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Previously, we have looked at the top quarterbacks and top wide receivers in Kentucky Wildcats history. Now, we will take a look and try to rank the top five running backs in program history. I believe everyone will agree with the number one spot, but the rest are up for debate because Kentucky has had a rich history of talented running backs. Before we get into the top five, let's observe some honorable mentions.
Boom Williams
Boom Williams was lighting in a bottle, and the perfect lighting to Benny Snell's thunder once they formed that dangerous duo. Williams is Kentucky's all time leader in yards per carry with a 6.9 average over his career. Williams sits at ninth in career rushing yards with 2,511 in his three year run. With 20 total touchdowns, Williams was a threat to take it the distance every time he touched the football.
Mark Higgs
Mark Higgs had an impressive four years at Kentucky from 1984 to 1987. Over his career, Higgs tallied 2,892 rushing yards which ranks sixth all time among career leaders. Higgs is also tied fifth with 25 rushing touchdowns with the guy he took over for in running back George Adams. Higgs was voted second team All-SEC in 1987.
George Adams
George Adams was the running back from 1981 to 1984 and put together a great career with the Wildcats. Adams ranks seventh in career rushing yards with 2,648. Adams is tied with Higgs as they both had 25 career rushing touchdowns, but Adams is also tied fifth with 27 total touchdowns over his career. Adams was first team All-SEC in 1984, and his success led him to being selected in the first round of 1985 NFL Draft.
Moe Williams
It was difficult to leave Moe Williams out of the top five, as he was without a doubt one of the best running backs in Kentucky football history. Williams had an incredible three year run from 1993 to 1995 where he totaled 3,333 rushing yards which lands him fourth all time. Williams is tied third with 26 rushing touchdowns as a Wildcat. He was second team All-SEC in his first season and was first team All-SEC in his final season.
Chris Rodriguez had a phenomenal career at Kentucky that in some ways was overshadowed by Benny Snell, given how similar the two players were stylistically. Rodriguez had 3,644 career rushing yards which puts him third all time in the record books. Rodriguez also had the second most career rushing touchdowns with 33. Rodriguez was a physical short-yardage runner and is now reunited with his former offensive coordinator and current Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, Liam Coen.
Derrick Locke is one of the more underrated running backs in Kentucky football history. Locke is third on the list of career all-purpose yards with 4,973 yards, and 3,501 of this yards came from scrimmage. Locke is tied fifth all time with 27 total touchdowns. A true dynamic explosive back, Locke was a threat to make a big play every time he got the football.
Sonny Collins held the career rushing yards record for over 40 years. Collins 3,835 rushing yards from 1972 to 1975 seemed like a record that would never be topped until it was. He also is tied third with 26 rushing touchdowns in his career. Collins was the SEC player of the year in 1973 as well as a second team All-American; he was voted first team All-SEC in three of his four seasons with the Wildcats.
This one might be controversial, but Rafael Little was unbelievable as a smaller running back. Little is second in career all-purpose yards with 5,343 yards, trailing only Derek Abney. Of those all-purpose yards, 4,320 came from scrimmage. Little was four yards shy of 3,000 career rushing yards and is the only Wildcat running back to have over 1,000 career receiving yards; Little was voted first team All-SEC in 2005.
Benny Snell broke Sonny Collins rushing yards record that held for over 40 years in 2018 to cap off the first 10 win season since 1950. The 2018 Kentucky team is one of the best of all time, it was mainly led by the defensive side of the football, but Snell was the engine of the offense. Snell now holds the record with 3,873 career rushing yards. Snell had 48 career rushing touchdowns, a record that may never be broken.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky football flashback: Top five running backs of all time
Continue reading...
Honorable Mentions
Boom Williams
Boom Williams was lighting in a bottle, and the perfect lighting to Benny Snell's thunder once they formed that dangerous duo. Williams is Kentucky's all time leader in yards per carry with a 6.9 average over his career. Williams sits at ninth in career rushing yards with 2,511 in his three year run. With 20 total touchdowns, Williams was a threat to take it the distance every time he touched the football.
Mark Higgs
Mark Higgs had an impressive four years at Kentucky from 1984 to 1987. Over his career, Higgs tallied 2,892 rushing yards which ranks sixth all time among career leaders. Higgs is also tied fifth with 25 rushing touchdowns with the guy he took over for in running back George Adams. Higgs was voted second team All-SEC in 1987.
George Adams
George Adams was the running back from 1981 to 1984 and put together a great career with the Wildcats. Adams ranks seventh in career rushing yards with 2,648. Adams is tied with Higgs as they both had 25 career rushing touchdowns, but Adams is also tied fifth with 27 total touchdowns over his career. Adams was first team All-SEC in 1984, and his success led him to being selected in the first round of 1985 NFL Draft.
Moe Williams
It was difficult to leave Moe Williams out of the top five, as he was without a doubt one of the best running backs in Kentucky football history. Williams had an incredible three year run from 1993 to 1995 where he totaled 3,333 rushing yards which lands him fourth all time. Williams is tied third with 26 rushing touchdowns as a Wildcat. He was second team All-SEC in his first season and was first team All-SEC in his final season.
5. Chris Rodriguez
Chris Rodriguez had a phenomenal career at Kentucky that in some ways was overshadowed by Benny Snell, given how similar the two players were stylistically. Rodriguez had 3,644 career rushing yards which puts him third all time in the record books. Rodriguez also had the second most career rushing touchdowns with 33. Rodriguez was a physical short-yardage runner and is now reunited with his former offensive coordinator and current Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, Liam Coen.
4. Derrick Locke
Derrick Locke is one of the more underrated running backs in Kentucky football history. Locke is third on the list of career all-purpose yards with 4,973 yards, and 3,501 of this yards came from scrimmage. Locke is tied fifth all time with 27 total touchdowns. A true dynamic explosive back, Locke was a threat to make a big play every time he got the football.
3. Sonny Collins
Sonny Collins held the career rushing yards record for over 40 years. Collins 3,835 rushing yards from 1972 to 1975 seemed like a record that would never be topped until it was. He also is tied third with 26 rushing touchdowns in his career. Collins was the SEC player of the year in 1973 as well as a second team All-American; he was voted first team All-SEC in three of his four seasons with the Wildcats.
2. Rafael Little
This one might be controversial, but Rafael Little was unbelievable as a smaller running back. Little is second in career all-purpose yards with 5,343 yards, trailing only Derek Abney. Of those all-purpose yards, 4,320 came from scrimmage. Little was four yards shy of 3,000 career rushing yards and is the only Wildcat running back to have over 1,000 career receiving yards; Little was voted first team All-SEC in 2005.
1. Benny Snell Jr.
Benny Snell broke Sonny Collins rushing yards record that held for over 40 years in 2018 to cap off the first 10 win season since 1950. The 2018 Kentucky team is one of the best of all time, it was mainly led by the defensive side of the football, but Snell was the engine of the offense. Snell now holds the record with 3,873 career rushing yards. Snell had 48 career rushing touchdowns, a record that may never be broken.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky football flashback: Top five running backs of all time
Continue reading...
