Ranking the top running backs to play for a Texas college or university:
The Texas Longhorns’ fullback Earl Campbell (#20) shown in action during a game against Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field stadium in College Station, Texas, November 26th 1977. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
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1. Earl Campbell, Texas 1974-1977
He’s the greatest of all time, bar none. A man among boys, the Tyler Rose toyed with defenders, ran over them or by them, limped back to every huddle and then rinsed and repeated. Any list of all-time greats must start with the Longhorn legend, who was the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner. He played fullback much of his first season, caught a touchdown pass against Texas A&M and blocked a punt. He was also the first Longhorn to have his number retired.
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11/27/1998 – Texas A&M Vs University of Texas. HOUCHRON CAPTION (11/29/1998): All-time NCAA rushing leader Ricky Williams capped off his record-breaking run by diving into the end zone in the first quarter.
Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle
2. Ricky Williams, Texas, 1995-1998
Some might even put him in a tie with Earl, and he does share naming privileges on the field where they both ran into Heisman trophies. The San Diego product with the dreads and the shy, reclusive manner. You can weed out a lot of his contemporaries because he blended power and speed and owned the NCAA career rushing record as a senior, finishing with 6,279 yards and 72 touchdowns as well as 6.2 yard per carry average.
FORTHWORTH -SEPTEMBER 16: LaDainian Tomlinson #5 of the Texas Christian University carries the ball as he avoids Pete Konopka #93 of Northwestern during a game at Amon Carter Stadium on September 16, 2000 in Forthworth, Texas. Texas Christian won 41-14. ( Photo by: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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3. LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU, 1997-2000
A product of Rosebud, he exploded onto the scene in Fort Worth and set the gold standard for the Horned Frogs. He became the second rusher in college football to break the 2,000-yard barrier in a season and top 5,000 yards in a career. Few were as elusive and hard to tackle as this smooth runner who was also a gifted receiver and once set an NCAA single-game record with 406 yards rushing against UTEP.
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Eric Dickerson, SMU, 1979-1982
Ronald C. Modra/Sports Illustrated via Getty Ima
4. Eric Dickerson, SMU, 1979-1982
The pride of Sealy famously jilted the Aggies and formed half of the Pony Express with his backfield teammate Craig James before going on to star in the NFL. His upright running style was unique, but he could both steamroll would-be tacklers as easily as run by them, goggles and all. He was so smooth and fast he could outrace a Trans Am and finished with 4,450 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Doak Walker of Southern Methodist, selected by sportswriters and broadcasters as winner of the Heisman Memorial Trophy as the nation’s outstanding college football player, holds award in New York December 7, 1948. (AP Photo)
AP
5. Doak Walker, SMU, 1945-1948 (but spent 1946 in the Army)
Statistics don’t begin to adequately describe the most versatile running back in Mustangs history. The undersized back at 5-11, 173 pounds did it all for SMU as well as a Pro Football Hall of Famer with the Detroit Lions. He caught passes, returned punts, kicked 49 field goals in the NFL, booted extra points in college and punted and even played some defense. A three-time All-American in college, he was the first junior to win the Heisman and was became such a fan favorite they had to expand the Cotton Bowl to accommodate the crowds yearning to see him. You have a national award named in your honor, you deserve a spot in these rankings.
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Cedric Benson, Texas, 2001-2004
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
6. Cedric Benson, Texas, 2001-2004
A tireless workhorse for the Longhorns, no one ran harder than the Midland Lee stud, and no one ran more often. He was a machine for a three-time state champion in high school as well as for the Longhorns, totaling 13,963 yards at the two levels. He was durable, too, finishing with 5,540 yards to rank third in NCAA history with 64 touchdowns.
Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson (5) celebrates a touchdown during the annual Red River Showdown against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas on Oct. 8, 2022.
Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman
7. Bijan Robinson, Texas 2020-2022
He arrived on campus by way of Tucson, Ariz., and was one of the rare showpieces for the Tom Herman era. Few had the combination of his moves, quick cuts and overall speed. He won the Doak Walker Award and ran for 3,410 yards.
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A&M’s John Crow (44) picks up 15 yards to the SMU 37 yard line before being shoved out of bounds by SMU’s Charlie Jackson (24) in the first quarter.
Bettmann/Bettmann Archive
8. John David Crow, Texas A&M, 1955-1957
Ineligible as a freshman because of NCAA rules, this bullish halfback was spectacular for the Aggies and won the Heisman Trophy in 1957. That year he also threw five touchdown passes and intercepted five passes.
11/14/1987 – Texas A&M running back Darren Lewis runs against Arkansas Razorbacks in Kyle Field.
Jo L. Keener
9. Darren Lewis, Texas A&M 1987-1990
As accomplished as any running back in Southwest Conference history, this Dallas product wowed fans with his strong running that made him an All-American and an NCAA career rushing leader with 5,012 yards (now 15th all time). He finished his career with five 200-yard games and led the nation in rushing in 1990.
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Houston’s Robert Newhouse dodges Florida State’s Charlie Hunt for yardage; college football
Jerry Click/Houston Post
10. Robert Newhouse, Houston 1969-1971
The human bowling ball, this compact running back from Longview was tough as nails and had 44-inch thighs that made him almost impossible to tackle. He ran for 1,757 yards his last year to up his total to 2,961 yards before becoming one of the Dallas Cowboys’ best fullbacks ever.
Duane Thomas, West Texas State 1966-1969
West Texas A&M University
11. Duane Thomas, West Texas State 1966-1969
One of the most eccentric players in NFL history, this Dallas Cowboy cut his teeth at the Missouri Valley Conference school in Canyon. He played fullback his first season, then averaged 7.2 yards a carry as a sophomore and finished his career with 2,376 yards.
Johnny Bailey, Texas A&I 1986-1989
Dennis Dunleavy/San Antonio Express-News
12. Johnny Bailey, Texas A&I 1986-1989
The only three-time winner of the Harlon Hill Trophy given to the best player in Division II football (he was runner-up as a freshman), the 5-8, 190-pound Houston native won a 5A state championship for Yates High School. He had 7,803 all-purpose yards as a four-time All-American and finished his career with 13 200-yard rushing games.
Steve Worster, Texas 1967-1970
AP
13. Steve Worster, Texas 1967-1970
Arguably the best fullback in college football history, the rugged back who led Bridge City to a state championship (but was born in Wyoming) defined the wishbone era under Darrell Royal. He ran for 5,422 yards and 38 touchdowns — behind only Robert Strait’s 41 — as a schoolboy, then bulled his way for 2,353 yards and 36 touchdowns in three seasons in Austin. He was also a two-time All-American who finished fourth in the Heisman race in 1969.
With apologies to Texas’ Chris Gilbert, the first three-time 1,000-yard rusher in college football; Texas Tech’s Donny Anderson and Byron Hanspard; Rice’s Trevor Cobb; Baylor’s Walter Abercrombie; and Houston’s Chuck Weatherspoon. Sorry for leaving out your favorite running back.
The criteria includes the obvious qualification of playing for a college in Texas if not owning a birth certificate that states you were born here. Also apologies to Lone Star natives Adrian Peterson, Billy Sims and Joe Washington, who chose to play at a different school somewhere out of state.