Fantasy Index

Factoid

Rashaad Penny

First-rounder a huge college producer

Merely putting up big rushing numbers in college isn't necessarily a big deal. Donnel Pumphrey is the NCAA's all-time leading rusher (Division I), and he wasn't even drafted until the fifth round a year ago. Pumphrey rushed for over 2000 yards in his final year of college, just like the back who replaced him at San Diego State, Rashaad Penny.

Penny also rushed for over 2,000 yards in his final college season, but unlike Pumphrey, he was selected in the first round of the draft. There aren't a lot of backs from the last 20 years that fit both of those criteria. The ones that do have mostly turned out pretty well.

Table shows all first-round running backs from the last 20 years, sorted by rushing yards in their final year of college.

FIRST-ROUND RUNNING BACKS, FINAL YEAR OF COLLEGE
YearPkPlayerRunRecTotTD
201515Melvin Gordon, S.D.2587153274032
201827Rashaad Penny, Sea.2248135238325
20015LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.215840219822
19995Ricky Williams, N.O.2124262238628
200327Larry Johnson, K.C.2087349243623
200927Donald Brown, Ind.2083125220818
200627DeAngelo Williams, Car.196478204219
20054Cedric Benson, Chi.1834179201320
200011Ron Dayne, NYG18349184319
20084Darren McFadden, Oak.1830164199417
20164Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.1821206202723
201012Ryan Mathews, S.D.1808122193019
20007Thomas Jones, Ariz.1798239203717
200323Willis McGahee, Buff.1753355210828
20062Reggie Bush, N.O.1740478221818
200813Jonathan Stewart, Car.1722145186713
201232David Wilson, NYG1709129183810
200823Rashard Mendenhall, Pitt.1681318199919
20123Trent Richardson, Clev.1679338201724
200426Chris Perry, Cin.1674367204120
200430Kevin Jones, Det.1647161180821
20178Christian McCaffrey, Car.1603310191316
200031Trung Canidate, St.L.1602253185512
200127Michael Bennett, Minn.159823162110
200216William Green, Clev.1559260181917
200424Steven Jackson, St.L.1545470201522
200621Laurence Maroney, N.E.1464170163411
200824Chris Johnson, Tenn.1423528195123
19994Edgerrin James, Ind.1416255167119
200912Knowshon Moreno, Den.1400392179218
200019Shaun Alexander, Sea.1383323170623
200712Marshawn Lynch, Buff.1356328168415
201231Doug Martin, T.B.1299255155418
20182Saquon Barkley, 1271632190321
200218T.J. Duckett, Atl.123680131611
20109C.J. Spiller, Buff.1212503171516
200931Beanie Wells, Ariz.11974712448
20055Cadillac Williams, T.B.1165152131713
200822Felix Jones, Dall.1162176133811
20077Adrian Peterson, Minn.1012136114813
20052Ronnie Brown, Mia.91331312269
201510Todd Gurley, St.L.911579689
200630Joseph Addai, Ind.911180109110
201128Mark Ingram, N.O.875282115714
201030Jahvid Best, Det.867213108016
20174Leonard Fournette, Jac.8431469898
20005Jamal Lewis, Balt.81719310108
200123Deuce McAllister, N.O.76719095716

Some of those big final-year producers didn't have great careers. Ron Dayne, most notably. Some of the guys with lesser numbers (like Fournette, who was hurt, or Ingram) have been fine pros. So not necessarily a huge deal either way for Penny.

--Andy Richardson

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