The 5 Most Successful Small-School Running Backs in the NFL

Brandon Jacobs

The second-most prolific running back on this list finds himself here by way of a few pit stops. Brandon Jacobs was a 2005 4th Round draft pick of the New York Giants and a key member of the team for his first seven years in the league. He almost seems more linebacker than running back, however, as he stands six-foot-four and weighs more than 260 pounds.

Jacobs’ odd physique did nothing to stop him being named to four different All-Star teams in his senior year, including the USA Today All-American list. However, it did prevent him from receiving major offers from schools, so he instead enrolled at Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College, where he posted 3,245 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns in his first two seasons. He then was able to transfer to Auburn, an FBS program, but he was slotted as the third-string halfback. Still, Jacobs gained 446 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns on 72 carries, impressive for a small-schooler in the Southeastern Conference. For his final year, he transferred to FCS Southern Illinois, where -- as the lead back once more -- he posted 992 yards and 19 touchdowns on 150 rushing attempts.

From there, he finally had stability. Once the Giants selected him in 2005, he would go on to win two Super Bowl titles with them, bruising his way to 56 rushing touchdowns, the franchise record. In terms of his Career Total NEP, Jacobs never had an elite-level season, but he did string together five replacement-level years, including four out of five from 2006 to 2010.