30 best college football running backs of the 21st century
By Nick Villano
While the pro game is moving away from run-heavy offenses, great running backs can still dominate the college game.
The history of college football is paved with great running backs. Before Barry Sanders was running all over the NFL, he was breaking records with Oklahoma State. Bo Jackson was a star two-sport athlete in the majors, with a legend that lives on today thanks to video games, but before that legacy, his legacy with built with a Heisman-winning season at Auburn. In fact, there is one back-to-back Heisman Trophy winner and it’s running back Archie Griffin. The first-ever Heisman Trophy winner is running back Jay Berwanger (it was named the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy back in 1935).
Looking at the past two decades, there were some amazing talents to come through the college ranks. Some made it to the NFL and put together Hall of Fame careers. Others had trouble translating their game to the pros, whether that’s because of the team they were on, injuries, or just general ineffectiveness. None of that matters here. It’s the legacy they left on the college game that will decide where they land on this list of the best college football running backs of the 21st century.
30. Steven Jackson – Oregon State 2000-03
Steven Jackson was nothing short of amazing during his time at Oregon State. His junior season is where he became of the best dual threats in recent memory. He rushed for 1,545 yards and caught 44 balls for 470 yards. He might not have had as many yards rushing in his third year, but he was scoring at a much higher clip (15 touchdowns his sophomore year, 23 touchdowns his junior year).
His 2,015 all-purpose yards broke the record for Oregon State. His teams weren’t winning like other players on this list, but Jackson was doing the heavy lifting for a majority of his team. He had some really big games at monumental times, including 149 yards and four touchdowns in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Jackson might be the best player to ever suit up for the Beavers. He was such a punishing runner, and he carried the team on his back every week. At this point, people remember Jackson’s impressive NFL career more than his college career, but this is a mistake. Jackson was insane for his short three years in the Pacific Northwest. He currently owns four of the ten best rushing games in Oregon State history. He has the best season in Beavers history even now. His career is underrated in college, but he was dominant for a program that’s not usually in the headlines for stars.