All-Time SEC Running Backs Online Quiz | College Sports

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Frank Sinkwich was one tough back. In fact, he was the first halfback from the SEC to ever win the Heisman Trophy (1942). From which great SEC program did Sinkwich find great success?

Answer: University of Georgia

Frank Sinkwich was as gifted a passer as a runner, so his coaches at Georgia insisted he play halfback instead of fullback. In that era, the halfback was sort of a hybrid mix between the quarterback and the running back, as he would handle both duties.

During his 1942 campaign, his on-field play was so dominant that was selected to win the Heisman Trophy with 99.69% of the total vote. His best college game may have been the last one he played. His Georgia team beat Texas Christian University 40-26. In that game, Sinkwich rushed for 139 yards, passed for 243 yards, and scored three touchdowns. After graduating from UGA, Sinkwich went on to the Marine Corps, but was medically discharged. That opened the door for him to be drafted by the Detroit Lions and then go on to win the National Football League MVP award in 1944.

2. Charles Alexander was a beast of a running back. In fact, he was the first SEC running back to eclipse 4,000 rushing yards in a career. His years at Louisiana State University (1975-78) were so productive that he was a first round draft pick in the 1979 draft. Which team selected him?

Answer: Cincinnati Bengals

Charles Alexander was a two-time All-American at LSU. His 4,035 career yards and 40 career touchdowns are a testament to the hard-nosed runner that he was. After his college days ended, Charles went on to play with the Bengals for seven seasons, making it all the way to the Superbowl in 1982 against the San Francisco 49ers.

Alexander is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

3. The University of Alabama has had a long and storied history, with many talented young men taking the field for their football team. It's a wonder it took until the 2009 season for an Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy. Which player from Alabama won the Heisman Trophy in 2009?

Answer: Mark Ingram

Mark Ingram exploded on the scene during his sophomore year, rushing for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns and catching 32 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns. His efforts that year were rewarded by winning the Heisman Trophy and being a unanimous selection as a first team All-American. Winning the National Championship that year against Texas, and scoring a couple touchdowns in the process, didn't hurt his legacy either.

Mark went on to be selected by the New Orleans Saints in the NFL draft after he declined to play his senior year at Alabama.

4. Kevin Faulk was a dynamic runner for Louisiana State University during his four-year career there. Starting as a true freshman, he quickly became a nightmare for defensive coordinators across the country due to his ability to play out of the backfield, catch passes, and return kicks. With his stellar college resume, Faulk was drafted in the second round of the 1999 draft. Which team did Faulk go on to play 13 years with before retiring in 2012?

Answer: New England Patriots

During Kevin Faulk's 13 year playing career with the Patriots, he was fortunate to be part of three Superbowl winning teams during his career. His career at LSU was mighty impressive as well. His presence at running back was always felt, but his presence as a kick returner was often feared.

His 6,833 career all-purpose yards and 53 total touchdowns at LSU have secured his spot in nearly any list of all-time great SEC running backs.

5. This great halfback was the Heisman Trophy recipient in 1959, giving Louisiana State University its first Heisman winner. Who was this man?

Answer: Billy Cannon

All possible answers were consecutive Heisman winners, and they all played at the halfback position. John David Crow won the award in 1957 as a member of the Texas A&M football team (giving the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant his first Heisman winner). Pete Dawkins won the award in 1958 while at West Point.

He went on to become a Rhodes Scholar and a Brigadier General in the US Army. Billy Cannon won the award in 1959, becoming the first LSU player to win the award. Cannon is most famously known for his play where he burst through seven tacklers on his way for a 89 yard touchdown. Joe Bellino won the award while playing as a Midshipmen at the Naval Academy.

6. Shaun Alexander played running back for the University of Alabama and went on to become the MVP in the National Football League in 2005.

Answer: True

Shaun Alexander had a pretty solid career at Alabama, but he really excelled as a member of the Seattle Seahawks. During his career at Seattle, he scored 100 rushing touchdowns and twelve receiving touchdowns. His 2005 season was particularly spectacular as he rushed for 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns.

At the time, that was a season high in touchdowns, but that record was broken the following year by LaDanian Tomlinson.

7. This running back became the first sophomore to win the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation's top college running back. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League after his career at the University of Arkansas was over. Can you name him?

Answer: Darren McFadden

Although all of these running backs were selected by the Oakland Raiders, it was McFadden who had a great career at Arkansas. Not only did he win the prestigious Doak Walker Award as a sophomore in 2006, he duplicated the feat and won it again as a junior.

In addition, he was also named to as an All-American in 2006 and 2007, he won the Jim Brown Trophy in 2006, the Walter Camp Award in 2007, and was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007.

8. Emmitt Smith might best be known as a Dallas Cowboy, but before he took the field in Dallas, he was a pretty good college running back. If you had ever seen Emmitt play his college home games, in which city would you have been?

Answer: Gainesville

Emmitt Smith played for the University of Florida, which is located in Gainesville. During his three year college career, Emmitt rushed for 3,928 yards and 36 touchdowns. Most people are more familiar with Emmitt's exploits as a pro though. His three Superbowl titles and various personal accomplishments on the field were enough to have him enshrined in the National Football League's Hall of Fame in 2010.

Many believe Emmitt to be one of the most complete backs to ever take the field at either the college or professional level.

9. Bo knows football. In fact, Bo also knows baseball. His college years were spent as a football and baseball star at Auburn University. His outstanding college career in both sports resulted in him being drafted by both a professional football team and baseball team. The Tampa Bay Bucaneers selected Jackson as the first overall pick in the 1986 draft, but he instead chose to play baseball with the team that drafted him in the same year. Which team was it?

Answer: Kansas City Royals

In addition to being a gifted football and baseball player, Bo Jackson was also a star in track and field. Jackson went on to play at the professional level in both baseball and football, becoming an All-Star in each sport. In college, he achieved the highest accolades by winning the Heisman Trophy in 1985. For those of you who never got a chance to see Bo play football, you missed out on one of the hardest working backs to ever take the field.

10. Herschel Walker is considered by many to be one of the best running back to ever take the field. His 5,259 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns in only a three year career speaks volumes for the career he had. What was the mascot for the college that Herschel Walker attended?

Answer: Bulldog

Herschel Walker was one big, tough, strong running back who played for the Georgia Bulldogs. In his very first game, he was put in against Tennessee when the Bulldogs were losing. He promptly turned things around for Georgia, and they went on to win 16 to 15.

In that game, he had one of the most played highlights from the season where he literally ran right through Bill Bates, an All-SEC safety, and scored a touchdown. Herschel was the very first true freshman to be named as a first team All-American.

Herschel's style of running was hard nosed and fierce, and one of the main factors for Georgia going undefeated and winning a National Championship in 1980.

Source: Author ralzzz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stuthehistoryguy before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

All-Time SEC Running Backs Trivia Quiz

The quarterback often gets all the credit and glory, but in the Southeastern Conference, it's all about the running game. These players were all studs on the field during their day. Let's see how much you remember about these feature backs.

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