Antonio Andrews knows the name, but his youth hinders his knowledge of Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders. When asked what he knows about Sanders, the answer is short.
“Not much,” said Andrews. “I know he was a great running back.”
Sanders compiled 3,250 all-purpose yards in 1988 for Oklahoma State on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy. There will be no Heisman for Andrews this season, but he does have the chance to win the award of one of another former Heisman winner, that of Paul Hornung. The 2012 Paul Hornung Award finalist, awarded to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission, include Andrews, USC’s Marqise Lee, West Virginia’s Tavon Austin and Kent State’s Dri Archer.
Andrews enters the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl with 2,977 all-purpose yards this season, needing just 274 yards to break Sanders’ record. Andrews is averaging 248.1 yards per game, but has gone over 300 yards in each of the last four games, averaging 349.25 yards per contest. He is the only player in the country with four 300-yard all-purpose performances this season.
Ironically, Andrews will have the chance to break the record in the same city that witnessed Sanders’ historic professional career, Detroit. As a Detroit Lion Sanders piled up over 18,000 yards rushing and receiving in just 10 seasons. Sanders is widely revered as the most dynamic running back in NFL history.
With 23 yards in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, Andrews would join Sanders as the only players in FBS history with 3,000 all-purpose yards in a single season. WKU Director of Athletics Todd Stewart often says “You’re known by the company you keep.” If that’s the case, there are only two seats at the dinner table they’re occupied by Andrews and an NFL Hall of Famer.
Like Sanders, Andrews is asked to do a little bit of everything for his team, but the burden of having so many touches does not weigh on Andrews.
“I just come out here trying to do everything I can for my team,” said Andrews. “At the end of the day, that is what they want from me. That is what I have been training for. I am just trying to come out here and get it done for them and if 300 yards is given to me on the way in securing the victory, I am going to take it.”
He also finds great excitement in having the chance to play around different parts of the field.
“It keeps you satisfied,” said Andrews. “When you play that position for so long, you always want to venture and do something else. For me being able to do these different roles is exciting, there is always something new.”
Andrews has excelled in the running game for WKU. With back-to-back 200-yard rushing games to close out the regular season, Andrews sits at 1,609 rushing yards entering the bowl game. He not only gave WKU the 16th 1,000-yard campaign in its history, but also gave the Hilltoppers a 1,500-yard rusher for the third straight season. Current Baltimore Ravens running back Bobby Rainey reached the mark in 2010 and 2011.
WKU is just the fifth program in NCAA history to have a 1,500 yard rusher in three consecutive seasons, joining Oregon (2009-12), Northern Illinois (2002-06), Marshall (1993-95) and USC (1978-81).
The performances of Rainey and Andrews, coupled with back-to-back seven-win seasons, have aided WKU’s goal of creating a national identity.
“It is good to see Western Kentucky in the news and on ESPN a lot,” said Andrews. “It is good to see that WKU logo on ESPN. It is going to bring publicity to our school.”
FBS RECORDS
All-Purpose Yards (Single Season)
Rank
Player (Year)
Yards
Yards Behind (Andrews)
1
Barry Sanders (1988)
3,250
273
2
Ryan Benjamin (1991)
2,995
18
3
Antonio Andrews
2,977
4
Chris Johnson (2007)
2,960
5
Jeremy Maclin (2008)
2,833
6
Kevin Smith (2007)
2,809
7
Troy Edwards (1998)
2,784
8
Jeremy Maclin (2007)
2,776
9
Darren Sproles (2003)
2,735
10
Damaris Johnson (2009)
2,693
All-Purpose Yards Per Game (Single Season)
Rank
Player (Year)
Yards Per Game
1
Barry Sanders (1988)
295.5
2
Ryan Benjamin (1991)
249.6
3
Antonio Andrews (2012)
248.1
4
Byron White (1937)
246.3
5
Mike Pringle (1989)
244.6
