Tag: best running back

Notre Dame football: Another award for Kyren Williams

Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams was the recipient of another award this week after his stellar showing against North Carolina.

Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams has burst onto the national college football scene this fall as he’s gone over 1100 total yards while scoring 15 touchdowns for the Fighting Irish.

Part of the success is surely running behind a great offensive line but Williams has shown a talent level at running back that hasn’t been seen at Notre Dame in quite some time.

After his 124 rushing yards and three total touchdowns last week at North Carolina, Williams was named to the FWAA Fresh Four, which honors the best four freshmen or red-shirt freshmen each week.

Here is the release from Notre Dame on Tuesday:

Williams Named to FWAA Fresh Four

NOTRE DAME, Indiana — Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams was tabbed for the Football Writers Association of America “Fresh Four” list for his performance against No. 19 North Carolina. The list honors four true or redshirt freshmen with standout showings from the previous week. Williams, a redshirt freshman, totaled 144 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in the 31-17 win over the Tar Heels.

Posting 23 rushes for 124 yards and two touchdowns, Williams, also named ACC Running Back of the Week, added four receptions for 20 yards and a touchdown. His three total touchdowns ranked tied for third among all FBS players on the weekend. He was the only FBS player with three or more touchdowns this weekend to have at least one receiving touchdown and one rushing touchdown. His three touchdowns tied for most by a single ACC player (non-quarterback) on the weekend.

Williams’ 144 all-purpose yards were the most among any ACC running back on the weekend, and were the fourth-most among all ACC players. Ranking 16th among FBS running backs with his 144 all-purpose yards, Williams is the only running back who posted 122 or more all-purpose yards who also scored a receiving touchdown. Friday marked William’s fifth 100-yard rushing performance of the season, which ties for most in the ACC.

No FBS freshman had more than William’s 18 points on the weekend. Williams posted the most all-purpose yards (144) of any Power 5 freshman running back, and ranked third in all-purpose yards among all FBS freshman players on the weekend.

Williams and the Irish will again take the field Saturday, December 5, to close out their home schedule as they welcome Syracuse (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC).

Flashback Friday: Mr All Purpose Eric Metcalf

On this Flashback Friday, we look back at former Longhorn Eric Metcalf. The man known as Mr. All-Purpose.

Before the days of Devin Hester setting records in the NFL for returns or Darren Sproles becoming a headache for defensive and special teams coordinators, there was Eric Metcalf. Metcalf was a first round draft pick in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Before making a jump to the NFL, he was wreaking havoc on the Forty Acres.

During his time with the Longhorns, he tallied 4,051 yards and 30 touchdowns on 710 touches. Nothing compared to what he would eventually do at the NFL level. He is often remembered best for his returns, in Austin Metcalf returned 108 punts for 1,076 yards. He returned only one kick for a touchdown. In 1987, Metcalf threw two passes. Both of those went for touchdowns. Then he moved on to the NFL where he would play for seven teams but most of his career was spent in Cleveland.

In the NFL, Eric Metcalf was a nightmare on the field. He was named to the All-Pro team three times (1993, 1994 and 1997). Those same seasons he was also named to the Pro Bowl. Leading the league in return yardage in 1990. During his career from 1989-2002, Metcalf scored 43 touchdowns as a running back with 31 coming by way of the pass. Racking up 7,964 yards from scrimmage.

Player Rushing Yards Receiving Yards Return Yards Total Touchdowns
Eric Metcalf 2,392 5,572 9,266 55
Darren Sproles 3,552 4,840 11,313 64

Metcalf was definitely Darren Sproles before Darren Sproles. While Sproles has the better overall numbers, there is no discounting what Eric Metcalf did on the football field. His accolades don’t stop on the football field. Much like Jamaal Charles, Marquise Goodwin and John Burt, Metcalf was also a star in track.

Eric holds the UT record for outdoor long jump with a mark of 27-8 ¼ feet, was a two-time NCAA champion in the event, and became a five-time track All-American, in addition to his SWC long jump titles in 1986 and 1987. – per Texas Sports Hall of Fame release

While Eric Metcalf may not be in the NFL Hall of Fame, he is a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2017, along with former Dallas Cowboys safety Darren Woodson.

Who was the best running back to play at Texas?

Over on our Twitter, a poll is up asking who is the best RB to play at Texas. The four options are Campbell, Williams, Benson, and Foreman.

Over on our Twitter (@LonghornsWire), a poll is up asking who is the best running back to play at Texas.

The four options are Earl Campbell, Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, and D’Onta Foreman.

Williams, Benson, and Campbell are the top three rushers in Longhorn history, while Foreman ranks 9th. However, in 2016, Foreman ran for 2,028 yards, the second-most in a single season for Texas.

You can vote in our poll below or give us a follow on Twitter!

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]