The Mount Rushmore of Kentucky football running backs

The University of Kentucky has a proud and storied history of producing tough, talented, and productive running backs. Often these guys are recruited over and come to Kentucky to prove they belong among the best. From elusive speedsters to powerful bulldozers, the names on this list have defined eras of Wildcat football. Narrowing it down to just four was not easy, but this is our attempt to chisel the faces into the granite.

This is the Mount Rushmore of Kentucky football running backs in no particular order.

Benny Snell Jr. (2016-2018)

There is no debate about the first face on the mountain. Benjamin Snell Jr. is, by almost every measure, the greatest running back in school history. He is the program's all-time leading rusher with 3,873 yards and holds the record for career rushing touchdowns with 48. More than the numbers, Snell embodied a mentality. "Snell Yeah" became a rallying cry for a player who ran with unmatched passion and physicality, putting the program on his back and carrying it to a historic 10-win season and a Citrus Bowl victory in 2018. He is the unquestioned standard.

Sonny Collins (1972-1975)

Before Benny, there was Sonny. For over four decades, Sonny Collins held the title of Kentucky's all-time leading rusher. A model of consistency and durability, Collins was the first Wildcat to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and finished his career with 3,835 yards. He was the star of Fran Curci's teams in the 1970s and set a benchmark for greatness that stood for 43 years. His place as a foundational legend of the program is secure.

Moe Williams (1993-1995)

Few players in Kentucky history have been as physically dominant as Moe Williams. In 1995, Williams had one of the greatest single seasons ever, rushing for a then-school record 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns, earning him First-Team All-SEC honors. He was a powerful, bruising back who went on to a productive 10-year career in the NFL. For an entire generation of UK fans in the 90s, Moe Williams was Kentucky football, a true workhorse who carried the entire offense.

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Chris Rodriguez Jr. (2018-2022)

The fourth spot is the source of endless debate, but Chris "C-Rod" Rodriguez Jr. earned his place through sheer consistency and toughness. Finishing his career as the third all-time leading rusher with 3,644 yards, Rodriguez was the reliable engine for some of the best teams of the Stoops era. He was known for his incredible balance, vision, and his refusal to go down on first contact. While others may have been flashier, C-Rod was the model of a dependable, hard-nosed SEC running back who simply moved the chains and won football games.

Who did we leave off?