Last week, Scout.com posted a ranking of the top running backs in the Pac-10/12 since 1980. All lists such as this are based on opinion more than fact and are intended to ignite debate rather infuriate. This particular list is generated by Scout.com columnist Brandon Huffman and has one serious omission.
10. Stepfan Taylor Stanford(2009-12)
9. Steven Jackson Oregon St.(2001-03)
8. Napolean Kaufman Washington(1991-94)
7. Toby Gerhart Stanford(2006-09)
6. Russell White Cal(1990-92)
5. Ken Simonton Oregon St.(1998-2001)
4. Ka'Deem Carey Arizona St.(2011-13)
3. LaMichael James Oregon(2009-11)
2. Reggie Bush USC(2003-05)
1. Marcus Allen USC(1978-81)
The greatest flaw in this list, in my opinion, is the omission of Cal's Marshawn Lynch. I've never seen a college running back plow through multiple "would-be" tacklers on a regular basis. He's been doing the same thing in the NFL since he was drafted in 2007. I'd bump Stanford's Taylor to make room for Lynch. Huffman is right that Taylor is one of the most underrated backs to come out of the conference but that doesn't mean that he's one of the top-10 backs in the conference since 1980. Taylor didn't challenge or dismantle defenses like Lynch.
The rest of the list is terrific. I might move the group of Simonton, Carey, and James down a few spots and bump up the group of White, Gerhart and Kaufman. If Russell White had a senior season more like his sophomore and junior season, he might be right behind Allen. Those Bruce Snyder-led Cal teams of the early 1990s were a lot of fun. White was a big reason for that fun. The Cal-Washington game of 1991 is the best college football game that I've ever attended. Washington ended that season #1. Cal was #7. Those final rankings might have been reversed if Washington hadn't won in Berkeley that day 24-17.
While watching Marcus Allen run during his last two years at USC it was difficult to believe that he was a reserve and a blocking back in his first two years. Many Minnesota Vikings fans still cringe at memories of the day that their team selected Darrin Nelson over Marcus Allen. Nelson was another excellent Pac-10 running back. It can even be argued that he should be on Huffman's list.
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