Texas Football: Ranking the 5 best running backs since 2000

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AUSTIN, TX – OCTOBER 15: Selvin Young #22 of Texas runs to the corner against Colorado during the third quarter at Texas Memorial Stadium on October 15, 2005 in Austin, Texas. Texas won 42-17. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

It was a tough decision between Selvin Young and Johnathan Gray. But, the running back who saw more success and posted a stat line just a hair better won out for the last spot on the list. Young posted better yards per carry numbers than Gray over the course of his career in Austin.

Few running backs over this span of time for the Horns stayed around on campus in Austin for as long as Young did. His career started during the 2002 campaign, and didn’t make his descent to the NFL until five seasons later. Young did have one the more interesting careers of all Texas running backs in recent memory too.

Moreover, there wasn’t really one single year that Young stood out with the Horns. He never came close to eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in any individual season. All the years he was with Texas he was a quality running back. He just ran into some stiff competition for carries in the backfield.

Any running back that averages more than 4.5 yards per carry over the course of a career, and not in a starting role, is pretty impressive. Young’s best overall season came during the 2006 campaign in which he racked up nearly 600 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. That followed a more efficient 2005 season that saw him post a career high eight touchdowns and just under 500 rushing yards.

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