Texas Football: 3 most under-appreciated running backs ever

2. Chris Gilbert

Although he already sits in the College Football Hall of Fame and was in the top 10 of the final Heisman Trophy voting in 1968, former superstar Texas running back Chris Gilbert still doesn’t get a lot of the recognition he deserves in this day and age. In a very solid 1968 campaign for the Longhorns under former legendary head coach Darrell Royal, the team would nearly win a national title.

Texas finished up third in the final AP Poll voting in 1968 with a record of 9-1-1 (6-1 SWC). Their only loss in 1968 came at the hands of the upset bound Texas Tech Red Raiders, by the final score of 31-22. Texas did not come out of the gates with their best efforts during the 1968 season. The season opener saw them tie a Houston Cougars team that had far less talent.

But the duel efforts of Gilbert and former star quarterback James Street pushed the Longhorns to national title contention by winning each of the last nine games of the 1968 campaign. Gilbert pushed the Longhorns forward with 1,207 total yards from scrimmage and 13 rushing touchdowns during his final year in college. He registered 6.2 yards per carry in 1968.

Gilbert would round up in the final Heisman Trophy voting behind the likes of USC Trojans running back O.J. Simpson and Purdue Boilermakers running back Leroy Keyes. Each of those two did have a better season statistically than Gilbert, but the Longhorn running back’s star season shouldn’t be forgotten.

In total, Gilbert tallied up 3,231 rushing yards, 28 rushing touchdowns, and 5.4 yards per carry in his three years suiting up for the Longhorns in the 1960’s.