American · Rosebud, Texas, USA · Born 23 June 1979TCU running back nicknamed 'L.T.' who set the NCAA single-game rushing record with 406 yards and became the Horned Frogs' all-time leading rusher before a Hall of Fame NFL career.
LaDainian Tarshane Tomlinson was born on 23 June 1979 in Rosebud, Texas, and enrolled at TCU in 1997, developing into one of the most productive running backs in college football over four seasons. He led the nation in rushing twice, with 1,850 yards as a junior in 1999 and 2,158 yards as a senior in 2000, and was named WAC Offensive Player of the Year in both seasons. Tomlinson's signature performance came on 20 November 1999 against UTEP, when he rushed for an NCAA Division I-A record 406 yards and six touchdowns on just 46 carries, the first major-college back to surpass 400 yards in a game, a record that stood for 15 years. He also set the NCAA record for rushing yards in a half (287) during that game. Despite the individual heroics, Tomlinson never won the Heisman, finishing fourth in the voting as a senior in 2000, but won the inaugural Doak Walker Award that year as the nation's top running back and was a unanimous first-team All-American. Tomlinson finished his TCU career with 5,263 rushing yards, sixth in NCAA history at the time and still the school's all-time record, and TCU retired his No. 5 jersey in 2005. Selected fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2001 NFL draft, he went on to a Hall of Fame career, earning five Pro Bowl selections and the 2006 NFL MVP award after breaking the single-season touchdown record. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017, and now serves on TCU's Board of Trustees after a broadcasting career with NFL Network.
Setting the NCAA single-game rushing record with 406 yards against UTEP in 1999, a mark that stood for 15 years, en route to becoming TCU's all-time leading rusher
How They Played
Complete running back combining size, speed, and vision, capable of breaking off explosive long runs while also excelling as a receiver out of the backfield
Lasting Impact
Regarded as one of the greatest running backs in college football history despite never winning the Heisman, whose record-setting TCU career helped return the program to national relevance and launched a Pro Football Hall of Fame career
Career Honours
- NCAA single-game rushing record (406 yards, 1999)
- 2000 Doak Walker Award (inaugural winner)
- 2x NCAA Rushing Leader (1999, 2000)
- Unanimous First-Team All-American (2000)
American Athletes