Northwestern’s best running backs
Justin Jackson has the most rushing yards in Northwestern history, 5,440 from 2014 to 2017. Caleb Komolafe is 6th, with 1,707; 202 more passes Cam Porter for 5th.
Of the Big Ten’s best running backs since 2004, Justin Jackson is 2nd.
Northwestern’s running backs this season
- Caleb Komolafe8 games, 77.3 a game1,707 at Northwestern, the 6th-most since 2004. 474 more puts him past Kain Colter for 10th in school history.618rushing yards
- Joseph Himon II8 games, 48.0 a game1,294 at Northwestern.384rushing yards
- Gavin Sawchuk8 games, 28.1 a game225rushing yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2004–09
rushing yards in Northwestern history
- 1Justin Jackson2014 – 20175,440
- 2Damien Anderson1998 – 20014,485
- 3Tyrell Sutton2005 – 20083,886
- 4Darnell Autry1994 – 19963,793
- 5Bob Christian1987 – 19902,643
- 6Jason Wright2000 – 20032,625
- 7Noah Herron2001 – 20042,524
- 8Greg Boykin1972 – 19762,465
- 9Evan Hull2019 – 20222,417
- 10Kain Colter2010 – 20132,180
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 | Justin Jackson2014 – 2017 · 51 games | 5,440 | 41 | 6,298 |
| 2 | Tyrell Sutton2005 – 2008 · 39 games | 3,886 | 31 | 5,130 |
| 3 | Evan Hull2019 – 2022 · 35 games | 2,417 | 18 | 3,268 |
| 4 | Kain Colter2010 – 2013 · 39 games | 2,180 | 28 | 2,863 |
| 5 | Cam Porter2020 – 2025 · 44 games | 1,908 | 18 | 2,333 |
| 6 | Caleb Komolafe2023 – 2026 · still playing | 1,707 | 16 | 1,970 |
| +618 this season · passes Cam Porter for 5th in 3 games at his pace | ||||
| 7 | Venric Mark2010 – 2013 · 40 games | 1,630 | 13 | 1,829 |
| 8 | Treyvon Green2011 – 2014 · 41 games | 1,490 | 13 | 1,678 |
| 9 | Mike Trumpy2010 – 2013 · 37 games | 1,431 | 10 | 1,767 |
| 10 | Noah Herron2004 · 12 games | 1,381 | 14 | 1,732 |
| 11 | Isaiah Bowser2018 – 2020 · 22 games | 1,300 | 7 | 1,453 |
| 12 | Joseph Himon II2022 – 2026 · still playing | 1,294 | 6 | 1,801 |
| +384 this season | ||||
| 13 | Drake Anderson2018 – 2020 · 21 games | 926 | 5 | 982 |
| 14 | Jacob Schmidt2008 – 2011 · 34 games | 853 | 11 | 1,344 |
| 15 | Jeremy Larkin2017 – 2018 · 16 games | 849 | 10 | 1,091 |
| 16 | Omar Conteh2005 – 2008 · 22 games | 731 | 8 | 1,007 |
| 17 | John Moten IV2016 – 2019 · 31 games | 628 | 6 | 771 |
| 18 | Stephen Simmons2007 – 2010 · 26 games | 562 | 4 | 619 |
| 19 | Brandon Roberson2004 – 2007 · 22 games | 560 | 5 | 724 |
| 20 | Terrell Jordan2004 – 2006 · 23 games | 534 | 7 | 631 |
| 21 | Warren Long2013 – 2017 · 27 games | 517 | 5 | 573 |
| 22 | Anthony Tyus III2021 – 2023 · 27 games | 504 | 2 | 585 |
| 23 | Arby Fields2009 – 2010 · 21 games | 480 | 6 | 586 |
| 24 | Adonis Smith2010 – 2011 · 17 games | 462 | 3 | 491 |
| 25 | Andrew Clair2021 – 2022 · 22 games | 443 | 2 | 513 |
rushing yards by decade
2020s
- Evan Hull2020 – 2022 · 31 games2,131
- Cam Porter2020 – 2025 · 44 games1,908
- › Caleb Komolafe2023 – 2026 · 33 games1,707
- › Joseph Himon II2022 – 2026 · 46 games1,294
- Anthony Tyus III2021 – 2023 · 27 games504
2010s
- Justin Jackson2014 – 2017 · 51 games5,440
- Kain Colter2010 – 2013 · 39 games2,180
- Venric Mark2010 – 2013 · 40 games1,630
- Treyvon Green2011 – 2014 · 41 games1,490
- Mike Trumpy2010 – 2013 · 37 games1,431
2004–09
- Tyrell Sutton2005 – 2008 · 39 games3,886
- Noah Herron2004 · 12 games1,381
- Omar Conteh2005 – 2008 · 22 games731
- Brandon Roberson2004 – 2007 · 22 games560
- Terrell Jordan2004 – 2006 · 23 games534
Also at Northwestern: quarterbacks · wide receivers · tight ends · defenders · kickers · punters · Northwestern record book
Method
- Every running back who played at Northwestern 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 Northwestern before then isn't here.
- A decade counts his rushing yards at Northwestern 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 Northwestern is counted at tonight's numbers against the record book's, which run through the 2025 season.