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Illinois Football: Top 5 Illini running backs of the 2010s

By Jalen Wilson

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 06: Mikel Leshoure of the Illinios Fighting Illini scores a triple overtime touchdown while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 67-65. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 06: Mikel Leshoure of the Illinios Fighting Illini scores a triple overtime touchdown while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 67-65. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 06: Mikel Leshoure #5 of the Illinios Fighting Illini celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown reception while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 67-65. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 06: Mikel Leshoure #5 of the Illinios Fighting Illini celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown reception while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 67-65. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

2. Mikel Leshoure

Some Illinois fans might not like that this player is ranked at No. 2 on this list. Mikel Leshoure played three years in an Illinois football uniform and just one of those years came in the 2010s.

Leshoure had everything you wanted in a running back. He had good patience to wait for running lanes to open, power, speed, and hands.

Before coming to Illinois, Leshoure didn’t have big expectations as he was viewed as just a solid recruit. It is safe to say he turned out to be more than a solid recruit, as he steadily improved every year. He would end up rushing for 800 yards and 6 touchdowns in his first two years.

Leshoure put up crazy numbers in his final season at Illinois. He ran all over teams and ended the season with 1,687 yards and 17 touchdowns. Leshoure was also a receiving threat with 17 receptions for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Leshoure was named to first-team All-Big Ten thanks to those numbers. Illinois made it to the Texas Bowl, where they beat the Baylor Bears. In that game, Leshoure rushed for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns. At the end of the season, Leshoure had broken the Illinois record for total rushing yards in a game and total rushing yards in a single season.

By the end of his career with Illinois, Leshoure with 2,557 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. He was able to win a bowl game as well. Leshoure provided some good moments for a lot of Illinois football fans.

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