Two CU Buffs greats appear on ESPN’s top 100 college football running backs of the past 60 years list
Over the years, many talented running backs have passed through the Colorado Buffaloes football program. From a Heisman Winner to All-American selections, some greats have donned the black and gold in Boulder.
Recently, ESPN’s Bill Connelly published an article ranking college football’s top 100 running backs of the last 60 years. He included two of Colorado’s legends on the list: Eric Bieniemy at No. 25 and Rashaan Salaam at No. 17.
Bieniemy was a huge name of the Bill McCartney era, and he helped Colorado win its first and only national championship in 1990. From 1987-90, he totaled 3,940 rushing yards and 380 receiving yards with 42 touchdowns. He also finished third in Heisman voting in 1990.
Salaam became Colorado’s first and only Heisman Trophy winner in 1994 with a season that included 2,055 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. Colorado’s only loss that season came at the hands of the reigning national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers. In his career as a Buffalo, Salaam totaled 3,057 rushing yards, 412 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns.
In recent years, Colorado hasn’t produced greatness at the same level as it did several decades ago when the likes of Bieniemy and Salaam were playing at Folsom Field — with respect to the stellar career of Phillip Lindsay and a solid run by now Michigan State RB Jarek Broussard. But there’s no denying the program’s rich history and alumni worthy of recognition.
Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.
List
Stat leaders from Colorado football's Spring Showcase
