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This post is simple, but fun. Let's look back at the last 10 years of running backs in college football and see what the stats tell us. I'm keeping the analysis fairly elementary -- I'll stick with two main categories: yards per carry and points per carry (TDs * 6) / carries.
First, let's hire a bouncer and limit the data to players with the following characteristics. You must be a running back (sorry, Manziel) and you must average 15+ carries per game. That leaves us with 584 backs to scrutinize over the last 10 seasons.
Now, let's look at the outliers.
Let's call this group the Workhorse Club. These are the 20 backs with the most carries per game over the past decade. C+ is their carries/game figure divided by the average for all 584 backs (19.2), so Kevin Smith carried ball 1.68x more than the average back in the last 10 years.
Rk | Player, Team | Season | Carries/Game | C+ |
1 | Kevin Smith, UCF | 2007 | 32.1 | 168% |
2 | Bobby Rainey, Western Ky. | 2011 | 30.8 | 160% |
3 | Matt Forte, Tulane | 2007 | 30.1 | 157% |
4 | Javon Ringer, Michigan St. | 2008 | 30.0 | 156% |
5 | Le'Veon Bell, Michigan St. | 2012 | 29.4 | 153% |
6 | Ray Rice, Rutgers | 2007 | 29.2 | 152% |
7 | Stefphon Jefferson, Nevada | 2012 | 28.8 | 150% |
8 | Jamario Thomas, North Texas | 2004 | 28.5 | 149% |
9 | Bobby Rainey, Western Ky. | 2010 | 28.3 | 148% |
10 | Donald Brown, Connecticut | 2008 | 28.2 | 147% |
11 | DeAngelo Williams, Memphis | 2005 | 28.2 | 147% |
12 | Anthony Sherrell, Eastern Mich. | 2003 | 28.2 | 147% |
13 | Jerome Harrison, Washington St. | 2005 | 28.0 | 146% |
14 | Patrick Cobbs, North Texas | 2003 | 27.9 | 146% |
15 | Jordan Todman, Connecticut | 2010 | 27.8 | 145% |
16 | Yvenson Bernard, Oregon St. | 2005 | 27.2 | 142% |
17 | Cedric Benson, Texas | 2004 | 27.2 | 142% |
18 | Steven Jackson, Oregon St. | 2003 | 26.9 | 140% |
19 | Carlton Jones, Army | 2005 | 26.9 | 140% |
20 | Garrett Wolfe, Northern Ill. | 2005 | 26.9 | 140% |
NCAA Average: 19.2.
Note: Kevin Smith carries the ball 450 times in 2007 for UCF, which is an NCAA record. He also rushed for 2,567 yards in the same season, also good for 1st in the last decade. He was only 62 yards away from breaking Barry Sanders' 1988 record season of 2,628 -- although that number doesn't include Barry's bowl game. The major difference -- Barry Sanders got those yards on 106 fewer carries than Kevin Smith.
Now, let's look at the Efficiency Club. These backs had the highest yards/carry average among the group of 584:
Rk | Player, Team | Season | Yds/Rush | E+ |
1 | Reggie Bush, Southern California | 2005 | 8.7 | 171% |
2 | Jahvid Best, California | 2008 | 8.1 | 160% |
3 | Vai Taua, Nevada | 2009 | 7.8 | 154% |
4 | LaMichael James, Oregon | 2011 | 7.3 | 144% |
5 | Steve Slaton, West Virginia | 2006 | 7.0 | 138% |
6 | J.J. Arrington, California | 2004 | 7.0 | 137% |
7 | Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech | 2008 | 7.0 | 137% |
8 | Kerwynn Williams, Utah St. | 2012 | 6.9 | 136% |
9 | Lance Dunbar, North Texas | 2009 | 6.9 | 135% |
10 | LaMichael James, Oregon | 2009 | 6.7 | 132% |
11 | Giovani Bernard, North Carolina | 2012 | 6.7 | 131% |
12 | LenDale White, Southern California | 2005 | 6.6 | 130% |
13 | Ryan Mathews, Fresno St. | 2009 | 6.6 | 129% |
14 | Ryan Moats, Louisiana Tech | 2003 | 6.5 | 128% |
15 | Garrett Wolfe, Northern Ill. | 2005 | 6.5 | 128% |
16 | Darren Sproles, Kansas St. | 2003 | 6.5 | 128% |
17 | Knile Davis, Arkansas | 2010 | 6.5 | 127% |
18 | Garrett Wolfe, Northern Ill. | 2004 | 6.5 | 127% |
19 | Andre Hall, South Fla. | 2004 | 6.5 | 127% |
20 | Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma St. | 2008 | 6.5 | 127% |
NCAA Average: 5.1.
There's our first Heisman winner. Reggie Bush averaged 8.7 yards/carry on 15.4 carries/game.
Let's not leave out the bottom 20. If you watched these guys carry the ball for your team, you probably had some long Saturday afternoons:
Rk | Player, Team | Season | Yds/Rush | C+ |
584 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Indiana | 2004 | 3.4 | 68% |
583 | Lyle McCombs, Connecticut | 2012 | 3.5 | 70% |
582 | Dwayne Priest, Eastern Mich. | 2009 | 3.6 | 71% |
581 | Brandon Sullivan, San Diego St. | 2009 | 3.6 | 71% |
580 | Willie Geter, Bowling Green | 2010 | 3.6 | 72% |
579 | Charles Pierre, Fla. Atlantic | 2006 | 3.7 | 72% |
578 | Stevie Hicks Jr., Iowa St. | 2005 | 3.7 | 72% |
577 | Umar Ferguson, Temple | 2005 | 3.7 | 72% |
576 | Brian Leonard, Rutgers | 2004 | 3.7 | 72% |
575 | Jamario Thomas, North Texas | 2006 | 3.7 | 73% |
574 | Marcus Cross, Utah St. | 2006 | 3.7 | 73% |
573 | Tauren Poole, Tennessee | 2011 | 3.7 | 73% |
572 | Anthony Dixon, Mississippi St. | 2007 | 3.7 | 73% |
571 | Branden Ore, Virginia Tech | 2007 | 3.7 | 73% |
570 | Ibrahim Halsey, Illinois | 2003 | 3.8 | 74% |
569 | Dwight Wright, Oregon St. | 2004 | 3.8 | 74% |
568 | Keon Lattimore, Maryland | 2007 | 3.8 | 74% |
567 | Phillip Tanner, Middle Tenn. St. | 2008 | 3.8 | 75% |
566 | Carlton Jones, Army | 2005 | 3.8 | 75% |
565 | Terrence Whitehead, Oregon | 2003 | 3.8 | 75% |
Law Firm! Okay, let's complete an exercise. BJGE had 794 yards on 231 carries in his sophomore season at Indiana before he transferred to Ole Miss. At Reggie Bush's 8.7 clip, he would have gained 2,010 yards in the same number of carries. Yikes.
Okay, moving on to brighter pastures. Let's call this the Touchdown Club. These guys had the most points per carry among the group of 584:
Rk | Player, Team | Season | Pts/carry | P+ |
1 | Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech | 2012 | 0.81 | 289% |
2 | LenDale White, Southern California | 2005 | 0.73 | 261% |
3 | Joseph Randle, Oklahoma St. | 2011 | 0.69 | 247% |
4 | Michael Bush, Louisville | 2005 | 0.67 | 241% |
5 | Montee Ball, Wisconsin | 2011 | 0.64 | 230% |
6 | Vick Ballard, Mississippi St. | 2010 | 0.61 | 219% |
7 | Bernard Pierce, Temple | 2011 | 0.59 | 212% |
8 | Gary Russell, Minnesota | 2005 | 0.58 | 208% |
9 | Jehuu Caulcrick, Michigan St. | 2007 | 0.57 | 203% |
10 | Chris Brown, Oklahoma | 2008 | 0.55 | 198% |
11 | Ian Johnson, Boise St. | 2006 | 0.54 | 194% |
12 | Carlos Hyde, Ohio St. | 2012 | 0.52 | 185% |
13 | Chad Spann, Northern Ill. | 2010 | 0.51 | 183% |
14 | Lance Dunbar, North Texas | 2009 | 0.51 | 182% |
15 | Tyrell Fenroy, La.-Lafayette | 2008 | 0.50 | 180% |
16 | Terrance Ganaway, Baylor | 2011 | 0.50 | 180% |
17 | James Davis, Clemson | 2006 | 0.50 | 180% |
18 | Charles Scott, LSU | 2008 | 0.50 | 178% |
19 | Steve Slaton, West Virginia | 2005 | 0.50 | 178% |
20 | Marion Barber III, Minnesota | 2003 | 0.49 | 176% |
NCAA Average: 0.28.
Freshman Kenneth Dixon scored 27 TDs on 200 carries last season. He set a record for most TDs scored by a freshman in a season...look out for this guy this year.
So who had the best overall season in the past decade? Well, here's one way to look at it. Let's simply average the rankings for the two categories mentioned above: yards/carry and points/carry. Best overall season:
Rk | Player, Team | Season | Rk - Yd/Carry | Rk - Pts/Carry | Avg Rk |
1 | LenDale White, Southern California | 2005 | 12 | 2 | 7.0 |
2 | Lance Dunbar, North Texas | 2009 | 9 | 14 | 11.5 |
3 | Reggie Bush, Southern California | 2005 | 1 | 26 | 13.5 |
4 | Jahvid Best, California | 2008 | 2 | 31 | 16.5 |
5 | Montee Ball, Wisconsin | 2011 | 34 | 5 | 19.5 |
6 | LaMichael James, Oregon | 2011 | 4 | 50 | 27.0 |
7 | Ian Johnson, Boise St. | 2006 | 44 | 11 | 27.5 |
8 | Terrance Ganaway, Baylor | 2011 | 45 | 16 | 30.5 |
9 | Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona | 2012 | 24 | 37 | 30.5 |
10 | Kenjon Barner, Oregon | 2012 | 26 | 40 | 33.0 |
11 | Gary Russell, Minnesota | 2005 | 64 | 8 | 36.0 |
12 | Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech | 2012 | 74 | 1 | 37.5 |
13 | Tyrell Fenroy, La.-Lafayette | 2008 | 60 | 15 | 37.5 |
14 | Todd Gurley, Georgia | 2012 | 41 | 34 | 37.5 |
15 | Curtis Steele, Memphis | 2009 | 37 | 38 | 37.5 |
16 | Kerwynn Williams, Utah St. | 2012 | 8 | 68 | 38.0 |
17 | Garrett Wolfe, Northern Ill. | 2004 | 18 | 59 | 38.5 |
18 | Ryan Mathews, Fresno St. | 2009 | 13 | 66 | 39.5 |
19 | Carlton Jones, Army | 2004 | 65 | 24 | 44.5 |
20 | Ahmad Bradshaw, Marshall | 2006 | 58 | 35 | 46.5 |
Wait. USC had two of the top three guys with the best overall seasons on the same team? Well, that 2005 Trojans team had NINE offensive lineman on the roster who went on to play in the NFL, so that helps. Some pretty solid names on this list.
Let's have some fun. I threw in Heisman-winning RBs since 1960 to see where they would stack up. By the same methodology I just used, here are the top 100 seasons in the past decade with the Heisman winners added to the mix:
Rk | Player, Team | Season | Yds/carry | Pts/carry | Rk - Y/C | Rk - Pt/C | Avg Rk |
1 | Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State* | 1988 | 7.6 | 0.71 | 5 | 3 | 4.0 |
2 | Mike Rozier, Nebraska* | 1983 | 7.8 | 0.63 | 4 | 7 | 5.5 |
3 | LenDale White, Southern California | 2005 | 6.6 | 0.73 | 17 | 2 | 9.5 |
4 | Billy Sims, Oklahoma* | 1978 | 7.4 | 0.52 | 6 | 15 | 10.5 |
5 | Lance Dunbar, North Texas | 2009 | 6.9 | 0.51 | 13 | 17 | 15.0 |
6 | Reggie Bush, Southern California* | 2005 | 8.7 | 0.48 | 1 | 30 | 15.5 |
7 | Jahvid Best, California | 2008 | 8.1 | 0.46 | 2 | 36 | 19.0 |
8 | Rashaan Salaam, Colorado* | 1994 | 6.9 | 0.48 | 12 | 29 | 20.5 |
9 | Montee Ball, Wisconsin | 2011 | 6.3 | 0.64 | 41 | 6 | 23.5 |
10 | Ian Johnson, Boise St. | 2006 | 6.2 | 0.54 | 51 | 13 | 32.0 |
11 | LaMichael James, Oregon | 2011 | 7.3 | 0.44 | 7 | 57 | 32.0 |
12 | Terrance Ganaway, Baylor | 2011 | 6.2 | 0.50 | 52 | 19 | 35.5 |
13 | Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona | 2012 | 6.4 | 0.46 | 31 | 42 | 36.5 |
14 | Kenjon Barner, Oregon | 2012 | 6.4 | 0.45 | 33 | 45 | 39.0 |
15 | Gary Russell, Minnesota | 2005 | 6.1 | 0.58 | 72 | 10 | 41.0 |
16 | Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech | 2012 | 6.0 | 0.81 | 83 | 1 | 42.0 |
17 | Tyrell Fenroy, La.-Lafayette | 2008 | 6.1 | 0.50 | 68 | 18 | 43.0 |
18 | Kerwynn Williams, Utah St. | 2012 | 6.9 | 0.41 | 11 | 75 | 43.0 |
19 | Todd Gurley, Georgia | 2012 | 6.2 | 0.46 | 48 | 39 | 43.5 |
20 | Curtis Steele, Memphis | 2009 | 6.3 | 0.45 | 44 | 43 | 43.5 |
21 | Garrett Wolfe, Northern Ill. | 2004 | 6.5 | 0.42 | 24 | 66 | 45.0 |
22 | Ryan Mathews, Fresno St. | 2009 | 6.6 | 0.41 | 18 | 73 | 45.5 |
23 | Carlton Jones, Army | 2004 | 6.1 | 0.49 | 73 | 27 | 50.0 |
24 | Earl Campbell, Texas* | 1977 | 6.5 | 0.40 | 20 | 83 | 51.5 |
25 | Ahmad Bradshaw, Marshall | 2006 | 6.1 | 0.46 | 66 | 40 | 53.0 |
26 | Robert Turbin, Utah St. | 2011 | 6.1 | 0.46 | 67 | 40 | 53.5 |
27 | Steve Slaton, West Virginia | 2006 | 7.0 | 0.39 | 8 | 100 | 54.0 |
28 | Jamaal Charles, Texas | 2007 | 6.3 | 0.42 | 39 | 70 | 54.5 |
29 | Joseph Randle, Oklahoma St. | 2011 | 5.8 | 0.69 | 105 | 4 | 54.5 |
30 | Giovani Bernard, North Carolina | 2012 | 6.7 | 0.39 | 15 | 94 | 54.5 |
31 | Adonis Thomas, Toledo | 2011 | 6.3 | 0.42 | 42 | 68 | 55.0 |
32 | Garrett Wolfe, Northern Ill. | 2005 | 6.5 | 0.40 | 21 | 90 | 55.5 |
33 | Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma St. | 2008 | 6.5 | 0.40 | 26 | 88 | 57.0 |
34 | DeAngelo Williams, Memphis | 2004 | 6.2 | 0.42 | 49 | 67 | 58.0 |
35 | Charles Sims, Houston | 2012 | 6.0 | 0.46 | 81 | 35 | 58.0 |
36 | Zach Line, SMU | 2011 | 5.9 | 0.49 | 96 | 24 | 60.0 |
37 | Chad Hall, Air Force | 2007 | 6.4 | 0.39 | 28 | 94 | 61.0 |
38 | James Davis, Clemson | 2006 | 5.8 | 0.50 | 104 | 20 | 62.0 |
39 | Tatum Bell, Oklahoma St. | 2003 | 6.0 | 0.45 | 76 | 47 | 61.5 |
40 | Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois | 2007 | 6.4 | 0.39 | 30 | 97 | 63.5 |
41 | Donald Buckram, UTEP | 2009 | 6.2 | 0.42 | 59 | 72 | 65.5 |
42 | Bryce Beall, Houston | 2008 | 6.3 | 0.39 | 38 | 93 | 65.5 |
43 | Zurlon Tipton, Central Mich. | 2012 | 5.9 | 0.45 | 85 | 46 | 65.5 |
44 | Knile Davis, Arkansas | 2010 | 6.5 | 0.38 | 23 | 111 | 67.0 |
45 | Chris Johnson, East Caro. | 2007 | 6.0 | 0.43 | 78 | 58 | 68.0 |
46 | Marion Barber III, Minnesota | 2003 | 5.8 | 0.49 | 117 | 23 | 70.0 |
47 | Vai Taua, Nevada | 2008 | 6.4 | 0.38 | 27 | 114 | 70.5 |
48 | Trent Richardson, Alabama | 2011 | 5.9 | 0.45 | 89 | 52 | 70.5 |
49 | Adam Muema, San Diego St. | 2012 | 6.2 | 0.41 | 60 | 82 | 71.0 |
50 | LaMichael James, Oregon | 2009 | 6.7 | 0.37 | 14 | 131 | 72.5 |
51 | Ricky Williams, Texas* | 1998 | 5.9 | 0.45 | 97 | 50 | 73.5 |
52 | Kevin Jones, Virginia Tech | 2003 | 5.9 | 0.45 | 101 | 51 | 76.0 |
53 | Chris Brown, Oklahoma | 2008 | 5.6 | 0.55 | 142 | 12 | 77.0 |
54 | LaMichael James, Oregon | 2010 | 5.9 | 0.43 | 94 | 60 | 77.0 |
55 | Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech | 2008 | 7.0 | 0.36 | 10 | 145 | 77.5 |
56 | Eddie George, Ohio State* | 1995 | 5.9 | 0.44 | 99 | 56 | 77.5 |
57 | Darren McFadden, Arkansas | 2005 | 6.3 | 0.38 | 35 | 122 | 78.5 |
58 | Michael Bush, Louisville | 2005 | 5.6 | 0.67 | 153 | 5 | 79.0 |
59 | Bo Jackson, Auburn* | 1985 | 6.4 | 0.37 | 29 | 128 | 78.5 |
60 | Zac Stacy, Vanderbilt | 2011 | 5.9 | 0.42 | 88 | 71 | 79.5 |
61 | Robert Turbin, Utah St. | 2009 | 6.3 | 0.38 | 43 | 118 | 80.5 |
62 | Vai Taua, Nevada | 2009 | 7.8 | 0.35 | 3 | 169 | 86.0 |
63 | Jay Finley, Baylor | 2010 | 6.2 | 0.37 | 46 | 127 | 86.5 |
64 | Shonn Greene, Iowa | 2008 | 6.0 | 0.39 | 79 | 96 | 87.5 |
65 | Ryan Moats, Louisiana Tech | 2004 | 6.2 | 0.38 | 58 | 122 | 90.0 |
66 | Tyrell Fenroy, La.-Lafayette | 2005 | 5.9 | 0.40 | 98 | 85 | 91.5 |
67 | Mark Ingram, Alabama* | 2009 | 6.1 | 0.38 | 65 | 120 | 92.5 |
68 | Jamario Thomas, North Texas | 2004 | 6.3 | 0.36 | 36 | 151 | 93.5 |
69 | Doug Martin, Boise St. | 2010 | 6.3 | 0.36 | 40 | 149 | 94.5 |
70 | Steve Slaton, West Virginia | 2005 | 5.5 | 0.50 | 169 | 22 | 95.5 |
71 | Latavius Murray, UCF | 2012 | 5.6 | 0.45 | 151 | 43 | 97.0 |
72 | Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern | 2005 | 5.9 | 0.38 | 91 | 106 | 98.5 |
73 | Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech | 2009 | 5.6 | 0.43 | 139 | 59 | 99.0 |
74 | Bernard Pierce, Temple | 2009 | 5.8 | 0.41 | 118 | 80 | 99.0 |
75 | Bernard Pierce, Temple | 2011 | 5.4 | 0.59 | 190 | 9 | 99.5 |
76 | Ronnie Hillman, San Diego St. | 2010 | 5.8 | 0.39 | 103 | 97 | 100.0 |
77 | Ernie Davis, Syracuse* | 1961 | 5.5 | 0.48 | 174 | 30 | 102.0 |
78 | DeAngelo Williams, Memphis | 2005 | 6.3 | 0.35 | 34 | 171 | 102.5 |
79 | Matt Forte, Tulane | 2007 | 5.9 | 0.38 | 93 | 112 | 102.5 |
80 | Toby Gerhart, Stanford | 2009 | 5.5 | 0.49 | 182 | 25 | 103.5 |
81 | Jahwan Edwards, Ball St. | 2012 | 6.1 | 0.36 | 71 | 140 | 105.5 |
82 | Mikel Leshoure, Illinois | 2010 | 6.0 | 0.36 | 75 | 137 | 106.0 |
83 | Garrett Wolfe, Northern Ill. | 2006 | 6.2 | 0.35 | 47 | 168 | 107.5 |
84 | Charles Scott, LSU | 2008 | 5.4 | 0.50 | 195 | 21 | 108.0 |
85 | Chad Spann, Northern Ill. | 2010 | 5.4 | 0.51 | 202 | 16 | 109.0 |
86 | Vai Taua, Nevada | 2010 | 5.7 | 0.40 | 134 | 86 | 110.0 |
87 | Dennis Kennedy, Akron | 2008 | 5.5 | 0.43 | 161 | 63 | 112.0 |
88 | Bryson Sumlin, Fresno St. | 2004 | 5.8 | 0.38 | 112 | 116 | 114.0 |
89 | Edwin Baker, Michigan St. | 2010 | 5.8 | 0.38 | 111 | 118 | 114.5 |
90 | Charles White, Southern California* | 1979 | 6.2 | 0.34 | 53 | 176 | 114.5 |
91 | Kevin Smith, UCF | 2007 | 5.7 | 0.39 | 126 | 104 | 115.0 |
92 | Tarrion Adams, Tulsa | 2008 | 6.2 | 0.34 | 56 | 178 | 117.0 |
93 | J.J. Arrington, California | 2004 | 7.0 | 0.31 | 9 | 225 | 117.0 |
94 | Montel Harris, Temple | 2012 | 5.7 | 0.39 | 136 | 100 | 118.0 |
95 | Ron Dayne, Wisconsin* | 1999 | 6.0 | 0.36 | 77 | 158 | 117.5 |
96 | Laurence Maroney, Minnesota | 2004 | 6.2 | 0.33 | 50 | 188 | 119.0 |
97 | Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech | 2009 | 5.9 | 0.36 | 86 | 152 | 119.0 |
98 | LenDale White, Southern California | 2004 | 5.4 | 0.44 | 188 | 55 | 121.5 |
99 | John Clay, Wisconsin | 2010 | 5.4 | 0.45 | 194 | 49 | 121.5 |
100 | Kay-Jay Harris, West Virginia | 2004 | 5.8 | 0.36 | 109 | 134 | 121.5 |
*Heisman winners
I attempted to add in the Heisman winners' bowl game stats if I could find them.
Teams with the most players on the list:
USC, Oregon, Northern Illinois - 4
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Utah State, Memphis, Texas, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Nevada, Temple - 3
Players with the most appearances:
LaMichael James, Garrett Wolfe, Vai Taua - 3
LenDale White, Tyrell Fenroy, Robert Turbin, Steve Slaton, DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Dwyer, Bernard Pierce - 2
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