Rushing Stats in Big 12, last five seasons

[Iceberg]

I was just thinking about how Cornish didn't get drafted, even as last years leading rusher. Then I started thinking about how low the numbers were for being "the main running back" in the Big 12. (which was brought to him by Adrian Peterson's injury). In the last two years in the Big 12 there has only been two 1,000 yard rushers. I have the stats below dating back to 2002. Does this suggest a trend in the change of offenses in the Big 12? Will the running game become a joke in our conference, or is this just a fluke?

2006
Top Rusher                             Jon Cornish, ku, 1,457 yards (8 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                2
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   914
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   22,742

2005
Top Rusher                             Brad Smith (QB) MU, 812 yards (9 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                0
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   548.2
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   15,794

2004
Top Rusher                             Adrian Peterson, OU, 1,925 yards (15 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                8
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   1,252.3
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   23,516

2003
Top Rusher                             Darren Sproles, KSU, 1,986 yards (18 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                7
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   1,223.2
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   27,040

2002
Top Rusher                             Quentin Griffin, OU, 1,884 yards (15 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                8
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   1,279.6
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   26,618

[CatWoman]

I hope it doesn't become a joke. I for one love the running game. Wow, looks like Darren Sproles is the King there in stats.

[yosh]

To find a trend in the offenses you would need to look at trends in team rushing.  A lot of schools used a committe of backs but still put of good rushing numbers (NU and UT)  Even K-State split carries between three guys over the year.

[Iceberg]

To find a trend in the offenses you would need to look at trends in team rushing.  A lot of schools used a committe of backs but still put of good rushing numbers (NU and UT)  Even K-State split carries between three guys over the year.

Agreed. Thats why I made a point of posting the overall rushing yards gained in the Big 12. What I thought was interesting was the lack of 1,000 yard rushers. That drought is only limited to two years, hopefully a change in direction will take place. Rushing by committee is fine, but its nice to have a solid rusher like we had with Sproles.

[skerinKansas]

2005 is really surprising, and appears to be the exception to the rule that teams as a whole run the ball a lot.  Any stats that teams are throwing for more yards?  How about 1,000 yard recivers?

Teams are getting more depth throughout the conference.  It is becoming more rare, imo, to see a team with one true "horse" in the backfield and get him 25+ carries a game.  NU had 4 different guys rush for 100 yards last year.  KSU started how many different RB's?  AP got hurt at OU, and Cornish got the carries, hence the rushing title.  But other than those teams, nobody has the bruiser to pound it all game.  While I agree that a every down guy is fine, CFB in general is becoming more specailized all the time, so i don't think we'll see too many guys get the 1000 season en mass for a while.  Thoughts?

[Legore]

I was just thinking about how Cornish didn't get drafted, even as last years leading rusher. Then I started thinking about how low the numbers were for being "the main running back" in the Big 12. (which was brought to him by Adrian Peterson's injury). In the last two years in the Big 12 there has only been two 1,000 yard rushers. I have the stats below dating back to 2002. Does this suggest a trend in the change of offenses in the Big 12? Will the running game become a joke in our conference, or is this just a fluke?

2006
Top Rusher                             Jon Cornish, ku, 1,457 yards (8 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                2
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   914
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   22,742

2005
Top Rusher                             Brad Smith (QB) MU, 812 yards (9 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                0
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   548.2
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   15,794

2004
Top Rusher                             Adrian Peterson, OU, 1,925 yards (15 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                8
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   1,252.3
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   23,516

2003
Top Rusher                             Darren Sproles, KSU, 1,986 yards (18 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                7
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   1,223.2
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   27,040

2002
Top Rusher                             Quentin Griffin, OU, 1,884 yards (15 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                8
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   1,279.6
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   26,618

Brad Smith was the leading rusher in 05 but he had more yards then what you're giving him credit for it was over 1,000.  Vince Young also went for over 1,000 that season and I think Peterson did too even with his injuries.   

[Iceberg]

I was just thinking about how Cornish didn't get drafted, even as last years leading rusher. Then I started thinking about how low the numbers were for being "the main running back" in the Big 12. (which was brought to him by Adrian Peterson's injury). In the last two years in the Big 12 there has only been two 1,000 yard rushers. I have the stats below dating back to 2002. Does this suggest a trend in the change of offenses in the Big 12? Will the running game become a joke in our conference, or is this just a fluke?

2006
Top Rusher                             Jon Cornish, ku, 1,457 yards (8 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                2
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   914
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   22,742

2005
Top Rusher                             Brad Smith (QB) MU, 812 yards (9 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                0
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   548.2
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   15,794

2004
Top Rusher                             Adrian Peterson, OU, 1,925 yards (15 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                8
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   1,252.3
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   23,516

2003
Top Rusher                             Darren Sproles, KSU, 1,986 yards (18 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                7
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   1,223.2
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   27,040

2002
Top Rusher                             Quentin Griffin, OU, 1,884 yards (15 TDs)
# of 1,000 yard rushers                8
Average yards or Top 10 rushers   1,279.6
Total Rushing Yards by Big 12 Teams   26,618

Brad Smith was the leading rusher in 05 but he had more yards then what you're giving him credit for it was over 1,000.  Vince Young also went for over 1,000 that season and I think Peterson did too even with his injuries.  

Well, shoot your right. I got my stats from big12sports.com and just double checked them. I realized that I must have only got the "conference" stats for 2005 rather than the regular season. I admit, this thread is a failed assignment and I shall be named this weeks "worthless cub".

[Iceberg]

2005 1,000 yard rushers

RUSHING             Team Cl  G  Att  Yds   Avg TD Long Yds/G
 -----------------------------------------------------------
Smith, Brad......... MU   SR 12  229 1301   5.7 16   79 108.4
Peterson, Adria..... OU   SO 11  220 1108   5.0 14   84 100.7
Young, Vince........ UT   JR 13  155 1050   6.8 12   80  80.8

Still only three, considerable amount less than previous years.

[doom]

I personally always underrated Sproles due to his size, but he was amazing his JR year.