Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Football: Top 5 Illini running back duos since 2000

By Rees Woodcock

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 23: Joshua McCray #0 of the Illinois Fighting Illini carries the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 23, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 23: Joshua McCray #0 of the Illinois Fighting Illini carries the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 23, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
Illinois football
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – OCTOBER 26: Reggie Corbin #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs with the football in the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 26, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Illinois football has had ups and downs over the past couple of decades, but the one thing that has been pretty consistent is running back play.

The Illini running backs over the years have been solid. There has been a smattering of greatness in there as well. But what are the best running back duos we have seen over the past 20 years?

Some names come to mind who could be on this list. It was tough to leave a few duos on the outside looking in as well. But I think the five I have put together truly represent the best duos.

Here are the top five Illinois football running back duos since 2000.

5. Reggie Corbin & Mike Epstein – 1,496 yards, 11 TD

The No. 5 running back duo on this list goes to Reggie Corbin and Mike Epstein. These two running backs seemed like they were in the Illinois program for a decade, but their 2018 campaign was one of the best since 2000.

Corbin carried the haul for this running back duo. He had his best season with the Illini in 2018, carrying the ball 128 times for 1,085 yards and nine touchdowns. This was one of the best seasons not only in Corbin’s career but also one of the best seasons by an Illinois running back in recent memory.

If Epstein had stayed healthy for his career, let alone the 2018 campaign, he would have been considered one of the greatest to ever play in Champaign. He only suited up in seven games for the 2018 season and still managed 411 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

As a duo, Corbin and Epstein would finish with 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns. Their touchdowns are actually the third-most on this list, but the fact Epstein didn’t play a full season in 2018 hurt their ranking. But I still see them as one of the best duos I have seen since 2000.

Home/All-Time Football Lists