BYU Running Backs: The best under Mendenhall?

In 2005, Bronco Mendenhall took over the BYU football program after a few mediocre years under former coach Gary Crowton.

In that time, BYU has produced some very good running backs and although they didn’t make it to the NFL per se, they put up some very good numbers during their time at BYU in an offense that is well-known for being pass happy.

Here are my top five running backs under Bronco Mendenhall.

5. Paul Lasike (2012-2014)

Lasike is a rugby player at heart but chose to put on the pads and play for the Cougar football team.

Nov 9, 2013; Madison, WI, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Paul Lasike (33) during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

He is a player that will surely be missed. At 5-11, he wasn’t necessarily the biggest player on the team but he took guys to the woodshed on numerous occasions with his ability to block and then run defenders over in space.

He didn’t put up gaudy numbers as he rushed for 843 yards and caught 31 balls for 322 yards. He also had 12 touchdowns in his career at BYU.

It won’t be the touchdowns or the stats that he will be remembered for. It is the way that he played the game and the energy that he brought especially during his senior year when he had to step up due to injuries.

4. J.J. DiLuigi (2007-2011)

Talk about a guy with heart. Di Luigi, who had a lot of hype coming out of high school, never really matched that hype while at BYU.

With his speed and size he had the ability to elude defenders and to break off a big play like the catch and run he had against Washington in the 2010 season opener to put BYU ahead for good.

His numbers are impressive considering he had some big shoes to fill once Harvey Unga left the program. He carried the ball 352 times for 1,797 yards and 14 touchdowns to go along with 96 catches for 990 yards and five more scores.

3. Jamaal Williams (2012 – Current)

Ever since Williams stepped onto campus as a 17-year old kid, he has grown up and put up some pretty impressive numbers. Had it not been for a season-ending injury in the 2014 season, he would be even closer to breaking the all-time rushing mark at BYU.

His best season came as a sophomore in 2013 when he rushed the ball 217 times for 1,233 yards and seven touchdowns while hauling in 18 receptions for 125 yards.

His best game came as a freshman at Georgia Tech where he had 28 carries for 107 yards and three touchdowns. He also had three catches for 54 yards and another score.

Oct 3, 2014; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) runs with the ball as Utah State Aggies linebacker Zach Vigil (left) attempts to make the tackle during the first half at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

With his senior season just two and a half months away, Williams is primed for a run at the BYU rushing record. That is, if he can stay healthy.

2. Curtis Brown (2002-2006)

Brown is a guy that most college coaches would have loved to have in their backfield. He was big, strong, physical, and he could catch the ball out of the backfield. He was a do-everything back and the first BYU running back to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He also helped BYU win the Mountain West Conference Championship in 2006 and defeat Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl during his senior season.

He earned first-team all-MWC twice and his best season came in 2005 during his junior campaign. He rushed for 1,123 yards and 14 touchdowns and also caught 53 passes for 454 yards and two touchdowns.

At the time that he left BYU, he was the all-time leading rusher with 3,221 yards on 641 carries. He had 31 touchdowns on the ground to go along with 157 receptions for 1,309 yards and five more touchdowns.