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Rushing Yards Per Game: Ohio State's Career Leaders

Matt Gutridge's picture
March 27, 2015 at 4:00pm
37 Comments

Apologies to those who read this before it went to Blog Heaven.

Archie's career YPG average appears to be safe for at least another year.

Archie's career YPG average appears to be safe for at least another year. 

THE ONE AND ONLY
Archie Griffin is the only player in Ohio State history to average over 100 yards rushing per game. Not only is Archie the only player to achieve this accomplishment, but Griffin average over 121 yards per game. Ezekiel Elliott is currently second averaging 97.3 yards with his career still in progress. Jim Otis and Beanie Wells are the only other players to average over 90 yards rushing per game.

 

CAREER YARDS PER GAME LEADERS
RANK PLAYER YPG YEARS
1 ARCHIE GRIFFIN 121.5 1972-1975
2 EZEKIEL ELLIOTT 97.3 2013-PRESENT
3 JIM OTIS 94.1 1967-1969
       
4 BEANIE WELLS 93.9 2006-2008
5 ROBERT SMITH 88.4 1990-1992
6 KEITH BYARS 86.5 1982-1985
7 BRAXTON MILLER 84.8 2011-PRESENT
       
8 ANTONIO PITTMAN 84.1 2004-2006
9 DONALD CLARD 81.2 1956-1958
10 EDDIE GEORGE 78.5 1992-1995

2014 Career Leaders
Ezekiel Elliott.....97.3
Braxton Miller....84.8
J.T. Barrett..........78.2

 

Braxton Miller is the only QB on the career YPG Top 10.

Braxton Miller is the only QB on the career YPG Top 10.

WILL ELLIOTT BECOME THE SECOND TO AVERAGE OVER 100?
If Ezekiel Elliott rushes for 160 yards against Virginia Tech he will bump his career yards per game average to 100. If Elliott plays in all 12 regular season games he will need to gain 1,260 yards for the season to average 100 per game. Add 100 yards to 1,260 for every game over 12.

THE TOP 10 BY DECADE
1960s- Jim Otis
1970s- Archie Griffin
1980s- Tim Spencer* and Keith Byars
1990s- Eddie George and Pepe Pearson
2000s- Antonio Pittman and Beanie Wells
2010s- Carlos Hyde and Braxton Miller
 

BAR BET WINNER
Win yourself a drink with this question: Eddie George has the single season highest rushing yards per game average in Ohio State history. Where does Eddie rank in the top 10 for career rushing yards per game average at Ohio State? Most Ohio State fans would not drop Eddie George out of the top five.  

 

SINGLE SEASON RUSHING YARDS PER GAME LEADERS
RANK PLAYER YPG YEAR
1 EDDIE GEORGE 148.2 1995
2 KEITH BYARS 147.0 1984
3 ARCHIE GRIFFIN 143.4 1973
4 ARCHIE GRIFFIN 141.3 1974
5 CARLOS HYDE 138.3 2013

2014 Rushing Yards Per Game Leaders
Ezekiel Elliott.......125.2
J.T. Barrett............78.2

 

Ezekiel Elliott will need to increase his yards per game average by 24.2 yards to tie Griffin. A task that is much easier to type than accomplish.

Ezekiel Elliott will need to increase his yards per game average by 24.2 yards to tie Griffin. A task that is much easier to type than accomplish.

In Case You Missed It
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