Slap the Sign
Fansided

Notre Dame Football Spotlight: Top 5 Rushers In School History

By Chase Eyrich

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Running back Josh Adams #33 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish stiff arms cornerback Gareon Conley #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first quarter of the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl at the University of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Running back Josh Adams #33 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish stiff arms cornerback Gareon Conley #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first quarter of the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl at the University of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Notre Dame football is coming off of a season dominated by the run game. As Josh Adams led the way for the Irish, he also ran his way into history.

Josh Adams made some noise in the Heisman race last season. He also carved out a place in the Notre Dame football record books.

In light of the season inching closer, we take a look at the top five statistical running backs in Notre Dame football history, and see how Adams fits into that mix.

1. Autry Denson (1995 – 1998)

4318 yards, AVG. 5.1, 43 rushing touchdowns

Does the name sound familiar? It should. After spending his time breaking records for Notre Dame as their running back, he spent some time in the NFL. After that, he naturally got into coaching, where his most recent stop has been back in South Bend.

Starting in 2015, it was Denson who helped pave the way for Adams, who could have given his records a run for their money.

2. Allen Pinkett (1982 – 1985)

4131 yards, AVG 4.6, 49 rushing touchdowns

Coming in second with career rushing yards, Allen Pinkett dominated during his time with the Fighting Irish.

Pinkett became the first player at Notre Dame to rush for 1,000-yards in three consecutive seasons. With 49 rushing touchdowns and 53 overall, he remains the all-time leading scorer in Notre Dame football history.

3. Vagas Ferguson (1976 – 1979)

3472 yards, AVG 5.2, 32 rushing touchdowns

From Richmond, IN, Ferguson represented his home state well during his time with Notre Dame. As a consensus All-American pick in 1979, he was a dominant player that the Irish needed following the 1977 National Championship season.

With 100 rushing yards and three touchdowns, Ferguson was named Outstanding Offensive Player in the 1978 Cotton Bowl.

As a first-round pick, he spent some time playing with the New England Patriots, Houston Oilers and Cleveland Browns.

4. Darius Walker (2004 – 2006)

3249 yards, AVG 4.7 yards, 23 rushing touchdowns

While his rushing total is impressive, Walker was dangerous everywhere. With a school record for most receptions in a season by a running back and most career receptions by a running back, he was lethal.

He started off with a bang his rookie season, setting the freshman rushing record with 786-yards. Over the next two seasons, he would put together consecutive 1,000-yard rushing performances.

5. Josh Adams (2015 – 2017)

3201 yards, AVG 6.7 yards, 20 rushing touchdowns

And of course, most recently, Adams has forever engraved his name into Notre Dame history. At 6-2, 225 pounds, Adams was too much for defenses to stop. He did it all through strength and skill.

Becoming a Notre Dame captain last year, Adams found himself taking his game to another level and became a Heisman Trophy Candidate. He put together career highs this past season against USC with points (18) and touchdowns (3).

Next: Know Your Enemy: Wake Forest

Only Raghib Ismail, Reggie Brooks and C.J. Prosise had a higher yards-per-carry average with a minimum of 100 rushes.

Home/Notre Dame Football