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The Michigan Wolverines greatest running backs

By Ash Thompson

Michigan's Mike Hart (20) runs the ball past the Nebraska defense during the 2005 MasterCard Alamo Bowl game game between the University of Michigan Wolverines and the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, December 28, 2005, at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas. Nebraska won 32 - 28. (Photo by Darren Abate/Getty Images)
Michigan's Mike Hart (20) runs the ball past the Nebraska defense during the 2005 MasterCard Alamo Bowl game game between the University of Michigan Wolverines and the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, December 28, 2005, at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas. Nebraska won 32 - 28. (Photo by Darren Abate/Getty Images) /
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2 Sep 2000: Anthony Thomas #32 of the Michigan Wolverines races towards the end zone with the ball during the game against the Bowling Green Falcons at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Wolverines defeated the Falcons 42-7.Mandatory Credit: Danny Moloshok /Allsport
2 Sep 2000: Anthony Thomas #32 of the Michigan Wolverines races towards the end zone with the ball during the game against the Bowling Green Falcons at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Wolverines defeated the Falcons 42-7.Mandatory Credit: Danny Moloshok /Allsport /

Anthony Thomas

The A-Train’s point of origin was Winnfield Lousiana. He learned to play football in the street. He played ball with bigger kids who loved to rough him up.  The 6’2″ 220 lb running back claimed stardom in Ann Arbour because of it. He broke the Michigan career rushing yardage record. He recorded 4.472 yards in four seasons. His senior year, 2000, Anthony Thomas compiled 1733 rushing yards.  He was an All-Big Ten selection. He was the team captain and MVP of the 2000 Wolverines team.

Thomas broke both the yardage record and the scoring record. He holds Michigan’s single-season yards per game record (144.4), and most games with 150 or more rushing yards in a single season (6). Thomas racked up two 1000 yard seasons and led the Wolverines in rushing for three consecutive campaigns from 1998-2000. In the lone year of his collegiate career that he did not lead the Wolverines in rushing, Thomas earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades from the conference’s coaches and media. Thomas won two Citrus Bowl MVP awards and was a member of the 1997 National Championship team.

Thomas set the NFL’s single-game rookie rushing yard record with 188 yards for the Chicago Bears. He was the AP offensive rookie of the year in 2001. Thomas played in the NFL for the Bears, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Buffalo Bills before retiring after the 2007 campaign. In 2011

Thomas coached at West Virginia Wesleyan for two seasons after his retirement. He entered the Louisianna Sports Hall of Fame on June 25, 2016.

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