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iowajerms
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1) Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin
Melvin Gordon broke the single game rushing record against Nebraska. He did so in 3 quarters. Well, he rushed 40 yards in the 1st quarter and the rest in 2nd and 3rd quarter. A week after Gordon broke the record, Samaje Perine broke it against Kansas.
However, what is making Gordon 1st on this list is he is 368 yards away from the single season rushing yards record that is held by Barry Sanders. Gordon has 2,260 yards so far this season and Sanders had 2,628. He could have the best year in history for a running back.
2) Tevin Coleman - Indiana
If Coleman rushed 100 yards against Penn State, he would have 100 yards rushing in every game. He did that on one of the worst passing offenses and one of the worst Power 5 conference teams. If he did this on Alabama, he probably wouldn't be Top 4, but doing it as the only thing on the team puts him at #2.
3) Javorius Allen - USC
I know Allen is not even a top 20 rusher. I know Abdullah is up for the Doak Walker Award. I know that Abdullah had a great game against my favorite team. But Javorius Allen was the only running back in FBS who gained 100 yards from scrimmage in every game. He didn't rush 100 yards in every game, but if you include his receiving stats, he gained 100 yards in every game.
4) Ameer Abdullah - Nebraska
Most of the season, I thought Abdullah was the best running back in college football. Nobody is arguing Gordon above Abdullah now. About half would say he is better than Coleman, but understand why Coleman is getting so much credit. But Allen has been, and still is, under-the-radar. This season has been all about the rushing yards, where Allen has done good receiving when he hasn't rushing. But Abdullah has dominated and was the staple to that Nebraska offense. I also think he was bumped down with Wisconsin doing good against him and his minor injury after that.
5) James Conner - Pittsburgh
Conner is still young and was on a struggling Pitt team. He is good at squaring up and run. Conner did finish the season as the #4 running back. Boise State's Ajayi will should pass him this week, but I consider MWC Championship a post season game.
6) David Cobb - Minnesota
I can see Cobb being a great 3rd down back in the NFL. He is not fast, but he is very powerful. He finished 3rd in rushing yards among B1G running backs and was a top 10 rusher in FBS.
7) Donnel Pumphrey - San Diego State
Pumphrey could possibly reach 2,000 yards rushing as a sophomore. He has 1,761 rushing yards. He has yet to play the MWC Championship game against Boise State and the bowl game. He is also averaging 6.9 YPC and has 19 touchdowns.
8) Duke Johnson - Miami (FL)
Johnson is 3 yards shy from Abdullah with nearly 20 less carries. However, Abdullah was the star in the Nebraska-Miami matchup. Duke averages 7 yards per carry and has over 1,500 rushing yards. He doesn't get into the endzone very often. He only has 10 rushing touchdowns.
9) Samaje Perine - Oklahoma
People can say, "Oh it is only against Kansas" about Perine breaking the single game record, but the record isn't just broken every time a good team plays a bottom feeder. Breaking the record is an accomplishment. With nearly 70 less carries, Perine has 7 less touchdowns than Gordon and Perine does average 6.7 YPC. However, he didn't perform very well against decent defenses though.
10) Devon Johnson - Marshall
Johnson reached 1,600 rushing yards and averages 8.6 YPC. However, he doesn't have near as many carries that many other top rushers have, but that is also impressive. Marshall's schedule is not near as difficult and played for a team that was expected to go undefeated. But 1,600 yards on 187 carries is pretty impressive.
Melvin Gordon broke the single game rushing record against Nebraska. He did so in 3 quarters. Well, he rushed 40 yards in the 1st quarter and the rest in 2nd and 3rd quarter. A week after Gordon broke the record, Samaje Perine broke it against Kansas.
However, what is making Gordon 1st on this list is he is 368 yards away from the single season rushing yards record that is held by Barry Sanders. Gordon has 2,260 yards so far this season and Sanders had 2,628. He could have the best year in history for a running back.
2) Tevin Coleman - Indiana
If Coleman rushed 100 yards against Penn State, he would have 100 yards rushing in every game. He did that on one of the worst passing offenses and one of the worst Power 5 conference teams. If he did this on Alabama, he probably wouldn't be Top 4, but doing it as the only thing on the team puts him at #2.
3) Javorius Allen - USC
I know Allen is not even a top 20 rusher. I know Abdullah is up for the Doak Walker Award. I know that Abdullah had a great game against my favorite team. But Javorius Allen was the only running back in FBS who gained 100 yards from scrimmage in every game. He didn't rush 100 yards in every game, but if you include his receiving stats, he gained 100 yards in every game.
4) Ameer Abdullah - Nebraska
Most of the season, I thought Abdullah was the best running back in college football. Nobody is arguing Gordon above Abdullah now. About half would say he is better than Coleman, but understand why Coleman is getting so much credit. But Allen has been, and still is, under-the-radar. This season has been all about the rushing yards, where Allen has done good receiving when he hasn't rushing. But Abdullah has dominated and was the staple to that Nebraska offense. I also think he was bumped down with Wisconsin doing good against him and his minor injury after that.
5) James Conner - Pittsburgh
Conner is still young and was on a struggling Pitt team. He is good at squaring up and run. Conner did finish the season as the #4 running back. Boise State's Ajayi will should pass him this week, but I consider MWC Championship a post season game.
6) David Cobb - Minnesota
I can see Cobb being a great 3rd down back in the NFL. He is not fast, but he is very powerful. He finished 3rd in rushing yards among B1G running backs and was a top 10 rusher in FBS.
7) Donnel Pumphrey - San Diego State
Pumphrey could possibly reach 2,000 yards rushing as a sophomore. He has 1,761 rushing yards. He has yet to play the MWC Championship game against Boise State and the bowl game. He is also averaging 6.9 YPC and has 19 touchdowns.
8) Duke Johnson - Miami (FL)
Johnson is 3 yards shy from Abdullah with nearly 20 less carries. However, Abdullah was the star in the Nebraska-Miami matchup. Duke averages 7 yards per carry and has over 1,500 rushing yards. He doesn't get into the endzone very often. He only has 10 rushing touchdowns.
9) Samaje Perine - Oklahoma
People can say, "Oh it is only against Kansas" about Perine breaking the single game record, but the record isn't just broken every time a good team plays a bottom feeder. Breaking the record is an accomplishment. With nearly 70 less carries, Perine has 7 less touchdowns than Gordon and Perine does average 6.7 YPC. However, he didn't perform very well against decent defenses though.
10) Devon Johnson - Marshall
Johnson reached 1,600 rushing yards and averages 8.6 YPC. However, he doesn't have near as many carries that many other top rushers have, but that is also impressive. Marshall's schedule is not near as difficult and played for a team that was expected to go undefeated. But 1,600 yards on 187 carries is pretty impressive.