Fansided

Best college football running back from every state

By Nicholas Ian Allen

LOUISIANA, NO - JANUARY 1: Running back Herschel Walker #34 of the University of Georgia Bull Dogs carries the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Sugar Bowl game January 1, 1981 at the Louisiana Superbowl in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Bull Dogs won the game 17-10. Walker played at the University of Georgia from 1980-1983, and won the Heisman Trophy in 1982. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
LOUISIANA, NO - JANUARY 1: Running back Herschel Walker #34 of the University of Georgia Bull Dogs carries the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Sugar Bowl game January 1, 1981 at the Louisiana Superbowl in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Bull Dogs won the game 17-10. Walker played at the University of Georgia from 1980-1983, and won the Heisman Trophy in 1982. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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USC running back LenDale White heads up field during 42-21 victory over Arizona in Pacific-10 Conference football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, October 8, 2005. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
USC running back LenDale White heads up field during 42-21 victory over Arizona in Pacific-10 Conference football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, October 8, 2005. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) /

Colorado

LenDale White, USC Trojans

The greatest running back in college football history born in California may not have played ball at USC, but the best Colorado born running back did. Denver born and Littleton raised LenDale White signed with the Trojans and paired with eventual Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush to give USC the most dangerous one-two punch in college football.

White, the bruiser of the two talented tailbacks, scored 13 touchdowns as a freshman in 2003, and gained 754 rushing yards. USC earned the top spot in the final AP poll, which also earned them a share of the national title.

The Trojans won the national championship outright the following season, going wire-to-wire as the top ranked team in the country and destroying Oklahoma 55-19 in the Orange Bowl to claim the BCS National Championship. White led the team with 1,103 rushing yards and led the Pac-10 with 15 TDs.

In 2005, White put together his best all-around season. He gained a career high 1,302 rushing yards and scored 24 touchdowns (the most in the nation) while also contributing 219 receiving yards and two scores on 14 catches. His 26 touchdowns from scrimmage also led the country. Though Bush beat him for the team rushing title, White capped off his third consecutive season leading the Trojans in rushing touchdowns.

Though the Trojans were 37-2 with White in the lineup, he was not able to cap off his collegiate career with a third national title as USC lost 41-38 to Texas in arguably the greatest championship game every played.

Castle Rock-born Christian McCaffrey had an outstanding career at Stanford, but his two elite seasons with the Cardinal fell just short of White’s consistent production with one of the top dynasties in college football history.

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