UCLA’s best running backs
Johnathan Franklin has the most rushing yards in UCLA history, 4,403 from 2009 to 2012.
Of the Pac-12’s best running backs since 2004, Johnathan Franklin is 4th.
UCLA’s running backs this season
- Wayne Knight8 games, 85.0 a game680rushing yards
- Anthony Woods8 games, 61.9 a game789 at UCLA.495rushing yards
- Jaivian Thomas8 games, 33.8 a game564 at UCLA.270rushing yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2004–09
rushing yards in UCLA history
- 1Johnathan Franklin2009 – 20124,403
- 2Gaston Green1984 – 19873,731
- 3Paul Perkins2013 – 20153,611
- 4Freeman McNeil1977 – 19803,195
- 5DeShaun Foster1998 – 20013,194
- 6Karim Abdul-Jabbar1992 – 19953,182
- 7Wendell Tyler1973 – 19763,181
- 8Skip Hicks1993 – 19973,140
- 9Theotis Brown1976 – 19782,914
- 10Chris Markey2004 – 20072,733
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 | Johnathan Franklin2009 – 2012 · 53 games | 4,403 | 31 | 4,920 |
| 2 | Paul Perkins2013 – 2015 · 39 games | 3,488 | 29 | 4,227 |
| 3 | Chris Markey2004 – 2007 · 47 games | 2,733 | 9 | 3,378 |
| 4 | Zach Charbonnet2021 – 2022 · 22 games | 2,496 | 27 | 3,014 |
| 5 | Joshua Kelley2018 – 2019 · 22 games | 2,303 | 24 | 2,567 |
| 6 | Maurice Jones-Drew2004 – 2005 · 23 games | 1,921 | 21 | 2,636 |
| 7 | Derrick Coleman2008 – 2011 · 46 games | 1,780 | 19 | 1,846 |
| 8 | Kahlil Bell2005 – 2008 · 33 games | 1,741 | 17 | 1,937 |
| 9 | T.J. Harden2022 – 2024 · 31 games | 1,658 | 12 | 2,181 |
| 10 | Soso Jamabo2015 – 2018 · 36 games | 1,182 | 13 | 1,641 |
| 11 | Brittain Brown2020 – 2021 · 17 games | 1,158 | 11 | 1,371 |
| 12 | Bolu Olorunfunmi2015 – 2018 · 32 games | 1,130 | 13 | 1,322 |
| 13 | JJ James2011 – 2014 · 47 games | 1,042 | 9 | 1,509 |
| 14 | Carson Steele2023 · 12 games | 847 | 6 | 1,010 |
| 15 | Nate Starks2014 – 2017 · 33 games | 791 | 8 | 995 |
| 16 | Keegan Jones2019 – 2024 · 46 games | 790 | 6 | 1,364 |
| 17 | Anthony Woods2025 – 2026 · still playing | 789 | 6 | 1,049 |
| +495 this season | ||||
| 18 | Manuel White Jr.2004 · 12 games | 764 | 8 | 879 |
| 19 | Wayne Knight2026 · still playing | 680 | 12 | 807 |
| +680 this season | ||||
| 20 | Chane Moline2006 – 2009 · 43 games | 622 | 11 | 1,027 |
| 21 | Jaivian Thomas2025 – 2026 · still playing | 564 | 5 | 652 |
| +270 this season | ||||
| 22 | Malcolm Jones2010 – 2013 · 28 games | 557 | 4 | 625 |
| 23 | Kazmeir Allen2018 – 2022 · 36 games | 550 | 4 | 1,312 |
| 24 | Jalen Berger2024 – 2025 · 20 games | 542 | 2 | 671 |
| 25 | Damien Thigpen2009 – 2013 · 28 games | 419 | 3 | 686 |
rushing yards by decade
2020s
- Zach Charbonnet2021 – 2022 · 22 games2,496
- T.J. Harden2022 – 2024 · 31 games1,658
- Brittain Brown2020 – 2021 · 17 games1,158
- Carson Steele2023 · 12 games847
- Keegan Jones2020 – 2024 · 45 games790
2010s
- Johnathan Franklin2010 – 2012 · 40 games3,837
- Paul Perkins2013 – 2015 · 39 games3,488
- Joshua Kelley2018 – 2019 · 22 games2,303
- Derrick Coleman2010 – 2011 · 25 games1,252
- Soso Jamabo2015 – 2018 · 36 games1,182
2004–09
- Chris Markey2004 – 2007 · 47 games2,733
- Maurice Jones-Drew2004 – 2005 · 23 games1,921
- Kahlil Bell2005 – 2008 · 33 games1,741
- Manuel White Jr.2004 · 12 games764
- Chane Moline2006 – 2009 · 43 games622
Also at UCLA: quarterbacks · wide receivers · tight ends · defenders · kickers · punters · UCLA record book
Method
- Every running back who played at UCLA 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 UCLA before then isn't here.
- A decade counts his rushing yards at UCLA 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 UCLA is counted at tonight's numbers against the record book's, which run through the 2025 season.