"He was one of the top 15 or 20 college RBs of the last decade"
I dunno. Maybe top 10-15 in the Big Ten but not the NCAA. MB3 was a clearly better college back. Maroney had flash but lacked something that could have made him great.
Q: If you need 2 tough yards- who gets the ball Barber, Russell or Maroney? Maroney is my thrid choice of that group.
Maroney was a different runner than Barber or Russell. Maroney was a home run hitter. He was a danger to take it to the house every time he touched the ball. I strongly disagree with the comment that MB3 was clearly a better college back. They were each studs and complemented each other well for one of the best backfields in the modern history of the NCAA.
In no particular order:
USC: Charles White/Marcus Allen
SMU: Eric Dickerson/Craig James
Ok St: Thurman Thomas/Barry Sanders
Minn: Marion Barber III/ Laurence Maroney
USC: Reggie Bush/LenDale White
Auburn: Cadillac Williams/Ronnie Brown
Big Ten running backs in the last decade (off the top of my head):
1. Ron Dayne (Wis)
2. Larry Johnson (PSU)
3/4: Barber/Maroney take your pick
5. Shonn Greene (Iowa)
6. Rashard Mendenhall (Ill)
7. Chris Perry or Mike Hart (Mich)
There is no way you could only rank Maroney in 10-15. That would put him behind guys like Perry, Hart, Sutton, Ringer, etc and Maroney was a much more dynamic running back than any of those guys.