Who is the best running back from Akron?
Posted November 18th, 2007 by Nate Ulrich
Ohio State running back Chris Wells, a Garfield High School graduate, ran 39 times for 222 yards and two touchdowns to carry the Buckeyes to a 14-3 over Michigan on Saturday.
When I was watching Wells dominate by breaking off huge runs against the Wolverines, I started to think about all the great running backs to come out of Akron-area high schools in the recent past. Antonio Pittman (Buchtel High School/Ohio State/New Orleans Saints/St. Louis Rams), Tyrell Sutton (Archbishop Hoban High School/Northwestern University) and Delone Carter (Copley High School/Syracuse) came to mind. I also thought of Jordan Mabin (Nordonia High School/Northwestern), but he’s listed as a cornerback on the Wildcats’ roster.
Who do you think is the best running back from Akron? I think Buchtel football coach Ricky Powers, a former Michigan standout and Cleveland Browns running back, is one of the best, but one of the aforementioned college stars might surpass him. Let me know who’s on your list?
MIKE CARDEW/Akron Beacon Journal
Ohio State running back Chris Wells dodges a defender during the Buckeyes’ 14-3 over rival Michigan on Saturday.
November 22nd, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Thanks Ray. I did some research on Paul Winters, a former St. Vincent-St. Mary and University of Akron football star, who is now the head football coach at Wayne State.
This excerpt from Wayne State’s athletics site has information about Winters’ playing days at the University of Akron:
The seventh all-time leading rusher in school history, he rushed for 2,613 yards during his Zips career and was named 1980 UA Athlete of the Year. Winters was a three-time letterman and a three-time recipient of the Harry “Doc” Smith Award as the outstanding player in his class. In ‘79, Winters was selected as the Zips’ offensive MVP.
November 29th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
I don’t know how you could have left out Stow’s Don “Moonlight” Coughlin. Coughlin went on to stardom for the Zips. He was instrumental in having the facemask installed on helmets after his teammates saw the beating that his face was taking and not wanting to get it themselves.
May 29th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Tony Sutton (TYRELL’S OLDER BROTHER) also was a top running back in my opinion