Who are your four favorite Gophers running backs?

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They shared a backfield, but MBIII and Maroney couldn't have had more different running styles.

I loved watching Barber eat opposing LBs and no other RB rode the lightning better for me than Laurence. Probably our hoops equivalent of the Lou Hudson and Archie Clark backcourt.

It's probably a criminal offense worthy of a blindfold and cigarette to rank anyone above Bronko and Bruce, though, even if you never watched them play.
 

Breakin' The Plane said:
the first thing that pops in my brain is Gary Russell rumbling down the right sideline in the Big House in 05 .
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Not many remember Gary Russell, since he kind-of got lost in the MBIII / Maroney years... but in 2005 (which was really his only year with the Gophers because he couldn't be bothered to go to class) he was the other half of Glen's pair of 1000-yd rushers (with Maroney.) He rushed for 1130 yards on only 186 carries, avging 6.1 per carry. He also scored 18 TDs that year on the ground and another in the air. He was a beast... and it's a shame he didn't stick around for another season or two.
 

I'm only comfortable naming backs whose play I witnessed. For me, to name great backs from the past who I never saw would be pretentious. I know it isn't so for everyone, and that's okay.

1. Darrell Thompson
2. Marion Barber III
3. Chris Darkins
4. David Cobb / Thomas Tapeh / Rodney Smith
 




We've really been blessed with some unreal RB talent.

Tapeh, Rodney, Hamner, Brooks, Russell didn't even make the list! Shit, Amir Pinnix was awesome in 2006 as well.
 




1) Ibrahim
2) Thompson
3) Maroney
4) Barber III

The Gophers have had some really good RBs. Darius Taylor could break into that top4 too if he sticks around and stays healthy.
 

MNVCGUY said:
The pic in the OP is pretty tough to top. But since I wasn't really paying close attention during DTs years I would swap him out for Thomas Hamner.

1. MB3
2. Maroney
3. Mo
4. Hamner
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Hamner was awesome...except that fumble against tOSU that cost us the win at the Dome in 1999. (ranked only behind that Wisconsin collapse a few weeks earlier which cost us the Rose Bowl) Not sure he can be in my Top 5 though...

Darkins
MB3
Mo
Maroney
 


Too many! Thanks to all for reminding me of how many solid backs we've had.
 




Scott R Fisher said:
1. Bronko Nagurski
2. Bruce Smith
3. Paul Giel
4. Pug Lund
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FWIW - don't know why I remember such things, but once read that former President Gerald Ford (U of Mich 1934 MVP) said that Pug Lund was the best player he ever competed against.
 

Maroney
Barber
Mo
Russell

With all due respect to Darrell Thompson and the run against Michigan.
 

I'm 40 so my history of watching the Gophers goes back to early 90s. I remember DT but truly don't remember watching anything specific. My earliest memory of him was the shrine to him at the McDonalds in Rochester.

1) Laurence Maroney - probably my favorite Gopher since I've been a fan.
2) Mo Ibrahim - Rock solid, dependable
3) Marion Barber - The perfect Robin to Maroney... Or Maroney was the perfect Robin to Marion's Batman.
4) David Cobb - Wasn't highly rated recruit, barely played, and then turned into a straight stud.
 

Marion Barber Jr. - I had cut out the picture of him on the cover of the Minneapolis Tribune TV Week and taped it to my wall. I then became an official Gopher football fan for life.
Darrell Thompson - Same age as me, so I like to think we were basically the same.
Laurence Maroney - I just loved watching him run
Mo - Well, duh!
 

FredCoxRocks said:
Marion Barber Jr. - I had cut out the picture of him on the cover of the Minneapolis Tribune TV Week and taped it to my wall. I then became an official Gopher football fan for life.
Darrell Thompson - Same age as me, so I like to think we were basically the same.
Laurence Maroney - I just loved watching him run
Mo - Well, duh!
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I'm the same age as well. I have a quick DT story. When I was in college, I worked for a moving company that is connected to the Gophers. I worked with a lot of the players one summer. Every single one of them was worthless. Lazy, entitled, etc.. Except for DT. He was a hard worker and a stand-up guy. The company ended the work program with the players after that one summer.
 

Here's an old timer's favorites: Bill Munsey, Marion Barber, MB3, Lawrence Maroney.
 

DT, MB3, Rodney Smith, Mo

Side note I kinda gave up hope on ever making the rose bowl when we couldn't get it done with barber and Maroney
 

I'll stick to those I've seen in person (a ticket holder starting in the Mason years):
1) Marion Barber III. Ran like a beast and was an excellent blocker. My favorite.
2) Cobb. Slick and stealthy with huge production. The man could hit a seam like few others in Maroon and Gold.
3) Maroney. Give him and opening and he's gone.
4) Mo. Stud. Carried the team.
5) Several others including Rodney
Honorable mention:
- Thomas Hamner for catching the backside pass against #2 Penn State which was key in the win and having a monster year in the 1999 breakout season.
- Garry Russell. Michigan.
 

Hmm….

1. Mo, Mo, and more Mo!
2. Bronko (legend has a HS with him as their mascot!)
3. Daryl Thompson
4. Marion Barber III

SPECIAL MANTION: Kent Kitzman - the coach is still calling for more Carrie’s for this Gopher Legend!
 

Otis said:
Hmm….

1. Mo, Mo, and more Mo!
2. Bronko (legend has a HS with him as their mascot!)
3. Daryl Thompson
4. Marion Barber III

SPECIAL MANTION: Kent Kitzman - the coach is still calling for more Carrie’s for this Gopher Legend!
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Solid 77' season. One of if not the greatest single game effort. Tellis Redmon in the Micron PC bowl game a close second?
 






Honestly we have had a great run of RB's going way back since Darkins. Possibly a bit of a gap to DT in the late 80's. Mason really put us on the map for RB's and we have continued that momentum.

Rodney Smith is 3rd all-time in yards.
Tellis Redmon is top 10.
Hamner is top 5

I go.

DT
Ibraham
Maroney
Barber
 

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