Denard Robinson Leads List of College Football's Top 10 Rushers

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson has been the absolute star of the college football world during the first two weeks of play.

The sophomore signal caller totaled over 500 yards of total offense in the Wolverines' 28-24 victory over Notre Dame on Saturday.

Robinson isn't the only player who's been racking up the rushing yards during the early part of the season.

There's been a slew of players who have gashed defenses and cut up large chunks of grass already, so let's look at which runners have accumulated the most yards so far in the season.

Not only that, let's do some math and come up with the figure they're on track to hit if they keep up the same pace throughout the year.

Keep in mind that last year's leading rusher—Stanford running back Toby Gerhart—totaled 1,871 rushing yards for the season.

1. Denard Robinson: QB, Michigan

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SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 11: Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines runs against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 11, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Michigan defeated Notre Dame 28-24. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Gett

Robinson has certainly started off on the right foot by guiding the Wolverines to consecutive wins over quality opponents—UConn and Notre Dame.

The 6'0", 190-lb. sophomore leads the nation with an astonishing 455 total rushing yards.

The question is, can the dynamic quarterback keep it up for the whole season?

On pace to hit: 2,730 rushing yards

2. Kendall Hunter: RB, Oklahoma State

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COLUMBIA, MO - OCTOBER 11: Kendall Hunter #24 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys cuts back against the Missouri Tigers on October 11, 2008 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri. Oklahoma State won 28-23. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images)

Hunter followed up his 257-yard, four-TD performance in a Week 1 65-17 blowout over Washington State with a 157-yard game in a tight win over Troy this past Saturday.

The 5'8", 200-lb. senior has accounted for 414 total rushing yards this season.

On pace to hit: 2,484 rushing yards

3. Daniel Thomas: RB, Kansas State

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PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 19: Runningback Daniel Thomas #8 of the Kansas State Wildcats carries the ball against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on September 19, 2009 in Pasadena, California. UCLA defeated Kansas State 23-9. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty I

Thomas has put up back-to-back two-TD showings, following up his 234-yard rushing performance in an opening win over UCLA with a 137-yard rushing total in a 48-24 win over Missouri State.

The 6'2", 225-lb. senior has totaled 371 rushing yards for the year.

On pace to hit: 2,166 rushing yards

4. Bobby Rainey: RB, Western Kentucky

Western Kentucky RB Bobby Rainey

Rainey has struggled to receive recognition because he plays for one of the worst FBS teams in the country, Western Kentucky.

The talented 5'7", 195-lb. junior hasn't let it affect his game though, as he's rushed for 339 yards and three TDs in the Hilltoppers' first two games.

Yes, his team won't produce a lot of wins this year, but Rainey is the best back in the Sun Belt conference, and he deserves every bit of recognition that comes his way.

On pace to hit: 2,034 rushing yards

5. Edwin Baker: RB, Michigan State

Photo courtesy of Josh Radtke/The State News

With a 9.3 yards per carry average, Spartans sophomore running back Edwin Baker is one of the best bang for your buck backs in all of college football right now.

The 5'9", 210-lb. Baker has only carried the ball 32 times, but he's managed to pile up 300 yards on the ground in Michigan State's first two victories.

On pace to hit: 1,800 rushing yards

6. Duane Bennett: RB, Minnesota

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Runningback Duane Bennett #22 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers rushes the football against the Iowa State Cyclones during the Insight Bowl at Arizona Stadium on December 31, 2009 in Tempe, Arizona. The Cyclones defeated the Golden

Bennett was the workhorse in Minnesota's 24-17 season-opening win over Middle Tennessee State, rushing for 187 yards on 30 carries.

The 5'9", 210-lb. junior finally found the end zone in Week 2, but his two TDs and 100-plus yards on the ground weren't enough to save the Gophers from being upset at the hands of South Dakota.

For the year, Bennett has 291 total rushing yards.

On pace to hit: 1,746 rushing yards

7. Taylor Martinez: QB, Nebraska

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LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 11: Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Taylor Martinez #3 looks down field during first half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on September 4, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska Defeated Idaho 38-17. (Photo by Eric Francis/Ge

Martinez has looked like a smaller version of Tim Tebow in his first two collegiate football games.

The 6'1", 205-lb. freshman has thrown for 242 yards while also rushing for 284 yards in Nebraska's first two games of the season.

We'll see if the young quarterback can keep it up throughout the year as he tries to lead this Cornhusker crew to a Big 12 championship.

On pace to hit: 1,704 rushing yards

8. Tauren Poole: RB, Tennessee

Photo Courtesy of Adam Brimer

Poole was one of the lone bright spots in Tennessee's 48-13 home loss to Oregon on Saturday. The 5'11", 210-lb. junior carried the ball 23 times for 162 yards and a TD in the defeat.

For the year, Poole has totaled 272 yards on the ground.

On pace to hit: 1,632 rushing yards

9. DeMarco Murray: RB, Oklahoma

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NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 22: Running back DeMarco Murray #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates a 65-21 win against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Memorial Stadium on November 22, 2008 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Murray has been showing that when he's healthy, the 6'1", 205-lb. senior is one of the most talented running backs in the nation.

Murray handled the ball 35 times in the season-opening squeaker against Utah State, rushing for 208 yards and two TDs.

For the year, the Sooners' main rushing threat has 269 total rushing yards.

On pace to hit: 1,614 rushing yards

10. Adam Robinson: RB, Iowa

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 05: Adam Robinson #32 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs the ball against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the FedEx Orange Bowl at Land Shark Stadium on January 5, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Ima

Robinson has been the key to Iowa's offensive engine so far in 2010.

The 5'9", 205-lb. sophomore has carried the ball 38 times for 265 yards this year.

On pace to hit: 1,590 rushing yards

The Next 10

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 10: Running back John Clay #32 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 10, 2009 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

11. John Clay: RB, Wisconsin—260 yards

12. Jordan Todman: RB, UConn—256 yards

13. David Isabelle: QB, UAB—248 yards

14. Bilal Powell: RB, Louisville—245 yards

15. Bryce Beall: RB, Houston—243 yards

16. Cam Newton: QB, Auburn—241 yards

17. Stevan Ridley: RB, LSU—240 yards

18. Jeff Demps: RB, Florida—237 yards

19. Marcus Lattimore: RB, South Carolina—236 yards

20. Mikel LeShoure: RB, Illinois—227 yards