Herschel Walker: The 48-Year-Old Fitness Guru's Top Moments

Herschel Walker, now 48 years old, is considered to be the best college running back in history.

Don't believe me? Just look at his stats (from 1980-82):

• 3,804 yards rushing (not including a 47-yard run nullified by a penalty against Tennessee in 1981)
• 26 catches for 243 yards and 11 touchdowns
• 49 rushing touchdowns

And this is just from his college years.

In his three seasons in the USFL, he amassed staggering numbers, including over 4,000 yards of total offense in 1985.

From the USFL, he went to the NFL, where he went to two consecutive Pro Bowls (1987, 1988).

He holds a number of spots in the record books and has had incredible careers both in football and beyond.

So, without further delay, here is a look at some of the top moments in Herschel Walker's life.

Walker Runs Over Bill Bates, Thrusts Himself into the National Spotlight

On September 6, 1980, Herschel Walker announced his presence to the NCAA.

Normally, 84 yards on 24 carries isn't overly impressive, but when a running back runs over a linebacker like Herschel Walker does to Bill Bates, it is guaranteed to be all over the place.

I'm not sure I can think of a moment that comes close to this, until Toby Gerhart ran over Notre Dame cornerback Gary Gray in 2009.

The 1981 Sugar Bowl Vs Notre Dame

This game should earn Herschel Walker ultimate respect.

Walker dislocated his shoulder after taking a hard hit early in the game, but had it reset and was back in the game on the next possession.

He ended the game with 36 carries for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

As if that wasn't enough, here's the kicker: No running back had put up more than 100 yards on that Notre Dame defense all year.

Herschel Walker Sets NCAA Freshman Rushing Record and a Place in the Heisman Race

Herschel Walker exploded onto the college football scene in 1980, putting up an impressive 1616 yards on 274 attempts (an average of 5.9 yards per carry).

Coupling that with 23 touchdowns and 70 yards receiving earned him third place in the Heisman voting in 1980 as well.

Little did he know that he would go on to win the award two years later.

1981: Herschel Walker Leaps Three Yards and Runs Four Yards for a Touchdown

It's hard to imagine a moment in Herschel Walker's long and storied life that can possibly encapsulate his athleticism better than this play right here.

This was from Walker's sophomore season (1981) against Ole Miss.

I bet the Rebels are still talking about this one today.

Walker Leaves Georgia Early and Puts Up Big Numbers in the USFL

Herschel Walker played college football back in the times where players couldn't declare early for the NFL draft, and so, after his junior season, he decided that his best option would be to enter the short-lived United States Football League.

During his three-year tenure with the New Jersey Generals, Walker amassed incredible numbers, including a record 2,411 yards rushing in 1985, averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

While Walker spent a minimal amount of time in the USFL, it was undoubtedly a highlight of his career, and it ultimately earned him passage into the NFL via the 1985 NFL draft, where he was picked in the fifth round by the Dallas Cowboys.

Herschel Walker Gets Voted Into the Pro Bowl Two Years in a Row

Herschel had accomplished practically everything under the sun by the time he entered the NFL.

He held college records, USFL records, he had won the Heisman, and he had been drafted by one of the three NFL teams he had expressed interest in playing for (the other two being the New York Jets and the New York Giants).

This must have been the icing on the cake then.

In only his second year in the League, Herschel Walker went to the Pro Bowl on the wings of a season in which he racked up 891 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, in addition to 715 yards receiving and one receiving touchdown.

As if that wasn't enough, Walker managed an even better performance the next year, rushing for 1,514 yards and five touchdowns while receiving for 505 yards and two touchdowns.

That set up one of the greatest trades in the history of the Dallas Cowboys, and possibly the League, depending upon your perspective.

The Dallas Cowboys Trade Herschel Walker for Everything but the Kitchen Sink

In what is now called the Herschel Walker Trade, the Dallas Cowboys gave up their star running back in 1989.

It may have come as a surprise to Dallas Cowboys fans that Herschel Walker, after going to two straight Pro Bowls, was to be traded, but they have to look back with a smile at the consequences.

The Minnesota Vikings, in addition to getting Herschel Walker, also received:

• Dallas' third round pick
• San Diego's fifth round pick
• Dallas' 10th round pick
• Dallas' third round pick in 1991

In return for this modest price, the Dallas Cowboys received:

• Jesse Solomon, David Howard, Issiac Holt, Darrin Nelson, and Alex Stewart
• Minnesota's first, second, and sixth picks in 1990 (first round turned into Emmitt Smith)
• Minnesota's first and second in 1991
• Minnesota's second and third in 1992
• Minnesota's first in 1993

I doubt that there will ever be a more lopsided trade in the history of the NFL.

University of Georgia Retires Walker's Number

After having a historic college career, as well as a very successful NFL career, the University of Georgia bestowed the ultimate honor on Walker by retiring his college number, 34.

This accolade was due to him, as he will likely be recognized as the best running back in University of Georgia history, and even in NCAA history, for a long, long time.

Herschel Walker Competes in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Two-Man Bobsled

As if Herschel Walker hadn't done enough in his career, he decided to add another bright spot to his amazing life in 1992, when he made the Winter Olympics squad for the two-man bobsled competition, eventually placing seventh in the race.

Walker also competed in qualifiers to be a part of the US Olympic sprint relay team. He narrowly missed the cut, recording times of 10.22 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 9.3 seconds in the 100-yard dash.

This just further solidifies his status as a complete freak athlete.

Herschel Walker Enters MMA, TKOs Greg Nagy in Strikeforce Debut

It seems as though Herschel Walker feels as though he hasn't done enough with his 48 years on this planet.

At the age of 47, Herschel Walker, who is a fifth degree black belt in tae kwon do, competed in and won his first Mixed Martial Arts match in Strikeforce after the referee called the fight over while Walker was teeing off on the face of Greg Nagy.

Currently 48, Herschel Walker plans on continuing an MMA career, with another fight scheduled for later this year.