Since its founding in 1892, Georgia football has watched many great running backs don the red and black. Here are the 15 best to ever grace the gridiron for the Bulldogs.
You don’t have to ask a Bulldogs fan to know that Georgia football is considered Running Back U. Even most casual fans can rattle off a few of the school’s top talents of the last decade or so.
What’s crazy is, despite all of the talent that’s come through the program in recent years, those players don’t even make up the cream of the crop. For the best of the best running backs in Georgia history, you have to go as far as 70 years back to understand just how many superstars wore the red and black.
That’s why we’re here today. It’s time we shined a spotlight on some of the other outstanding Georgia running backs who have helped build one of college football’s most storied programs. It’s been a long, treacherous journey for the Bulldogs, who have seen boatloads of terrific play as well as disappointment from their ball carriers.
With that in mind, I went ahead and looked back at the most prominent running backs Georgia has ever seen. From that list, I whittled it down to the top 15 to ever call Sanford Stadium home.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at the 15 best running backs to ever rumble for the Bulldogs. You will absolutely see some familiar names, as well as a few lesser-known runners who are sure to stump the younger readers.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 15: Thomas Brown (2004-07)
Career stats: 529 carries, 2,646 rushing yards, 23 rushing TDs, 5 YPC, 39 receptions, 372 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs
Realistically, there were plenty of players worthy of this initial spot in our Top 15. However, when it came down to it, I had to go with Thomas Brown as the selection. More than anything, it was due to his versatility and the overall value he offered the Bulldogs.
First off, Brown was a terrific running back during his four-year career at Georgia. Although he was never able to take over as the full-time starter in a crowded backfield, he was routinely making the most of his opportunities. Whether he was racking up yards on the ground or catching passes out of the backfield, no one was able to ignore the local product.
Second, Brown was a star in other aspects of the game. Maybe he was returning kicks to help turn the tide, like he did as a junior with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown. Or maybe he was securing a big tackle on special teams. One way or another, Brown found a way to make an impact.
Injuries limited his effectiveness and opportunities as his career wound down, with a torn ACL as a junior and a broken collarbone as a senior. Despite those setbacks, he always seemed to find a way to shine even with other talented running backs vying for snaps.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 14: Robert Edwards (1994-97)
Career stats: 394 carries, 2,033 rushing yards, 27 rushing TDs, 5.2 YPC, 48 receptions, 455 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs
Robert Edwards had an outstanding career at Georgia. It’s all the more impressive when you consider that he actually came to Athens as a defensive back, eventually making the shift to the offensive side of the ball as a sophomore.
When that happened, it became clear rather quickly that he was headed for stardom. That was, until a leg injury ended his first year as the starter two games in. Imagine what could have been, seeing as Edwards managed 325 rushing yards and six touchdowns in those two outings before landing on the shelf.
Still, Edwards more than earned this spot on a rather star-studded list. He wasn’t nearly as efficient during his final two years on campus, watching his 7.2 yards-per-carry average as a sophomore fall to 4.3 as a junior before a decent increase to 5.5 as a senior. At the same time, his production in the passing game was minimal in that first year compared to the two following seasons.
Some may see Edwards time at Georgia as a “what could have been” situation. While I can see the point, he was still a productive runner who made an unmistakable mark on the program.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 13: Musa Smith (2000-02)
Career stats: 454 carries, 2,202 rushing yards, 19 rushing TDs, 4.9 YPC, 27 receptions, 187 receiving yards
During his first two years in Athens, Musa Smith was a backup and quality contributor — not much else. That’s not to say he was subpar by any standards, but he wasn’t exactly a star and didn’t produce at an accelerated clip.
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It wasn’t until his final year at Georgia that Smith truly shined. In 2002, the powerful runner from Pennsylvania was a freight train, leading the Bulldogs to a 13-1 record, SEC Championship and Sugar Bowl win. His 1,324 rushing yards on the year were the most in a decade for the program, a huge accomplishment for a running back lacking breakaway speed.
Sure, his career totals aren’t as impressive as many backs on this list. There were no Heisman candidacies or All-American designations for Smith. There were, however, the hopes of a team riding on his back, carried safely to the top of the SEC.
Smith will never be remembered as one of the elite running backs to ever come through Athens. However, as we saw during the early 2000s, he was more than capable of putting the team on his shoulders and rumbling his way into the annals of Georgia football history.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 12: Sony Michel (2014-17)
Career stats: 565 carries, 3,334 rushing yards, 30 rushing TDs, 5.9 YPC, 60 receptions, 580 receiving yards, 5 receiving TDs
For much of Sony Michel’s career, he lived in the shadow of another name you’ll find further down this list. However, as the years have gone by, we’ve seen the backup running back look much more like a star in the making.
Sure, Michel hasn’t received the national attention he deserves. That’s what happens when you play second fiddle to a former Heisman hopeful. Still, there’s no denying that the Orlando native absolutely belongs on this list. I mean, he is one of the top three most productive running backs in Georgia history after all.
At this moment, Michel is ranked third in career rushing yards for the Bulldogs. It’s easy to chalk that up to the fact that he’s been on campus for four years, and has played at least a significant role all four years. At the same time, he’s split the snaps for most of those four years, averaging just over 140 carries per season. Imagine what could have been had he been the workhorse back.
All things considered, Michel’s time in Athens worked out splendidly. Even as No. 2 in the pecking order, he earned a prominent role and held on to it for all four years. Look for him to make his presence felt in a bigger way when he makes the transition to the NFL.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 11: Terrell Davis (1992-94)
Career stats: 317 carries, 1,657 rushing yards,14 rushing TDs, 5.2 YPC, 46 receptions, 529 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs
Honestly, it’s rather surprising to see Terrell Davis not higher on this list considering how successful of an NFL career he had. While he was a playmaker for the Bulldogs, he certainly didn’t blossom until his college career was in the books.
During his three years at Georgia, Davis was a tremendous threat on the ground while also proving himself more than capable of racking up yards through the air. That versatility and well-rounded skill set helped him excel both during his days in Athens as well as when he took his talents to the next level.
We can chalk up Davis’ time at Georgia not being elite to a number of things. Davis had claimed that head coach Ray Goff was never a huge fan of his. It was also noted that he was routinely playing through injuries, which we know can hamper a running back’s ability to play up to their full potential.
Either way, Davis is more than deserving of a spot on this list. He may not have been the superstar in college that he was in the NFL, but he did plenty of damage for the Bulldogs as well.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 10: Lars Tate (1984-87)
Career stats: 615 carries, 3,017 rushing yards, 36 rushing TDs, 4.9 YPC, 40 receptions, 376 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
For most of his time at Georgia, Lars Tate was forced to compete with Tim Worley and Keith Henderson for touches. It was a slog for the Indianapolis native, but his resilience and tenacity over four seasons landed him at No. 10 on this list.
Despite serving as a backup or splitting the carries for most of his career, Tate was highly productive. He’s currently No. 6 in career rushing yards, and No. 3 in career rushing touchdowns — coming in ahead of some of the guys listed much higher in this Top 15 rankings.
In his final two years on campus, Tate took over as the lead back and never looked back. From 1986 to 1987, he amassed nearly 2,000 yards while finding the end zone on 30 separate occasions. Those touchdown totals can likely be attributed to his impressive strength, which often garnered him recognition at Georgia.
Tate may not have been the flashiest runner in Bulldogs history, but he won with determination and a team-first mindset. Those qualities defined the tremendously successful Georgia teams of the 1980s.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 9: Tim Worley (1985-88)
Career stats: 353 carries, 2,038 rushing yards, 27 rushing TDs, 5.8 YPC, 22 receptions, 217 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs
On the surface, Worley’s overall production at Georgia may not seem to warrant the No. 9 spot. However, if you had an opportunity to watch him do his thing on the football field, you’d understand why he’s this high on the list.
Worley was a man among boys during his days in Athens. A unique combination of size, speed and power, he reminded folks of the guy atop this list when he first joined the Bulldogs. Although his career never quite lived up to those lofty expectations, he made an undeniable mark on this program that’s stood the test of time.
Unfortunately, most of his time was spent either sharing carries or being forced to step away from the team due to academic issues. In fact, he missed the entire 1987 campaign as a result of the latter. Still, when he was on the field, his presence was felt in a big way.
Worley lit it up during his final year on campus, amassing 1,216 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground with only 191 carries. That performance opened the door for him to become a first-round pick the next year, although his NFL career was short lived.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 8: Knowshon Moreno (2007-08)
Career stats: 498 carries, 2,734 rushing yards, 30 rushing TDs, 5.5 YPC, 53 receptions, 645 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs
There was so much to love about Knowshon Moreno’s time with the Bulldogs. Just look above at his impressive stat line for further evidence of the impact he had, both as a runner and receiver.
Unfortunately, fans probably wished his time with the program had lasted longer. Moreno stuck around for only two seasons, leaving Georgia after his redshirt sophomore season and taking his talents to the NFL. It’s safe to assume that he’d be much higher on this list had he stuck around for a third (or even fourth) year on campus.
Still, his production was impressive for only two seasons. Moreno was leaned on as the running game’s workhorse, and never seemed to disappoint. In two years, he had more rushing yards than many Georgia backs had in three or four. On top of that, he was arguably one of the best pass-catching backs to ever take a snap in Sanford Stadium.
What could have been had Moreno decided to extend his college career? We’ll never know. Regardless, it’s an interest point to ponder considering how productive of a playmaker he was during his two years with the program.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 7: Rodney Hampton (1987-89)
Career stats: 472 carries, 2,668 rushing yards, 22 rushing TDs, 5.7 YPC, 46 receptions, 438 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs
Just by looking at his career totals, you wouldn’t be blown away by Rodney Hampton. However, there are a number of key stats that highlight just how impressive of a talent he was for the Bulldogs during his three years with the team.
First, he set the Georgia single-game all-purpose yards record with 290 yards (227 rushing, 28 receiving, 35 kickoff return) in 1987, which was later broken by the No. 4 player on this list. Yes, that was as a freshman. On top of that, he’s one of only two freshman running backs in Bulldogs history to crack the 200-yard mark on the ground. That’s quite the feat for a young back.
Here’s another one for you: Hampton owns the record for the best yards-per-carry average by a freshman (7.06). Considering some of the elite Georgia talents who saw significant action in their first years, that’s one to hang your hat on.
The Texas native was an unstoppable force, particularly during his freshman season. Although his effectiveness suffered as opponents game-planned for him in his subsequent years, Hampton still sits as the No. 8 all-time rusher in Georgia history and proved even youngsters could shine in college football before it was the hip thing to do.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 6: Garrison Hearst (1990-92)
Career stats: 543 carries, 3,232 rushing yards, 33 rushing TDs, 6 YPC, 45 receptions, 546 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs
When you see this much talent in one school’s history, it’s easy to see how there would be a number of Heisman contenders on the list. While Garrison Hearst failed to win the prestigious award, his third-place finish in 1992 so perfectly summed up the immense impact he had for the program throughout his three years on campus.
Here’s an interesting stat for you on Hearst: he’s one of only two running backs in Georgia history to lead the team in rushing for three seasons. The other? The guy who sits unchallenged atop this list at No. 1. Not bad company to be in, especially considering who that other player is.
Hearst’s overall productivity, reliability and versatility for the Bulldogs was terrific. Year after year, he was a big play waiting to happen. He left school second in career rushing yards and third in career rushing touchdowns, although he’s since been bumped down both lists. The Georgia native also owns the fourth-best single-season rushing yards total in school history (1,594 in 1992).
Either way, Heart belongs here at No. 6. If it wasn’t for the Bulldogs’ recent run of top talents at the running back position, he may be significantly higher on the list.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 5: Nick Chubb (2014-17)
Career stats: 726 carries, 4,599 rushing yards, 42 rushing TDs, 6.3 YPC, 30 receptions, 362 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs
The most recent of Georgia’s star running backs, Nick Chubb has quietly paved his way towards a historic career while donning the red and black. If it wasn’t for a disastrous knee injury during his sophomore season, along with being forced to split touches for much of his career, there’s no guessing how gaudy his stats would be now.
Chubb started his time with the Bulldogs as a freshman sensation. Taking over for another later-to-be-named great, the young runner took the nation by storm in 2014. On his way to 1,547 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, Chubb was a star for Georgia in his first year on campus.
It only got better in 2015, when he tied another legend’s record with 13 consecutive games with 100+ rushing yards. Unfortunately, the aforementioned knee injury in the next outing would keep him from owning the record.
Since then, he’s had to share the workload with Michel. Still, he’s more than made a name for himself and figures to be enjoying similar success in the NFL in the very near future. For all of the setbacks Chubb suffered, he sure was a superstar from the get-go at Georgia.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 4: Todd Gurley (2012-14)
Career stats: 510 carries, 3,285 rushing yards, 36 rushing TDs, 6.4 YPC, 65 receptions, 615 receiving yards, 6 receiving TDs
It seems crazy to think that this is where we find Todd Gurley, who was easily one of the truly elite running backs to come through the Georgia football program. However, he had a pretty impressive list of runners come before him. That’s why he sits here at No. 4.
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Regardless of the guys before him, Gurley deserves all of the praise for his efforts as a Bulldog. Not only is he fourth on the all-time rushing leaders list, but he produced those numbers in only 30 career appearances. Imagine what he could have done if his final year on campus had he not been suspended only six games in.
Still, let’s not focus on the negative. Let’s instead turn our attention to the epic play we saw from Gurley through those 30 games. Put simply, he was unstoppable during his days in Athens. Whether he was outrunning an entire defense or plowing his way through would-be tacklers, the dominant runner did everything in his power to pick up as many yards as possible.
Gurley has quickly emerged as a superstar in the NFL, but that’s far from a surprise. He was a force to be reckoned with throughout his college career, which is why he’ll go down in the books as one of Georgia’s all-time greatest.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 3: Charley Trippi (1942-43, 1945-46)
Career stats: 320 carries, 1,908 rushing yards, 24 rushing TDs, 6 YPC, 12 receptions, 125 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs
The first of Georgia’s ridiculous backfield duo during the early 1940s, Charley Trippi was a star during his four seasons with the Bulldogs. Although he spent a year away from school due to World War II, he never seemed to lose his touch as the team’s Swiss Army Knife.
There may not have been anything Trippi couldn’t do. Not only did he shine as a runner and receiver, but he also played quarterback, defensive back, punter and returner during his time in Athens. That wide range of skills helped him earn the Maxwell Award in 1946, his final and most productive year with the Bulldogs.
In that same year, Trippi was named an All-American and came up second in the Heisman Trophy voting while leading Georgia football to its first undefeated season. His efforts eventually landed him in the College Football Hall of Fame back in 1959.
Considering the overwhelming success he enjoyed, it’s a tad crazy to think that Trippi sits here at No. 3 on this list. However, when you read about the accomplishments of the two men ahead of him, it’s easy to understand why Trippi is where he is. Still, don’t let that take away from the historic career he enjoyed at Georgia.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 2: Frank Sinkwich (1940-42)
Career stats: 395 carries, 1,931 rushing yards, 30 rushing TDs, 4.9 YPC, 2 receptions, 33 receiving yards
Trippi’s outstanding counterpart during the early 1940s, Frank Sinkwich was a do-it-all superstar for the Bulldogs during his days. Not only was he an electric running back, but he also shined as a quarterback during his first year on campus. It seems there was nothing he couldn’t do well.
The above stats may not seem all that impressive, but we have to consider this was a different day and age. It’s also worth noting that Sinkwich spent significant time under center, and his passing stats weren’t as easy to track down. Either way, the Croatia native was the heart and soul of the program during his days in Athens.
Just look at this list of accomplishments: two-time All-American, 1942 Heisman Trophy winner, 1942 AP Athlete of the Year, 1954 College Football Hall of Fame inductee. The list goes on and on, even once he took his talents to the NFL.
Sinkwich was a bona fide star — there’s no denying that. Most of us weren’t around to see him play, but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate everything he accomplished while terrorizing opponents as the Bulldogs’ top playmaker.
Top All-Time Georgia Running Backs – Number 1: Herschel Walker (1980-82)
Career stats: 994 carries, 5,259 rushing yards, 49 rushing TDs, 5.3 YPC, 26 receptions, 243 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs
If you really have any question about the selection of Herschel Walker as the top running back in Georgia history, you know nothing about the player or the school.
Put simply, Walker was the best running back in college history — not just to play in Athens. His list of accomplishments is so long that we would be here all day discussing it. Walker owns nearly every Georgia rushing record, set numerous NCAA rushing records as a freshman (and should have won the Heisman), helped the Bulldogs win a National Championship, etc.
Seriously, the list seemingly never ends. Walker was as elite as they come in terms of college running backs. That’s why he finds himself here at No. 1 among the greatest runners to ever come through the program.
The crazy part is that he rewrote the Georgia record books in only three years. Every season on campus, he amassed at least 1,600 rushing yards — they’re the top three campaigns ever by Bulldog running backs. The only other back who came anywhere close to Walker’s career touchdown total was Chubb, who played 12 more games and fell seven touchdowns short.
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If you don’t get the picture yet, you may never get it. Walker is the greatest running back in Georgia history, and has quite the case as the greatest running back college football has ever seen.