San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey has fought adversity every step of his college career and capped off an illustrious season with an NCAA record.
With a 15-yard run in the fourth quarter, the 5-foot-9, 180-pounder became the all-time leading rusher in the history of college football.
"A historic moment in college football history." We couldn't be more proud of one of our own, Donnel Pumphrey. #AztecFB pic.twitter.com/n0SCcKjcl9
— San Diego State Aztecs (@GoAztecs) December 17, 2016
Earlier in the game, the dynamic back made a ridiculous one-handed catch one play before rushing in a touchdown from 32 yards out (watch here).
Pumphrey, a senior from Las Vegas, broke a 17-year old record originally held by Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne (6,397). There is a caveat in that the NCAA did not count rushing totals from bowl games before 2002, which would push Dayne to 7,125 yards in his career.
While Pumphrey has fought through the stigma of being “too small,” the San Diego State dynamo has been the driving force behind one of the best periods in Aztec football history and deserves every accolade he has earned in his four years in San Diego.