Ranking the Top Five BYU Running Backs from the Independence Era

Ranking the best BYU running backs from 2011-2022

Passing the football and great quarterback play is synonymous with BYU football and its history. The list of great BYU quarterbacks goes on and on. During BYU's era of independence lasted from 2011-2022, however, BYU also had a lot of success running the football. In fact, some of the best running backs in program history played during the independence era. Today, we kick off a series where we rank the top five players at each position during independence, and we will start with the running backs.

Our criteria to be considered for this list was simple: any running back that eclipsed 200 rushing yards in a single season from 2011-2022 was considered. In total, 23 running backs met that criteria. Without further ado, here are our top five running backs from the independence era.

5. Squally Canada (2015 - 2018)

1,438 career rushing yards | 5.0 yards per carry | 13 total touchdowns

Before we talk about Squally Canada's career at BYU, we must talk about the competition for the fifth spot. The fifth and final spot was a debate between Squally Canada, Algernon Brown, and Chris Brooks. Of the three considered, Squally Canada had the most rushing yards at BYU, Algernon Brown had the most total yards and total touchdowns, and Chris Brooks had the best single season. 

We gave Canada and Brown the edge over Chris Brooks because of the long-term impact they had on the program. It came down to Canada and Brown. We gave the edge to Canada for two reasons: 

1. Canada ran for more yards in three seasons than Brown did in four seasons (Canada was only eligible for one game in 2015 after transferring from Washington State)
2. Squally was BYU's most productive offensive player in one the biggest upsets in program history: 2018 at no. 6 Wisconsin

In 2018, BYU was coming off one of the worst seasons since the 1970's. The Cougars were major underdogs on the road at no. 6  Wisconsin. The Badgers, led by star running back Jonathan Taylor, were considered a playoff contender when the Cougars arrived in Maddison. BYU shocked the college football world when they upset Wisconsin 24-21. Squally led BYU in rushing yards with 118 rushing yards on just 11 carries and he had both of BYU's two rushing touchdowns.

When healthy, Canada was a reliable option at running back for BYU. His best season came in 2017 when he led the Cougars in rushing with 710 yards. Canada was a key member of the offense again in 2018, but he missed multiple games due to injury. 

4. Lopini Katoa (2017 - 2022)

1,799 career rushing yards | 803 career receiving yards | 27 total touchdowns

Lopini Katoa was a consistent part of BYU's offense during a five-year span from 2018-2022. In those five years, Katoa appeared in 56 total games and he scored 27 total touchdowns. Although he never emerged as BYU's undisputed starter, Katoa was a threat in both the running game and the passing game. He finished his BYU career with 1,799 rushing yards and 803 receiving yards.

His best years came in 2018 and 2020. In 2018, he led the Cougars in rushing with 423 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. In 2020, Katoa had 737 total yards from scrimmage. He finished his career ranked 14th among BYU's all-time leading rushers.

3. JJ Di Luigi (2007 - 2011)

1,797 career rushing yards | 990 career receiving yards | 19 total touchdowns

Former BYU running back JJ Di Luigi narrowly qualified for this list. Di Luigi was a senior during BYU's first season as an independent in 2011. Di Luigi led BYU in rushing in both 2010 (917 yards) and 2011 (584 yards). Di Luigi, rather quietly, put together a very productive career at BYU. He finished with nearly 1,800 rushing yards and nearly 1,000 receiving yards despite playing with three different quarterbacks. His 990 career receiving yards is the most among running backs in the independence era. He finished his career ranked 15th among BYU's all-time leading rushers.

2. Tyler Allgeier (2018-2021)

2,899 career rushing yards | 36 rushing touchdowns | 6.4 yards per carry

Before Tyler Allgeier was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2022 NFL Draft, he cemented his name in the BYU record books. Allgeier broke BYU's single-season rushing record in 2021 with 1,601 rushing yards. Allgeier was simply extraordinary for BYU that season, closing out multiple games with dominant running in the fourth quarter. Allgeier finished the season with 23 rushing touchdowns, tied for first in college football. He was perhaps the primary reason for BYU's perfect 5-0 record against the Pac-12 in 2021, and you could argue that without Allgeier, BYU goes 7-5 in the 2021 regular season instead of 10-2.

Allgeier finished his BYU career with 2,899 rushing yards, good enough for fifth all time at BYU. He is tied for second in BYU history with 36 career rushing touchdowns. He is tied for first with the most rushing touchdowns in a single game (5 against Virginia), and he holds the record for the most rushing yards in a single game against a Power Five opponent (266 against Virginia).

Allgeier posted consecutive 1,000+ yard seasons from 2020-2021. Had he not foregone his final season of eligibility, he could have pushed Jamaal Williams as BYU's all-time leading rusher.

1. Jamaal Williams (2012 - 2014 | 2016)

3,901 career rushing yards | 35 rushing touchdowns | 5.4 yards per carry

Former BYU star Jamaal Williams ended his BYU career as BYU's all-time leading rusher. Williams finished with over 3,900 career rushing yards and 35 touchdowns. Williams was on BYU's roster for four seasons between 2012 and 2016. He led the BYU running backs in rushing yards in all four of those seasons.

Williams holds the single-game rushing record at BYU with 286 yards (Toledo). He also scored five touchdowns in that game which is tied for a single-game record.

Jamaal will be remembered for his entertaining, physical running style and his vibrant personality. After a record-breaking BYU career, he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.

Follow us for future coverage:

Facebook - @CougsDaily

Twitter - @Cougs_Daily and Casey Lundquist at @casey_lundquist

Instagram - @cougs_daily