Northern Illinois’ best running backs
Garrett Wolfe has the most rushing yards in Northern Illinois history, 5,164 from 2004 to 2006. Telly Johnson Jr. is 9th, with 1,766; 164 more passes Harrison Waylee for 8th.
Of the MAC’s best running backs since 2004, Garrett Wolfe is 1st.
Northern Illinois’ running backs this season
- Telly Johnson Jr.8 games, 71.8 a game1,766 at Northern Illinois, the 9th-most since 2004.574rushing yards
- Elijah Porter8 games, 29.1 a game313 at Northern Illinois.233rushing yards
- Jaiduan Cranford5 games, 13.4 a game67rushing yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2004–09
rushing yards in Northern Illinois history
- 1Garrett Wolfe2004 – 20065,164
- 2Michael Turner2000 – 20034,941
- 3Jordan Lynch2010 – 20134,343
- 4Mark Kellar1971 – 19733,745
- 5Allen Ross1977 – 19803,500
- 6Adam Dach1987 – 19913,438
- 7LeShon Johnson1992 – 19933,314
- 8Charles Talley1993 – 19963,155
- 9Antario Brown2021 – 20243,090
- 10Chandler Harnish2008 – 20112,983
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), through the 2025 season, which counts bowl games from 2002.
Every running back since 2004
| Place | Player | rushing yards | rushing touchdowns | yards from scrimmage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garrett Wolfe2004 – 2006 · 33 games | 5,164 | 52 | 5,752 |
| 2 | Antario Brown2021 – 2024 · 39 games | 3,090 | 26 | 3,353 |
| 3 | Chad Spann2007 – 2010 · 42 games | 2,916 | 49 | 3,114 |
| 4 | Joel Bouagnon2013 – 2016 · 43 games | 2,911 | 31 | 3,279 |
| 5 | Tre Harbison2017 – 2019 · 33 games | 2,345 | 16 | 2,482 |
| 6 | Jordan Huff2014 – 2017 · 41 games | 2,167 | 20 | 2,295 |
| 7 | Cameron Stingily2012 – 2014 · 27 games | 2,095 | 23 | 2,145 |
| 8 | Harrison Waylee2020 – 2022 · 22 games | 1,929 | 10 | 2,115 |
| 9 | Telly Johnson Jr.2024 – 2026 · still playing | 1,766 | 13 | 1,911 |
| +574 this season · passes Harrison Waylee for 8th in 3 games at his pace | ||||
| 10 | Justin Anderson2006 – 2009 · 34 games | 1,722 | 11 | 1,985 |
| 11 | Jasmin Hopkins2010 – 2011 · 26 games | 1,291 | 17 | 1,355 |
| 12 | Gavin Williams2023 – 2024 · 26 games | 1,237 | 7 | 1,524 |
| 13 | Akeem Daniels2010 – 2014 · 47 games | 1,220 | 16 | 1,830 |
| 14 | Jay Ducker2021 · 12 games | 1,184 | 3 | 1,199 |
| 15 | A.J. Harris2004 – 2005 · 20 games | 1,173 | 9 | 1,310 |
| 16 | Me'co Brown2008 – 2009 · 24 games | 1,155 | 6 | 1,273 |
| 17 | Marcus Jones2015 – 2019 · 42 games | 1,073 | 9 | 1,337 |
| 18 | Chavon Wright2025 · 12 games | 875 | 5 | 891 |
| 19 | DeMarcus Grady2008 – 2011 · 18 games | 663 | 7 | 714 |
| 20 | Adrian Davis2004 – 2005 · 13 games | 595 | 6 | 621 |
| 21 | Leighton Settle2011 – 2012 · 14 games | 537 | 5 | 571 |
| 22 | Jordan Nettles2018 – 2019 · 23 games | 491 | 0 | 509 |
| 23 | Ricky Crider2007 – 2010 · 34 games | 490 | 3 | 560 |
| 24 | Keith Harris Jr.2012 – 2015 · 16 games | 466 | 6 | 582 |
| 25 | Clint Ratkovich2021 · 14 games | 461 | 13 | 585 |
rushing yards by decade
2020s
- Antario Brown2021 – 2024 · 39 games3,090
- Harrison Waylee2020 – 2022 · 22 games1,929
- › Telly Johnson Jr.2024 – 2026 · 26 games1,766
- Gavin Williams2023 – 2024 · 26 games1,237
- Jay Ducker2021 · 12 games1,184
2010s
- Joel Bouagnon2013 – 2016 · 43 games2,911
- Tre Harbison2017 – 2019 · 33 games2,345
- Jordan Huff2014 – 2017 · 41 games2,167
- Cameron Stingily2012 – 2014 · 27 games2,095
- Chad Spann2010 · 14 games1,388
2004–09
- Garrett Wolfe2004 – 2006 · 33 games5,164
- Justin Anderson2006 – 2009 · 34 games1,722
- Chad Spann2007 – 2009 · 28 games1,528
- A.J. Harris2004 – 2005 · 20 games1,173
- Me'co Brown2008 – 2009 · 24 games1,155
Also at Northern Illinois: quarterbacks · wide receivers · tight ends · defenders · kickers · punters · Northern Illinois record book
Method
- Every running back who played at Northern Illinois 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 Northern Illinois before then isn't here.
- A decade counts his rushing yards at Northern Illinois 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 Northern Illinois is counted at tonight's numbers against the record book's, which run through the 2025 season.