Most Productive College Running Backs of All Time
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Do you recognize this football legend?Reliable college football statistics did not become readily available until the mid-1950s, including for bowl games. In fact, the NCAA only began adding bowl games to its official career statistics beginning in 2002.
That means many of the NCAA's official individual career records have come under scrutiny. It’s also given us a greater appreciation for players from the pre-2002 era, especially running backs.
These runners have the most career yards from scrimmage — total rushing and receiving yards — in college football history.
30. Paul Palmer — 5,604 Yards
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Paul Palmer was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1986.Note: College Football at Sports Reference is the source for all career yards per scrimmage stats. These are not the official NCAA numbers, and an asterisk indicates bowl stats are included.
Born: Oct. 14, 1964 (Bethesda, Maryland)
High school: Churchill High School (Potomac, Maryland)
College: Temple
Years: 1983-1986
Position: Running back
College highlights: Two-time AP All-American (1985, 1986), Heisman Trophy runner-up (1986), ECAC Player of the Year (1986), two-time All-ECAC (1985, 1986), College Football Hall of Fame (2018)
Bottom line: Paul Palmer was a star at Temple for future NFL head coach Bruce Arians, and became the first Owl inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Palmer's 1986 statistics and awards were removed from the Temple record books for several years after the school discovered he took money from an agent before his senior year, but eventually, his stats were reinstated.
29. Michael Hart — 5,606 Yards*
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Michael Hart was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2004.Born: April 9, 1986 (Syracuse, New York)
High school: Onondaga Central High School (Nedrow, New York)
College: Michigan
Years: 2004-2007
Position: Running back
College highlights: Three-time All-Big Ten (2004, 2006, 2007), Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2004), two-time Doak Walker Award finalist (2006, 2007)
Bottom line: Michael Hart is Michigan's career leader for carries and yards and only lost three fumbles in his four years, although two of those came in the final game of his senior season in the Capital One Bowl.
Hart was only the fourth player in Big Ten history to rush for 5,000 yards and played three NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
28. Marcus Allen — 5,611 Yards*
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Marcus Allen is the only football player to win a Heisman, national title, Super Bowl, Super Bowl MVP and NFL MVP.Born: March 26, 1960 (San Diego, California)
High school: Lincoln High School (San Diego, California)
College: USC
Years: 1978-1981
Position: Running back
College highlights: Heisman Trophy winner (1981), National Champion (1978), Maxwell Award (1981), Pac-10 Player of the Year (1981), two-time AP All-American (1980, 1981), College Football Hall of Fame (2000)
Bottom line: One of the greatest running backs in college football history, Marcus Allen helped lead USC to a national championship in 1978 and won the Heisman Trophy in 1981.
Allen is still the only player in football history to have won a national championship, Heisman Trophy, Super Bowl, Super Bowl MVP and NFL MVP.
27. LaDainian Tomlinson — 5,654 Yards*
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LaDainian Tomlinson led the nation in rushing twice.Born: June 23, 1979 (Rosebud, Texas)
High school: University High School (Waco, Texas)
College: TCU
Years: 1997-2000
Position: Running back
College highlights: Doak Walker Award winner (2000), AP All-American (2000), two-time WAC Offensive Player of the Year (1999, 2000), Senior Bowl MVP (2001), College Football Hall of Fame (2014)
Bottom line: LaDainian Tomlinson's interest in hometown college Baylor University wasn't reciprocated, so he went down the road to TCU and became one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game.
Tomlinson led the nation in rushing each of his last two seasons, racking up 2,158 rushing yards in 2000.
He went on to win NFL MVP honors in 2006.
26. LaMichael James — 5,608 Yards*
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Oregon's LaMichael James won the Doak Walker Award in 2010.Born: Oct. 22, 1989 (New Boston, Texas)
High school: Liberty-Eylau High School (Texarkana, Texas)
College: Oregon
Years: 2009-2011
Position: Running back
College highlights: Doak Walker Award winner (2010), two-time AP All-American (2010, 2011), two-time All-Pac-10/Pac-12 (2010, 20110, Heisman Trophy finalist (2010), Pac-10 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2009)
Bottom line: After Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount was suspended for punching a Boise State player in the 2009 season opener, freshman LaMichael James stepped in and began carving out a career as one of the greatest running backs in Pac-12 history.
James won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back in 2010 and helped lead the Ducks to the BCS Championship Game.
25. Elijah McGuire — 5,695 Yards*
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Elijah McGuire scored 52 career touchdowns.Born: June 1, 1994 (Houma, Louisiana)
High school: Vandebilt Catholic High School (Houma, Louisiana)
College: Louisiana-Lafayette
Years: 2013-2016
Position: Running back
College highlights: Sun Belt Player of the Year (2014), Sun Belt Freshman of the Year (2013), three-time All-Sun Belt (2013-15)
Bottom line: Elijah McGuire was only 5-foot-10, but he took a small break from being a star football player for Louisiana-Lafayette to play basketball for the Ragin' Cajuns for one year.
McGuire, who scored 52 career touchdowns, won a Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 as a member of their practice squad.
24. Larry Rose III — 5,715 Yards*
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New Mexico State's Larry Rose was named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2015.Born: Sept. 9, 1995 (Fairfield, Texas)
High school: Fairfield High School (Fairfield, Texas)
College: New Mexico State
Years: 2014-2017
Position: Running back
College highlights: AP All-American (2015), Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year (2015), All-Sun Belt (2015)
Bottom line: Larry Rose started for New Mexico State as a true freshman, but his numbers took a bit of a hit when he missed the first three games of his senior season with an injury.
As a senior, Rose still rushed for 934 yards and added an impressive 522 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions.
23. Montee Ball — 5,738 Yards*
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Montee Ball wasn't a full-time starter for Wisconsin until his junior season.Born: Dec. 5, 1990 (McPherson, Kansas)
High school: Timberland High School (Wentzille, Missouri)
College: Wisconsin
Years: 2009-2012
Position: Running back
College highlights: Doak Walker Award winner (2012), two-time AP All-American (2011, 2013), Heisman Trophy finalist (2011), two-time All-Big Ten (2011, 2012), Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2011)
Bottom line: Montee Ball didn't become the full-time starter for Wisconsin until his junior season, but when he did he began a full-on assault on the record books.
In 2011, Ball broke the Big Ten single-season record for rushing touchdowns and tied Barry Sanders for the NCAA single-season touchdown record with 39 scores.
Ball played just two seasons in the NFL for the Denver Broncos.
22. Garrett Wolfe — 5,752 Yards*
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Garrett Wolfe played high school, college and pro football in the state of Illinois.Born: Aug. 17, 1984 (Chicago, Illinois)
High school: Holy Cross High School (River Grove, Illinois)
College: Northern Illinois
Years: 2004-2006
Position: Running back
College highlights: MAC Most Valuable Player (2006), three-time All-MAC (2004-06), AP All-American (2006)
Bottom line: Garrett Wolfe spent almost the entirety of his freshman season at Northern Illinois on the sideline, then began racking up yards at a historic pace when he was named a full-time starter as a sophomore.
Wolfe, a Chicago-area product, capped off his college career by leading the nation in rushing and played four seasons in the NFL for the Chicago Bears.
21. Myles Gaskin — 5,788 Yards*
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Myles Gaskin was the first player in Pac-12 history with four seasons rushing for at least 1,000 yards.Born: Feb. 15, 1997 (Lynnwood, Washington)
High school: O'Dea High School (Seattle, Washington)
College: Washington
Years: 2015-2018
Position: Running back
College highlights: Three-time All-Pac-12 (2016-18), Heart of Dallas Bowl MVP (2015)
Bottom line: Myles Gaskin became the first Pac-12 player with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2018 and set Washington's career record with 62 touchdowns.
Only 5-foot-9, Gaskin was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL draft and has been a reliable backup through his first two seasons.
20. DonTrell Moore — 5,800 Yards*
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DonTrell Moore stayed in his home state to play for the University of New Mexico.Born: Sept. 25, 1982 (Roswell, New Mexico)
High school: Roswell High School (Roswell, New Mexico)
College: New Mexico
Years: 2002-2005
Position: Running back
College highlights: Four-time All-Mountain West (2002-05), MWC Offensive Player of the Year (2005), MWC Freshman of the Year (2002), Sports Illustrated All-American (2005), Doak Walker Award semifinalist (2005)
Bottom line: The greatest running back in the University of New Mexico history, DonTrell Moore is also arguably the best running back to come out of New Mexico, where he led Roswell High to a state title.
Moore, just 5-foot-9, went undrafted out of college and was on the practice squad for three different NFL teams but never made it onto an active roster.
19. Trevor Cobb — 5,840 Yards
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Rice star Trevor Cobb made the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent.Born: Nov. 20, 1970 (Houston, Texas)
High school: Dobie High School (Houston, Texas)
College: Rice
Years: 1989-1992
Position: Running back
College highlights: Doak Walker Award winner (1991), AP All-American (1991)
Bottom line: Houston native Trevor Cobb didn't even have to leave his city to attend college when he signed with Rice.
Cobb won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back in 1991, as a junior.
He wasn't selected in the NFL draft after his senior season but still played two years for the Chicago Bears.
18. Steve Bartalo — 5,892 Yards
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Steve Bartalo began his career at Colorado State as a walk-on quarterback.Born: July 15, 1964 (Limestone, Maine)
High school: Doherty High School (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
College: Colorado State
Years: 1983-1986
Position: Running back
College highlights: WAC Offensive Player of the Year (1986), three-time All-WAC (1984-86)
Bottom Line: Steve Bartalo went from being a walk-on quarterback at Colorado State as a freshman in 1982 to the school's career rushing leader.
Bartalo's 1,211 career rushing attempts are an NCAA record, and he played two years in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers after being selected in the sixth round of the 1987 NFL draft.
17. Archie Griffin — 5,939 Yards*
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Ohio State's Archie Griffin is the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner.Born: Aug. 21, 1954 (Columbus, Ohio)
High school: Eastmoor Academy (Columbus, Ohio)
College: Ohio State
Years: 1972-1975
Position: Running back
College highlights: Two-time Heisman Trophy winner (1974, 1975), two-time Walter Camp Award winner (1974, 1975), two-time Sporting News Player of the Year (1974, 1975), Maxwell Award winner (1975), two-time Big Ten MVP (1973, 1974), three-time AP All-American (1973-75), College Football Hall of Fame (1986)
Bottom line: Archie Griffin remains the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in college football history six decades after he won the awards.
Griffin actually played high school football, college football and in the NFL all in Ohio, playing seven seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Griffin's younger brother, defensive back Ray Griffin, also played for Ohio State and played with Archie on the Bengals.
16. Ito Smith — 5,984 Yards*
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Ito Smith averaged 44 receptions for his final three seasons.Born: Sept. 11, 1995 (Mobile, Alabama)
High school: McGill-Toolen Catholic High School (Mobile, Alabama)
College: Southern Mississippi
Years: 2014-2017
Position: Running back
College highlights: All-Conference USA (2015), Maxwell Award watch list (2016)
Bottom line: Ito Smith is one of the better pass-catching running backs on this list.
He averaged 44 catches and 456.6 receiving yards per season during his last three years at Southern Miss.
After a productive rookie season in 2018 with the Atlanta Falcons in 2018, Smith suffered a season-ending injury early in 2019 but was back on the roster in 2020.
15. Anthony Thompson — 6,054 Yards*
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Indiana's Anthony Thompson was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1989.Born: April 8, 1967 (Terre Haute, Indiana)
High school: North Vigo High School (Terre Haute, Indiana)
College: Indiana
Years: 1986-1989
Position: Running back
College highlights: Maxwell Award winner (1989), Walter Camp Award winner (1989, Heisman Trophy runner-up (1989), two-time Big Ten MVP (1988, 1989), two-time AP All-American (1988, 1989), three-time All-Big Ten (1987-89), College Football Hall of Fame (2007)
Bottom line: Anthony Thompson held the NCAA career touchdowns record from 1989 until Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams broke his mark in 1998.
Thompson had at least 200 receiving yards in each of his last three seasons, and in 1989, when he finished as Heisman Trophy runner-up, he also had 18 kick returns for 394 yards.
14. Travis Prentice — 6,118 Yards
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Miami of Ohio's Travis Prentice set the NCAA career record for consecutive carries without a fumble.Born: Oct. 27, 1976 (Louisville, Kentucky)
High school: duPont Manual High School (Louisville, Kentucky_)
College: Miami (Ohio)
Years: 1996-1999
Position: Running back
College highlights: MAC Most Valuable Player (1998), MAC Offensive Player of the Year (1998), two-time Doak Walker Award semifinalist (1997, 1998)
Bottom line: Travis Prentice finished his time at Miami of Ohio with eight NCAA career records, including total touchdowns and career rushing touchdowns.
The majority of those records have been broken in the time since, but they are impressive nonetheless.
Another two of those records probably told Prentice's story best — single-season and career marks for consecutive carries without a fumble.
13. Cedric Benson — 6,161 Yards*
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Cedric Benson died in a motorcycle accident in 2019.Born: Dec. 28, 1972 (Midland, Texas)
Died: Aug. 17, 2019 (Austin, Texas)
High school: Lee High School (Midland, Texas)
College: Texas
Years: 2001-2004
Position: Running back
College highlights: Doak Walker Award winner (2004), AP All-American (2004), four-time All-Big 12 (2001-04), Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2001)
Bottom line: Cedric Benson spent two summers during his time at Texas playing minor league baseball for the Dodgers, but it was football that truly put his name in the spotlight.
Benson rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his four college seasons, capped by 1,834 yards and the Doak Walker Award in 2004.
Benson, who played eight seasons in the NFL, died in 2019 in a motorcycle accident. He was 37 years old.
12. Damion Fletcher — 6,206 Yards*
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Damion Fletcher rushed for a career-low 1,015 yards as a senior at Southern Miss in 2017.Born: July 1, 1987 (Biloxi, Mississippi)
High school: Biloxi High School (Biloxi, Mississippi)
College: Southern Mississippi
Years: 2006-2009
Position: Running back
College highlights: All-Conference USA (2007), Conerly Trophy (2007), GMAC Bowl MVP (2007), Sporting News Freshman All-American (2006)
Bottom line: Damion Fletcher was only the ninth player in NCAA history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in all four seasons.
Fletcher rushed for at least 1,300 yards in each of his first three seasons, including a career-high 1,586 in 2007, but saw his production sharply decline as a senior when he ran for just 1,015 yards.
11. Justin Jackson — 6,298 Yards*
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Northwestern's Justin Jackson was a four-time All-Big Ten selection.Born: April 22, 1996 (Carol Stream, Illinois)
High School: Glenbard North High School (Carol Stream, Illinois)
College: Northwestern
Years: 2014-2017
Position: Running back
College highlights: Four-time All-Big Ten (2014-17)
Bottom line: Justin Jackson produced big numbers in all four seasons at Northwestern, and has been a reliable backup running back and special teams player for the Los Angeles Chargers since 2018.
Jackson was incredibly effective catching the ball out of the backfield in college, finishing his career with 121 catches for 848 receiving yards.
10. Darrin Nelson — 6,401 Yards
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Darrin Nelson was one of the best pass-catching running backs in NCAA history.Born: Jan. 2, 1959 (Sacramento, California)
High School: Pius X High School (Downey, California)
College: Stanford
Years: 1977-1981
Position: Running back/return specialist
College highlights: Four-time All-Pac-10 (1977, 1978, 1980, 1981), AP All-American (1978)
Bottom line: Probably the best pass-catching running back on this list, Darrin Nelson became the first player in NCAA history to rush for at least 1,000 yards and have 50 receptions in a single season as a freshman in 1977. Then he did it two more times.
If not for an injury-shortened junior year, Nelson would be considerably higher on this list.
9. Mewelde Moore — 6,423 Yards*
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Tulane running back Mewelde Moore played nine seasons in the NFL.Born: July 24, 1982 (Hammond, Louisiana)
High School: Belaire High School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
College: Tulane
Years: 2000-2003
Position: Running back
College highlights: Three-time All-Conference USA (2001-03), Conference USA Freshman of the Year (2000), Sporting News Freshman All-American (2000)
Bottom line: Mewelde Moore was only the second player in NCAA history to record at least 4,000 rushing yards and 2,000 receiving yards in his career after former Stanford star Darrin Nelson did it first.
Moore had a lengthy NFL career, where he played nine seasons and won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008.
8. Royce Freeman — 6,435 Yards*
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Oregon's Royce Freeman set the Pac-12 career rushing touchdowns record.Born: Feb. 24, 1996 (Imperial, California)
High School: Imperial High School (Imperial, California)
College: Oregon
Years: 2014-2017
Position: Running back
College highlights: Three-time All-Pac 12 (2014, 2015, 2017), Pac 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2014)
Bottom line: Royce Freeman began breaking records in high school when he became the San Diego Section's career leader in rushing yards, touchdowns and points at Imperial High School.
He set the Pac-12 career record with 60 rushing touchdowns and the Oregon career record with 5,621 yards before he was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the NFL draft.
7. Jonathan Taylor — 6,581 Yards*
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Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor won the Doak Walker Award twice.Born: Jan. 19, 1999 (Salem, New Jersey)
High School: Salem High School (Salem, New Jersey)
College: Wisconsin
Years: 2017-2020
Position: Running back
College highlights: Two-time Doak Walker Award winner (2018, 2019), two-time AP All-American (2018, 2019), three-time All-Big Ten (2017-19), Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2017)
Bottom line: Jonathan Taylor set the national rushing record for freshmen with 1,977 rushing yards in 2017, then went on to win two Doak Walker Awards as the nation's best running back in 2018 and 2019.
Taylor is an anomaly on this list. He left school after just three seasons at Wisconsin before being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.
6. DeAngelo Williams — 6,749 Yards*
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DeAngelo Williams ran for over 1,900 yards in each of his last two seasons at Memphis.Born: April 25, 1983 (Wynne, Arkansas)
High School: Wynne High School (Wynne, Arkansas)
College: Memphis
Years: 2002-2005
Position: Running back
College highlights: Three-time Conference USA Player of the Year (2003-05), AP All-American (2005), Pro Football Weekly All-American (2004)
Bottom line: DeAngelo Williams was the first player able to take full advantage of the NCAA adding bowl statistics to career totals, which occurred beginning with the 2002 season.
Williams came dramatically close to rushing for 2,000 yards in each of his last two seasons at Memphis, finishing with 1,948 in 2004 and 1,964 in 2005, respectively.
Williams also led the NFL in rushing in 2008 and 2015.
5. Charles White — 6,786 Yards*
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USC running back Charles White won a national title in 1978 and the Heisman Trophy in 1979.Born: Jan. 22, 1958 (Los Angeles, California)
High School: San Fernando High School (Los Angeles, California)
College: USC
Years: 1976-1979
Position: Running back
College highlights: Heisman Trophy winner (1979), national champion (1978), Maxwell Award winner (1979), Walter Camp Award winner (1979), Sporting News Player of the Year (1979), two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year (1978, 1979), two-time AP All-American (1978, 1979)
Bottom line: Charles White is one of two Los Angeles natives to win the Heisman Trophy at USC along with fellow running back Mike Garrett, the school's first Heisman winner.
White led USC to a national title in 1978 with another Heisman winner in the backfield, Marcus Allen, who was a freshman.
White led the nation in rushing each of his last two seasons, including 2,050 yards in 1979.
4. Tony Dorsett — 6,941 Yards*
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Tony Dorsett was the first player to win a national title and Super Bowl in back-to-back years.Born: April 7, 1954 (Rochester, Pennsylvania)
High School: Hopewell High School (Aliquippa, Pennsylvania)
College: Pittsburgh
Years: 1973-1976
Position: Running back
College highlights: Heisman Trophy winner (1976), national champion (1976), Maxwell Award winner (1976), Walter Camp Award winner (1976), three-time AP All-American (1973, 1975, 1976), College Football Hall of Fame (1994)
Bottom line: Tony Dorsett led Pittsburgh to the national championship and won the Heisman Trophy in 1976, capping off the career of arguably the greatest running back in NCAA history.
The next year, playing for the Dallas Cowboys, he became the first player to win a national title and Super Bowl in back-to-back years.
3. Ricky Williams — 7,206 Yards
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Ricky Williams won the second Heisman Trophy in University of Texas history in 1998.Born: May 21, 1977 (San Diego, California)
High School: Patrick Henry High School (San Diego, California)
College: Texas
Years: 1995-1998
Position: Running back
College highlights: Heisman Trophy winner (1998), two-time Doak Walker Award winner (1997, 1998), Walter Camp Award winner (1998), Maxwell Award Winner (1998), two-time AP All-American (1997, 1998), two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (1997, 1998), three-time All-Big 12 (1996-98), College Football Hall of Fame (2015)
Bottom line: Ricky Williams captivated the nation as a star running back for Texas in the 1990s and became the Longhorns' second Heisman Trophy winner in 1998, following Earl Campbell's win in 1977.
Williams, who also played four seasons in the minor leagues for the Philadelphia Phillies, broke Tony Dorsett's 22-year-old NCAA rushing record in 1998 only to have his record broken one year later by Wisconsin's Ron Dayne.
2. Ron Dayne — 7,429 Yards*
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Ron Dayne rushed for over 2,000 yards in a single season in 1996 and 1999.Born: March 14, 1978 (Lynchburg, Virginia)
High School: Overbrook High School (Overbrook, New Jersey)
College: Wisconsin
Years: 1996-1999
Position: Running back
College highlights: Heisman Trophy winner (1999), Maxwell Award winner (1999), Walter Camp Award winner (1999), Doak Walker Award winner (1999), Big Ten MVP (1999), AP All-American (1999), Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year (1996), two-time Rose Bowl MVP (1999, 2000)
Bottom line: Ron Dayne rushed for over 2,000 yards twice in college, as a freshman in 1996 and as a senior in 1999, when he won the Heisman Trophy.
Dayne rushed for at least 1,400 yards in each of his four seasons and held the NCAA's career rushing record until his mark was broken by San Diego State's Donnel Pumphrey in 2016.
It's worth noting that Dayne played before the NCAA began including bowl games in career statistics in 2002.
1. Donnel Pumphrey — 7,444 Yards*
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Donnel Pumphrey broke the national yards from scrimmage record in his final college game.Born: Dec. 6, 1994 (North Las Vegas, Nevada)
High School: Canyon Springs High School (North Las Vegas, Nevada)
College: San Diego State
Years: 2013-2016
Position: Running back
College highlights: AP All-American (2016), two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016)
Bottom line: Any mention of Donnel Pumphrey's NCAA career records for rushing or yards from scrimmage comes with an asterisk.
Pumphrey racked up an extra 415 yards from scrimmage in four bowl games and didn't break the two records owned by Wisconsin's Ron Dayne until his final college game in the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl.
Even with that, Pumphrey only broke Dayne's record by 15 yards. Dayne, who played from 1996-99, also played in four bowl games, but the NCAA did not begin counting statistics from bowls in overall career stats until 2002.