Ranker

Anime Underground

Button Mash

Graveyard Shift

Total Nerd

Unspeakable Times

Weird History

Weird Nature

Weirdly Interesting

Sports

Music

Entertainment

Living

Culture

Food

Makeup

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Holidays

Watchworthy

HBO Max

The best players from many of college football's most storied programs

Football

Brian Griese

A list of the best Michigan Wolverines football players of all time. When many people think of college football, the University of Michigan is one of the first schools that they associate with the game. Michigan currently has the most wins in college football history and many of college football's greats have worn the maize and blue. Michigan has won or shared 42 league titles; only Oklahoma and Nebraska have more conference championships in college football. Since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936, Michigan has finished in the top 10 a record 37 times. The Wolverines claim 11 national championships, most recently that of the 1997 squad voted atop the final AP Poll.With championships comes great players. Some of the best Michigan players ever have led the school to not only titles, but to the Rose Bowl. The New Year's Day game is a Michigan staple and the Wolverines have played in Pasadena 20 times. Some of Michigan's best players cemented their legacy as famous Michigan football players with strong Rose Bowl performances.Michigan has a rich history of having outstanding players on its rosters. Who wouldn't want to play for the winningest team in college history? That's what attracted <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-heisman-trophy-winners-of-all-time/ranker-college-football">Heisman Trophy</a> winners like Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson to the school. Even a former President of the United States played for the Wolverines. Yes, Gerald Ford was a standout footballer before he entered the White House.&nbsp;This is a list of the best Michigan Wolverines football players of all time. If you see someone missing from this list, feel free to add him. Vote or rerank this list of the greatest Michigan Wolverines of all time by who you think should be at the top.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Jeremy Langford

Michigan State is an athletic powerhouse and their football program is no exception. The Spartans have six national championships to their name as well as eight Big-10 conference championships.Football is a team sport, but Michigan State has had some remarkable talent suit up for them over the years.Who do you think is the best Michigan State Football player ever? Cast your votes for the best Spartans to ever play football at Michigan State and see who is truly the best.

College Football

Derrick Thomas

This list ranks the best Alabama Crimson Tide players of all time. Football is a way of life in Alabama. The state is home to two of the most famous schools in NCAA history: Auburn and Alabama. The latter is one of the most recognized programs in the sport and recently has dominated college football behind some of the best players in school history. The football program started in 1892 and has established itself as one of the most iconic names in sports. Alabama has won 15 national championships and those teams featured some of the best players in Crimson Tide history. Many of Alabama's greatest players went onto achieve success in the NFL, including future Pro Football Hall of Famers like John Hannah, Ozzie Newsome and Derrick Thomas. Surprisingly, with the school's rich history of having a roster full of outstanding players, curiously has only one Heisman Trophy in its cabinet. In 2009, Mark Ingram barely nudged past <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-stanford-cardinal-running-backs/ranker-college-football?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Stanford running back</a> Toby Gerhart to take the trophy back to Tuscaloosa.&nbsp;In recent years, a good number of Alabama players have gone on to play in the NFL. Under the stewardship of Nick Saban, Alabama is going through its greatest stretch since the legendary Bear Bryant was at the helm. Needless to say, you won't find too many Alabama fans who are disappointed in the school's recent past.This is the list of the best Bama Crimson Tide players of all time. If you notice someone is missing from the list, feel free to add him. Vote or rerank the list according to who you think is the greatest Alabama football player ever.

Cortez Kennedy

The Hurricanes from The University of Miami (or, THE U!) is one of the most storied programs in college football history.&nbsp;The Miami Hurricanes football team boasts 5 national titles, 9 conference championships, 2 <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-heisman-trophy-winners-of-all-time/ranker-college-football?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Heisman Trophy winners</a>, 35 consensus All-Americans, and that's not all. The Canes have also produced the most first round NFL draft picks of any college football program, and also hold the record for most consecutive drafts with at least one first round pick.&nbsp;Not to mention that 10 players from The U are now in the College Football Hall of Fame.There have obviously been some greats at Miami, but who are the greatest? The following is a list of the best Miami Hurricanes ever. What do you think? Upvote&nbsp;the Miami Hurricane football players from any era, who you think are the best University of Miami players ever.

Jeff Samardzija

A list of the best Notre Dame football players of all time. Notre Dame University's Fightin' Irish are a college football institution. Some of college football's most storied teams and greatest players of all time have played for the Golden Domers. For years, Notre Dame has lured the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-football-players-ever?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best football players</a> in the land to South Bend, Ind. to play football for the school. Notre Dame's alumni are some of the most <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-university-of-notre-dame-alumni-and-students/reference">famous people to graduate from the school</a>. The program started in 1888 and almost immediately became a national powerhouse.Those early Fightin' Irish teams had some of the school's greatest players ever, including George Gipp. A legend in Notre Dame folklore, Gipp was the school's first first team All-American player. Despite not playing football until he got to Notre Dame, Gipp led the Irish in rushing and passing each of his last three seasons 1918, 1919 and 1920. He was also the subject of head coach Knute Rockne's greatest speech when he said &quot;Win one for the Gipper.&quot;Over the years, Notre Dame's best players have gone onto successful NFL careers. Paul Hornung and Alan Page are both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and longtime Raiders receiver and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown is on the cusp of being inducted as well. Raghib &quot;Rocket&quot; Ismail had a long, successful career in the pros after an outstanding career at Notre Dame. So who are the best Notre Dame players in the pros today? Perhaps New York GIants defensive end Justin Tuck. Though he played on some solid teams at Notre Dame, Tuck won two Super Bowls in the NFL and is one of the best players to come from the school in recent years. Recently, Manti Te'o added himself to the list of the greatest players in Notre Dame history when he finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting.&nbsp;This is the list of the best Notre Dame football players of all time. If you notice someone is missing, feel free to add him. Vote or rerank this list according to who you think is the greatest Notre Dame Fightin' Irish football player ever.&nbsp;

Joey Galloway

A list of the best Ohio State Buckeyes of all time. Since 1890, THE Ohio State University has been one of the most storied programs in college football history. Firstly, using &quot;the&quot; in front of the school name has been a source of pride for most Buckeyes. The school's football team has been one of the best in the NCAA. Ohio State has won seven national championships and its players, some of the most successful in college football history, are also <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-heisman-trophy-winners-of-all-time/ranker-college-football">winners of the Heisman Trophy</a>, college football's most prestigious honor. Six Buckeyes have won the Heisman, including Archie Griffin, who is the only two-time winner of the award. Eddie George, the 1995 Heisman winner, is one of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest running backs</a> in college history. He set a Buckeyes record when he ran for a whopping 313 yards in a single game versus Illinois. Some of the best Buckeyes players are also on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having a strong NFL career with the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills, middle linebacker Chris Spielman is one of the most beloved Buckeyes player of all time. He was a tackling machine who powered a strong Ohio State defense during the mid-to-late 80s.Some of the best Ohio State players of all time have had their biggest games arch the school's archrival to the north: Michigan. For years, the two schools have battled it out for the Big Ten title, which used to mean a coveted berth in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day in Pasadena. The best Buckeyes have brought their best to this storied rivalry game and have provided some of the most memorable moments in the series.This is the list of the best Ohio State Buckeyes of all time. If you see someone missing from this list, feel free to add him to this list. Vote or rerank this list according to who you think should be considered the greatest Ohio State player of all time.

Tucker Frederickson

You can't talk college football without talking about the Auburn Tigers. Auburn pumps out some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-football-players-ever?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best football players</a> of all time, many of whom have moved on to the big leagues to become some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/top-25-greatest-nfl-players-of-all-time/hardtack?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest NFL players</a> as well. Who are the greatest Auburn football players of all time?This list is votable and rerankable. Upvote all of your favorite football players who have hailed from AU, and downvote the ones you think aren't so great. Feel free to add any athletes who aren't currently on the list as well.WAR. DAMN. EAGLE.

College Sports

Kenny Easley

The UCLA Bruins have enjoyed great periods of success and also great periods of strife.Along that winding road, there have been some phenomenal players. Here's a list of the best Bruins of all time. What do you think, Rankers? Who goes where in your book? UpVote your picks now!

Rocky Calmus

A list of the best Oklahoma Sooners of all time. Beginning in 1895, the University of Oklahoma began its illustrious football program. To many in the Heartland, Oklahoma football has maintained a standard of excellence since that time. The school has been long associated with winning football and has produced some of the best players in college football history. Oklahoma has a history of winning national titles, with seven claimed and a whopping ten unclaimed championships. Oklahoma is known for having one of the most fearsome defensive lines in college football history. Led by pro football Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon, Oklahoma can boast having a number of powerhouses along its defensive front. That doesn't even include the school's five <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-heisman-trophy-winners-of-all-time/ranker-college-football">Heisman Trophy winners</a>. Sam Bradford is the most recent Oklahoma Sooner to bring the Heisman back to Norman. During his time in school, Bradford set a number of records and was the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft when he was selected by the St. Louis Rams.Other famous players who are considered some of the greatest Sooners ever are flamboyant linebacker Brian Bosworth and running back Adrian Peterson. All Day powered Oklahoma to the 2004 BCS Championship game where it succumbed to USC. In fact, <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-oklahoma-sooners-running-backs/ranker-college-football?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Oklahoma Sooners running backs</a> have been among the best in college football. Since Bob Stoops became head coach in 1998, Oklahoma has had some of its best players and has a prosperous run. The school is a fixture in both the AP and Coaches Poll.This is the list of the best Oklahoma Sooners football players of all time. If you notice a player who deserves to be on this list, feel free to add him. Vote or rerank this list according to who you think should be considered the greatest Sooners player ever.&nbsp;

Wilber Marshall

Hailing from &quot;The Swamp&quot; in Gainesville, Florida, The Gators are one of the most celebrated institutions in college football. The Gators have three national championships to their name, as well as eight SEC-titles in the program's 108-year history. The University of Florida has also produced 31 consensus All-Americans and three Heisman Trophy winners.With 89 First Team All-Americans and 46 NFL first-round draft picks, it is safe to say that the Gators have had some remarkable talent over the years.So, It's up to you now, Rankers. Who is the best Florida Gator ever? You have your work cut out for you. From Tebow to Collinsworth to Emmitt Smith – Steve Spurrier, Jack Youngblood, and Danny Wuerffel and many more. There is no wrong answer!&nbsp;Upvote your picks for the best University of Florida football players now!

Martellus Bennett

Hailing from College Station, Texas, where football is everything, the Aggies of Texas A&amp;M are held to very high standard of excellence. It's Texas. We've all seen &quot;Friday Night Lights.&quot; The Aggies have won three National Championships and Eighteen Conference Titles. Those are undeniable numbers. This is a proud and consistently competitive football program.With two <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-heisman-trophy-winners-of-all-time/ranker-college-football?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Heisman Trophy winners</a> and 22 Consensus All-Americans, Texas A&amp;M has fostered some terrific individual talent to go along with their stellar team play. But who is the greatest of all time?The following is a list of the best Texas A&amp;M football players ever. It's up to you, Rankers. Vote for who you think the very best Aggies in the history of this storied program.

Reinard Wilson

When you think of the pantheon of iconic college football programs, the Florida State Seminoles. The school is widely known for dominating college football for a span beginning in the late 1980s through the early 2000s. Behind legendary coach Bobby Bowden, the Noles maintained a home in the top-5 of the polls. Despite falling off at the end of Bowden's reign, this era produced some of the greatest players in Florida State history. The school became a de-factor feeding factory for the NFL, with a slew of first round draft picks and a number of other players who became fixtures in the pros.The Seminoles have won three national championships, seventeen conference titles, and five division titles. The program has also produced three <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-heisman-trophy-winners-of-all-time/ranker-college-football?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Heisman Trophy winners</a>, and one NEON DEION. Sanders inspired the Tomahawk Chop, one of the most popular cheers that's associated with a particular school. On top of Deion, quarterbacks Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke and recently, Jameis Winston, are all in an elite group of Heisman Trophy winners who also took a national title back to Tallahassee.&nbsp;Who do you think are the best Seminoles ever, Rankers? Upvote your picks!

John Cappelletti

For years, Penn State was known as one of the great bastions of Northeastern football. Located in State College, PA, the school is known for having some of the greatest college football teams in NCAA history. Some of the best college football players of all time have emerged from the school that&#39;s nicknamed &quot;Linebacker U.&quot;

The storied history of Penn State has resulted in national championships and a loyal, devoted fan and alumni base who proudly call themselves &quot;Penn Staters.&quot; However, the players aren&#39;t slouches either. Franco Harris and Jack Ham are two Hall of Fame players who attended Penn State and were forces on the gridiron in both college and the NFL. In the 1990s, players like Kerry Collins, Ki-Jana Carter, and Kyle Brady bridged the program&#39;s success into the next generation, while the 2000s saw running back Larry Johnson carry the team to greatness.

Who are the best players in Penn State history? Well, that depends on who you ask. If you like hard-nosed, rugged football, you&#39;ll pick a defensive player. Though knowing Penn State&#39;s football history, if you like that brand of football, you may select an offensive lineman who paved the way for the team&#39;s star players to find success.&nbsp;

This is the list of the best Penn State football players of all time. Vote or re-rank the list according to how you see fit. Feel free to add any Penn State players who aren&#39;t already listed below. Then head over and check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-penn-state-nittany-lions-wide-receivers/ranker-college-football" target="_blank">best Penn State wide receivers ever</a>.

Eric Reid

The Louisiana State University Tigers, the Fighting Tigers, are a college football mainstay. With four national championships (the first team to win multiple National titles since the advent of the BCS) and the 11th highest winning percentage amongst teams that have played at least 1,000 games, it is clear that the boys in purple are not to be messed with.

Many of these players went on to successful pro careers in the NFL. So, whether we&#39;re talking defensive ends or DBs, wide receivers or quarterbacks, who are the best LSU Tigers of all time?

Rey Maualuga

A list of the best USC Trojans players of all time. USC football is one of the most storied programs in the history of college football. When people think of the success of the Pac-8, Pac-10, and now Pac-12, USC football usually at the top of anyone&#39;s list as the greatest school to emerge from that conference. USC is one of the winningest football programs in college history and despite the brutal sanctions that were handed down by the NCAA in 2010, the school boasts an impressive 11 national championship along with six <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-heisman-trophy-winners-of-all-time/ranker-college-football?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Heisman Trophy winners</a>, which doesn&#39;t include a seventh, Reggie Bush who won in 2005. The NCAA may have tried to erase Bush from USC history, but anyone who saw the tailback play that year considers him to be one of the greatest players not only in USC football history, but one of the greatest college football players of all time. Many of USC&#39;s best players have gone to have successful careers at the next level in the NFL and the roster of NFL stars and Hall of Famers that USC boasts can go toe-to-toe with any other school in the country. Between Marcus Allen, Matt Leinart, Junior Seau, Troy Polamalu, Ronnie Lott, Frank Gifford and so many more, USC sports some of the best college football players ever. Anyone who disputes that is either a USC hate or doesn&#39;t know a lot about college football.

This is the list of the greatest famous USC football players of all time. If you notice any of USC great who isn&#39;t listed on here feel free to add him. Vote or re-rank this list according to who you think should be considered the best USC Trojans player ever. Then head over and check out the <a href="/list/best-usc-trojans-wide-receivers/ranker-college-football" target="_blank">best USC wide receivers ever</a>.

A list of the best Oregon Ducks of all time. Beginning in 1894, the University of Oregon began its illustrious football program. Though Oregon fans didn't always have a lot to cheer for through much of the 20th century, the 2000s ushered in a new era, and the Ducks have become a dominant force in the Pac-12 and nationwide. Oregon has not yet won a national title, but they have taken home 11 conference titles and have 12 post-season bowl game wins. Oregon has produced many truly talented quarterbacks, from NFL legend Dan Fouts, to Joey Harrington, Dennis Dixon, and Akili Smith. Many talented Oregon stars at other positions have gone on to illustrious NFL careers as well, with six former Ducks being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, including&nbsp;Gary Zimmerman, Dave Wilcox, Norm Van Brocklin, Dan Fouts, and Mel Renfro.&nbsp;Other famous players who are considered some of the greatest Ducks ever are the ruthless defender Haloti Ngata and running back Jonathan Stewart. Former head coach Mike Bellotti helped bring Oregon Duck football to the national stage, and Chip Kelly, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, grew it into the dominant force it is today. The school is regularly ranked in the top ten, and few opponents enjoy coming into Autzen Stadium and facing the Oregon fans. While many people focus on the Ducks's crazy uniforms, it's the great players who are really remembered. Who can forget powerhouse LaMichael James, who ended his Oregon career as the most decorated Duck ever, holding almost every singe Oregon rushing and scoring record including most points scored in a season &amp; career (144, 348), most touchdowns in a season &amp; career (24, 58), most rushing attempts in a season (294), season and career rushing yards (1,805, 5,082), and most 200-yard rushing games, also for both season (4) and career (7). Then there's Oregon's first and (so far) only Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Marcus Mariota, who took home college football's top honor in 2014.This is the list of the best Oregon Ducks of all time. Is your favorite Duck missing from the list? Feel free to add him. Vote or rerank this list according to who you think should be considered the greatest Ducks football players ever.&nbsp;

Jerry Gray

A list of the best Texas Longhorns football players of all time. Texas is one of the most highly regarded and historic football programs of all time. The program began in 1893 and currently has the second most wins in NCAA history, trailing only Michigan. Texas is also recognized for their post-season appearances ranking second in number of bowl game appearances (51) and ranked fourth in bowl game victories (27). Why are the Longhorns one of the greatest college football teams ever? Because of the number of outstanding players who have worn the burnt orange. Many of the best players in college football history have played for Texas. Throughout the school's history, Texas's roster has been filled with some college football's biggest stars.&nbsp;Texas football has had some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest running backs</a> in college history. Between Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams, two of the greatest Longhorns ever and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-heisman-trophy-winners-of-all-time/ranker-college-football">Heisman Trophy winners</a>, Texas has a rich history of attracting the country's best recruits to Austin. These two legendary players hold university records and are some of the most beloved Texas Longhorns football players of all time. The same goes for Vince Young. The quarterback led Texas to an iconic victory over heavily favored USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl. Young carried the team to win the national championship in one of the greatest performances by a quarterback in college football history. While his NFL career didn't pan out, in the eyes of Texas Longhorn fans, there is nothing that will ruin the memory of one of the greatest Longhorns in school history.&nbsp;This is a list of the best Texas Longhorns football players of all time. Some of most outstanding players in Texas history and <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-football-players-ever?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous football players</a> from Texas are on this list. If you think someone is missing, feel free to add him. Vote or rerank the list according to who you think should be considered the greatest Texas Longhorns football player ever.

Hines Ward

The Georgia Bulldogs are one of College Football's most revered teams. With two national championships, 14 conference championships, appearances in 48 bowl games (the fifth most all-time), and having produced two Heisman Trophy winners, they are consistently a force to be reckoned with.This is a list of the best UGA players of all time. What do you think, Rankers? Who is the best Bulldog ever?

Johnny Majors

The Tennessee Volunteers are one of the most successful teams in NCAA history. Their 49 bowl appearances (3rd all time), 25 bowl game victories (6th all time), 16 conference championships, and six national championships leave little room for arguing with the program's greatness.Team sports aren't about the individual, but here is a list of the best Vols to ever lace 'em up and help make the program the legend that it is today.Upvote your pick for the best Volunteer of all time!

Owen Schmitt

The Mountaineers of West Virginia are one of those teams that just seems to stick around. There's always there, and they're never going down without a fight. The program has racked up 15 conference championships, as well as having the most victories of any NCAA FBS program to never win a national title. The Mountaineers have also produced 11 consensus All-Americans. Though no Mountaineer has ever won the Heisman Trophy, there have been six candidates over the years (most notably Major Harris).They may not be a college football powerhouse, but the program's ability to consistently bring it year after year without the recruiting prowess enjoyed by schools like USC, Ohio State, or Florida for example, speaks volumes.This is a list of the greatest Mountaineers ever. What do you think, Rankers? Vote for your pick now!

College Football Blue Bloods

pageType

safe_grapeshot

top_search_2-3

affiliate_intent

amazon_alexa

mod_alexa

edit_update_fall

temp_ab_tag

cb_college-football-blue-bloods

srch

College football fans, we&rsquo;re ranking the best Michigan Wolverines running backs of all time. It includes every starting running back&nbsp;throughout Michigan Wolverines history, including current running backs and past ones. This <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-michigan-wolverines-quarterbacks/ranker-college-football?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Michigan football roster</a> has famous All-Americans, Michigan running backs in the NFL, and Wolverines players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Featuring some of the greatest college running backs of all time, the best Michigan RBs include Mike Hart, Tyrone Wheatley, Chris Perry, and Karan Higdon.&nbsp;

Who are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest running backs</a> in Michigan Wolverines history? Add your favorites if they&rsquo;re not all on this list of University of Michigan football players&nbsp;who have played as running back.&nbsp;Vote below, then head over and check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-michigan-wolverines-wide-receivers/ranker-college-football" target="_blank">best Michigan wide receivers ever</a>.

List of All Michigan Wolverines Running Backs, Ranked Best to Worst

The Best Michigan Wolverines Running Backs of All Time

Best Football Players Lists, Top 10 Football Players- Find any Football Player List at Ranker

Football player

Best Rankings of Sports Teams and Players, Interesting Sports Facts, and Moments in Sports

sports

Ranker College Football

Gender

Women

Gen Zs

Millenials

Gen Xers

Baby Boomers

Region

West Coast US

Mountain US

Midwest US

Southern US

Northeastern US

International

Tyrone Wheatley

Tyrone Anthony Wheatley, Sr. (born January 19, 1972) is currently the head football coach at Morgan State University. He is also a former professional player who played 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and was one of the most successful high school and collegiate athletes in Metropolitan Detroit history. In high school, he was a member of state-champion teams in both track and field and football, and he was named Michigan's track and field athlete of the year and football athlete of the year in the same academic year. He earned All-America track honors in both high school and college. Following his graduation as one of Michigan's best high school athletes, he attended the University of Michigan on an athletic scholarship and earned first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors on Big Ten Champion football and track teams. He ranks among the Wolverines' all-time rushing leaders in numerous categories, and his name appears in several places in the Big Ten football record book. He was named to All-Big Ten teams in football and track and field a total of four times, and he earned portions of seven Big Ten championships (two team awards for football, one team award for indoor track, one award for 110 meter hurdles, and three awards for individual football statistical performances).
Following his graduation from the University of Michigan, Wheatley was selected by the New York Giants of the NFL in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft. As a running back for the Giants, he was the team's all-purpose yards leader in 1996 and their leading ballcarrier in 1997. Despite his success on the field, he developed a reputation for indolence. He was traded to the Miami Dolphins, but cut before the 1999 season began. He signed with the Oakland Raiders and flourished, leading the team in rushing three times and twice finishing among the NFL's top ten players in rushing touchdowns. During his NFL career (1995–2004), he totaled over 6,500 all-purpose yards as a running back and kickoff returner.
After retiring from the NFL, Wheatley returned to his hometown to coach his high school alma mater, Dearborn Heights' Hamilton J. Robichaud High School. He has served as the running backs coach for the Ohio Northern Polar Bears, the Eastern Michigan Eagles, the Syracuse Orange and the Michigan Wolverines on college; and for the Buffalo Bills and the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL.

Tshimanga Biakabutuka

Tshimanga "Tim" Biakabutuka (born January 24, 1974) is a former American football running back.  He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1993 to 1995. He next played professional football for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1996 to 2001. He is distinguished as being the first Zairian to play in the National Football League.

Anthony Thomas

Anthony Thomas (born November 7, 1977), nicknamed "A-Train", is a former American football running back.
Thomas played college football at the University of Michigan from 1997 to 2000. He broke Michigan's career rushing record with a four-year total of 4,472 yards. As a senior, he rushed for 1,733 yards and was selected as a first-team running back on the 2000 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
Thomas was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft and played for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). As a rookie with the Bears in 2001, Thomas rushed for over 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns to earn NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He played for the Bears from 2001 to 2004, Dallas Cowboys in 2005, New Orleans Saints in 2005, and Buffalo Bills from 2006 to 2007.

Michael Hart

Jamie Morris

James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverines.  While attending Michigan, he broke the school's all-time records for rushing yards in a season and in a career and for all-purpose yards in a career. His career rushing total was once third in Big Ten Conference history. He continues to hold the career receptions record for Michigan running backs.  He also still holds the all-time NFL record for most rushing attempts in a game with 45.

Chris Perry

Raymond Christopher Perry (born December 27, 1981) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the mid-2000s.  He played college football for the University of Michigan, and received All-American honors.  He was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and played his entire NFL career for the Bengals.

Rob Lytle

Robert William "Rob" Lytle (November 12, 1954 – November 20, 2010) was an American football player.Lytle played college football at the University of Michigan from 1973 to 1976. A running back, he broke Michigan's career record with 3,317 rushing yards and was selected as a consensus first-team All-American in 1976. He was posthumously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Lytle played professionally for the Denver Broncos of National Football League (NFL) from 1977 to 1983. In seven seasons, Lytle compiled 1,451 rushing yards and 562 receiving yards.

Butch Woolfolk

Harold E. "Butch" Woolfolk (born March 1, 1960) is a former American football running back and kick returner who played in college for the University of Michigan (1978–1981) and in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants (1982–1984), Houston Oilers (1985–1986) and Detroit Lions (1987–1988). Woolfolk attended Westfield Senior High School in Westfield, New Jersey. Woolfolk led Michigan in rushing three straight years and set the school record with 3,850 rushing yards while playing for the Wolverines from 1978 to 1981.  As a sophomore in 1979, he was the Big Ten Conference scoring champion, and he went on to become a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection.  He had his best season as a senior at Michigan, winning the 1981 Big Ten rushing title and falling just 10 yards short of Rob Lytle's single-season rushing yards record.  He was also selected in 1981 as the Most Valuable Player of both the Rose Bowl played January 1, 1981, and the Bluebonnet Bowl played December 31, 1981, as well as the Wolverines' team MVP for the season.
Woolfolk also excelled in track.  He was named an All-American in 1980 and won nine Big Ten track and field championships both as an individual and relay race team member.  He continues to hold the Michigan outdoor 200-meter record.  He was also a member of relay teams that hold numerous U-M and Ferry Field all-time records.
Woolfolk played seven seasons in the NFL.  As a rookie in 1982, he finished third in the NFL in all-purpose yards.  And in 1983, he set an NFL record with 43 rushing attempts in a single game.  He was also fifth in the NFL in receptions in 1985.  Woolfolk was plagued with injuries during his NFL career and was able to play in 16 games only twice—in 1983 and 1985.  In both of those years, he accumulated at least 1,200 yards from scrimmage.  He also had seven 100-yard games—five receiving and two rushing.

Harlan Huckleby

Harlan Charles Huckleby (born December 30, 1957) is a former professional American football running back and kick returner who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL).  Over the course of his NFL career he accumulated nearly 2500 all-purpose yards, with over half of that being return yards. He had played for three Michigan Wolverines football Big Ten Conference Champions.  He also was a member of the Michigan Wolverines track team for one season where he became a Big Ten Champion and All-American as a member of the 4x400m relay race team.  He had also been a four-time Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state champion in track and field. He played high school football at Cass Technical High School, graduating in 1975.

Billy Taylor

Billy Taylor (1921–2010) was an American jazz pianist.
Billy Taylor or Bill Taylor may also refer to:

Tony Boles

Tony Boles (born December 11, 1967) is a retired professional American football running back and kick returner who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL).  After starring for the Michigan Wolverines football, where he once led the Big Ten Conference in rushing, he went on to a scandal ridden life.  His college football career was ended prematurely due to a knee injury.  He has been sentenced to prison multiple times and placed in homes for addicts due to cocaine abuse.

Leroy Hoard

Leroy J. Hoard (born May 15, 1968) is a former American football player.  
Hoard played professional football as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons for the Cleveland Browns from 1990 to 1995 and the Minnesota Vikings from 1996 to 1999. He also played briefly for the Carolina Panthers (three games) and Baltimore Ravens (two games) during the 1996 NFL season. In a 10-year NFL career, Hoard appeared in 144 games, totaled 3,964 rushing yards and 2,430 receiving yards and scored 51 touchdowns.
Hoard also played college football as a fullback and tailback for the University of Michigan from 1987 to 1989.  After rushing for 146 yards and two touchdowns against USC, he was selected as the most valuable player in the 1989 Rose Bowl.  Hoard gained 1,706 rushing yards on 314 carries (5.4 yards per carry), caught 30 passes for 199 yards, and scored 19 touchdowns at Michigan.

Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson (June 8, 1956 – July 10, 2018) was an American professional football player who player as a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers for seven seasons.

Chris Howard

Christopher L. Howard (born May 5, 1975) is a retired professional American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Howard had been drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft.  His professional football career was haunted by fumble troubles, which caused the Broncos to release him before he played a regular season game for them.  Howard began to have fumble problems again when the Jaguars acquired and promoted him to a role as a regular player.
He had previously played for the Michigan Wolverines football team where in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season, his final year at Michigan, they won a national championship.  Howard led the National Champion 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team in rushing and was a Hula Bowl MVP in 1998.  Chris attended Louisiana high school football powerhouse, John Curtis Christian High School in River Ridge, Louisiana.  He was formerly married to Gabrielle Union.

Karan Higdon

Gordon Bell

Gordon Granville Bell (born December 25, 1953) is a former American football running back, kickoff returner and punt returner who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1973–1975, and professionally for the New York Giants (1976-1977) and St. Louis Cardinals (1978) of the National Football League (NFL).
Bell was a two-time All-Ohio running back in high school and led Ohio's Troy High School to undefeated seasons in 1970 and 1971.  As a 16-year-old junior, he rushed for 324 yards in a single game; for the year he had 1,593 yards rushing and scored 146 points.  As a senior in 1971, he lost the Ohio AAA high school back of the year award to Archie Griffin.
Bell played tailback for Michigan teams that had a combined record of 28-3-3 from 1973–1975.  As a junior in 1974, Bell was a part-time player who started only three of Michigan's eleven games, but he still managed to become only the third player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.  In 1975, he set several single-season school records, including most all-purpose yards (1,714 yards), most 100-yard rushing games (eight), and most rushing attempts (273).  At the time of his graduation from Michigan, Bell also ranked second in school history in career rushing yards and third in all-purpose yards.  Though Bell's records have been surpassed in more recent years, he remains one of the all-time rushing leaders in Michigan history. Despite his accomplishments, Bell played in the shadow of Big Ten Conference rival, Archie Griffin, who won back-to-back Heisman Trophies.  In some respects, Bell exceeded even Griffin's accomplishments, as Bell won the 1975 Big Ten rushing championship.
Bell played three years of professional football, but never made it into the starting lineup for an NFL team.  In three NFL seasons, he had 1,444 all-purpose yards.  His best NFL season was 1976, when he had 784 all-purpose yards.

De'Veon Smith

Ricky Powers

Richard "Ricky" Powers (born November 30, 1970) is a former running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns and a former University of Michigan Wolverines football co-captain. In the NFL, he had a brief career with the Browns during their final season before they relocated to become the Baltimore Ravens. His career ended due to being lost in the shuffle when the Browns moved to Baltimore and changed coaching staffs. In college, he set the Michigan football freshman rushing record that stood for fourteen seasons, and as a sophomore was the leading rusher for the team during Desmond Howard's Heisman Trophy-winning season.  With the Wolverines, he was a member of three consecutive Big Ten Conference football championship teams. In high school, he was the Parade All-American star running back of the two-time Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) football championship team at Buchtel High School, where he has returned to coach baseball and football.

Fitzgerald Toussaint

Fitzgerald Toussaint is an American football running back with the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was the starting running back for the 2011, 2012, 2013 Michigan Wolverines football teams. Toussaint received 2011 All-Big Ten honorable mention.

Brandon Minor

Brandon Ricardo Minor (born July 24, 1988) is a former American football running back. He played college football at Michigan from 2006 to 2009. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2010, but was released during the final cuts and played on practice squads in 2010 for the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts.
At Michigan, Minor finished second on the team in rushing both as a freshman and sophomore and led the team in rushing both as a junior and senior.  As a junior, he was an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection by the coaches.  He had previously been ranked as the number one high school football fullback in the nation, according to Rivals.com.
He spent his first two years at Michigan serving as one of the primary backups to Mike Hart.  In his third year, he emerged from a field of five running backs who were vying to replace Hart as the leading rusher and scorer.  He has shared starting responsibilities in his junior and senior seasons.  He entered his senior season on the watch lists for the Doak Walker and Maxwell Awards.  ESPN.com ranked him as the 22nd best player and third best running back in the Big Ten Conference before the season started.

Stan Edwards

Stanley J. Edwards (born May 20, 1960) is a former American football running back. A native of Detroit, Edwards played college football at the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1981 and for six years in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers (1982-1986) and Detroit Lions (1987). His son, Braylon Edwards, also played football at Michigan and in the NFL.

Ed Shuttlesworth

Russell Davis

Russell Morgan Davis (born March 28, 1975) is a former American football defensive tackle. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Chicago Bears selected Davis in the second round and 49th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft, and Davis played the 1999 season for the Bears. Davis then played for the Arizona Cardinals from 2000 to 2005, the Seattle Seahawks in 2006, and the New York Giants in 2007 and won the Super Bowl XLII title with the Giants that year.

Clarence Williams

Clarence Williams (January 25, 1955 – September 18, 1994) was an American football running back in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins.  He played college football at the University of South Carolina and was drafted in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft. On September 16, 1979, Williams rushed for 4 touchdowns for the San Diego Chargers in a win over the Buffalo Bills, a franchise record he shares with LaDainian Tomlinson.

Steve Smith

Stevonne Latrall Smith Sr. (born May 12, 1979) is a former American football wide receiver who played 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Utah, and was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played for the Baltimore Ravens during the final three years of his career.
Smith, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time All-Pro, emerged as one of the NFL's most productive wide receivers of the 21st century, leading the league in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns in 2005. He played for the Panthers for 13 seasons before signing with the Ravens in March 2014, and is the Panthers' all-time leader in total touchdowns (67), receptions (836) and receiving yards (12,197). In 2011, he became the 35th player in NFL history to amass 10,000 receiving yards. In 2016, Smith became the 14th player in NFL history to amass 1,000 career receptions. At the time of his retirement, he ranked seventh in NFL career all-purpose yards (19,180). As of November 2018, he is eighth in NFL career receiving yards (14,731), 12th in career receptions (1,031), and 25th in receiving touchdowns (81).

College football fans, we’re ranking the best Michigan Wolverines running backs of all time. It includes every starting running back&nbsp;throughout Michigan ...