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Many great running backs have run through the fields of SEC stadiums. However, few of them earn the distinction that comes with gaining 1,000 yards in a season.
Here we take a look back at the last time each SEC team produced a 1,000-yard rusher.
For most schools, this happened recently. And for some, the player will be returning for the 2015 season. So many rushing yards are still to come.
ALABAMA
Year: 2013
Player: T.J. Yeldon
Yeldon was the workhorse for the Crimson Tide, racking up 1,235 yards. He had nearly double the yardage of Kenyan Drake, who produced the second-highest rushing total that season.
ARKANSAS
Year: 2014
Players: Jonathan Williams, Alex Collins
The Razorbacks offense allowed two powerful backs to share the rushing load. Williams ended the year with 1,190 rushing yards, and Collins with 1,100. They look to do it again this season.
AUBURN
Year: 2014
Player: Cameron Artis-Payne
Artis-Payne’s 1,608 rushing yards puts him third on Auburn’s all-time single season rushing list, bested only by Tre Mason and Bo Jackson.
FLORIDA
Year: 2012
Player: Mike Gillislee
Gillislee was the first Florida running back to break 1,000 yards since 2004. That season, he rushed for 1,152 yards.
GEORGIA
Year: 2014
Player: Nick Chubb
Chubb put on a show during his freshman year as a Bulldog, rushing for 1,547 yards. He looks to gain even more yardage this season.
KENTUCKY
Year: 2007
Player: Rafael Little
In his four years with the Wildcats, Little produced two 1,000-yard seasons. In his senior season, he rushed for 1,013 yards.
LSU
Year: 2014
Player: Leonard Fournette
LSU has claimed 1,000-yard rushers for the last two years. Fournette did it as a freshman with 1,034 yards. He is another returning running back looking to improve upon his numbers this season.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Year: 2014
Player: Josh Robinson
Robinson ran for 1,203 yards last season. While he has moved onto the pros, the second leading rusher from ‘14, quarterback Dak Prescott, is returning.
MISSOURI
Year: 2014
Player: Russell Hansbrough
Recently elected one of the team’s senior captains, Hansbrough broke 1,000 last season with 1,084 rushing yards. He will be a crucial component in this year’s Mizzou offense.
OLE MISS
Year: 2009
Player: Dexter McCluster
Ole Miss started the season strong in ’09, and McCluster had a lot to do with that. He racked up 1,169 rushing yards.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Year: 2013
Player: Mike Davis
Davis was part of the Gamecocks team that went 11-2 and won the Citrus Bowl, rushing for 1,183 yards.
TENNESSEE
Year: 2013
Player: Rajion Neal
Neal spent time as both a receiver and running back with the Volunteers. His best season was as a senior, when he recorded 1,124 rushing yards.
TEXAS A&M
Year: 2012
Player: Johnny Manziel
In addition to passing for more than 3,000 yards during his freshman year, Manziel rushed for 1,410 yards. He dominated the Aggies offense. In fact, he was the Aggies offense.
VANDERBILT
Year: 2012
Player: Zac Stacy
Stacy was the first player at Vanderbilt to rush for more than 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. During his senior year, he gained 1,141 yards.
Christine Wang is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. She covers Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
