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Kentucky Football: Who are the top 5 best running backs in school history?

By Corey Nicholson

Jan 1, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; The Kentucky Wildcats celebrate after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2019 Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; The Kentucky Wildcats celebrate after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2019 Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kentucky Football
Mark Higgs of the Miami Dolphins (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Another Kentucky kid cracks the top five.

Another class of 2005 inductee into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame, Mark Higgs comes in at number four. Higgs, an Owensboro native played at Kentucky from 1984-1987 and was a standout.

He still holds many school records for his high school alma mater rushing for 75 touchdowns along with 2,882 yards his senior season finishing with 6,721 total yards.

Coveted by LSU and Arizona he ultimately chose Kentucky after the turnaround coach Jerry Claiborne had done after an 0-10 first season that was followed by a 6-5 year.

When he arrived in Lexington “Higgy” as he was known had to play backup to George Adams his freshman year, but once the reigns were handed over Higgs never looked back.

In the spring of his sophomore year, his career was nearly cut short when he was hit from the blindside by a defensive lineman and sustained serious ligament damage, and after major reconstructive surgery, he hit the field in the fall ready for action.

Higgs had a frustrating stint in Lexington with what was perceived as an attitude problem since he refused to practice stating that took enough hits on Saturdays so he shouldn’t be hit during practice.

It was that belief that cost him playing time in Kentucky’s near upset of LSU where they fell 25-16. Higgs was benched by running backs coach Greg Nord for his refusal to take part in contact drills that week.

Despite the lingering frustrations, Higgs ranks No. 5 in Kentucky history in career rushing yards with 2,892 yards, tied for fourth with 25 career rushing touchdowns, and also sits at sixth all-time for the most rushing yards in a season with 1,278 yards.

Higgs did have a slightly better pro career despite being drafted in the very very low eighth round of the NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He enjoyed eight seasons in the league playing for the Cowboys, Eagles, Dolphins, and Cardinals and through 90 games in the NFL racked up almost 3,000 career yards.

The 5-foot-7 jitterbug was selected as the SEC Offensive Player of the Week when he rushed for 192 yards in a 35-6 victory over Mississippi. In addition, he was named second-team All-SEC, UK’s Most Valuable Senior, and to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Following his senior season, Higgs played in the Blue-Gray Game and Hula Bowl

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