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Let's talk about the best running backs to come through Notre Dame since 1997. There were some lean years and some respectable years. I'm here to sort it all out.
In order to qualify the player had to accumulate 100 carries over his career, and we're only considering their play from the backfield and not any special teams work. Let's rank 'em.
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17. Travis Thomas (2004-07)
409 rush yards, 128 carries, 3.19 average, 12 rush TD, 6 catches, 38 receiving yards
Ah, the good ole days of the Charlie Weis running game. Thomas never rose to the starting job and spent the better part of his last 3 seasons in South Bend being an average short-yardage back, particularly in the red zone. He actually switched to linebacker in 2006 (we counted his rushing stats that year anyway) and still got some carries as the Irish marched to the Sugar Bowl.
His 5 touchdowns in 2007 on just 27 carries is pretty impressive considering the team only scored 11 rushing touchdowns on the entire season. Then again, as noted above he was usually inserted near the goal-line and only totaled 58 yards on those 27 carries.
16. Rashon Powers-Neal (2002-05)
476 rush yards, 125 carries, 3.80 average, 8 rush TD, 27 catches, 216 receiving yards, 2 receiving TD
Started out on defense during his redshirt year but switched to running back for 2002 where he put up the bulk (77 carries) of his career touches. After that, Powers-Neal flip flopped between tailback and fullback before settling in at the latter position to finish his career.
He was actually a solid fullback and scored 6 touchdowns as a senior with 90 receiving yards.
15. James Aldridge (2006-09)
979 rush yards, 255 carries, 3.83 average, 3 rush TD, 8 catches, 31 receiving yards
Aldridge started a few games over his career but was one of the biggest flops in recent Irish history after garnering 5-star status out of high school. A knee injury forced him to miss the beginning of 2006 but for his part he came back strong playing towards the end of the year and being, all things considered, one of the bright spots on the 2007 offense.
However, he never could beat out a couple other players and ended up finishing his senior season at fullback where he carried the ball just 6 times.
14. Terrance Howard (1999-2001)
684 rush yards, 141 carries, 4.85 average, 8 rush TD, 11 catches, 108 receiving yards
Howard was a nice backup option during the late Bob Davie years but never established himself beyond that. He did average 5.6 and 5.7 yards-per-carry in his first two seasons but took a significant step back as a senior with 160 yards on 48 carries.
13. George Atkinson III (2011-13)
943 rush yards, 153 carries, 6.16 average, 10 rush TD, 10 catches, 65 receiving yards
Atkinson's YPC is actually the highest out of any of the running backs listed here which points to his amazing explosiveness and speed. If we were ranking those attributes he'd be tough to beat.
Unfortunately, GA3 only made 4 starts and spent the majority of his career as the third option within the offense. He probably would have been a spot or two higher if he added more in the pass game.
12. Cam McDaniel (2011-14)
1,121 rush yards, 255 carries, 4.39 average, 8 rush TD, 17 catches, 151 receiving yards
McDaniel gets the nod over Atkinson due to his consistency and the fact that he was the co-starter at running back for the better part of his last two seasons.
His production was solid but not really worthy of a higher slot on the list.
11. Robert Hughes (2007-10)
1,392 rush yards, 321 carries, 4.33 average, 15 rush TD, 43 catches, 370 receiving yards
Getting at least 50 carries in 4 straight seasons is very admirable, and although he never could become the go-to starter, he added some versatility as a pass catcher which earned him bonus points.
Hughes' 15 rushing touchdowns points to his short-yardage ability and that finished tied for 6th among all running backs.
10. Tarean Folston (2013-14)
1,359 rush yards, 263 carries, 5.16 average, 9 rush TD, 23 catches, 225 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
It's fun to think about where Folston will end up on this list when his career is over. With another season similar to his sophomore campaign he'll be knocking on the door to the top 5 and if he stays for his senior season he could make the case to move up even higher.
Folston likely won't get enough reps to challenge the all-time school rushing mark (he'll need to average nearly 1,500 yards over the next 2 seasons) but if he stays for 2016 he'd be a 3.5 year starter and very likely over 3,000 career rushing yards.
9. Theo Riddick (2009-12)
1,077 rush yards, 190 carries, 4.91 average, 5 rush TD, 42 catches, 413 receiving yards, 2 receiving TD
Riddick's clutch play and grit from 2012 earn him this ranking. Overall, his resume isn't quite as good as several others on this list as he only really made his mark at running back as a senior.
Still, he finished 2012 as the top back and was a huge versatile weapon in the pass game for the best Irish team of the last 2 decades.
Let's talk about the best running backs to come through Notre Dame since 1997. There were some lean years and some respectable years. I'm here to sort it all out.
In order to qualify the player had to accumulate 100 carries over his career, and we're only considering their play from the backfield and not any special teams work. Let's rank 'em.
***
17. Travis Thomas (2004-07)
409 rush yards, 128 carries, 3.19 average, 12 rush TD, 6 catches, 38 receiving yards
Ah, the good ole days of the Charlie Weis running game. Thomas never rose to the starting job and spent the better part of his last 3 seasons in South Bend being an average short-yardage back, particularly in the red zone. He actually switched to linebacker in 2006 (we counted his rushing stats that year anyway) and still got some carries as the Irish marched to the Sugar Bowl.
His 5 touchdowns in 2007 on just 27 carries is pretty impressive considering the team only scored 11 rushing touchdowns on the entire season. Then again, as noted above he was usually inserted near the goal-line and only totaled 58 yards on those 27 carries.
16. Rashon Powers-Neal (2002-05)
476 rush yards, 125 carries, 3.80 average, 8 rush TD, 27 catches, 216 receiving yards, 2 receiving TD
Started out on defense during his redshirt year but switched to running back for 2002 where he put up the bulk (77 carries) of his career touches. After that, Powers-Neal flip flopped between tailback and fullback before settling in at the latter position to finish his career.
He was actually a solid fullback and scored 6 touchdowns as a senior with 90 receiving yards.
15. James Aldridge (2006-09)
979 rush yards, 255 carries, 3.83 average, 3 rush TD, 8 catches, 31 receiving yards
Aldridge started a few games over his career but was one of the biggest flops in recent Irish history after garnering 5-star status out of high school. A knee injury forced him to miss the beginning of 2006 but for his part he came back strong playing towards the end of the year and being, all things considered, one of the bright spots on the 2007 offense.
However, he never could beat out a couple other players and ended up finishing his senior season at fullback where he carried the ball just 6 times.
14. Terrance Howard (1999-2001)
684 rush yards, 141 carries, 4.85 average, 8 rush TD, 11 catches, 108 receiving yards
Howard was a nice backup option during the late Bob Davie years but never established himself beyond that. He did average 5.6 and 5.7 yards-per-carry in his first two seasons but took a significant step back as a senior with 160 yards on 48 carries.
13. George Atkinson III (2011-13)
943 rush yards, 153 carries, 6.16 average, 10 rush TD, 10 catches, 65 receiving yards
Atkinson's YPC is actually the highest out of any of the running backs listed here which points to his amazing explosiveness and speed. If we were ranking those attributes he'd be tough to beat.
Unfortunately, GA3 only made 4 starts and spent the majority of his career as the third option within the offense. He probably would have been a spot or two higher if he added more in the pass game.
12. Cam McDaniel (2011-14)
1,121 rush yards, 255 carries, 4.39 average, 8 rush TD, 17 catches, 151 receiving yards
McDaniel gets the nod over Atkinson due to his consistency and the fact that he was the co-starter at running back for the better part of his last two seasons.
His production was solid but not really worthy of a higher slot on the list.
11. Robert Hughes (2007-10)
1,392 rush yards, 321 carries, 4.33 average, 15 rush TD, 43 catches, 370 receiving yards
Getting at least 50 carries in 4 straight seasons is very admirable, and although he never could become the go-to starter, he added some versatility as a pass catcher which earned him bonus points.
Hughes' 15 rushing touchdowns points to his short-yardage ability and that finished tied for 6th among all running backs.
10. Tarean Folston (2013-14)
1,359 rush yards, 263 carries, 5.16 average, 9 rush TD, 23 catches, 225 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
It's fun to think about where Folston will end up on this list when his career is over. With another season similar to his sophomore campaign he'll be knocking on the door to the top 5 and if he stays for his senior season he could make the case to move up even higher.
Folston likely won't get enough reps to challenge the all-time school rushing mark (he'll need to average nearly 1,500 yards over the next 2 seasons) but if he stays for 2016 he'd be a 3.5 year starter and very likely over 3,000 career rushing yards.
9. Theo Riddick (2009-12)
1,077 rush yards, 190 carries, 4.91 average, 5 rush TD, 42 catches, 413 receiving yards, 2 receiving TD
Riddick's clutch play and grit from 2012 earn him this ranking. Overall, his resume isn't quite as good as several others on this list as he only really made his mark at running back as a senior.
Still, he finished 2012 as the top back and was a huge versatile weapon in the pass game for the best Irish team of the last 2 decades.
