Here we go, folks. This is just the type of content you come to SoBros Network for – just random information at random times for no reason. I’m a bit of a nerd that tracks this kind of shit in college football, and I found something that blew my mind. Of course, that meant that I had to share it with you guys. After writing this week’s Heisman Watch, I wanted to see where Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda‘s rushing performance stood all time. So, I fire up the ol’ record books, and I start digging. Turns out, 320 yards isn’t cracking the top 30, but I start noticing something – San Diego State Aztecs everywhere.
Do you guys know how many programs have running backs inside of the top 10 in career rushing yards, single season rushing yards, AND single game rushing yards? Two – the Wisconsin Badgers and…you guessed it…the San Diego State Aztecs. Who knew? Is this something college football fans readily know and I just missed? I don’t get it. At least from a yardage standpoint, it’s Wisconsin…and it’s San Diego State.
Of course, when you think about the Badgers, you think about Ron Dayne, Jonathan Taylor, Melvin Gordon, Montee Ball, etc.. Those big time bruising pounders. Hell, Gordon held the single game rushing record for a week back in November of 2014 when he rushed for 408 yards. That record was broken seven days later when Samaje Perine rushed for 427 yards, a record that still stands today, which makes for another bit of weird trivia surrounding this conversation.
While Wisconsin may have the pedigree, the Aztecs have a triumvirate of three of the greatest, most prolific, running backs in the history of college football: Marshall Faulk, Rashaad Penny, and Donnel Pumphrey. To this day, Pumphrey sits atop the history books as having the most career rushing yards of anyone in college football history (6,405). Penny is 5th all time in the single season rushing yard category with 2,248 rushing yards in 2017. Faulk sits at 6th all time in the single game rushing yard ranks with 386 yards in a game. Again…Aztecs everywhere.
If the question is not who produces the most NFL caliber players, but who has had the most prolific production in college, you’ve got to put San Diego State in the conversation for who the real “Running Back U” truly is in college football. I never thought that that’s what I’d be sitting here typing on a random Wednesday morning here in October, but here we are. It’s not as preposterous a thing to say as it may sound.
I’m sorry, but am I the only one who is absolutely geeking out about this? Maybe this is going to be one of those things you guys read and think, “yeah, Stoney – no shit…where have you been?” Maybe this is going to be one of those things you guys read and think, “oh, that’s cute…Stoney just realized that San Diego State has had some historically good running backs.” Regardless, I just ask that we put some respect on the name of the San Diego State Aztecs program.
Shit, did y’all realize that Navy’s Keenan Reynolds has the record for most career touchdown rushes in college football history? Okay, okay – I’m out for real this time. I promise I’ll stop.
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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