The ACC's Best Running Backs of All-Time

Allen Lopp by Correspondent Written on August 03, 2009

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This is my second installment in focusing on the ACC's Best at every position.

This slideshow will focus on the ACC's Best Running Backs of All-Time.

The ACC was founded in 1953, with 8 teams but since then it has expended to 13 teams.

The orignal teams were Clemson, Duke, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Wake Forest, North Carolina State, South Carolina.

In 1971 South Carolina left for the SEC.

Since 1978 five teams have joined, Geogria Tech, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Miami, Boston College.

The ACC has a very rich tradition in many sports, espically football.

I found it very tough to pick out the top ten running backs, with a huge amount of talented present and past players to choose from.

10. C.J. Spiller, Clemson

ATLANTA - DECEMBER 31:  C.J. Spiller #28 of the Clemson University Tigers is tripped by Walter McFadden #6 of the Auburn University Tigers during the Chick-Fil-A Bowl on December 31, 2007 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. Auburn defeated Clemson 23

Spiller has the record for most All-Purpose yards at Clemson with 4,908. He needs only 921 yards to become the ACC's All-Time Leader in All-Purpose yards. He is a top 20 candidate for the 2009 Heisman

9. Warrick Dunn, FSU

ATLANTA - DECEMBER 10:  Warrick Dunn #28 of the Atlanta Falcons carries the ball against the New Orleans Saints on December 10, 2007 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The Saints defeated the Falcons 34-14.   (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Dunn was three time All-ACC running back. Dunn has the most career rushing yards with 3,954, he is also the only FSU back to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons.

8. Kelvin Bryant, UNC

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Bryant's career numbers were 881 carries, 4,391 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 5.0 YPC. He also holds a NCAA record for most consective touchdowns in two and three games.

7. Bill Dudley, Virginia

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Dudley became the first UVA player to became an All-American in Football, he also won the Maxwell Award. His best season was his senior season, he ran for 18 touchdowns and had 6.2 yards per carry.

6. Thomas Jones, Virginia

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 30: Thomas Jones #20 of the New York Jets scores a touchdown against The Kansas City Chiefs during their game on December 30th, 2007 at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Thomas Jones set eight ACC records and 15 Virginia records. He was the first in ACC history to rush for 200 yards and catch for 100 yards in a single game.

5. James McDougald, WF

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James was a three time All-ACC running back, he also had 3,811 career rushing yards. His best game in his career was against Clemson rushing 249 yards on 45 carries.

4. Don McCauley, UNC

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McCauley was a two time All-ACC running back along with a two time All-ACC player of the year, and 1971 ACC athlete of the year. He also has the second most rushing yards in a single season with 1,720

3. Brian Piccolo, WF

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Piccolo was a great running back on the field and a great person off the field. In 1969 he lead the nation in rushing and scoring. He also once put his arms around a black oppenent to calm the racist crowd.

2. Dick Christy, NCSU

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Christy was an ACC football player of the year, and athlete of the year in 1957. He also scored all of this team's 29 points in his final game including kick field goals.

1. Ted Brown, NCSU

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Brown was the only player in ACC Football history to win All-ACC honors for all four years. He also is the All-Time leader in career rushing yards at North Carolina State.

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written on August 03, 2009 Rankings/List

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