Michigan Running Backs

Willie Heston

The follow Michigan Running Backs were elected Team Captains: Willie Heston, John Maulbetsch, Cedric "Pat" Smith, Harry Kipke, Bob Westfall, Bob Wiese, Ron Johnson, Russell Davis, Jamie Morris, Jarrod Bunch, Ricky Powers, Anthony Thomas, and Mike Hart

The Human Bullet, #3 Johnny Maulbetsch

Michigan has had several All-American Running Backs:

#86 Bob Westfall

#18 Bump Elliott, he became Michigan's second running back to become Head Michigan Football Coach, 1959-68

Chappuis, Bob 1942-48
Craig, James 1911-13
Daley, Bill 1943-43
Elliott, Bump 1946-47
Harmon, Tom 1938-40
Heston, Willie 1901-04
Johnson, Ron 1966-68
Kipke, Harry 1921-23
Lytle, Rob 1974-76

Maulbetsch, John

Morley, William

1914-16

1895
Pace, Jim 1955-57
Perry, Chris 2000-03
Robinson, Denard 2009-2012
Smith, Cedric "Pat" 1915-16
Steketee, Frank 1918-21
Taylor, Billy 1969-71
Westfall, Bob 1939-41
Woolfolk, Butch 1978-81

Old #98, Tom Harmon, was Michigan's First Heisman Trophy Winner

Michigan has had several former Running Backs voted into the College Football Hall of Fame:

#40 Ron Johnson still holds the Wolverine record with 19 rushing TDs in 1968

Chappuis, Bob 1942-48
Elliott, Bump 1946-47
Harmon, Tom 1938-40
Hirsch, Elroy 1943-43
Johnson, Ron 1966-68
Kipke, Harry 1921-23
Lytle, Rob 1974-76
Maulbetsch, John 1914-16
Westfall, Bob 1939-41

Harry Kipke was the first Michigan running back to become Head Coach for the Wolverines, 1929-1937; he wore Jersey #14 as a Sophomore, #6 as a Junior, and #1 as a Senior

A Historical Look at 100+ of the Best Michigan Running Backs

#7 Chris Floyd

Michigan Running Back Era Rushing Yds. Carries Rushing TDs Game High Multiple 100 Yd. Games Ave. Yards Per Carry Plays Receptions Rec.Yards Total Offense All-American College Football Hall of Fame Notes
Green, Derrick 2013-16 741 165 5 170 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Johnson, Drake 2013-16 370 62 4 122 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Smith, DeVeon 2013-16 636 134 6 121 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Toussaint, Fitzgerald 2010-13 2290 0 28 192 7 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Robinson, Denard 2009-2012 4495 723 42 258 20 6.22 n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes n/a
Smith, Vincent 2009-12 1269 272 10 166 2 n/a n/a 46 435 n/a n/a n/a
Shaw, Michael 2008-11 0 0 0 126 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
McGuffie, Sam 2008-08 0 0 0 131 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Brown, Carlos 2006-09 0 0 0 187 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Minor, Brandon 2006-08 0 0 0 154 6 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Hart, Mike 2004-07 5040 1015 0 234 28 n/a n/a 67 566 n/a n/a n/a
Martin, Max 2004-04 0 0 0 117 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Jackson, Jerome 2003-06 0 0 0 105 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Underwood, David 2001-04 0 0 0 108 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Perry, Chris 2000-03 3696 811 39 219 12 n/a n/a 66 572 n/a Yes n/a
Askew, B.J. 1999-2003 0 0 0 149 4 n/a n/a 83 777 n/a n/a n/a
Fargas, Justin 1998-98 0 0 0 120 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Cross, Walter 1998-01 0 0 0 104 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Thomas, Anthony 1997-2000 0 924 55 228 22 n/a n/a 88 n/a 4472 n/a n/a
Williams, Clarence 1995-98 0 0 0 133 3 n/a n/a 68 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Floyd, Chris 1994-97 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Howard, Chris 1994-97 0 0 0 110 9 n/a n/a 60 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Biakabatuka, Tim 1993-95 2810 0 0 313 13 5.95 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Davis, Ed 1992-95 0 0 0 105 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Wheatley, Tyrone 1991-94 0 0 47 235 20 6.07 n/a 51 510 4178 n/a n/a Rose Bowl MVP/Current Coach
Johnson, Jesse 1991-92 0 0 0 168 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Powers, Ricky 1990-93 2554 0 0 176 10 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Legette, Burnie 1989-92 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Vaughn, Jon 1988-90 0 0 0 288 5 6.29 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Boles, Tony 1988-89 2247 0 0 213 10 5.7 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Williams, Tracy 1988-88 0 0 0 132 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Bunch, Jarrod 1987-90 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Jefferson, Allan 1987-90 0 0 0 118 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Hoard, LeRoy 1987-89 0 0 0 158 6 5.43 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Wilcher, Thomas 1985-86 0 0 0 106 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Morris, Jamie 1984-87 0 809 0 234 18 5.43 n/a 99 756 4393 n/a n/a
White, Gerald 1984-86 0 0 0 110 1 n/a n/a 64 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Perryman, Bob 1983-86 0 0 0 110 3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Rogers, Rick 1981-84 0 0 0 139 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Smith, Kerry 1980-83 0 0 0 113 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Ricks, Lawrence 1979-82 2751 541 0 196 10 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Woolfolk, Butch 1978-81 3861 718 29 253 16 n/a n/a n/a n/a 3861 Yes n/a
Edwards, Stanley 1977-81 2206 0 0 164 5 n/a n/a n/a 380 n/a n/a n/a
Smith, Roosevelt 1977-79 0 0 0 157 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Huckleby, Harlan 1976-78 2624 0 0 157 9 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Davis, Russell 1975-78 2550 0 0 167 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Lytle, Rob 1974-76 3317 557 26 175 15 5.96 n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes Yes
Bell, Gordon 1973-75 2900 535 28 210 13 5.42 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Chapman, Gil 1972-74 0 0 0 117 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Heater, Chuck 1971-74 0 0 0 141 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Shuttlesworth, Ed 1971-73 2343 0 26 151 7 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Thornbladh, Bob 1971-73 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Doughty, Glenn 1969-71 0 0 0 138 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Seyferth, Fritz 1969-71 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Taylor, Billy 1969-71 3072 587 30 225 13 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes n/a
Henry, Preston 1969-70 0 0 0 113 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Johnson, Ron 1966-68 2440 0 26 347 10 n/a n/a n/a 345 n/a Yes Yes
Detwiler, Jim 1964-66 0 0 0 140 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Fisher, Dave 1964-66 0 0 0 120 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Ward, Carl 1964-66 0 0 0 139 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Rowser, John 1963-66 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Anthony, Mel 1962-64 0 0 0 123 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Rose Bowl MVP-1965
Raimey, Dave 1960-62 0 0 0 116 3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
McRae, Bennie 1959-61 0 0 0 118 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Ptacek, Bob 1956-58 0 0 0 117 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Pace, Jim 1955-57 0 0 0 164 3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes n/a
Branoff, Tony 1952-55 0 0 0 113 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Kress, Ted 1951-53 0 0 0 213 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Bradford, Wes 1950-51 0 0 0 177 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Peterson, Donald 1949-51 0 0 0 104 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Dufek, Don Sr. 1948-50 0 0 0 113 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Kempthorn, Dick 1947-49 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Elliott, Bump 1946-47 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes Yes M Head Coach, 1959-68
Derricotte, Gene 1944-48 0 0 0 101 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Weisenberger, Jack 1944-47 0 0 0 118 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Chubb, Ralph 1944-46 0 0 0 134 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Nussbaumer, Bob 1943-45 0 0 0 165 4 5.75 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Hirsch, Elroy 1943-43 0 0 0 109 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes
Daley, Bill 1943-43 0 0 0 216 3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes n/a
Chappuis, Bob 1942-48 0 0 0 123 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a 3487 Yes Yes
Wiese, Bob 1942-46 0 0 0 138 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Kuzma, Tom 1941-42 0 0 0 162 3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Westfall, Bob 1939-41 0 0 0 126 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes Yes
Harmon, Tom 1938-40 0 0 30 202 9 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes Yes Heisman Trophy-1940
Renda, Hercules 1937-39 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Everhardus, Herman 1931-33 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Weber, Wally 1925-26 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Kipke, Harry 1921-23 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes Yes
Cappon, Franklin 1920-22 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Steketee, Frank 1918-21 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes n/a
Smith, Cedric "Pat" 1915-16 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes n/a
Maulbetsch, John 1914-16 n/a n/a 30 350 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes Yes Human Bullet ran for over 350 yards vs. Harvard in 1914
Craig, James 1911-13 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes n/a
Magidsohn, Joe 1909-10 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Allerdice, Dave 1907-09 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Douglass, Prentiss 1907-08 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Garrels, John 1904-06 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Hammond, Thomas 1903-05 n/a n/a 34 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Heston, Willie 1901-04 7000 n/a 93 400 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes n/a
Graver, Herb 1901-03 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
McLean, John 1898-99 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Hernstein, John 1898-02 0 0 39 144 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Prettyman, Horace 1882-90 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

#49 Bob Chappuis

Michigan Running Back Records:

#21 Tim Biakabutuka

Most Rushing Yards

Heston, Willie 1901-04 7000
Hart, Mike 2004-07 5040
Robinson, Denard 2009-2012 4495
Woolfolk, Butch 1978-81 3861
Perry, Chris 2000-03 3696
Lytle, Rob 1974-76 3317
Taylor, Billy 1969-71 3072
Bell, Gordon 1973-75 2900
Biakabatuka, Tim 1993-95 2810
Ricks, Lawrence 1979-82 2751
Huckleby, Harlan 1976-78 2624
Powers, Ricky 1990-93 2554
Davis, Russell 1975-78 2550
Johnson, Ron 1966-68 2440
Shuttlesworth, Ed 1971-73 2343
Toussaint, Fitzgerald 2010-13 2290
Boles, Tony 1988-89 2247
Edwards, Stanley 1977-81 2206

#32 Anthony "A-Train" Thomas

#25 Jon Vaughn

Most Rushing TDs

Heston, Willie 1901-04 93
Thomas, Anthony 1997-2000 55
Wheatley, Tyrone 1991-94 47
Robinson, Denard 2009-2012 42
Perry, Chris 2000-03 39
Hernstein, John 1898-02 39
Hammond, Thomas 1903-05 34
Maulbetsch, John 1914-16 30
Taylor, Billy 1969-71 30
Harmon, Tom 1938-40 30
Woolfolk, Butch 1978-81 29
Bell, Gordon 1973-75 28
Toussaint, Fitzgerald 2010-13 28
Lytle, Rob 1974-76 26
Johnson, Ron 1966-68 26
Shuttlesworth, Ed 1971-73 26

#20 Mike Hart

#6 Tyrone Wheatley

Most Carries

Hart, Mike 2004-07 1015
Thomas, Anthony 1997-2000 924
Perry, Chris 2000-03 811
Morris, Jamie 1984-87 809
Robinson, Denard 2009-2012 723
Woolfolk, Butch 1978-81 718
Taylor, Billy 1969-71 587
Lytle, Rob 1974-76 557
Ricks, Lawrence 1979-82 541
Bell, Gordon 1973-75 535

#24 Butch Woolfolk

#33 LeRoy Hoard

#42 Tony Boles

#35 Jerald Ingram

Average Yard Per Carry

#5 Gordy Bell

#16 Denard Robinson

Vaughn, Jon 1988-90 6.29
Robinson, Denard 2009-2012 6.22
Wheatley, Tyrone 1991-94 6.07
Lytle, Rob 1974-76 5.96
Biakabatuka, Tim 1993-95 5.95
Nussbaumer, Bob 1943-45 5.75
Boles, Tony 1988-89 5.7
Morris, Jamie 1984-87 5.43
Hoard, LeRoy 1987-89 5.43
Bell, Gordon 1973-75 5.42

#12 Ricky Powers

#43 Jim Pace

#25 Harlan Huckleby

#32 Stanley Edwards

Multiple 100 Yard Rushing Games

#42 Billy Taylor

#8 Chris Howard

Hart, Mike 2004-07 28
Thomas, Anthony 1997-2000 22
Robinson, Denard 2009-2012 20
Wheatley, Tyrone 1991-94 20
Morris, Jamie 1984-87 18
Woolfolk, Butch 1978-81 16
Lytle, Rob 1974-76 15
Taylor, Billy 1969-71 13
Bell, Gordon 1973-75 13
Biakabatuka, Tim 1993-95 13
Perry, Chris 2000-03 12
Ricks, Lawrence 1979-82 10
Johnson, Ron 1966-68 10
Powers, Ricky 1990-93 10
Boles, Tony 1988-89 10
Harmon, Tom 1938-40 9
Huckleby, Harlan 1976-78 9
Howard, Chris 1994-97 9
Toussaint, Fitzgerald 2010-13 7
Shuttlesworth, Ed 1971-73 7
Minor, Brandon 2006-08 6
Hoard, LeRoy 1987-89 6
Edwards, Stanley 1977-81 5
Vaughn, Jon 1988-90 5
Davis, Russell 1975-78 4
Brown, Carlos 2006-09 4
Askew, B.J. 1999-2003 4
Johnson, Jesse 1991-92 4
Rogers, Rick 1981-84 4
Heater, Chuck 1971-74 4
Ward, Carl 1964-66 4
Nussbaumer, Bob 1943-45 4
Wiese, Bob 1942-46 4
Williams, Clarence 1995-98 3
Perryman, Bob 1983-86 3
Raimey, Dave 1960-62 3
Pace, Jim 1955-57 3
Daley, Bill 1943-43 3
Kuzma, Tom 1941-42 3
Smith, Vincent 2009-12 2
Green, Derrick 2013-16 2
Smith, DeVeon 2013-16 2
McGuffie, Sam 2008-08 2
Smith, Kerry 1980-83 2
Chapman, Gil 1972-74 2
Doughty, Glenn 1969-71 2
Fisher, Dave 1964-66 2
Anthony, Mel 1962-64 2
Ptacek, Bob 1956-58 2
Branoff, Tony 1952-55 2
Bradford, Wes 1950-51 2
Dufek, Don Sr. 1948-50 2
Weisenberger, Jack 1944-47 2
Chappuis, Bob 1942-48 2
Johnson, Drake 2013-16 1
Hernstein, John 1898-02 1
Shaw, Michael 2008-11 1
Martin, Max 2004-04 1
Jackson, Jerome 2003-06 1
Underwood, David 2001-04 1
Fargas, Justin 1998-98 1
Cross, Walter 1998-01 1
Davis, Ed 1992-95 1
Jefferson, Allan 1987-90 1
White, Gerald 1984-86 1
Smith, Roosevelt 1977-79 1
Henry, Preston 1969-70 1
Detwiler, Jim 1964-66 1
McRae, Bennie 1959-61 1
Kress, Ted 1951-53 1
Derricotte, Gene 1944-48 1
Chubb, Ralph 1944-46 1
Hirsch, Elroy 1943-43 1
Westfall, Bob 1939-41 1

#41 Rob Lytle

Most Yards Gained in a Game

#23 Jamie Morris

Heston, Willie 1901-04 400
Maulbetsch, John 1914-16 350
Johnson, Ron 1966-68 347
Biakabatuka, Tim 1993-95 313
Vaughn, Jon 1988-90 288
Robinson, Denard 2009-2012 258
Woolfolk, Butch 1978-81 253
Wheatley, Tyrone 1991-94 235
Hart, Mike 2004-07 234
Morris, Jamie 1984-87 234
Thomas, Anthony 1997-2000 228
Taylor, Billy 1969-71 225
Perry, Chris 2000-03 219
Daley, Bill 1943-43 216
Boles, Tony 1988-89 213
Kress, Ted 1951-53 213
Bell, Gordon 1973-75 210
Harmon, Tom 1938-40 202
Ricks, Lawrence 1979-82 196
Toussaint, Fitzgerald 2010-13 192
Brown, Carlos 2006-09 187
Bradford, Wes 1950-51 177
Powers, Ricky 1990-93 176
Lytle, Rob 1974-76 175
Green, Derrick 2013-16 170
Johnson, Jesse 1991-92 168
Davis, Russell 1975-78 167
Smith, Vincent 2009-12 166
Nussbaumer, Bob 1943-45 165
Edwards, Stanley 1977-81 164
Pace, Jim 1955-57 164
Kuzma, Tom 1941-42 162
Hoard, LeRoy 1987-89 158
Huckleby, Harlan 1976-78 157
Smith, Roosevelt 1977-79 157
Minor, Brandon 2006-08 154
Shuttlesworth, Ed 1971-73 151
Askew, B.J. 1999-2003 149
Hernstein, John 1898-02 144
Heater, Chuck 1971-74 141
Detwiler, Jim 1964-66 140
Rogers, Rick 1981-84 139
Ward, Carl 1964-66 139
Wiese, Bob 1942-46 138
Doughty, Glenn 1969-71 138
Chubb, Ralph 1944-46 134
Williams, Clarence 1995-98 133
Williams, Tracy 1988-88 132
McGuffie, Sam 2008-08 131
Shaw, Michael 2008-11 126
Westfall, Bob 1939-41 126
Anthony, Mel 1962-64 123
Chappuis, Bob 1942-48 123
Johnson, Drake 2013-16 122
Smith, DeVeon 2013-16 121
Fisher, Dave 1964-66 120
Fargas, Justin 1998-98 120
Weisenberger, Jack 1944-47 118
Jefferson, Allan 1987-90 118
McRae, Bennie 1959-61 118
Chapman, Gil 1972-74 117
Ptacek, Bob 1956-58 117
Martin, Max 2004-04 117
Raimey, Dave 1960-62 116
Smith, Kerry 1980-83 113
Branoff, Tony 1952-55 113
Dufek, Don Sr. 1948-50 113
Henry, Preston 1969-70 113
Howard, Chris 1994-97 110
Perryman, Bob 1983-86 110
White, Gerald 1984-86 110
Hirsch, Elroy 1943-43 109
Underwood, David 2001-04 108
Wilcher, Thomas 1985-86 106
Jackson, Jerome 2003-06 105
Davis, Ed 1992-95 105
Peterson, Donald 1949-51 104
Cross, Walter 1998-01 104
Derricotte, Gene 1944-48 101

#44 Chuck Heater and #31 Ed Shuttlesworth

#46 Lawrence Ricks

#32 Jarrod Bunch

#20 Ricky Rogers

#33 Russell Davis talks with former Michigan Track Coach Jack Harvey

#40 Bob Nussbaumer

#45 Bill Daley is the only football player who won Brown Jugs with both Michigan and Minnesota

#21 Herman Everhardus with teammate and fraternity brother Gerald Ford

Cedric "Pat" Smith

#41 Ted Kress

#38 Bob Wiese

#48 Jack Weisenburger scored 3 TDs in the 1947 Rose Bowl

#40 Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch went on to become Athletic Director at Wisconsin

#58 Wally Weber

#18 Leo Koceski

#19 Carl Ward

#19 Wes Bradford

#45 Tom Kuzma

Frank Steketee

James Craig

Tom Hammond

Michigan didn't wear jersey numbers until 1915 so Willie Heston, James Craig, Tom Hammond, and Cedric Smith had no numbers.

Michigan Football Position Greats

Best Michigan Football Players By Jersey Number

Michigan Ends, Wide Recievers, Tight Ends and Wingbacks (Slots)

Michigan Offensive Line

Michigan Defensive Linemen