UNC Football: Top 10 Tar Heels Running Backs All-Time

No. 4: Leon Johnson (1993-96)

Leon Johnson was in Chapel Hill during some of the golden years of North Carolina football. He was the starting running back for some of the best UNC teams in history.

Johnson holds the UNC record for most career touchdowns by a UNC player (50). He also holds the UNC record for most career rushing touchdowns from scrimmage by a running back (43). He has the sixth-most touchdowns scored in a single season (16 in 1993) and ranks seventh in points scored in a single season (100 in 1993).

Johnson ranks third for in rushing attempts at UNC (797), second all-time at UNC in points scored (306) and holds the UNC record for most career all-purpose yards (5,828).

Johnson played for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings during a seven-year NFL career.

No. 3: Don McCauley

Don McCauley was one of the most versatile football players North Carolina history. He was a wide receiver, tailback, kick returner and punter.

As a running back, McCauley excelled. In particular, his final season at UNC was his best. He was the 1971 ACC Player of the Year.

He has the most yards in a single season by a UNC running back (1,720 in 1970). In this same season, he set two rushing records and currently holds both of them.

One is the UNC record for most touchdowns in a season (21 in 1970) and the other is the for most all-purpose yards in a single season (2,021 yards in 1970). He also led the nation in rushing with 1,720 yards in 1970.

McCauley ranks sixth in career touchdowns scored at UNC (35) and is second all-time with most career all-purpose yards (5,014). He was a two-time first team All-Conference player and two-time Conference Player of the Year.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. McCauley accomplished all of these feats in just three college football seasons.

The Baltimore Colts drafted McCauley in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. He spent all 10 of his seasons with the Colts.