Kentucky’s best running backs
Benny Snell has the most rushing yards in Kentucky history, 3,873 from 2016 to 2018. Since 2004, Benny Snell Jr. has the most, 3,873 in 38 games.
Of the SEC’s best running backs since 2004, Benny Snell Jr. is 5th and Chris Rodriguez Jr. 10th.
Kentucky’s running backs this season
- CJ Baxter7 games, 69.6 a game487rushing yards
- Jason Patterson8 games, 55.4 a game779 at Kentucky.443rushing yards
- Jovantae Barnes6 games, 37.3 a game224rushing yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2004–09
rushing yards in Kentucky history
- 1Benny Snell2016 – 20183,873
- 2Sonny Collins1972 – 19753,835
- 3Chris Rodriguez Jr.2018 – 20223,644
- 4Moe Williams1993 – 19953,333
- 5Rafael Little2004 – 20072,996
- 6Mark Higgs1984 – 19872,892
- 7George Adams1981 – 19842,648
- 8Derrick Locke2007 – 20102,618
- 9Boom Williams2014 – 20162,511
- 10Artose Pinner1999 – 20022,105
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 | Benny Snell Jr.2016 – 2018 · 38 games | 3,873 | 48 | 4,089 |
| 2 | Chris Rodriguez Jr.2018 – 2022 · 40 games | 3,644 | 32 | 3,760 |
| 3 | Rafael Little2004 – 2007 · 38 games | 2,928 | 16 | 4,245 |
| 4 | Derrick Locke2007 – 2010 · 39 games | 2,618 | 22 | 3,500 |
| 5 | Stanley Williams2014 – 2016 · 33 games | 2,511 | 18 | 2,803 |
| 6 | Asim Rose Jr.2017 – 2020 · 42 games | 1,971 | 13 | 2,204 |
| 7 | Jojo Kemp2013 – 2016 · 45 games | 1,709 | 19 | 1,794 |
| 8 | Kavosiey Smoke2018 – 2022 · 41 games | 1,573 | 13 | 1,671 |
| 9 | Raymond Sanders2010 – 2013 · 38 games | 1,542 | 11 | 1,915 |
| 10 | Tony Dixon2004 – 2008 · 44 games | 1,388 | 16 | 1,768 |
| 11 | Randall Cobb2008 – 2010 · 34 games | 1,313 | 22 | 2,974 |
| 12 | Ray Davis2023 · 13 games | 1,129 | 14 | 1,452 |
| 13 | Alfonso Smith2006 – 2009 · 38 games | 957 | 8 | 1,279 |
| 14 | Jonathan George2010 – 2013 · 30 games | 795 | 7 | 1,093 |
| 15 | Jason Patterson2024 – 2026 · still playing | 779 | 4 | 918 |
| +443 this season | ||||
| 16 | CoShik Williams2009 – 2012 · 17 games | 738 | 7 | 828 |
| T17 | Demie Sumo-Karngbaye2023 – 2024 · 22 games | 725 | 6 | 948 |
| T17 | Seth McGowan2025 · 11 games | 725 | 12 | 851 |
| 19 | JuTahn McClain2020 – 2023 · 33 games | 643 | 1 | 801 |
| 20 | Mikel Horton2014 – 2016 · 24 games | 636 | 5 | 770 |
| 21 | Sihiem King2015 – 2018 · 33 games | 630 | 4 | 736 |
| 22 | Jamarion Wilcox2024 · 11 games | 590 | 2 | 614 |
| 23 | Dante Dowdell2025 · 12 games | 560 | 3 | 590 |
| 24 | Moncell Allen2007 – 2010 · 34 games | 509 | 4 | 595 |
| 25 | CJ Baxter2026 · still playing | 487 | 8 | 554 |
| +487 this season | ||||
rushing yards by decade
2020s
- Chris Rodriguez Jr.2020 – 2022 · 30 games3,068
- Ray Davis2023 · 13 games1,129
- Kavosiey Smoke2020 – 2022 · 27 games912
- › Jason Patterson2024 – 2026 · 20 games779
- Demie Sumo-Karngbaye2023 – 2024 · 22 games725
2010s
- Benny Snell Jr.2016 – 2018 · 38 games3,873
- Stanley Williams2014 – 2016 · 33 games2,511
- Jojo Kemp2013 – 2016 · 45 games1,709
- Raymond Sanders2010 – 2013 · 38 games1,542
- Asim Rose Jr.2017 – 2019 · 31 games1,305
2004–09
- Rafael Little2004 – 2007 · 38 games2,928
- Derrick Locke2007 – 2009 · 30 games1,731
- Tony Dixon2004 – 2008 · 44 games1,388
- Alfonso Smith2006 – 2009 · 38 games957
- Randall Cobb2008 – 2009 · 21 games889
Also at Kentucky: quarterbacks · wide receivers · tight ends · defenders · kickers · punters · Kentucky record book
Method
- Every running back who played at Kentucky 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 Kentucky before then isn't here.
- A decade counts his rushing yards at Kentucky 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 Kentucky is counted at tonight's numbers against the record book's, which run through the 2025 season.