977 NFL Draft and became the first football player to win a national championship and Super Bowl in back-to-back years.

Dorsett was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both his son, Anthony, and his nephew, Ty Law, also had lengthy NFL careers.

Syracuse: Jim Brown (1954-1956)

Born: Feb. 17, 1936 (St. Simons, Georgia)

Died: May 18, 2023, 87 years old (Los Angeles, California)

High school: Manhasset High School (Manhasset, New York)

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 232 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (1955, 1956), NFL champion (1964), NFL Rookie of the Year (1957), three-time NFL Most Valuable Player (1957, 1958, 1965), nine-time NFL All-Pro (1957-65), nine-time Pro Bowl (1957-65), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, NFL 50th Anniversary Team, NFL 75th Anniversary Team, NFL 100th Anniversary Team

Bottom line: Jim Brown was a three-sport star at Syracuse in football, lacrosse and basketball, and he's widely regarded as the greatest football player of all time and one of the greatest lacrosse players of all time.

Brown played just nine seasons in the NFL, earning NFL All-Pro honors nine times, making the Pro Bowl nine times and winning NFL Most Valuable Player three times. Brown also had a lengthy career as an action film star following his time in the NFL.

Virginia: Thomas Jones (1996-1999)

Born: Aug. 19, 1978 (Big Stone Gap, Virginia)

High school: Powell Valley High School (Big Stone Gap, Virginia)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 212 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1999), Pro Bowl (2008), two-time All-ACC (1998, 1999)

Bottom line: Thomas Jones stayed in his home state for college after leading Powell Valley High to back-to-back state championships.

Jones' 3,998 career rushing yards at Virginia broke Tiki Barber's school record, and he set the ACC record with six 200-yard games in his career, along with being the first player in ACC history with 200 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in a single game.

In 1999, Jones was the first consensus All-American running back from the ACC since North Carolina State's Ted Brown in 1979. Jones played 12 seasons in the NFL and finished with over 10,000 rushing yards and 2,000 receiving yards. He's had a lengthy career as a film and television actor since his NFL career ended with parts in Netflix's "Luke Cage" and Showtime's "Shameless," among other roles.

Virginia Tech: Kevin Jones (2000-2003)

Born: Aug. 21, 1982 (Chester, Pennsylvania)

High school: Cardinal O'Hara High School (Springfield, Pennsylvania)

Height/weight: 6-foot, 227 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2003), All-Big East (2003), PFWA All-Rookie Team (2004)

Bottom line: Pennsylvania native Kevin Jones was the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation for the Class of 2000 and shocked fans of both schools when he picked Virginia Tech over Penn State.

Jones was steady through his first two seasons with the Hokies before having a breakout season as a junior with 1,647 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. Jones was a first-round pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2004 NFL Draft and played six seasons in the NFL and one season in the UFL.

Wake Forest: Chris Barclay (2002-2005)

Born: Oct. 15, 1983 (Louisville, Kentucky)

High school: Male High School (Louisville, Kentucky)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 180 pounds

Career highlights: ACC Player of the Year (2005), ACC Offensive Player of the Year (2005), three-time All-ACC (2003-05)

Bottom line: Wake Forest's Chris Barclay earned All-ACC honors three times and became the only player to earn ACC Player of the Year from his school in the last 40 years in 2005.

Barclay set Wake Forest records for career rushing yards (4,032), all-purpose yards (4,930) and rushing touchdowns (40) — he also became the only player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Barclay went undrafted out of college but played two seasons in the NFL and one season in the UFL.

Notre Dame: Jerome Bettis (1990-1992)

Born: Feb. 16, 1972 (Detroit, Michigan)

High school: Mackenzie High School (Detroit, Michigan)

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 252 pounds

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2006), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1993), NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1996), Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2001), three-time NFL All-Pro (1993, 1996, 1997), six-time Pro Bowl (1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004), PFWA All-Rookie Team (1993), Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team

Bottom line: This is the most "heart over head" pick on this list — both Autry Denson and Allen Pinkett finished their Notre Dame careers with over 4,000 rushing yards and were both passed over in favor of Jerome Bettis, who never rushed for over 1,000 yards in a single season.

The problem is the Irish weren't very good when Denson and Pinkett played, and they were pretty amazing when Bettis was there, going 20-4 in his two years as the starter in 1991 and 1992 — both seasons in which he put up over 1,000 yards of total offense. Bettis also set the Notre Dame single-season record with 23 touchdowns in 1991.

Bettis played 12 seasons in the NFL, was a three-time NFL All-Pro and won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Big Ten Conference

Ohio State's Archie Griffin wins Heisman Trophy in 1974

Current schools: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin

Future schools: USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington

National championships: 22 (Ohio State 6, Nebraska 5, Minnesota 4, Michigan 2, Michigan State 2, Penn State 2, Maryland 1)

Illinois: Red Grange (1923-1925)

Born: June 13, 1903 (Forksville, Pennsylvania)

Died: Jan. 28, 1991, 87 years old (Lake Wales, Florida)

High school: Wheaton High School (Wheaton, Illinois)

Height/weight: 6-foot, 180 pounds

Career highlights: Three-time AP All-American (1923-25), National Champion (1923), Chicago Tribune Silver Football (1924), two-time NFL champion (1932, 1933), two-time NFL All-Pro (1930, 1931), NFL 1920s All-Decade Team

Bottom line: Illinois star Red Grange led his school to the national championship in 1923 and was a three-time All-American. "The Galloping Ghost" played three seasons in an era when schedules consisted of just 7-9 games, and in 20 career games, he rushed for 3,362 yards to go with 253 receiving yards and 575 passing yards.

Grange became one of the first stars in NFL history, and his barnstorming tour after college helped spread the league's popularity early on. He's one of the inaugural members of both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Indiana: Anthony Thompson (1986-1989)

Born: April 8, 1967 (Terre Haute, Indiana)

High School: Terre Haute North Vigo High School (Terre Haute, Indiana)

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 207 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (1988, 1989), three-time All-Big Ten (1987-89), two-time Big Ten Most Valuable Player (1988, 1989), Maxwell Award (1989), Walter Camp Award (1989)

Bottom line: Indiana's Anthony Thompson was a two-time All-American and two-time Big Ten MVP who finished his career with 5,259 rushing yards and an NCAA career record 68 touchdowns — a mark that would stand until Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams broke it in 1998.

Thompson was a two-time All-American, two-time Big Ten MVP and finished as Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1989. As a pro, Thompson rushed for just 831 yards over four NFL seasons with the Phoenix Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams.

Iowa: Ladell Betts (1998-2001)

Born: Aug. 27, 1979 (Kansas City, Kansas)

High school: Blue Springs High School (Blue Springs, Missouri)

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 224 pounds

Career highlights: Four-time All-Big Ten (1998-2001)

Bottom line: Ladell Betts is still the only player in Iowa history to lead the team in rushing for four seasons and was a four-time All-Big Ten pick as well. Betts finished his career with 3,686 rushing yards and over 700 career receiving yards.

He played nine seasons in the NFL and had his best season in 2004 with 1,154 rushing yards and 453 receiving yards despite only starting in nine games.

Maryland: Lamont Jordan (1997-2000)

Born: Nov. 11, 1978 (Forestville, Maryland)

High school: Suitland High School (Suitland, Maryland)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 242 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1999), three-time All-ACC (1998-2000)

Bottom line: Over two decades since he last played for Maryland, Lamont Jordan still holds school records for career rushing yards (4,147), single-season rushing yards (1,632) and single-game rushing yards (306).

Jordan went on to play nine seasons in the NFL for four different teams.

Michigan: Tyrone Wheatley (1991-1994)

Born: Jan. 19, 1972 (Inkster, Michigan)

High school: Robichaud High School (Dearborn Heights, Michigan)

Height/weight: 6-foot, 235 pounds

Career highlights: Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (1992), three-time All-Big Ten (1992-94), Rose Bowl Most Valuable Player (1993), Hall of Fame Bowl Most Valuable Player (1994)

Bottom line: Few running backs in college football history have been as fun to watch as Michigan's Tyrone Wheatley, who was also an All-American in the hurdles while in college.

Wheatley was named Rose Bowl MVP in 1993 and rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his last three seasons. He finished his career with 4,187 rushing yards and 47 rushing touchdowns despite playing in just 41 total games over four seasons.

Wheatley was selected No. 17 overall by the New York Giants in the 1995 NFL Draft and played 10 seasons in the NFL.

Michigan State: Lorenzo White (1984-1987)

Born: Sept. 12, 1966 (Hollywood, Florida)

High school: Dillard High School (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 220 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (1985, 1987), Big Ten Player of the Year (1987), two-time All-Big Ten (1985, 1987), Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, Pro Bowl (1992)

Bottom line: Lorenzo White starred for Michigan State for four seasons, which included leading the nation with 2,066 rushing yards as a sophomore in 1985. White was a two-time All-American and capped his career by leading the Spartans to a Big Ten championship and the Rose Bowl.

White played eight seasons in the NFL and was a Pro Bowl pick in 1992. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Minnesota: Laurence Maroney (2003-2005)

Born: Feb. 5, 1985 (St. Louis, Missouri)

High school: Normandy High School (Wellston, Missouri)

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 220 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2005), two-time All-Big Ten (2004, 2005), Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year (2003)

Bottom line: Laurence Maroney was the first Minnesota player and just third Big Ten player to rush for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Even more amazing is he split time with other running backs during his entire college career and started just 14 of 36 career games.

Maroney was still a two-time All-Big Ten pick and All-American in 2005. He played five seasons in the NFL for the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos.

Nebraska: Mike Rozier (1981-1983)

Born: March 1, 1961 (Camden, New Jersey)

High school: Woodrow Wilson High School (Camden, New Jersey)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 198 pounds

Career highlights: Heisman Trophy (1983), Sporting News Player of the Year (1983), two-time AP All-American (1982, 1983), Maxwell Award (1983), Walter Camp Award (1983), UPI Player of the Year (1983), two-time Pro Bowl (1987, 1988)

Bottom line: Mike Rozier spent his freshman season at Coffeyville Community College and played for legendary head coach Dick Foster before heading to Nebraska, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a senior in 1983 after he rushed for 2,295 yards.

Rozier backed up Roger Craig at tailback as a sophomore before becoming the full-time starter for his final two seasons. The Cornhuskers went 24-2 over those two seasons and played in the Orange Bowl both years. Rozier played eight seasons in the USFL and NFL and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Northwestern: Darnell Autry (1993-1996)

Born: June 19, 1976 (Wiesbaden, Germany)

High school: Tempe High School (Tempe, Arizona)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 210 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1996), two-time All-Big Ten (1995, 1996)

Bottom line: Northwestern was never better than when Darnell Autry was leading its offense, rushing for a career record 3,793 yards, including 1,785 rushing yards as he led the Wildcats to the Rose Bowl in 1995 — it was their first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 1940s.

Autry played just two seasons in the NFL.

Ohio State: Archie Griffin (1972-1975)

Born: Aug. 21, 1954 (Columbus, Ohio)

High School: Eastmoor Academy (Columbus, Ohio)

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 189 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time Heisman Trophy winner (1974, 1975), three-time AP All-American (1973-75), two-time Walter Camp Award winner (1974, 1975), two-time Sporting News Player of the Year (1974, 1975), two-time UPI Player of the Year (1974, 1975), Maxwell Award (1975), two-time Big Ten Most Valuable Player (1973, 1974), three-time All-Big Ten (1973-75)

Bottom line: Archie Griffin holds one of the more unique places in sports history as the only two-time winner of the Heisman Trophy. The Columbus, Ohio, native stayed in his hometown to play college football for Ohio State, where he was also a three-time All-American and finished his career with 5,939 rushing yards.

Griffin played seven seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1976 to 1982 and then returned to pro football in 1985 to play for the USFL's Jacksonville Bulls.

Penn State: Lenny Moore (1953-1955)

Born: Nov. 15, 1933 (Reading, Pennsylvania)

High school: Reading High School (Reading, Pennsylvania)

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 191 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (1954, 1955), two-time NFL champion (1958, 1959), NFL Rookie of the Year (1956), NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1964), seven-time NFL All-Pro (1956-61, 1964), seven-time Pro Bowl (1956, 1958-62, 1964), NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary Team

Bottom line: Penn State was possibly the most difficult team to pick an all-time great running back for, but the legendary Lenny Moore gets the nod after racking up 3,543 all-purpose yards and 24 touchdowns in just 27 games over three seasons.

Moore was a two-time All-American for the Nittany Lions and went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts, where he was a seven-time NFL All-Pro and won two NFL championships in 1958 and 1959. Moore was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1975.

Purdue: Mike Alstott (1992-1995)

Born: Dec. 21, 1973 (Joliet, Illinois)

High school: Joliet Catholic Academy (Joliet, Illinois)

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 248 pounds

Career highlights: All-Big Ten (1995), Super Bowl champion (2003), four-time NFL All-Pro (1996-99), six-time Pro Bowl (1997-2002), Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor

Bottom line: Mike Alstott was a throwback to another era — the 6-foot-1, 248-pound pure fullback punished defenses for four years and left school with records for career rushing yards (3,635) and touchdowns (39). Alstott averaged an incredible 5.6 yards per carry for his career.

Alstott was just as good in the NFL, where he was a four-time NFL All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowler and helped lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory in 2003.

Rutgers: Ray Rice (2005-2007)

Born: Jan. 22, 1987 (New Rochelle, New York)

High school: New Rochelle High School (New Rochelle, New York)

Height/weight: 5-foot-8, 206 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2007), two-time All-Big East (2006, 2007), Super Bowl champion (2013), three-time Pro Bowl (2009, 2011, 2012)

Bottom line: Ray Rice put Rutgers football on the map as a freshman in 2005, rushing for over 1,000 yards as his school made it to a bowl game for the first time in 13 years and just the second time in program history. Rice rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons at Rutgers and finished his career with 4,926 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns.

Rice played six seasons in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens, where he was a two-time NFL All-Pro, three-time Pro Bowler and won a Super Bowl.

Wisconsin: Ron Dayne (1996-1999)

Born: March 14, 1978 (Lynchburg, Virginia)

High School: Overbrook High School (Overbrook, New Jersey)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 249 pounds

Career highlights: Heisman Trophy (1999), Maxwell Award (1999), Walter Camp Award (1999), Doak Walker Award (1999), AP College Football Player of the Year (1999), Chicago Tribue Silver Football (1999), AP All-American (1999), Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year (1999), Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (1999), two-time Rose Bowl Most Valuable Player (1999, 2000), Copper Bowl Most Valuable Player (1996), Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year (1996)

Bottom line: Ron Dayne had over 2,000 rushing yards twice in college, as a freshman and as a senior at Wisconsin, winning the Heisman Trophy as a senior in 1999. With bowl games included, Dayne is still the NCAA's career rushing leader with 7,429 yards. He was also a two-time Rose Bowl MVP.

Dayne was selected No. 11 overall in the 2000 NFL Draft and played eight seasons in the NFL for three different teams.

Big 12 Conference

Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders wins Heisman Trophy in 1988

Current schools: Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, West Virginia, BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati, Houston

Future schools: Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, Utah

National championships: 13 (Oklahoma 7, Texas 4, Oklahoma State 1, TCU 1)

Baylor: Walter Abercrombie (1978-1981)

Born: Sept. 26, 1959 (Waco, Texas)

High school: University High School (Waco, Texas)

Height/weight: 6-foot, 210 pounds

Career highlights: SWC Freshman of the Year (1978), two-time All-SWC (1980, 1981)

Bottom line: Walter Abercrombie is one of two players from Waco University High to make this list alongside TCU's LaDainian Tomlinson.

Abercrombie stayed in his hometown to play college football for Baylor, where he set an NCAA record for a career debut with 207 yards against Texas A&M in 1978. Abercrombie was named Southwest Conference Freshman of the Year and went on to set Baylor's career rushing record with 3,655 yards. Abercrombie was a first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1982 and played six seasons in the NFL.

BYU: Luke Staley (1999-2001)

Born: Sept. 16, 1980 (Bountiful, Utah)

High school: Tualatin High School (Tualatin, Oregon)

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 227 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2001), Doak Walker Award (2001), MWC Offensive Player of the Year (2001), All-MWC (2001), MWC Freshman of the Year (1999)

Bottom line: Luke Staley was a bad man on a football field, and his combination of elite size and speed all came together as a junior in 2001 when he set school records with 1,582 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns and led the NCAA with 8.1 yards per carry as BYU went 12-2. Staley won the Doak Walker Award that year as the nation's top running back and left school early for the NFL Draft, but his history of knee injuries saw him plummet to the seventh round.

Staley injured his knee in training camp with the Detroit Lions as a rookie and never played in the NFL. By 2020, Staley had undergone surgery 23 times for his football injuries, and his life has been defined by the pain that comes with it.

Cincinnati: Reggie Taylor (1983-1986)

Born: Feb. 8, 1964 (Los Angeles, California)

High school: Lynwood High School (Lynwood, California)

Height/weight: 5-foot-8, 175 pounds

Career highlights: CFL All-Star (1989), two-time CFL West All-Star (1989, 1990), Eddie James Memorial Trophy (1989)

Bottom line: Reggie Taylor had a stellar, under-the-radar career at Cincinnati in the mid-1980s, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his last three seasons as the Bearcats played as an independent. Taylor's 4,242 career rushing yards still stand as the Cincinnati record almost 40 years later.

Taylor played four seasons in the CFL and led the league in rushing yards in 1989. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Hall of Fame in 1997.

Houston: Robert Newhouse (1969-1971)

Born: Jan. 9, 1950 (Longview, Texas)

High school: Galilee High School (Hallsville, Texas)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 209 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1971), Super Bowl champion (1978)

Bottom line: Houston's Robert Newhouse was known as "The Human Bowling Ball" during his career because of his compact, dynamic frame — his thighs reportedly measured 44 inches around. Newhouse's time at Houston was one of the best stretches in program history, as the Cougars finished in the Top 25 each of his three seasons and Newhouse set the school's career rushing record with 2,961 yards. Because of NCAA rules at the time, Newhouse wasn't allowed to play in games until he was a sophomore.

Newhouse went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL, all with the Dallas Cowboys, and he converted to fullback — serving as the lead blocker for Tony Dorsett when the Cowboys won a Super Bowl in 1978.

Iowa State: Breece Hall (2019-2021)

Born: May 31, 2001 (Omaha, Nebraska)

High school: Wichita Northwest High School (Wichita, Kansas)

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 220 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (2020, 2021), two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (2020, 2021), three-time All-Big 12 (2019-21)

Bottom line: Breece Hall is one of two players on this list who played high school football in the Wichita City League, starring at Wichita Northwest High before going on to play for Iowa State.

Hall made the Cyclones a legit Big 12 contender in his time there, earning All-Big 12 honors each of his three seasons. A two-time All-American, Hall rushed for 3,941 yards and 50 touchdowns in three seasons, along with having 734 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round in 2022.

Kansas: Gale Sayers (1962-1964)

Born: May 30, 1943 (Wichita, Kansas)

Died: Sept. 23, 2020, 77 years old (Wakarusa, Indiana)

High school: Omaha Central High School (Omaha, Nebraska)

Height/weight: 6-foot, 198 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (1963, 1964), three-time All-Big Eight (1962-64), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1965), NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1969), five-time NFL All-Pro (1965-69), four-time Pro Bowl (1965-67, 1969), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, NFL 50th Anniversary Team, NFL 75th Anniversary Team, NFL 100th Anniversary Team

Bottom line: Gale Sayers — "The Kansas Comet" — set the Big Eight career record for all-purpose yards (4,020) and was as dangerous as a running back as he was in the return game. Sayers was a two-time All-American for the Jayhawks before going on to star in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, where he was a five-time NFL All-Pro. Of note, his friendship with teammate Brian Piccolo was chronicled in the film "Brian's Song," starring Billy Dee Williams and James Caan.

Sayers is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Kansas State: Darren Sproles (2001-2004)

Kansas State running back Darren Sproles

Born: June 20, 1983 (Waterloo, Iowa)

High school: Olathe North High School (Olathe, Kansas)

Height/weight: 5-foot-6, 190 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2003), three-time All-Big 12 (2002-04), Super Bowl champion (2010), NFL All-Pro (2014), three-time Pro Bowl (2014-16), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

Bottom line: Darren Sproles was dynamite for Kansas State over three seasons, defying expectations at 5-foot-6 and 190 pounds to become one of the greatest college running backs of all time. Sproles was a three-time All-Big 12 pick for the Wildcats, including leading Kansas State to one of the biggest upsets in college football history when they defeated No. 1 Oklahoma in the 2003 Big 12 Championship Game. Sproles had 235 rushing yards, 88 receiving yards and one touchdown in the 35-7 win.

Sproles went on to play 15 seasons in the NFL, where he was a three-time Pro Bowler, earned NFL All-Pro honors in 2014 and won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Oklahoma: Adrian Peterson (2004-2006)

Born: March 21, 1985 (Palestine, Texas)

High school: Palestine High School (Palestine, Texas)

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 220 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2004), three-time All-Big 12 (2004-06), Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year (2004), Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2004), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2007), NFL Most Valuable Player (2012), NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2012), seven-time NFL All-Pro (2007-10, 2012, 2013, 2015), seven-time Pro Bowl (2007-10, 2012, 2013, 2015), PFWA All-Rookie Team (2007), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

Bottom line: Adrian Peterson is one of the few players in football history who most experts agree was probably ready to go to the NFL right out of high school. Peterson dominated in three seasons at Oklahoma, where he was the first freshman to finish as Heisman Trophy runner-up and finished his career as the school's third-leading rusher of all time.

Peterson played 15 seasons in the NFL and rushed for 2,097 yards in 2012 on the way to being named NFL MVP.

Oklahoma State: Barry Sanders (1986-1988)

Born: July 16, 1968 (Wichita, Kansas)

High school: Wichita North High School (Wichita, Kansas)

Height/weight: 5-foot-8, 200 pounds

Career highlights: Heisman Trophy (1988), Maxwell Award (1988), Walter Camp Award (1988), Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year (1988), two-time AP All-American (1987, 1988), All-Big Eight (1988), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1989), NFL Most Valuable Player (1997), two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1994, 1997), 10-time NFL All-Pro (1989-98), 10-time Pro Bowl (1989-98), NFl 1990s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary Team

Bottom line: One of two players who played high school football in the Wichita City League to make this list, Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders put together one of the greatest seasons in college football history when he won the Heisman Trophy in 1988. That year, Sanders had an unbelievable 2,628 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns in just 11 games before leaving school early for the NFL Draft.

The Detroit Lions selected Sanders No. 3 overall in 1989, and he played 10 seasons in the NFL, shocking the sports world by retiring approximately 1,500 yards short of the NFL's career rushing record. Sanders is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

TCU: LaDainian Tomlinson (1997-2000)

Born: June 23, 1979 (Rosebud, Texas)

High school: University High School (Waco, Texas)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 210 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2000), Doak Walker Award (2000), two-time All-WAC (1999, 2000), two-time WAC Offensive Player of the Year (1999, 2000), Senior Bowl Most Valuable Player (2000), NFL Most Valuable Player (2006), NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2006), six-time NFL All-Pro (2002-07), five-time Pro Bowl (2002, 2004-07), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team

Bottom line: LaDainian Tomlinson did all of his damage before TCU joined the Big 12, winning the Doak Walker Award and being named an All-American while the Horned Frogs were still playing in the WAC. Tomlinson rushed for 5,263 yards in four seasons, despite splitting time with another running back in his first two seasons. He also set the NCAA single-game rushing record with 406 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 43 carries against UTEP in 1999.

Tomlinson played 11 seasons in the NFL and was a six-time NFL All-Pro, earning NFL MVP honors in 2006. He's in both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Texas: Errick Miron (1995-1998)

Born: May 21, 1977 (San Diego, California)

High school: Patrick Henry High School (San Diego, California)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 230 pounds

Career highlights: Heisman Trophy (1998), two-time AP All-American (1997, 1998), AP College Football Player of the Year (1998), Sporting News College Football Player of the Year (1998), two-time Doak Walker Award winner (1997, 1998), two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (1997, 1998), three-time All-Big 12 (1996-98), NFL All-Pro (2002), Pro Bowl (2002)

Bottom line: Errick Miron was known as Ricky Williams when he played for Texas — he legally changed his name in 2022 — and he dominated college football like few players have.

Miron broke Tony Dorsett's 22-year-old NCAA career rushing record in 1998 and finished his career with 6,279 rushing yards and 7,206 all-purpose yards. Miron was the No. 5 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and played 11 seasons in the NFL and one season in the CFL, earning NFL All-Pro honors in 2002.

Texas Tech: Donny Anderson (1963-1965)

Born: May 16, 1943 (Borger, Texas)

High school: Stinnett High School (Stinnett, Texas)

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 215 pounds

Career highlights: Three-time All-SWC (1963-65), two-time AP All-American (1964, 1965), two-time Super Bowl champion (1967, 1968), Pro Bowl (1968), Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame

Bottom line: Donny Anderson's nickname at Texas Tech was "The Golden Palomino" in honor of both the horse and his blonde hair as he became a two-time All-American and three-time All-Southwest Conference selection.

Anderson is one of the most versatile running backs to make this list — in just 30 games over three seasons, he had 2,280 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns to go with 107 receptions for 1,392 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

Anderson played nine seasons in the NFL and won two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers, where he not only played running back but was also the team's punter. He's a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

UCF: Kevin Smith (2005-2007)

Central Florida running back Kevin Smith

Born: Dec. 17, 1986 (Miami, Florida)

High school: Miami Southridge High School (Miami, Florida)

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 217 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2007), Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year (2007), two-time All-Conference USA (2006, 2007)

Bottom line: Kevin Smith became the first consensus All-American in UCF history after he rushed for a staggering 2,567 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior in 2007 — he finished his college career with 4,679 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns.

Smith played four seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and one season in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He's currently the running backs coach at Ole Miss.

West Virginia: Steve Slaton (2005-2007)

Born: Jan. 4, 1986 (Levittown, Pennsylvania)

High school: Cornwell-Egan Catholic High School (Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania)

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 199 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2006), three-time All-Big East (2005-07), Sugar Bowl Most Valuable Player (2005), Freshman All-American (2005)

Bottom line: West Virginia fans knew what they had early on with Steve Slaton as he turned in one of the most incredible performances in school history as a freshman. He rallied his team from a 24-7 hole in the fourth quarter to beat Louisville 46-44 in triple overtime; he had six touchdowns and 188 rushing yards.

Slaton and quarterback Pat White were one of the most dynamic duos in college football history during their three seasons together, capped by a combined 5,460 yards of total offense and 43 touchdowns in 2007 — more than almost half of all Division I-A teams.

Slaton played four seasons in the NFL and one season in the CFL.

Pac-12 Conference

Current schools: Arizona, Arizona State, California, UCLA, Colorado, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, USC, Stanford, Utah, Washington, Washington State

National championships: 10 (USC 7, Colorado 1, UCLA 1, Washington 1)

Arizona: Ka'Deem Carey (2011-2013)

Born: Oct. 30, 1992 (Tucson, Arizona)

High school: Canyon del Oro High School (Oro Valley, Arizona)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 215 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (2012, 2013), Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year (2013), two-time All-Pac 12 (2012, 2013), CFL All-Star (2022)

Bottom line: Ka'Deem Carey was a two-time consensus All-American at Arizona as a sophomore and junior, rushing for over 1,800 yards each season and finishing his career with 4,239 rushing yards over three seasons.

Carey left school early to enter the NFL Draft and played three seasons with the Chicago Bears before playing six seasons in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders.

Arizona State: Woody Green (1971-1973)

Born: June 20, 1951 (Warren, Oregon)

High school: Jefferson High School (Portland, Oregon)

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 205 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (1972, 1973)

Bottom line: Arizona State's Woody Green somehow escaped from in-state schools Oregon and Oregon State after starring at Portland's Jefferson High and became a star at Arizona State instead.

With the Sun Devils, Green rushed for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons and finished his career with 3,754 rushing yards and 38 total touchdowns, earning consensus All-American honors in 1972 and 1973. More importantly, Arizona State went 32-4 during his time there, and he capped his career by going 11-1 and winning the Fiesta Bowl.

Green was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 1974 NFL Draft, but injuries cut short his pro career. He only lasted three seasons in the NFL.

California: Marshawn Lynch (2004-2006)

Born: April 22, 1986 (Oakland, California)

High school: Oakland Technical High School (Oakland, California)

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2006), All-Pac-10 (2006), Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year (2006), Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP (2006), Las Vegas Bowl MVP (2005), PFWA All-Rookie Team (2007), Super Bowl champion (2014), two-time NFL All-Pro (2012, 2014), five-time Pro Bowl (2008, 2011-14), PFWA All-Rookie Team (2007), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

Bottom line: Cal's Marshawn Lynch is much more than his "ghost-riding the whip" moment that is still viral almost 20 years later.

Lynch only played three seasons for the Golden Bears before leaving school early for the NFL but put up big-time numbers with over 1,200 rushing yards in each of his last two seasons. He was named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year and an All-American as a junior in 2006 and finished his college career with 3,230 rushing yards and 35 total touchdowns.

Lynch played 13 seasons in the NFL and was a two-time NFL All-Pro, leading the league in rushing touchdowns twice and winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014.

UCLA: Kenny Washington (1937-1939)

Born: Aug. 31, 1918 (Los Angeles, California)

Died: June 24, 1971, 52 years old (Los Angeles, California)

High school: Lincoln High School (Los Angeles, California)

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 212 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1939)

Bottom line: Players from bygone eras shouldn't be forgotten — especially not legendary UCLA running back Kenny Washington. Playing tailback, Washington led the nation in total offense in 1939 while also dealing with vile racist threats and remarks from competitors and was an All-American while also playing defensive back for the Bruins. He was also a baseball player at UCLA.

Washington became the first African American to sign an NFL contract in the post-World War II era. He played six seasons with the Hollywood Bears of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League from 1940 to 1945 and then three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams from 1946 to 1948.

Colorado: Eric Bienemy (1987-1990)

Born: Aug. 15, 1969 (New Orleans, Louisiana)

High school: Bishop Amat High School (La Puente, California)

Height/weight: 5-foot-7, 205 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1990), National Champion (1990), Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year (1990), two-time All-Big Eight (1988, 1990), CU Athletic Hall of Fame

Bottom line: Before Eric Bienemy was a two-time Super Bowl champion as the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, he was an electric running back on the great Colorado teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

With the Buffs, Bienemy was a two-time All-Big Eight selection and was at his best as a senior in 1990, rushing for 1,628 yards and 17 touchdowns in leading Colorado to the national championship. Bienemy played nine seasons in the NFL before going into coaching and is currently the offensive coordinator/assistant head coach for the Washington Commanders.

Oregon: LaMichael James (2009-2011)

Born: Oct. 22, 1989 (New Boston, Texas)

High school: Liberty-Eylau High School (Texarkana, Texas)

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 195 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (2010, 2011), Doak Walker Award (2010), two-time All-Pac-10/Pac-12 (2010, 2011), Pac-10 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2009), Pac-12 Championship Game MVP (2011)

Bottom line: LaMichael James made the most of his opportunity as a freshman when he was thrust into a starting role for Oregon after the starter, LeGarrette Blount, was suspended for punching a Boise State player in the season opener.

James went on to become a two-time All-American, helped lead the Ducks to within a hair's breadth of winning a national championship and won the Doak Walker Award in 2010. He finished his Oregon career with 5,608 rushing yards, placing him in the top 25 among NCAA career rushers. James played four seasons in the NFL, where he was primarily used as a return specialist.

Oregon State: Ken Simonton (1998-2001)

Born: June 7, 1979 (Pittsburg, California)

High school: Pittsburgh High School (Pittsburg, California)

Height/weight: 5-foot-7, 201 pounds

Career highlights: Pac-10 Player of the Year (2000), two-time All-Pac-10 (2000, 2001), Oahu Bowl MVP (1999)

Bottom line: Ken Simonton was a gutsy, do-it-all player for Oregon State who defied expectations at just 5-foot-7 and 200 pounds. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons with the Beavers and was named Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2000, as Oregon State had the best season in school history, going 11-1 and capping the season with a blowout win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

Simonton's 5,044 career rushing yards are still the Oregon State record. Simonton went undrafted but played four seasons in the NFL, one season in NFL Europe and two seasons in the CFL.

USC: Marcus Allen (1978-1981)

Born: March 26, 1960 (San Diego, California)

High school: Lincoln High School (San Diego, California)

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 210 pounds

Career highlights: Heisman Trophy (1981), National Champion (1978), Maxwell Award (1981), Walter Camp Award (1981), Pac-10 Player of the Year (1981), two-time AP All-American (1980, 1981), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1982), Super Bowl champion (1984), Super Bowl MVP (1984), NFL Most Valuable Player (1985), NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1993), three-time NFL All-Pro (1982, 1984, 1985), six-time Pro Bowl (1982, 1984-87, 1993)

Bottom line: The all-time greatest collection of college football rushers resides at USC, where four different running backs have won the Heisman Trophy. The best of those is up for debate … but it's actually Marcus Allen.

Allen won a national championship backing up Heisman Trophy-winning running back Charles White in 1978, played fullback in 1979 and then was the starting tailback in 1980 and 1981, rushing for 2,342 yards in 1981 on the way to winning his own Heisman.

Allen finished his college career with 4,682 rushing yards and was selected No. 10 overall in the 1982 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Raiders. Allen led the Raiders to a Super Bowl win and was Super Bowl MVP following the 1984 season and was NFL MVP in 1985. Allen played 15 seasons in the NFL and is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Stanford: Christian McCaffrey (2014-2016)

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey

Born: June 7, 1996 (Castle Rock, Colorado)

High school: Valor Christian High School (Highlands Ranch, Colorado)

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 205 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2015), two-time All-Pac-12 (2015, 2016), Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year (2015), AP College Football Player of the Year (2015), two-time NFL All-Pro (2018, 2019), two-time Pro Bowl (2019, 2022)

Bottom line: The son of former Stanford and NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and former Stanford soccer star Lisa McCaffrey, Christian McCaffrey put together one of the greatest seasons in college football history as a sophomore for Stanford in 2015.

That season, McCaffrey set the NCAA single-season record with 3,864 all-purpose yards — 2,019 rushing yards, 641 receiving yards and 1,200 return yards. In one of the greatest awards snubs of all time, he finished second to Alabama's Derrick Henry for the Heisman Trophy.

McCaffrey was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers and was a two-time NFL All-Pro headed into the 2023 season after being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2022.

Utah: Zack Moss (2016-2019)

Born: Dec. 15, 1997 (Hialeah Gardens, Florida)

High school: Hallandale High School (Hallandale, Florida)

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 205 pounds

Career highlights: Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year (2019), two-time All-Pac-12 (2018, 2019)

Bottom line: Florida native Zack Moss was originally committed to play for Miami before flipping to Utah, where he set the school record with 4,067 career rushing yards. Moss also had 688 career receiving yards and 41 total touchdowns.

Moss was headed into his fourth NFL season in 2023.

Washington: Napoleon Kaufman (1991-1994)

Born: June 7, 1973 (Kansas City, Missouri)

High school: Lompoc High School (Lompoc, California)

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 185 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1994), Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year (1994), three-time All-Pac-10 (1992-94), Washington Hall of Fame

Bottom line: Napoleon Kaufman led Lompoc High to a CIF championship before heading to Washington, where he returned kicks as a true freshman and helped lead the Huskies to a national championship in 1991.

Kaufman set Washington's career rushing record with 4,106 yards, and it stood for 23 years — he's still the school's career leader with a staggering 5,832 all-purpose yards. Kaufman played six seasons in the NFL before he abruptly retired to become a Christian minister.

Washington State: Rueben Mayes (1982-1985)

Born: June 6, 1963 (North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada)

High school: North Battleford High School (North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada)

Height/weight: 5-foot-1, 202 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1984), two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year (1984, 1985), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1986), PFWA All-Rookie Team (1986), two-time Pro Bowl (1986, 1987), New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame

Bottom line: No one on this list had a more difficult path to big-time college football than Rueben Mayes, who played high school football in rural Saskatchewan, Canada, and somehow got on Washington State's radar as a recruit in the early 1980s. At Washington State, Mayes set school single-season and career rushing records and set the NCAA single-game record with 357 yards against Oregon in 1984.

Mayes was a two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year and played eight seasons in the NFL, earning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1986. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Southeastern Conference (SEC)

Alabama's Derrick Henry wins Heisman in 2015

Current schools: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M

Future schools: Oklahoma, Texas

National championships: 28 (Alabama 13, LSU 4, Florida 3, Georgia 3, Auburn 2, Tennessee 2, Texas A&M 1)

Alabama: Derrick Henry (2013-2015)

Born: Jan. 4, 1994 (Yulee, Florida)

High school: Yulee High School (Yulee, Florida)

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 247 pounds

Career highlights: Heisman Trophy (2015), CFP National Champion (2015), AP All-American (2015), Doak Walker Award (2015), Maxwell Award (2015), Walter Camp Award (2015), SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2015), All-SEC (2015), NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2020), two-time NFL All-Pro (2019, 2020), three-time Pro Bowl (2019, 2020, 2022)

Bottom line: Few players have instilled as much fear in their opponents as 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry did carrying the ball for Alabama. Henry's size and speed were truly something to behold in college, at 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. He put it all together for the Crimson Tide in his Heisman season, rushing for 2,218 yards and 28 touchdowns as his school won the CFP national championship.

Henry also set the national high school rushing record at Yulee (Fla.) High with a staggering 12,124 rushing yards over four seasons, including over 4,000 rushing yards as a senior. He's in his seventh season with the Tennessee Titans headed into 2023 and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2020.

Arkansas: Darren McFadden (2005-2007)

Born: Aug. 27, 1987 (Little Rock, Arkansas)

High school: Oak Grove High School (North Little Rock, Arkansas)

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 220 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (2006, 2007), two-time Doak Walker Award winner (2006, 2007), Walter Camp Award (2007), two-time SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2006, 2007), three-time All-SEC (2005-07), SEC Freshman of the Year (2005), SEC Newcomer of the Year (2005)

Bottom line: Darren McFadden ran wild over SEC foes during his three seasons at Arkansas, where he was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, two-time consensus All-American and two-time Doak Walker Award winner. There was little McFadden couldn't do on offense for the Razorbacks — he finished his career with 4,590 rushing yards, 365 receiving yards, 926 return yards and 14-of-22 passing for 205 yards and seven touchdowns.

He was picked No. 4 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and played nine seasons in the NFL. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Auburn: Bo Jackson (1982-1985)

Born: Nov. 30, 1962 (Bessemer, Alabama)

High school: McCalla McAdory High School (McCalla, Alabama)

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 230 pounds

Career highlights: Heisman Trophy (1985), two-time AP All-American (1983, 1985), Walter Camp Award (1985), SEC Player of the Year (1985), Sporting News Player of the Year (1985), UPI Player of the Year (1985), three-time All-SEC (1982, 1983, 1985)

Bottom line: Bo Jackson is in the conversation regarding the greatest college running back of all time — a 6-foot-1, 230-pound dynamo who once reportedly ran a 4.13-second 40-yard dash at Auburn's Pro Day in 1986.

Jackson only played three full seasons at Auburn, as he missed almost the entire 1984 season with an injury and finished with 4,575 all-purpose yards and 45 touchdowns, including 1,786 rushing yards in 1985 on the way to winning the Heisman Trophy.

Jackson was almost as good in baseball as he was at football and famously played both sports in the pros for the Los Angeles Raiders and Kansas City Royals. His football career was cut short by a devastating hip injury in 1990, but he's remembered as one of the most popular athletes of all time.

Florida: Emmitt Smith (1987-1989)

Born: May 15, 1969 (Pensacola, Florida)

High school: Escambia High School (Pensacola, Florida)

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 215 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1989), SEC Most Valuable Player (1989), three-time All-SEC (1987-89), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1990), PFWA All-Rookie Team (1990), NFL Most Valuable Player (1993), three-time Super Bowl champion (1993, 1995, 1996), six-time NFL All-Pro (1992-95), eight-time Pro Bowl (1990-95, 1998, 1999), NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary Team

Bottom line: Emmitt Smith was bona fide coming out of Pensacola's Escambia High in the mid-1980s, where he established himself as perhaps the greatest high school football player in Florida history before becoming an All-American at the University of Florida.

Smith was magic with the Gators, where he put up 4,391 yards of total offense in three seasons despite missing four games as a sophomore in 1988. Smith won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s and is still the NFL's career leading rusher — he's a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Georgia: Herschel Walker (1980-1982)

Born: March 3, 1962 (Augusta, Georgia)

High school: Johnson County High School (Wrightsville, Georgia)

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 225 pounds

Career highlights: Heisman Trophy (1982), three-time AP All-American (1980-82), three-time SEC Player of the Year (1980-82), UPI College Football Player of the Year (1982), National Champion (1980), Maxwell Award (1982), Walter Camp Award (1982), two-time NFL All-Pro (1987, 1988), two-time Pro Bowl (1987, 1988)

Bottom line: Herschel Walker led Georgia to a national championship as a freshman in 1980 and rushed for 1,600 for all three seasons he played college football, capping things off with a Heisman Trophy as a junior in 1982.

Walker played three seasons in the USFL to begin his professional career before playing 12 seasons in the NFL, where he was a two-time NFL All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler.

Kentucky: Benny Snell (2016-2018)

Born: Feb. 26, 1998 (Columbus, Ohio)

High school: Westerville Central High School (Westerville, Ohio)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 224 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2018), Freshman All-American (2016), two-time All-SEC (2017, 2018), Citrus Bowl Most Valuable Player (2019)

Bottom line: Benny Snell stands above all other Kentucky running backs, breaking a 43-year-old school record with 3,873 rushing yards in just three seasons.

Snell also joined three other players — Herschel Walker, Darren McFadden and Alex Collins — as the only SEC players to rush for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Snell left college early to enter the NFL Draft and was headed into his fourth NFL season in 2023.

LSU: Kevin Faulk (1995-1998)

Born: June 5, 1976 (Lafayette, Louisiana)

High school: Carencro High School (Lafayette, Louisiana)

Height/weight: 5-foot-8, 202 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1996), three-time All-SEC (1996-98), SEC Freshman of the Year (1995), three-time Super Bowl champion (2002, 2004, 2005), New England Patriots All-2000s Team, New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team

Bottom line: Kevin Faulk became LSU's starting running back as a true freshman in 1995 and is one of just seven players in SEC history to lead his team in rushing for four consecutive seasons.

Faulk's greatest moment at LSU came in a game against Houston at Tiger Stadium in 1996. With LSU trailing 34-14 headed into the fourth quarter, Faulk took over and led a stunning comeback. LSU won, 35-34, as Faulk racked up 246 rushing yards and 106 yards on punt returns. Faulk ended his LSU career with 4,557 rushing yards, which was second in SEC history behind Georgia's Herschel Walker. He also set the SEC record with 6,833 all-purpose yards.

Faulk played 13 seasons in the NFL, all with the New England Patriots, and won three Super Bowls. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

Mississippi: Deuce McAllister (1997-2000)

Born: Dec. 27, 1978 (Ludlow, Mississippi)

High school: Morton High School (Morton, Mississippi)

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 232 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time All-SEC (1998, 1999), Super Bowl champion (2010), two-time Pro Bowl (2002, 2003), New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame

Bottom line: Deuce McCallister is still the only Ole Miss player to put up at least 1,000 all-purpose yards in three seasons and finished his career with school records for rushing yards (3,060), carries (616) and touchdowns (41).

McAllister played nine seasons in the NFL, all with the New Orleans Saints. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and won a Super Bowl in his final NFL season.

Mississippi State: Anthony Dixon (2006-2009)

Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon

Born: Sept. 24, 1987 (Jackson, Mississippi)

High school: Terry High School (Terry, Mississippi)

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 233 pounds

Career highlights: All-SEC (2009)

Bottom line: Anthony Dixon started five games as a true freshman for Mississippi State in 2006 and became the team's full-time starter the following season. Dixon would go on to rush for over 1,000 yards twice in his four seasons, including a career-high 1,391 yards as a senior in 2009. Dixon left Mississippi State with the school's career record for rushing yards (3,994) and became only the seventh player in SEC history to lead his team in rushing for four consecutive seasons.

The oldest of four brothers, Dixon was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft — two more of his siblings were also selected to play pro sports as younger brothers Deshun and Rashun were both picked in the MLB Draft.

Missouri: Larry Rountree III (2017-2020)

Missouri running back Larry Rountree III

Born: Feb. 13, 1999 (Raleigh, North Carolina)

High school: Millbrook High School (Raleigh, North Carolina)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 210 pounds

Career highlights: All-SEC (2020)

Bottom line: Missouri doesn't have much of a history at the running back position, but that doesn't mean they haven't been great at running the ball. Former quarterback Brad Smith is the school's career-leading rusher with 4,289 yards and 45 touchdowns, and another quarterback, Corby Jones, is in the school's Top 10 for career leading rushers.

That said, Larry Rountree is the best of the running backs, with 3,720 career rushing yards, which is second behind Smith. Rountree played two seasons for the San Diego Chargers.

South Carolina: George Rogers (1977-1980)

Born: Dec. 8, 1958 (Duluth, Georgia)

High school: Duluth High School (Duluth, Georgia)

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 228 pounds

Career highlights: Heisman Trophy (1980), two-time AP All-American (1979, 1980), PFWA All-Rookie Team (1981), Super Bowl champion (1988), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1981), NFL All-Pro (1981), three-time Pro Bowl (1981, 1982, 1986), New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame

Bottom line: South Carolina's George Rogers remains the only Heisman Trophy winner in school history after he beat out Pittsburgh's Hugh Green and Georgia's Herschel Walker in 1980. Rogers rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his last three seasons with the Gamecocks, including over 1,600 yards in each of his last two seasons. Rogers' career record of 5,091 rushing yards still stands as the South Carolina record and No. 20 in NCAA history.

Rogers was selected by the New Orleans Saints as the No.1 overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft, and he led the NFL with 1,674 rushing yards as a rookie. Rogers only played seven seasons in the NFL but rushed for 7,167 yards and 79 touchdowns despite being addicted to cocaine for the entirety of his pro career. He had his number retired by South Carolina while he was still playing for the Gamecocks and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Tennessee: Jamal Lewis (1997-1999)

Born: Aug. 29, 1979 (Atlanta, Georgia)

High school: Douglass High School (Atlanta, Georgia)

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 245 pounds

Career highlights: All-SEC (1999), SEC Freshman of the Year (1997), BCS National Champion (1998), PFWA All-Rookie Team (2000), Super Bowl champion (2001), NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2003), NFL All-Pro (2003), Pro Bowl (2003), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor

Bottom line: One of the more shocking facts uncovered in this list was that Tennessee doesn't have a single player on the list of the top 250 rushers in NCAA history — that's not to say they haven't been without talent at the running back position.

The very best of those running backs was Jamal Lewis, who rushed for over 1,300 yards as a freshman playing alongside Peyton Manning, but Lewis only played five games as a sophomore on Tennessee's national championship team because of a knee injury. He returned as a junior to have over 1,000 yards of total offense before leaving school early for the NFL Draft.

Lewis was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens and helped lead the team to a Super Bowl win in his first season. He was also named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2003.

Texas A&M: Darren Lewis (1987-1990)

Born: Nov. 7, 1968 (Dallas, Texas)

High school: Dallas Carter High School (Dallas, Texas)

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 219 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (1990), two-time All-SWC (1988, 1990)

Bottom line: Darren Lewis played for the infamous Dallas Carter High in the 1980s and was considered the top player in the nation for the Class of 1987 before staying in his home state to play for Texas A&M.

Lewis left Aggieland as a legend — his 5,013 career rushing yards is still the school record 33 years after he played his last game. He rushed for over 1,500 yards twice in his career, as a sophomore in 1988 and as a senior in 1990. Lewis' 45 career rushing touchdowns stood as the Texas A&M record for 20 years, and his 27 career 100-yard games are still the school record.

Lewis' NFL career got off to a rocky start when he tested positive for cocaine at the NFL combine. He played three seasons for the Chicago Bears but struggled with drug addiction for decades. In 2014, Lewis was eventually sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for armed robbery.

Vanderbilt: Zac Stacy (2009-2012)

Born: April 9, 1991 (Centreville, Alabama)

High school: Bibb County High School (Centreville, Alabama)

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 224 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time All-SEC (2011, 2012)

Bottom line: Zac Stacy became the first player in Vanderbilt history to rush for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons in 2011 and 2012, earning All-SEC honors both years. He was also the first player in Vanderbilt history to rush for over 3,000 yards in a career.

Stacy was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2013 and played three seasons in the NFL and one season in the AAF for the Memphis Express in 2019.