Picking the top players at one position over the history of the NFL can be a futile exercise. No list will satisfy everyone, but that doesn’t stop them from being made and fiercely debated.
Las Vegas rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, however, was asked to name his personal Mount Rushmore during an appearance on “The Rush With Maxx Crosby” podcast.
Crosby, Jeanty’s new teammate, asked the Boise State product’s Mount Rushmore of running backs both in college and in the pros.
Ashton Jeanty’s College and Pro RB Mount Rushmores
Jeanty quickly named Barry Sanders, who set NCAA records in 1988 with 2,628 rushing yards and 37 rushing touchdowns while at Oklahoma State. “That’s easy,” Jeanty said.
The next name rattled off by Jeanty was former USC great Reggie Bush — like Sanders, a Heisman Trophy winner — who had 2,218 yards from scrimmage while averaging 8.7 yards per carry in his final season with the Trojans in 2005. After hearing Bush’s name, Crosby responded, “GOAT.”
The final two names took some prodding, as Jeanty struggled to fill out his Rushmore, saying “there’s too many” to choose from.
Herschel Walker was mentioned by the hosts, and Jeanty agreed. Walker led the NCAA in rushing and touchdowns in each of his three seasons at Georgia. He also won the Heisman in 1982 after finishing third and second in the voting the two previous years, before leaving college for the USFL.
Jeanty’s final choice — like the other three — also played just three years in college before going pro. Though he didn’t win the Heisman, he did finish second: himself. Encouraged by Crosby to include his own name, Jeanty noted, “I am second in rushing” in a single season behind Sanders, with 2,601 yards in 2024
Jeanty was more confident in his picks for his NFL running backs Mount Rushmore.
Once again, Sanders was the first name he mentioned. Sanders rushed for over 15,000 yards in his career — and never had fewer than 1,115 in a season — before surprisingly retiring at age 30.
Jeanty then went with “one of my favorites,” LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson rushed for 13,684 yards and was also one of the best — if not the best — pass-catching backs in NFL history, once recording 100 receptions in a season.
After a bit of pondering, Jeanty selected “Sweetness” — Walter Payton — the second-leading rusher in NFL history.
Finally, Jeanty may have been pandering a bit to his new fanbase, but he chose Marcus Allen, noting Allen once won Super Bowl MVP with the Raiders in 1984. In fact, Allen, whose 123 rushing touchdowns rank third all time, is one of just seven running backs to be named Super Bowl MVP.
There are plenty of great running backs Jeanty left off his Rushmores, and we won’t go back and forth about who else he could have included. But perhaps one day, Jeanty will add himself to his NFL list, too.