Donnel Pumphrey Sets FBS Rushing Record
Donnel Pumphrey set the all-time FBS rushing record in today’s Las Vegas Bowl. Pumphrey, the San Diego State senior, needed 108 yards entering the game to break broke Ron Dayne‘s record. He achieved the mark during the 4th quarter.
Bringing the Record Home
Pumphrey set the record, fittingly, in Las Vegas. Pumphrey attended Canyon Springs High School in Las Vegas before attending San Diego State. He rushed for over 4,000 yards in high school. He finished his prep career as the Gatorade Nevada Player of the Year.
Pumphrey is a true senior and is coming off three consecutive 1,000+ rushing seasons. His senior year is his best campaign so far as Pumphrey has over 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns on this season. Pumphrey had 1,867 and 1,657 yards in his sophomore and junior years, respectively.
Pumphrey’s stellar 2016 campaign has propelled San Diego State to a 10-3 record and a Mountain West Championship this season.
This was Pumphrey’s 54th collegiate game. Even with 6,400+ yards, the 5’9″, 180-lb. running back’s trophy case is small. His only national awards include the 2016 Jim Brown Award and selection as a 2016 First Team All-American. The diminutive back sliced through defenses and lowered expectations for four years. He can now look down at all of those who have ignored him from the top of a prestigious list of great college running backs.
Elite Company
Dayne’s record of 6,397 yards stood for 17 years. Dayne broke Ricky Williams‘ record only one year after Williams graduated. Tony Dorsett held the record for 20 years prior to that. There are five players in the history of FBS football that have over 6,000 career yards. In addition to Pumphrey, Dayne, Williams, and Dorsett, DeAngelo Williams from Memphis also has 6,000+ yards.
Donnel Pumphrey now sits alone atop this impressive list.
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