Keep On Truckin': 15 Of The Most Destructive Runs In The History Of Football

Jonathan Dwyer's inspiring truck this weekend tells me he will be a great NFL running back one day.

Don't believe me? Check out this clip of Dwyer absolutely embarrassing a Virginia defender in the game, and tell me with his size and speed he can't do that at the next level.

Mark my words: Brandon Minor, Michigan's current running back, will be a beastly fullback in the NFL if teams roll the dice on him. He can dole out punishment as good as any Michigan running back since "A-Train" Anthony Thomas.

Here he is trucking some lug from Penn State last year. It was a shame he wasn't more healthy for this year's game; God knows we could've used him.

Lord, imagine what Jamal Lewis could do if he played behind a decent offensive line.

Here he is pasting a Houston Texan without even trying. The dude redefines the laws of inertia.

This here truck is Mike Bell laying out a Detroit Lion in the Saints' blowout of the Lions on September 9th.

This hit would be ranked higher, it's an awesome truck, but it's against the Detroit Lions. Building trucks has been working against Detroit for ten years now.

Another great fullback who laid some lumber in college but has yet to break through in the NFL is former Florida State running back Greg Jones.

Here you can see Jones punishing a UNC defender.

Jones' hit was so bad that it not only knocked the defender's helmet off, it also made him believe that he was Michael Jordan and that he had switched to football this time.

Ron Dayne is one of those tailbacks who never really panned out in the NFL, which is amazing since he was the kind of size-and-speed runner who packs a punch that a franchise seemingly could hang its future on.

Here he is trucking yet another Big Ten defender on his way to winning the Heisman in 1999.

Marion Barber loves to make first contact. He's like those people at the top of the skyscraper who get zapped in Independence Day.

He's also like Will Smith when Will Smith punches the alien and says, "Welcome to earth."

Here he is absolutely destroying an Atlanta defender who got between him and the endzone. So he's also like a bear destroying someone who came between him and his cubs.

Marion Barber is like a lot of things.

How is it that Brian Urlacher, one of the best middle linebackers in the country, a man that's made as many career tackles as anyone else in the NFL, can miss this tackle in perfect position?

The answer is because the running back is Jerome Bettis. He's more bus than man.

Many defenses got called for having sixteen men on the field when facing John Riggins the Washington Redskins, because it took at least four men to tackle him, and two to pick up the guy he knocked out.

Here he is trucking one of the many Dallas Cowboys who ended up seeing Riggins right before they saw stars.

Pick a clip of Adrian Peterson trucking a defender, any clip of Adrian Peterson trucking a defender.

Peterson throws his body into every punishing hit. It's how he learned to do it at Oklahoma and it's carried over to the NFL excellently.

This weekend was kind to AP truck lovers: here's Peterson bowling over William Gay and breaking it open to keep the Vikings alive late against the Steelers.

Brandon Jacobs is the scariest running back in the NFL today.

When the Giants hold a lead, teams can expect to get pounded by Brandon Jacobs until the game is out of reach, just as Redskin's safety Laron Landry learns in this clip.

There are so many great Walter Payton runs, but my favorite is this two-parter (part of a long clip show, you'll notice) where he spears a couple of Cowboys head-first at the end of the run.

Think these defensive backs hesitated next time Payton ran their way?

No guys are named Larry anymore, have you noticed that?

Maybe Dolphins tailback Larry Csonka ran them all over after he retired.

This montage of Larry Csonka runs from the Dolphins' beatdown of the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII should be enough to get you believing in the white tailback again.

I'm sorry, I know he shouldn't be ranked this high since he's not a true running back, but what could you not love about Refrigerator Perry?

And what chance did the Patriots have of keeping William Perry out of the endzone here?

About as much of a chance as I have with Kate Beckinsale.

When you think punishing tailback, you automatically have to consider Heisman winner and NFL Pro Bowler Earl Campbell.

Even Mean Joe Greene had to admit Earl Campbell could "inflict more damage than any other running back in the league".

Campbell's once in a lifetime mix of power and speed (4.6 in the forty) meant he lead the NFL in rushing for three straight years and went to the Pro Bowl in 1979.

The running took its toll on Campbell's short career, but like Neil Young said: it's better to burn out than fade away.

Check out my list of the 25 best college football traditions and see if your favorite made the top ten!