Top 10 Greatest Running Backs in Penn State History

Penn State University has had a long history of success on the football field. That success has produced many All-American players on both sides of the ball. While on defense, the school has been know for its linebackers, few can argue that on the offense the spotlight has shined most brightly on its running backs. Here then is a list of the top 10 Penn State running backs of all-time.

Lenny Moore (1953-1955)

A two time All-American during his final two years at Penn State, Lenny Moore set a Penn State rushing record with 1,082 yards rushing in 1954. Moore would end his college career with a then Penn State record of 2,380 yards rushing. A first round draft pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1955, Moore was named the NFL rookie of the year that season. He would go on to finish his NFL career with 7 Pro Bowl appearances, over 11,000 yards from scrimmage, and 111 touchdowns in just 143 games played. Retiring in 1967, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1975.

Larry Johnson (1999-2002)

Larry Johnson won the Doak Walker, Maxwell, Jim Brown, and Walter Campbell Award in 2002, a season which saw the star runner rush for 2,087 yards and 20 TDs. Johnson, who averaged an amazing 7.7 yards a carry that season, broke Penn State's single game rushing record three times that season, pushing the mark up to 327 yards, in a 58-25 onslaught of Indiana. Johnson finished his career at Penn State with 2,953 yards rushing, and was promptly drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Selected 27th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs, Larry has continued where he left off, gaining over 1,700 yards in back to back seasons for the Chiefs and tallying, 56 touchdowns in the first 56 games he has played in the NFL.

John Cappelletti (1971-1973)

The lone Heisman Trophy winner in Penn State history, Cappelletti gained 2,639 yards and 29 touchdowns in his Penn State career. It was a career highlighted by an incredible senior season which saw him rush for 1,522 yards and score 17 touchdowns. Along with the Heisman, Cappelletti also added the Maxwell and Walter Camp Award to his trophy case that year. The subject of the movie, "Something for Joey," Cappelletti enjoyed a moderately successful NFL career (1974-1983) after being selected 11^th overall in the 1974 NFL Draft by the L.A. Rams.

Curt Warner (1979-1982)

Curt Warner ended his college career as Penn State's all-time rushing leader with 3,398 yards on 649 carries, scoring 24 touchdowns in the process. A two time All-American (1981-82), Warner left school owning over 40 Penn State football records. Selected as the 3^rd overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, Curt enjoyed a solid NFL career rushing for 6,844 yards over eight seasons. Despite losing almost two whole years to injuries during his NFL tenure, Warner made the Pro Bowl 3 times.

Lydell Mitchell (1969-1971)

So good was Lydell Mitchell during his Nittany Lion's career that NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris served as a blocking back for the Penn State great. Mitchell's stay at the school peaked in 1971 when he set a school single season rushing mark with 1,567 yards rushing. That season he would also score an NCAA record 29 touchdowns. Mitchell would finish his career at Penn State with over 2,900 yards rushing. His stay in the NFL was just as stellar, as Mitchell produced 3 straight 1,000-yard seasons for the Baltimore Colts and twice lead the league in receiving, hauling in a career high 72 passes in 1974.

Franco Harris (1969-1971)

Used primary as a blocking back in college, Franco Harris still managed to rush for 2,002 career yards at Penn State, showing enough potential to be taken in the 1^st round of the 1972 NFL Draft. In the NFL, Harris would fuel the Pittsburgh Steeler's running game in the 70's and early 80's, leading the team to four Super Bowl victories. Along the way, Harris would make 9 NFL Pro Bowl teams, gain over 12,000 yards rushing, and get elected to Pro Football's Hall of Fame.

Ki-Jana Carter (1992-1994)

Knee injuries curtail Carter's chances at a successful career in the NFL, yet Ki-Jana still was able to leave his mark at Penn State where he gained an impressive 1,567 yards on only 198 carries, while scoring 23 touchdowns for a powerful Nittany Lions team in 1994. A first team All-American, who finished second in the Heisman voting that year, Carter would be selected first over all in the 1995 NFL Draft. Had he not chosen to pass up his Senior season at Penn State, Carter would probably be rated higher on Penn State's all-time list.

Curtis Enis (1995-1997)

Curtis Enis enjoyed a fine tenure at Penn State, rushing for 3,256 yards on 565 carries while scoring 36 touchdowns for the Lions. Had he chosen to return for a Senior season, there is little doubt that he would've ended up as the Penn State's all-time leading rusher. As it is, he became a first round draft pick by the Chicago Bears (5^th overall in 1998), and managed to gain 1,497 yards rushing in 36 games, before a knee injury ended his NFL career.

Blair Thomas (1985-1989)

An electrifying runner with great cutback ability, Blair Thomas gained 3,301 yards rushing during his Penn State career, topping the 1,400 yards rushing in 1987 and again in 1989. The New York Jets first round draft pick (2^nd overall) in 1990, Thomas would go on to gain 2,236 yards rushing in the NFL.

D.J. Dozier (1983-1986)

A fantastic athlete who was drafted by the NFL and MLB, Dozier managed to gain 3,227 yards for the Nittany Lions before being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the NFL 1987 draft. Dozier would go on to enjoy brief careers in both professional football and baseball.

Sources:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/

http://www.geocities.com/psurick/psu_almanac.html

http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/