Buffalo’s best running backs
Branden Oliver has the most rushing yards in Buffalo history, 4,049 from 2010 to 2013.
Of the MAC’s best running backs since 2004, Branden Oliver is 6th and Jaret Patterson 8th.
Buffalo’s running backs this season
- Messiah Burch9 games, 100.1 a game1,095 at Buffalo.901rushing yards
- Nino Hill7 games, 28.9 a game202rushing yards
- James McNeil Jr.4 games, 30.0 a game202 at Buffalo.120rushing yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2004–09
rushing yards in Buffalo history
- 1Branden Oliver2010 – 20134,049
- 2Jaret Patterson2018 – 20203,884
- 3James Starks2006 – 20083,140
- 4Anthony Swan1994 – 19973,103
- 5Kevin Marks2018 – 20213,035
- 6Alan Bell1989 – 19923,002
- 7Anthone Taylor2011 – 20152,651
- 8Jordan Johnson2014 – 20162,212
- 9Al-Jay Henderson2022 – 20252,134
- 10O.D. Underwood1986 – 19872,062
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), through the 2025 season, which counts bowl games from 2002.
Compare with in · side by side
Every running back since 2004
| Place | Player | rushing yards | rushing touchdowns | yards from scrimmage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Branden Oliver2010 – 2013 · 41 games | 4,049 | 33 | 4,704 |
| 2 | Jaret Patterson2018 – 2020 · 33 games | 3,884 | 52 | 4,155 |
| 3 | James Starks2006 – 2008 · 36 games | 3,140 | 34 | 4,038 |
| 4 | Kevin Marks Jr.2018 – 2021 · 43 games | 3,035 | 33 | 3,164 |
| 5 | Anthone Taylor2011 – 2015 · 33 games | 2,651 | 18 | 2,918 |
| 6 | Jordan Johnson2014 – 2016 · 32 games | 2,212 | 19 | 2,403 |
| 7 | Al-Jay Henderson2022 – 2025 · 38 games | 2,134 | 19 | 2,598 |
| 8 | Ron Cook Jr.2019 – 2023 · 51 games | 1,826 | 14 | 2,540 |
| 9 | Dylan McDuffie2018 – 2021 · 21 games | 1,273 | 11 | 1,421 |
| 10 | Emmanuel Reed2016 – 2018 · 26 games | 1,244 | 10 | 1,360 |
| 11 | Brandon Thermilus2007 – 2010 · 38 games | 1,205 | 14 | 1,515 |
| 12 | Mike Washington Jr.2021 – 2023 · 27 games | 1,119 | 10 | 1,289 |
| 13 | Steven King2004 – 2006 · 28 games | 1,117 | 14 | 1,310 |
| 14 | Messiah Burch2024 – 2026 · still playing | 1,095 | 7 | 1,206 |
| +901 this season | ||||
| 15 | Ike Nduka2006 – 2010 · 17 games | 829 | 7 | 992 |
| 16 | Mario Henry2007 – 2009 · 27 games | 737 | 4 | 904 |
| 17 | Jared Patterson2004 – 2006 · 27 games | 703 | 7 | 744 |
| 18 | Devin Campbell2012 – 2015 · 38 games | 685 | 4 | 1,241 |
| 19 | Johnathan Hawkins2015 – 2018 · 30 games | 632 | 2 | 799 |
| 20 | Jacqez Barksdale2023 – 2024 · 22 games | 554 | 4 | 588 |
| 21 | Theo Anderson2017 – 2019 · 18 games | 529 | 3 | 553 |
| 22 | Terrance Shelton Jr.2024 – 2026 · still playing | 448 | 1 | 501 |
| +116 this season | ||||
| 23 | Lamar Sperling2023 – 2025 · 20 games | 401 | 2 | 472 |
| 24 | Jeffvon Gill2010 – 2011 · 19 games | 337 | 1 | 387 |
| 25 | Chris McDuffie2004 – 2006 · 9 games | 333 | 2 | 376 |
rushing yards by decade
2020s
- Al-Jay Henderson2022 – 2025 · 38 games2,134
- Ron Cook Jr.2020 – 2023 · 41 games1,730
- Kevin Marks Jr.2020 – 2021 · 16 games1,155
- Mike Washington Jr.2021 – 2023 · 27 games1,119
- › Messiah Burch2024 – 2026 · 28 games1,095
2010s
- Branden Oliver2010 – 2013 · 41 games4,049
- Jaret Patterson2018 – 2019 · 27 games2,812
- Anthone Taylor2011 – 2015 · 33 games2,651
- Jordan Johnson2014 – 2016 · 32 games2,212
- Kevin Marks Jr.2018 – 2019 · 27 games1,880
2004–09
- James Starks2006 – 2008 · 36 games3,140
- Steven King2004 – 2006 · 28 games1,117
- Brandon Thermilus2007 – 2009 · 33 games1,099
- Mario Henry2007 – 2009 · 27 games737
- Jared Patterson2004 – 2006 · 27 games703
Also at Buffalo: quarterbacks · wide receivers · tight ends · defenders · kickers · punters · Buffalo record book
Method
- Every running back who played at Buffalo since 2004, ranked by rushing yards over his games there. Bowl and playoff games count.
- The numbers here start in 2004, so a running back who played at Buffalo before then isn't here.
- A decade counts his rushing yards at Buffalo in its seasons.
- The record book's numbers are the school's own. Where they and the box scores differ for one player, the box scores are missing a game or count bowls another way.
- A running back still playing at Buffalo is counted at tonight's numbers against the record book's, which run through the 2025 season.