Top 10 Running Backs in UT History

SabreHorn said:
As for Chris Gilbert, he was the first to gain 1,000 yards for three straight seasons (freshman couldn't play varsity), and two of those teams went 6-4. As has been mentioned, this was against defenses geared to stop the run as they knew DKR wasn't going to pass. I have always believed that one of Chris' strengths was he never got "tattooed". I don't remember ever seeing anyone get a really solid hit on him. Last time I saw Chris, he looked like he could still play. Class act and always has been.

I just remember Coach Royal talking about Saxton, and the fact he was the only back DKR had ever seen that could be running full speed, do a 180 and be at full speed on first step.
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Good point about Gilbert never getting really blown up by a tackler. What I remember most was how elusive he was and how he could make guys miss him.

Speaking of elusive, I was at the 1967 TCU game in Austin when Gilbert made an electrifying & record setting run from scrimmage for a 94 or 96 yard TD :hookem:
 
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ViperHorn said:
I would go with that list with one exception-moving Foreman to 10 (if not out altogether to be replaced by Sexton) and everyone down to Charles up one. Any above average RB can gain mucho yards against Big XII defenses.
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Foreman only had one great year. But, in my book, Foreman gets credit for running behind a mediocre line. Yes I know Connor Williams was on that line, but he made it mediocre instead of ******.
 
dukesteer said:
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Charles made the big-time in the NFL. Great runner, no doubt. But he didn’t emerge until he went to the League. Not a consistent game changer in college.........
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Charles was explosive in college. He certainly made a difference in the OU game in 2005. I can remember some other great runs that season.
 
4th_floor said:
Charles was explosive in college. He certainly made a difference in the OU game in 2005. I can remember some other great runs that season.
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^^^Yes he was, and he also was explosive in the Nebraska game the next year when he gained 200 yds in the 4th quarter.
 
Horn87 said:
me too, BA, and lucky enough to be sitting on the 30yl on the east side where he was running towards. Oh great days!:hookem:
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I was on west side but was out of my mind watching. I may be in the minority, but I want to play them every year. Call me crazy
 
caryhorn said:
^^^Yes he was, and he also was explosive in the Nebraska game the next year when he gained 200 yds in the 4th quarter.
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Charles had great games, no doubt, and he was crazy explosive. But I don’t believe he was consistently the featured offensive threat, and I don’t believe that defenses heavily schemed for him. Had he stayed for his senior year, that would have changed, and he would have probably made a run for the Heisman.
 
Charles made the big-time in the NFL. Great runner, no doubt. But he didn’t emerge until he went to the League. Not a consistent game changer in college.
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Charles made the big-time in the NFL. Great runner, no doubt. But he didn’t emerge until he went to the League. Not a consistent game changer in college.
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Charles made the big-time in the NFL. Great runner, no doubt. But he didn’t emerge until he went to the League. Not a consistent game changer in college.
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Based on his time at UT alone, Charles would not make my top 10. He had explosive games, but he also fumbled a lot. Remember he fumbled into the endzone against OU in 2007 which ultimately lost us the game. If Charles comes back his senior year, he is probably a top 5 all time UT running back. However, as stated above, he was inconsistent throughout his UT career, so I would not put him in the top 10. He would make the top 5 at most schools, but UT just has had too many great running backs which is a good problem to have. Now if we include NFL, Charles is probably a top 5 UT back all time.

Also, Ramonce Taylor was a better back than Charles. It is a shame he made the decisions he made.
 
I'd put Charles ahead of Foreman because while both had similar "quantum leap" Junior years where they had multiple unstoppable games, Charles was pretty good as a freshman and sophomore too whereas Foreman didn't contribute much outside of the single season.
 
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