Syracuse Football: Top 5 Running Backs in School History

5. Joe Morris

In order to get a true appreciation for what Joe Morris accomplished at Syracuse you have to look at the numbers. Morris played in 44 games, had 1,372 rushing yards in one season, and 4,299 career yards rushing, according to Sports-Reference.com. What’s even more amazing about those numbers, is that they are all records that the legendary Joe Morris still holds at Syracuse.

Morris’ inhuman 1980 season was recognized appropriately when receiving ECAC Player of the Year honors. Morris was selected in the second round of the 1982 NFL Draft, and went on to play for both the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com. Morris was selected to the Pro Bowl twice, and was even named to Syracuse’s All-Century team in 1999.

In addition, Morris was just 5’7 and 190 pounds when he played. So how was he able to do all that? It doesn’t make any sense! With the New York Giants, Morris rushed for an incredible 5,296 yards, 48 touchdowns, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com. He also was able to capture a championship with them: winning Super Bowl XXI. Morris rushed for his final 289 yards and two touchdowns with the Browns, before leaving football.

In 2005, No. 44, was retired. For obvious reasons, this number needed to be retired. The two players on this list that don it are in the conversation for some of the best running backs the game of football has ever seen.

With all of these outstanding achievements, and the lowest ranking on this list, it is clear that Syracuse football success has been because of their strong history of rushers that dominated, one of whom was Joe Morris, who’s incredible career with the Orange will never be forgotten.