Best college backfield ever?

[NDAlum]

With the emergence of Darren McFadden & Peyton Hillis this year, do the Arkansas Razorbacks win this debate?

Felix Jones - 5.2 ypc (career) - Hidden behind the ever-average MBIII
Peyton Hillis - 1,070 yards, 11 TD, 57 rec, 446 yds, 2 TD
Run DMC - 993 yards, 7 TD, 39 rec, 437 yds, 3 TD

2008 NFL Draft:

Run DMC - #4 overall
Felix Jones - #22 overall
Hillis - Rd 7, pick #227 overall

I mean seriously? They had these three monsters in college?

Closest to this in recent memory would be the Auburn duo of Ronnie Brown & Cadillac Williams. Laurence Maroney & MBIII were really good as well for Minny.

Any historians want to break out the glory days?

[Husker_OS]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

Miami in the early '00s had a pretty slick one..

[Bighoff]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

Oklahoma State in '86 and '87 had Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders.

[Cebby]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

There are two huge questions:

1. Names vs actual ability-There have been some top names to play together, but a lot of the time one party didn't even play. USC during the 60s and 70s and most notably the Thurman Thomas/Barry Sanders backfield are great names but when one player barely played is it really worth listing? Aside from those, you could also throw in the Januaryish roster Auburn rocked in 2004 with Caddy, Brown, Jacobs, and Kenny Irons.

2. NFL vs NCAA-Bush/White is all that needs to be said. They're the best college backfield I have seen but Lendale is out of the league (I think) and Bush is a third string RB at this point.

Depending on the answers, Miami in 2001 could easily be #1 or honorable mention. Arkansas with McHeisman and Felix were great, but Hillis was an afterthought at best in 2006 and 2007. 1987 Okie State, 1985 Auburn (Jackson and Fullwood were All Americans in 1985 and 1986), and several USC teams could be considered.

Personally in pure college ability I'll go with 2005 USC.

[dodgerblue]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

Marcus Allen and Charles White. Both won Heisman's (Allen '81 and White '79) although I think they only played together in '79 with White at TB and Allen at FB. Youtube the '79 SC LSU game if you're interested.

[Dog]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

Didn't Miami have like Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, and Clinton Portis at one point?

[Husker_OS]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

There are two huge questions:

1. Names vs actual ability-There have been some top names to play together, but a lot of the time one party didn't even play. USC during the 60s and 70s and most notably the Thurman Thomas/Barry Sanders backfield are great names but when one player barely played is it really worth listing? Aside from those, you could also throw in the Januaryish roster Auburn rocked in 2004 with Caddy, Brown, Jacobs, and Kenny Irons.

2. NFL vs NCAA-Bush/White is all that needs to be said. They're the best college backfield I have seen but Lendale is out of the league (I think) and Bush is a third string RB at this point.

Depending on the answers, Miami in 2001 could easily be #1 or honorable mention. Arkansas with McHeisman and Felix were great, but Hillis was an afterthought at best in 2006 and 2007. 1987 Okie State, 1985 Auburn (Jackson and Fullwood were All Americans in 1985 and 1986), and several USC teams could be considered.

Personally in pure college ability I'll go with 2005 USC.

Lies. He had over 800 total yards in '07. Hillis was a key part of their offense. Everyone who watched them knew it.

[DerkontheOS]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

Ummm the Pony express....

[Cebby]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

Lies. He had over 800 total yards in '07. Hillis was a key part of their offense. Everyone who watched them knew it.

He had a big game against LSU, but I don't remember him in any other game. He had a combined 1100 offensive yards and 8 TDs in those two yards and half of his TDs came in that one LSU game.

[superjames1992]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

[homer]

Pat White, Steve Slaton, and Owen Schmitt, circa 2005-2007

[/homer]

[Landlordos7]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

The answer to this has to be a team with a running quarterback, doesn't it? The quarterback position is part of the backfield.


Rich Rod's WVU teams would certainly be in the discussion. A few Nebraska teams would have to be as well. In '94 we had Tommie Frazier, Lawrence Phillips (character issues aside) and Cory Schlesinger....I would personally take those three over any group you could throw at me, but I don't know if they would legitimately be the best.

Does Vince Young count all by his lonesome? Lol.

[Dewie12]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

Ga Tech.....they have had one of the best running offense the last few years as far as total yards. Nesbit, Dwyer, Roddy Jones, Anthoney Allen.

But the wishbone craze of the 70-80's had to have a great backfield.

[Pokes]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

2001 Colorado?

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

Harry Stuhldreher
Jim Crowley
Don Miller
Elmer Layden

[Chip Douglass]

Re: Best college backfield ever?

2001 Colorado?

I don't think I can name a single player on 2001 Colorado.