Most Physically Gifted RBs You Have Ever Seen

[1972COWBOY]

Can I add Jim Brown and Larry Csonka. Who was the only runningback to get penalized during his run for unnecessary roughness?

 

[Thomas82]

He was one of my guys growing up along with Dan Reeves.
I think the most gifted guy I personally have seen did not make it to the NFL, Marcus Dupree, he played at Oklahoma in the early eighties.

I remember him vaguely. What happened to him?

 

[rags747]

OJ for me, smooth and could cut without downshifting. May have had the best long speed that I have seen.

 

[JDSmith]

Can I add Jim Brown and Larry Csonka. Who was the only runningback to get penalized during his run for unnecessary roughness?

You mentioning Csonka made me think of another amazingly gifted RB - Earl Campbell.

 

[revospeed]

Besides all the guys that have been mentioned, Larry Johnson was a specimen. At Penn State he was amazing and then he strung together two 1,700 yard seasons in a row. During that time period, he was a scary guy. 6'1, 240 lbs and could run. Had an attitude that kept him from reaching his potential.

 

[Nightman]

In no particular order
Bo Jackson
Ki-Janna Carter
Marshal Faulk
Barry Sanders
Lawrence Phillips
AD
Ricky Williams

You re clearly a huge College Football fan.....great list

 

[65fastback2plus2]

staying healthy is a physical gift.

Emmitt Smith ftw! GOAT!

 

[batman36]

I remember him vaguely. What happened to him?

Dupree tore a knee while playing in the USFL with the Memphis Breakers in 1985. He made a short-lived comeback with the LA Rams in 1990. Marcus Dupree, Eric Dickerson, John Riggins, Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker, Adrian Peterson and Larry Csonka. Also, Walter Payton and Billy Sims were physically gifted. I certainly omitted many more, but at 53 years-old, that's my list.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Gayle Sayers should probably be on that list somewhere.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Barry, AP, Bo

 

[Texas_Pete]

Lawrence Phillips, bar none. Crying shame that he wasted his HOF talent.

 

[jobberone]

Jim Brown (FB) 1957-1965
Earl Campbell (RB) 1978-1985
Eric Dickerson (RB) 1983-1993
Tony Dorsett (RB) 1977-1988
Ollie Matson (HB) 1952, 1954-1966
Hugh McElhenny (HB) 1952-1964
Marion Motley (FB) 1946-1953, 1955
Walter Payton (RB) 1975-1987
Joe Perry (FB) 1948-1963
Barry Sanders (RB) 1989-1998
Gale Sayers (HB) 1965-1971
O.J. Simpson (RB) 1969-1979
Emmitt Smith 1990-2004
Doak Walker (HB) 1950-1955
Bo Jackson (HB) 1987–1990

Never saw Motley or Walker play. Thorpe and Nagurski also probably belong on that list esp Thorpe. Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis also get mention. Never saw Blanchard play but he ran a 10 sec 100 and won the shot put often when entered. He was a helluva football player. My father played with Glenn Davis on a service team (not the academy) and said he was pretty good. Also, Ricky Williams.

EDIT: add H Walker

 

[Thomas82]

Dupree tore a knee while playing in the USFL with the Memphis Breakers in 1985. He made a short-lived comeback with the LA Rams in 1990. Marcus Dupree, Eric Dickerson, John Riggins, Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker, Adrian Peterson and Larry Csonka. Also, Walter Payton and Billy Sims were physically gifted. I certainly omitted many more, but at 53 years-old, that's my list.

Thanks for the info!!

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Jim Brown
Gale Sayers
Bo Jackson
Adrian Peterson
Marshall Faulk
John Riggins
Marcus Dupree
Barry Sanders
Earl Campbell
Hershel Walker




YR

 

[Proof]

Lawrence Phillips, bar none. Crying shame that he wasted his HOF talent.

After seeing that college list, I came in to say this. Dude was incredible

As was Marcus Dupree.

Think we have to add fournette to the list as well.

 

[darthseinfeld]

You re clearly a huge College Football fan.....great list

We are talking gifted here. Not accomplished as far as NFL. Ive never seen a player with KiJana power/speed/agility ratio. He was pretty sick until he tore his knee up

 

[JohnsKey19]

Dickerson and OJ.

 

[ZekeandDestroy]

Emmitt, Zeke, and Myself. In no particular order.

 

[Thomas82]

We are talking gifted here. Not accomplished as far as NFL. Ive never seen a player with KiJana power/speed/agility ratio. He was pretty sick until he tore his knee up

I remember when he tore the knee up. It happened in a preseason game against the Lions in 1995.

 

[NickZepp]

I'm not sure I would put Sanders as the most physically gifted RB ever. Maybe the most elusive and had great speed Overall one of the best NFL RBs ever. But not physically gifted really I would say the same about Payton and Smith in many ways. Not sure any of em would be in a physically gifted RB category. But I don't know if I would put anyone since 1980s above those 3 either at that position.

Peterson is up there. Walker particularly 80s to early 90s is up there. Marshawn Lynch is up there. Ricky Waters was a great combo back in the 90s. LaDanian Thomlinson, Marshall Faulk, Edgerrin James are up there. Steven Jackson was a great back for most of his career.