Written by Paul Myerberg at USAToday.com
San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey’s 15-yard run in the fourth quarter of the Las Vegas Bowl made him the all-time leading rusher in Football Bowl Subdivision history, pushing him past formerHeisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne. Pumphrey wrapped up his sensational career in his Nevada hometown with 6,405 yards, just ahead of Dayne (6,397).
With little acclaim, he charged at the record with consistency: Pumphrey rushed for at least 1,650 yards in each of his final three seasons, capped by a rare 2,000-yard season as a senior.
In 2016, Pumphrey paced the Aztecs to a 10-win regular season and the Mountain West Conference championship.
He entered the postseason needing 108 yards to break the record held for 17 years by Dayne, who won the Heisman and the Maxwell Award as the nation’s best player for the Badgers in 1999.
At the time of Dayne’s four-year career, the NCAA did not count postseason performances in overall statistics. Dayne rushed for 728 yards in four bowl appearances.
The amazing thing about Pumphrey is that he’s the all-time record holder despite weighing 170 dripping wet. Incredible drive and toughness.
— Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) December 17, 2016
“It means the world to me,” Pumphrey said on the field immediately after the game as his father wiped away tears before hugging him.
It means just as much to his teammates.
“It’s emotional,” running back Rashaad Penny said. “To watch that guy do what he do and accomplish so many goals, it’s amazing.”
“We’re just as fired up as he is,” linebacker Calvin Munson said. “All of our defensive guys hate him in practice because he is good and he gets us better. He couldn’t have done it without the O-line, the fullbacks, the offense.
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