IU Legend Anthony Thompson on ESPN's Top 100 Running Backs in the Last 60 Years

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

College football is entering ‘Talking Season’ as the sport transitions out of spring practice and into the summer work out portion of the year. On Saturday morning Bill Connelly of ESPN released his list of the top 100 backs of the last 60 years. It is a fun read and will spark debates among you and your college football fan friends.

The list is littered with familiar names from O.J. Simpson in 1967-68 to players as recent as Najee Harris (2017-20). There are plenty of Big Ten backs on the list as well. The Hoosiers’ Anthony Thompson is on the list at No. 78 and under the category ‘Heisman Love’. Thompson is a College Football Hall of Famer, a two-time Big Ten MVP, Maxwell and Walter Camp Award winner. He also finished second in the 1989 Heisman Trophy voting. Thompson’s 68 career touchdowns were first all-time in college football until 1998.

At IU, most of Thompson’s records still stand. He is still IU’s career leader in rushing yards, carries, points and touchdowns. He finished his career with 5,299 rushing yards, 6,054 yards from scrimmage, 412 kick return yards and 68 total touchdowns Thompson was inducted into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003. He played four seasons in the NFL after his college career and his number 32 is the only retired number in IU football history.

Thompson is currently an executive associate athletic director for engagement.

IU fans, where do you think Thompson should fall on this list? Comment below.

SIDE NOTE: In true ESPN form, the link on Anthony Thompson in the article goes to Indiana State quarterback Anthony Thompson and not the IU player.