The 15 Best College Running Backs Since 1980
Bull City, Football, Lists — By Joe Simmons on August 13, 2012 at 5:00 am
Anytime you would like to start a good argument among sports fans, just offer up your list of the best of anything of all time. Honestly, I don’t see how you can ever do an all-time list on anything because you haven’t been alive for eternity. In essence, when you say all time you can only really speak about what you have seen.
It’s easier for me to keep it in my life span when putting these lists together. I know there are guys who I have heard were great like Jim Brown, O.J. Simpson and Ernie Davis, but I never saw them play personally so I can’t really speak on it. What I can do is speak on what I have seen, and today I am going to try to put together a list that can affirm my take on the college running back.
The college running back has helped determine the success of many teams throughout the years. Evaluating the position is really tough to do because there are so many different styles of runners. For some it’s speed, and for others it’s power. Some are elusive and others are versatile. I was born in the 1970’s so I couldn’t really appreciate the position until the 1980’s. I consider myself a student of the game so I am sure this list will spark some interest.
So here is my own list of college football’s best running backs since 1980.
Tags: Adrian Peterson, Barry Sanders, Bo Jackson, cedric benson, darren sproles, DeAngelo Williams, eddie george, Eric Dickerson, Football, Herschel Walker, LaDainian Tomlinson, Marshall Faulk, ncaa football, ray rice, reggie bush, ricky williams, Ron Dayne, running backs
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8 Comments
Very Good list – not much to argue with
I guess Marcus Allen missed the cut since he was at USC from ’78-’81. Keith Byars would have won the ’84 Heisman as a junior if it wasn’t for Flutie’s Hail Mary. Unfortunately, he wasn’t quite the same after he broke his foot senior year.
I’m sure Rev. will have something to say about Ki’Jana Carter. His pro career flamed out (injuries and being drafted by the Bengals was too much to overcome). But he got it done at Penn State.
Lawrence Phillips had all the tools, except the one between his ears.
Sure, I’d love to put Ki-Jana Carter on this list, and I don’t think that would be absurd, however I have no idea who I’d take off. This list is pretty awesome.
Reggie Bush was the most impressive player I ever saw in person, when he was literally a professional (paid with a house and all!) among amateurs when I witnessed him go bonkers against Notre Dame in the infamous Bush Push game.
Eddie George, while a Buckeye, is a Philadelphia guy that I always loved. Ron Dayne, beast. Ricky and Ced tore things up at Texas, though I never will forgive Cedric Benson for saying he’d rather win the Heisman than beat Oklahoma. I may have banished him from the list just for that. I’m all for going for your accolades, but not at the expense of the team. Maybe we could slip Ki-Jana in there.
Seriously, great list. I wish I would have been old enough to see/appreciate Herschel, Barry and Bo in college.
Well done.
There were lots of guys who could have been considered. When I did the list I originally started with 1982 because I can remember those guys purely. I can honestly say that I didn’t see Marcus Allen play one down in college.
I did love Ki-Jana Carter too.
… As a Bucs fan I wanted to get Cedric Benson instead of Cadillac always loved him at Texas.
Was never a believer of Ron Dayne but he put up numbers in college so I won’t take that away from him.
Reggie Bush was probably one of the most electrifying backs I’ve seen in college. Dude was soooo explosive.
I’m still mad Marshall didn’t get that Heisman. Dude was a monster that put up playstation numbers.
Herschel Herschel Herschel nuff said. GOAT
Great read brother.
How is Rashaan Salaam not on this list?
2,055 yd season
Heisman
etc.
Who do you take off the list to add Salaam?
I have no arguments on this list.