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3 Greatest Running Backs in Michigan History

By David Kaestle

The greatest running backs in Michigan Wolverines history include Mike Hart.
The greatest running backs in Michigan Wolverines history include Mike Hart. / G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images
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Michigan has been a premier college football program for over a century, and you don't achieve that status without bringing in, developing and churning out some of the nation's top talent. While Tom Brady is probably Michigan's most well-known football alum, they have had a handful of great running backs suit up at the Big House over the years.

Let's take a look at the three greatest Michigan running backs.

3. Jamie Morris, 1984-1987

Jamie Morris comes in at No. 4 on the school's all-time career rushing yards list with 4,392 yards in his four seasons in Ann Arbor. His 1987 senior season was his best, rushing for 1,703 yards, which ranks as the third-highest single-season total in Wolverine history. He also rushed for 234 yards in a single game against Alabama during that 1987 season, which is the ninth-best Michigan performance in that regard.

2. Anthony Thomas, 1997-2000

Anthony Thomas was one of the running backs that overlapped with Tom Brady's time at Michigan. In four seasons as a Wolverine, Thomas put up 4,472 rushing yards, which is good enough for No. 3 on the school's all-time list. His 2000 season was his best, rushing for 1,733 yards, good enough for No. 2 in school history. Additionally, Thomas knew how to get the ball in the end zone, with 55 rushing touchdowns, second-most on the Wolverines' all-time list.

1. Mike Hart, 2004-2007

Mike Hart is the most recent player on this list, and he put together an incredible career in the blue and maize. Hart is the school's all-time rushing yards leader, being the only running back to eclipse 5,000 career rushing yards (5,040). While his best season in terms of rushing yards only ranks No. 6 in school history (1,562 in 2006), it paints a picture of consistency throughout his career. Hart also ranks No. 5 in Wolverines history with 41 rushing touchdowns, and he added a career 566 receiving yards, bringing his yards from scrimmage total up to 5,606 — over 400 more than anyone else in Michigan history.

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David Kaestle is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, David also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username davekaestle. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.