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Workload vs. big plays: carries vs. explosive runs

College Football Charts
Data updatedOct 31, 2026

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Workload vs. big plays: carries vs. explosive runs

Top 50 of 431 running backs by both stats combined. Season so far, games through Oct 24, 2026. Dashed lines are the averages; up and right is better on both.

From the play-by-play. Players with 30+ pass attempts, 15+ carries, 8+ catches, a sack, an interception or a fumble recovery this season. Labels mark the best on both stats and anyone you highlight. Hover or tap a dot for the numbers.

What this shows

Each dot is one of 50 running backs, placed by carries (across) and explosive runs (up). Explosive runs: carries that gain 12 yards or more. The dashed lines are the averages: 115 and 12.7.

There is weak relationship here (r = +0.28; r runs from −1 to +1). Players who are better at one tend to be better at the other. One explains about 8% of the differences in the other.

17 of 50 (34%) are above average on both. 8 are above average only on carries, 8 only on explosive runs, and 17 on neither.

Where the data comes from. Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 24, 2026. Every stat here is computed from those plays.

Best on both

  1. Nate Sheppard, Duke: 148 carries, 20 explosive runs
  2. DeSean Bishop, Tennessee: 164 carries, 17 explosive runs
  3. Jamal Roberts, Missouri: 160 carries, 16 explosive runs
  4. Cam Cook, West Virginia: 184 carries, 13 explosive runs
  5. Jahiem White, North Texas: 142 carries, 17 explosive runs
  6. George Pettaway, James Madison: 120 carries, 18 explosive runs

Great at one, not the other

  1. Cam Cook, West Virginia: 184 carries, 13 explosive runs
  2. Messiah Burch, Buffalo: 150 carries, 9 explosive runs
  3. Turbo Richard, Indiana: 104 carries, 19 explosive runs
  4. J'Koby Williams, Texas Tech: 85 carries, 16 explosive runs
  5. Dilin Jones, LSU: 148 carries, 10 explosive runs
  6. Cole Tabb, Cincinnati: 63 carries, 13 explosive runs

About the stats on this chart

Where does the carries data come from?

From play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 24, 2026.

What is explosive runs?

Explosive runs: carries that gain 12 yards or more.

Why do explosive runs matter?

Explosive runs (12+ yards) are where a back shows he's more than his blocking. Lines get you 4 yards; backs get you 40.

Where does the explosive runs data come from?

From play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com (the public cfbfastR files), games through Oct 24, 2026.