SEC Football by the Numbers: The conference’s 1,000-yard rushers
After rushing for 1,158 yards for Ole Miss in the 2023 season, Quinshon Judkins had the opportunity to become the seventh player in SEC history with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2024.
Instead, the former Pike Road High School standout transferred to Ohio State without joining the club of Herschel Walker, Kevin Faulk, Darren McFadden, Alex Collins, Nick Chubb and Benny Snell Jr. and leaving the SEC without a returning 1,000-yard rusher this season – at least technically. The conference’s other four 1,000-yard rushers in 2023 are now on NFL rosters.
Raheim Sanders ran for 1,426 yards for Arkansas in 2022. But after an injury-filled season produced only 209 yards on the ground for the Razorbacks in 2023, Sanders has changed teams in the SEC and will suit up for South Carolina in 2024.
Just as Ohio State imported a 1,000-yard rusher for the 2024 season, SEC teams pulled in ball-carriers who ran for 1,000 yards for non-SEC programs in 2023:
· Oklahoma running back Sam Franklin had 1,386 yards and 11 touchdowns on 223 rushing attempts for UT Martin last season.
· Missouri running back Marcus Carroll had 1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns on 274 rushing attempts for Georgia State last season.
· Ole Miss running back Rashad Amos had 1,075 yards and 13 touchdowns on 210 rushing attempts for Miami (Ohio) last season.
The SEC’s other 1,000-yard rushers in 2023 were Missouri’s Cody Schrader with 1,627 yards, LSU’s Jayden Daniels with 1,134 yards, Kentucky’s Ray Davis with 1,129 yards and Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright with 1,013 yards.
Wright broke a streak of seven seasons without a 1,000-yard rusher for Tennessee, leaving Florida with the longest active streak without one. Kelvin Taylor in 2015 is the Gators’ most recent 1,000-yard rusher.
The conference’s longest streak for one program with a 1,000-yard rusher is nine seasons, accomplished by Auburn from 2009 through 2017.
From 2012 through 2019, the SEC had at least seven 1,000-yard rushers in every season, including a record 11 in 2016.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the SEC limited its teams to 10 regular-season games in 2020, and only three league players recorded 1,000 rushing yards that year.
There were six in 2021, four in 2022 and five in 2023.
For the first 37 seasons of SEC football, teams were limited to 10 regular-season games and the statistics compiled in bowls didn’t count in the season total. During those 37 years, the SEC had seven 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Beginning in 1970, teams were allowed to schedule 11 regular-season games. In the 32 seasons of the 11-game schedule, the SEC had 71 1,000-yard rushing performances.
In addition to the adoption of the 12-game regular season in 2002, the NCAA decided bowl statistics would be included in season totals beginning that year, which also helped reduce the difficulty of recording a 1,000-yard rushing season.
In the 22 seasons since, 137 1,000-yard rushing performances have been recorded by SEC players.
The most recent season in which the SEC did not have a 1,000-yard rusher was 1974. Kentucky’s Sonny Collins led the SEC with 970 rushing yards in nine games in 1974. In all, 166 SEC players have recorded 218 1,000-yard seasons.
Here are the SEC players who have run for 1,000 yards in a season (using the official totals):
Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. carries the football during an SEC game against Auburn on Nov. 27, 2021, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Alabama: 24 1,000-yard seasons by 17 players
1970: Johnny Musso 1,137
1971: Johnny Musso 1,088
1986: Bobby Humphrey 1,471
1987: Bobby Humphrey 1,255
1989: Siran Stacy 1,079
1994: Sherman Williams 1,341
1996: Dennis Riddle 1,079
1998: Shaun Alexander 1,178
1999: Shaun Alexander 1,383
2003: Shaud Williams 1,367
2004: Kenneth Darby 1,062
2005: Kenneth Darby 1,242
2008: Glen Coffee 1,383
2009: Mark Ingram 1,658
2011: Trent Richardson 1,679
2012: Eddie Lacy 1,322
2012: T.J. Yeldon 1,108
2013: T.J. Yeldon 1,235
2015: Derrick Henry 2,219
2016: Damien Harris 1,037
2017: Damien Harris 1,000
2019: Najee Harris 1,224
2020: Najee Harris 1,466
2021: Brian Robinson Jr. 1,343
Arkansas running back Raheim Sanders carries the football during an SEC game against Ole Miss on Nov. 19, 2022, at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.(AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Arkansas: 17 1,000-yard seasons by 12 players
1995: Madre Hill 1,387
2002: Fred Talley 1,119
2003: Cedric Cobbs 1,320
2005: Darren McFadden 1,113
2006: Darren McFadden 1,647
2006: Felix Jones 1,168
2007: Darren McFadden 1,830
2007: Felix Jones 1,113
2008: Michael Smith 1,072
2010: Knile Davis 1,322
2013: Alex Collins 1,026
2014: Jonathan Williams 1,190
2014: Alex Collins 1,110
2015: Alex Collins 1,577
2016: Rawleigh Williams 1,360
2019: Rakeem Boyd 1,133
2022: Raheim Sanders 1,426
(Arkansas’ list includes only those players who have rushed for 1,000 yards since 1992, when the Razorbacks joined the SEC. Overall, Arkansas has had 23 1,000-yard seasons by 15 players.)
Auburn running back Tank Bigsby runs for a touchdown during an SEC game against Mississippi State on Nov. 5, 2022, at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss.(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Auburn: 29 1,000-yard seasons by 22 players
1942: Monk Gafford 1,004
1963: Jimmy Sidle 1,006
1978: Joe Cribbs 1,205
1979: James Brooks 1,208
1979: Joe Cribbs 1,120
1980: James Brooks 1,314
1983: Bo Jackson 1,213
1985: Bo Jackson 1,786
1986: Brent Fullwood 1,391
1993: James Bostic 1,205
1994: Stephen Davis 1,263
1995: Stephen Davis 1,068
2000: Rudi Johnson 1,567
2002: Ronnie Brown 1,008
2003: Carnell “Cadillac” Williams 1,307
2004: Carnell “Cadillac” Williams 1,165
2005: Kenny Irons 1,293
2009: Ben Tate 1,362
2010: Cam Newton 1,473
2010: Michael Dyer 1,093
2011: Michael Dyer 1,242
2012: Tre Mason 1,002
2013: Tre Mason 1,816
2013: Nick Marshall 1,068
2014: Cameron Artis-Payne 1,608
2015: Peyton Barber 1,017
2016: Kamryn Pettway 1,224
2017: Kerryon Johnson 1,391
2021: Tank Bigsby 1,102
Florida running back Kelvin Taylor carries the football against Florida State on Nov. 28, 2015, in Gainesville, Fla.AP
Florida: 11 1,000-yard seasons by nine players
1975: Jimmy DuBose 1,307
1985: Neal Anderson 1,034
1987: Emmitt Smith 1,341
1989: Emmitt Smith 1,599
1991: Errict Rhett 1,109
1993: Errict Rhett 1,289
1997: Fred Taylor 1,292
2002: Earnest Graham 1,085
2004: Ciatrick Fason 1,267
2012: Mike Gillislee 1,152
2015: Kelvin Taylor 1,035
Georgia running back D’Andre Swift carries the football against Alabama during the SEC championship game on Dec. 1, 2018, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
Georgia: 21 1,000-yard seasons by 14 players
1976: Kevin McLee 1,058
1978: Willie McClendon 1,312
1980: Herschel Walker 1,616
1981: Herschel Walker 1,891
1982: Herschel Walker 1,752
1987: Lars Tate 1,016
1988: Tim Worley 1,216
1989: Rodney Hampton 1,059
1992: Garrison Hearst 1,594
2002: Musa Smith 1,324
2007: Knowshon Moreno 1,334
2008: Knowshon Moreno 1,400
2012: Todd Gurley 1,385
2014: Nick Chubb 1,547
2015: Sony Michel 1,161
2016: Nick Chubb 1,130
2017: Nick Chubb 1,345
2017: Sony Michel 1,227
2018: D’Andre Swift 1,049
2018: Elijah Holyfield 1,018
2019: D’Andre Swift 1,218
Kentucky running back Ray Davis carries the football during an SEC game against Tennessee on Oct. 28, 2023, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky.(AP Photo/Michelle Haas Hutchins)
Kentucky: 15 1,000-yard seasons by 11 players
1973: Sonny Collins 1,213
1975: Sonny Collins 1,150
1984: George Adams 1,085
1987: Mark Higgs 1,278
1995: Moe Williams 1,600
2002: Artose Pinner 1,414
2005: Rafael Little 1,045
2007: Rafael Little 1,013
2016: Stanley “Boom” Williams 1,170
2016: Benny Snell Jr. 1,091
2017: Benny Snell Jr. 1,333
2018: Benny Snell Jr. 1,449
2019: Lynn Bowden Jr. 1,468
2021: Christopher Rodriguez Jr. 1,379
2023: Ray Davis 1,129
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels carries the football against Georgia State on Nov. 18, 2023, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.(AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
LSU: 23 1,000-yard seasons by 17 players
1943: Steve Van Buren 1,007
1976: Terry Robiskie 1,117
1977: Charles Alexander 1,686
1978: Charles Alexander 1,172
1984: Dalton Hilliard 1,268
1985: Dalton Hilliard 1,134
1987: Harvey Williams 1,001
1996: Kevin Faulk 1,282
1997: Kevin Faulk 1,144
1998: Kevin Faulk 1,279
2003: Justin Vincent 1,001
2007: Jacob Hester 1,103
2008: Charles Scott 1,174
2010: Stevan Ridley 1,147
2013: Jeremy Hill 1,401
2014: Leonard Fournette 1,034
2015: Leonard Fournette 1,953
2016: Derrius Guice 1,387
2017: Derrius Guice 1,251
2018: Nick Brossette 1,039
2019: Clyde Edwards-Helaire 1,414
2021: Tyrion Davis-Price 1,003
2023: Jayden Daniels 1,134
Mississippi State running back Kylin Hill carries the football during the Music City Bowl against Louisville on Dec. 30, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn.AP
Mississippi State: 17 1,000-yard seasons by 13 players
1973: Wayne Jones 1,193
1975: Walter Packer 1,012
1995: Keffer McGee 1,072
1997: James Johnson 1,069
1998: James Johnson 1,383
2000: Dicenzo Miller 1,005
2004: Jerious Norwood 1,050
2005: Jerious Norwood 1,126
2007: Anthony Dixon 1,066
2009: Anthony Dixon 1,391
2011: Vick Ballard 1,189
2012: LaDarius Perkins 1,024
2014: Josh Robinson 1,203
2016: Nick Fitzgerald 1,375
2017: Aeris Williams 1,107
2018: Nick Fitzgerald 1,121
2019: Kylin Hill 1,350
Missouri running back Cody Schrader carries the football against Arkansas during an SEC game on Nov. 24, 2023, at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.(AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Missouri: Eight 1,000-yard seasons by eight players
2012: Kendial Lawrence 1,025
2013: Henry Josey 1,166
2014: Russell Hansbrough 1,084
2016: Damarea Crockett 1,062
2017: Ish Witter 1,049
2018: Larry Rountree III 1,216
2021: Tyler Badie 1,604
2023: Cody Schrader 1,627
(Missouri’s list includes only those players who have rushed for 1,000 yards since 2012, when the Tigers joined the SEC. Overall, Missouri has had 19 1,000-yard seasons by 15 players.)
Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins carries the football during an SEC game against Alabama on Nov. 12, 2022, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss.(AP Photo/Thomas Graning)
Ole Miss: 10 1,000-yard seasons by seven players
1949: Kayo Dottley 1,312
1950: Kayo Dottley 1,007
1998: Deuce McAllister 1,082
2006: BenJarvus Green-Ellis 1,000
2007: BenJarvus Green-Ellis 1,137
2009: Dexter McCluster 1,169
2017: Jordan Wilkins 1,039
2019: John Rhys Plumlee 1,023
2022: Quinshon Judkins 1,476
2023: Quinshon Judkins 1,158
South Carolina running back Kevin Harris carries the football during an SEC game against Vanderbilt on Oct. 10, 2020, at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
South Carolina: Five 1,000-yard seasons by five players
1996: Duce Staley 1,116
2000: Derek Watson 1,066
2010: Marcus Lattimore 1,197
2013: Mike Davis 1,183
2020: Kevin Harris 1,138
(South Carolina’s list includes only those players who have rushed for 1,000 yards since 1992, when the Gamecocks joined the SEC. Overall, South Carolina has had 11 1,000-yard seasons by nine players.)
Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright carries the football during an SEC game against Texas A&M on Oct. 14, 2023, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee: 19 1,000-yard seasons by 18 players
1983: Johnnie Jones 1,116
1984: Johnnie Jones 1,290
1987: Reggie Cobb 1,197
1989: Chuck Webb 1,236
1990: Tony Thompson 1,261
1993: Charlie Garner 1,161
1994: James Stewart 1,028
1995: Jay Graham 1,438
1997: Jamal Lewis 1,364
2000: Travis Henry 1,314
2001: Travis Stephens 1,464
2004: Gerald Riggs Jr. 1,107
2004: Cedric Houston 1,005
2007: Arian Foster 1,193
2009: Montario Hardesty 1,345
2010: Tauren Poole 1,034
2013: Rajion Neal 1,124
2015: Jalen Hurd 1,288
2023: Jaylen Wright 1,013
Texas A&M running back Devon Achane carries the football during an SEC game against LSU on Nov. 26, 2022, at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.(AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M: Seven 1,000-yard seasons by five players
2012: Johnny Manziel 1,410
2015: Tra Carson 1,165
2016: Trayveon Williams 1,057
2018: Trayveon Williams 1,760
2020: Isaiah Spiller 1,036
2021: Isaiah Spiller 1,011
2022: Devon Achane 1,102
(Texas A&M’s list includes only those players who have rushed for 1,000 yards since 2012, when the Aggies joined the SEC. Overall, Texas A&M has had 19 1,000-yard seasons by 14 players.)
Vanderbilt running back Ray Davis carries the football during an SEC game against Florida on Nov. 19, 2022, at Commodore Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vanderbilt: 10 1,000-yard seasons by seven players
1978: Frank Mordica 1,065
1991: Corey Harris 1,103
1995: Jermaine Johnson 1,072
2011: Zac Stacy 1,193
2012: Zac Stacy 1,141
2015: Ralph Webb 1,152
2016: Ralph Webb 1,283
2018: Ke’Shawn Vaughn 1,244
2019: Ke’Shawn Vaughn 1,028
2022: Ray Davis 1,042
Tulane: Two 1,000-yard seasons by one player
Tulane was a member of the SEC from the conference’s first season in 1933 through the 1965 campaign. During that time, the Green Wave had two 1,000-yard seasons from one player. The other two former SEC members — Georgia Tech and Sewanee — never had a 1,000-yard rusher during their time in the conference.
1948: Eddie Price 1,178
1949: Eddie Price 1,137
Texas running back Cedric Benson carries the football during a Big 12 game against Kansas on Nov. 13, 2004, at Memorial Stadium in Kansas.(AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Oklahoma and Texas
Oklahoma and Texas will play their first seasons of SEC football in 2024, so they’ve never had a 1,000-yard rusher under the conference’s banner. The Longhorns’ Jonathan Brooks ran for 1,139 yards last season, but he’s in the NFL now, so neither team has a 1,000-yard rusher returning.
Oklahoma has had 40 1,000-yard rushing seasons by 27 players.
Texas has had 26 1,000-yard rushing seasons by 14 players, including four by Cedric Benson.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.