1. Herschel Walker RB, Georgia, 1980-82
Walker stampeded onto the college football scene in his first game by barreling over Tennessee’s Bill Bates, and from there, his legend only grew.
The 1982 Heisman winner led the Bulldogs to a 33–3 record and the 1980 national championship during his three seasons in Athens, rushing for 5,259 yards — still an SEC record — and 49 touchdowns.
2. Barry Sanders RB, Oklahoma State, 1986-88
The dazzlingly elusive Sanders had arguably the greatest individual season in college football history, rushing for 2,850 yards on 7.6 yards per carry and 42 touchdowns (including the bowl game) in his Heisman campaign of 1988.
He scored 55 total touchdowns in his three-year career despite having only one season as the Cowboys’ featured back.
3. Archie Griffin RB, Ohio State, 1972-75
The only two-time winner of the Heisman Trophy, Griffin was a workhorse for Woody Hayes’ Buckeyes, amassing 5,589 rushing yards (second in Big Ten history) on 924 carries.
He led the Big Ten in rushing in 1973 (1,577 yards), ’74 (1,695 yards) and ’75 (1,450 yards) and averaged a robust 6.0 yards per attempt for his career.
4. Earl Campbell RB, Texas, 1974-77
The Tyler Rose left countless Southwest Conference defenders face-down on the turf or grasping at air.
He left Austin with 4,443 rushing yards and won the 1977 Heisman Trophy with a 1,744-yard, 18-TD season for the 11–1 Longhorns. Even in the Horns’ 38–10 Cotton Bowl loss to Notre Dame that cost them the national title, Campbell was a bright spot, rushing for 116 yards.
5. Bo Jackson RB, Auburn, 1982-85
Jackson amassed quite a highlight reel in his first three seasons on The Plains, but his injury-free 1985 campaign was when it all came together: 1,786 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns and a Heisman Trophy.
Jackson finished his career with 4,303 rushing yards and 45 total scores before becoming a folk hero and pop culture fixture with his multi-sport pro career.
6. Tim Tebow QB, Florida, 2006-09
The numbers are simply staggering: 9,285 passing yards and 88 touchdowns; 2,947 rushing yards and an SEC-record 57 scores on the ground; conference records for total touchdowns (145), passing yards per attempt (9.3) and passing efficiency rating (170.8).
Oh, and there’s the small matter of two national championships in his four seasons in Gainesville.
