Best Running Back duo's (or trio's) of all time

Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on August 14th, 2016 at 3:16 PM

OT:

There is still some time before the regular season gets underway so I was wondering if anyone had any particular favorites in this area. With the shift to more passing oriented offenses (thanks to the numerous rule changes that favor the offense) the Running Backs are often forgotten.

My personal favorites are:

1975 Michigan-Gordon Bell, Rob Lytle. Bell is my favorite of all time.

1978 Auburn-Joe Cribbs, James Brooks, William Andrews-incredible

1985 Cleveland Browns-Earnest Byner, Kevin Mack

1996 Texas-Ricky Williams, Priest Holmes, Shon Mitchell. Mitchell is the fastest guy I have ever seen. Think of Ron Leflore with shoulder pads.

1972 Miami Dolphins-Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris, Jim Kiick-Simply the greatest of all time.Thanks to these guys Griese (Bob) only had to attempt 11 passes in Super Bowl 7.

So, forget about 4 and 5 WR sets. Just get me a good offensive line that likes to move straight ahead and a set of running backs that are not afraid of contact and it will all be good!!!

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Lancer

August 14th, 2016 at 3:21 PM ^

Reggie Bush and LenDale White at USC was insane.

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Sergeantturnip

August 14th, 2016 at 3:51 PM ^

Came here to say this....I really don't think any backs complimented each other as well as they did while still being elite

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Cali Wolverine

August 14th, 2016 at 4:37 PM ^

Bush and White were amazing to watch in person. In 2005, Bush rushed for 1,740 yards and White rushed for 1,302 yards...the combined 3,042 yards is an NCAA record for a running back tandem, as well as their 99 career touchdowns.

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TheRonimal

August 14th, 2016 at 7:27 PM ^

I remember them being an awesome team, but I had no idea they were both over 1,000 yards. That's nuts.

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Cali Wolverine

August 15th, 2016 at 10:10 AM ^

...Leinart also passed for 3,815 yards that season...so it wasn't like all they did was hand the ball off to the backs.

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I Like Burgers

August 14th, 2016 at 10:18 PM ^

Any answer that isn't the 2001 Hurricanes is the wrong answer. They had Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, Frank Gore, and Najeh Davenport at FB. That's insane.

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DetroitBlue

August 14th, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^

Didn't Arkansas have Darren McFadden and Felix Jones at the same time? Those guys were both pretty good

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DetroitBlue

August 14th, 2016 at 3:23 PM ^

Peyton Hillis too IIRC

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chomz14

August 14th, 2016 at 3:24 PM ^

Yup and Peyton Hillis as well.

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teamgreg8

August 14th, 2016 at 4:34 PM ^

Plus Peyton Hillis

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DreisbachToHayes

August 14th, 2016 at 5:25 PM ^

And Peyton Hillis.

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Mr. Elbel

August 15th, 2016 at 1:30 AM ^

And Peyton Manning.

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chomz14

August 14th, 2016 at 3:23 PM ^

Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown and even Brandon Jacobs for a bit at Auburn about 10 years ago was pretty sick.

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Avant's Hands

August 14th, 2016 at 5:02 PM ^

I can't believe this has only been mentioned once. This backfield was amazing even if they weren't exactly complements to each other.

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twohooks

August 14th, 2016 at 3:24 PM ^

Bo Jackson, Lionel James, Tommie Agee and throw in Brent Fullwood.

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atroia21

August 14th, 2016 at 3:24 PM ^

Probably the best ever. Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas at Ok St.

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I Want To Believe

August 14th, 2016 at 3:26 PM ^

Agreed

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gobluedave

August 14th, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^

winner, winner. maroney and barber were pretty impressive for Minnesota. they had some kinda impressive run game those years.

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MotownGoBlue

August 14th, 2016 at 3:56 PM ^

Was hoping for a McCaffrey/Sanders Jr. explosion last year.

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stephenrjking

August 14th, 2016 at 4:02 PM ^

Best two on one roster, yes. But they weren't really played as a tandem the way other pairings were, I don't believe.

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Braylon_Edward…

August 14th, 2016 at 3:25 PM ^

Not the greatest of all time by any means, and not even running back exclusive, but Pat White and Steve Slaton headed the greatest rushing attack I've ever seen live. Watching those two was a lot of fun.

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Prince Lover

August 14th, 2016 at 3:28 PM ^

Aren't there Arizona blogs to peruse? ;-)

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MotownGoBlue

August 14th, 2016 at 3:52 PM ^

Add Noel Devine and make it a trio.

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mgobleu

August 14th, 2016 at 4:43 PM ^

I can vividly remember being so disgusted having to watch highlight after highlight after highlight of these ridiculous runs by WV, wondering why Michigan never got that kind of production...then we got Rich Rod!

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Blue4U

August 14th, 2016 at 3:25 PM ^

Cobb-Webb duo at Tennessee back in the late 80's

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rjc

August 14th, 2016 at 5:31 PM ^

Chuck Webb was awesome. Right up there with Tripp Welborne as one of the great injury what if's of the era. Both had high level NFL potential and never recovered from major knee injuries.

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I WAS THERE

August 14th, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^

Finkle and Einhorn

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Roughneck

August 14th, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^

For UM, loved Tyrone and Touchdown Tim.

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Blue Kool Aid

August 14th, 2016 at 5:24 PM ^

Tim B was hampered by injuries as a pro, but Wheatley's Rose Bowl vs Washington/ Biakeabutuka 300+ yards against Ohio State....pretty tought for any pair to match.....

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WolverineHistorian

August 14th, 2016 at 3:29 PM ^

We had two years of Wheatley and Biakabutuka together with one of those years including Ricky Powers. That was pretty cool.

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umbig11

August 14th, 2016 at 4:04 PM ^

I liked Lytle, Bell, and option QB Ricky Leach.

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Blue Kool Aid

August 15th, 2016 at 10:12 AM ^

all good guys and no shit "student athletes"

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MBloGlue

August 14th, 2016 at 3:30 PM ^

Eric Dickerson and that other guy who allegedly killed five hookers while at SMU, allegedly.

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Hornsgoblue (not verified)

August 14th, 2016 at 9:09 PM ^

I was not aware of this.

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901 P

August 14th, 2016 at 3:32 PM ^

Wisconsin has had some pretty good combos in recent years. Too lazy to look it up, but was it Brent Moss and Terrell Fletcher in the mid-90s? I think they had a ton of yards together.

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901 P

August 14th, 2016 at 3:44 PM ^

Check that--I was thinking of Ron Dayne. Edit: finally decided to check online. It was Moss and Fletcher in the early 90s--Ron Dayne was later.

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ShruteBeetFarms

August 14th, 2016 at 3:34 PM ^

Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders

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Chicken22

August 14th, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^

James White and Melvin Gordon

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titanfan11

August 14th, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^

Smash Williams were pretty formidable, especially for a high school duo.

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Brian of Ohio-…

August 14th, 2016 at 4:00 PM ^

That would be "The Smash"

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Henry Arulingverder

August 15th, 2016 at 12:06 AM ^

As were Vince Howard and Luke Cafferty in the wildcat

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MotownGoBlue

August 14th, 2016 at 3:49 PM ^

Jerome Bettis and Reggie Brooks (Thunder and Lightning). Oregon's had some decent ones... Nebraska Alabama Gotta think about it for a minute.

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gasbro

August 14th, 2016 at 6:44 PM ^

And Ricky Watters was there in1991 too

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shoes

August 14th, 2016 at 3:36 PM ^

was the very first that came to mind when you posed the question, and I agree that Thurman Thomas- Barry Sanders is hard to beat. The others mentioned were all great as well. If we are including the NFL I'll throw out a few that no one will probably mention: Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung with Green Bay and Keith Lincoln and Paul Lowe with the old AFLSan Diego Chargers.

The best that never (but almost) was would have been the pairing of Jim Brown and the great Ernie Davis. The latter being drafted #1 after winning the Heisman, but then succombing to Leukemia before he could ever take a snap.

Finally, lengendary pair that even I am not old enough to have seen: Mr. Inside Doc Blanchard and Mr. Outside Glen Davis with Army.

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theytookourjobs

August 14th, 2016 at 3:36 PM ^

Was Leroy Hoard and Tony Boles. Boles would have had an amazing career if he didn't tear up his knee

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Bikpelanumbawun

August 14th, 2016 at 3:43 PM ^

Don't forget Jarrod Bunch in that mix!

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rob f

August 14th, 2016 at 3:54 PM ^

Boles, Hoard, and Bunch ::or:: Lytle, Huckleberry, and Russell Davis? I can't decide, so as a tiebreaker, I consider the QB. And with Ricky Leach >>>Michael Taylor at QB, the scales tip in favor of Lytle & Co.

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