For more than a century, Irish football history has been replete with stories of great running backs. Below is a look at the five who made the greatest impact during their playing days in South Bend. Who do you feel is the best? Cast your vote below, or to send us your comments, use the form at the bottom of the page.

Autry Denson

5-foot-10, 203 lbs.

Seasons: 1995-98

Before the start of his freshman season, Denson said that he wanted to be remembered as the greatest running back ever to play in South Bend. He then did everything statistically possible to make that wish come true.

The Lauderhill, Fla. native was a four-year starter at tailback for the Irish, finishing his stellar career as the school’s record holder with 4,318 rushing yards and 5,327 all-purpose running yards. Denson and Allen Pinkett are the only running backs in Irish history to rush for 1,000 yards or more in three seasons. Denson established the career rushing mark with a 107-yard effort against Navy in a 30-0 victory on Nov. 14, 1998.

Allen Pinkett

5-foot-9, 181 lbs.

Seasons: 1982-85

Pinkett starred on Irish teams that struggled under coach Gerry Faust. After spending his freshman season as Phil Carter’s backup at tailback, Pinkett became a staple in Faust’s ground-oriented attack. A three-year starter, Pinkett rushed for a then-school record 4,131 yards, a mark that would stand for 13 years. He also rushed for a school record 49 career touchdowns.

Pinkett enjoyed his most productive season as a sophomore in 1983 when he rushed for 100-plus yards in nine games, a school record. That season, Pinkett ranked No. 5 nationally, rushing for an average of 126.4 yards per game.

Vagas Ferguson

6-foot-1, 194 lbs.

Seasons: 1976-79

A four-year starter, Ferguson helped the Irish win the national championship as a sophomore in 1977. Ferguson compiled back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 1978 and 1979. As a senior, Ferguson rushed for 1,437 yards on 301 attempts, both of which remain single-season school records. The Richmond, Ind. native, who finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting that season, rushed for an average of 130.6 yards per game. And Ferguson finished his career with 3,472 rushing yards, a school record eclipsed by Allen Pinkett in 1985.

In a talented Irish backfield which included quarterback Joe Montana and fullback Jerome Heavens, Ferguson helped the Irish record back-to-back Cotton Bowl victories in 1978-79, garnering offensive MVP honors in ’78 with 100 yards rushing and three touchdowns in a 38-10 win over the Earl Campbell-led Texas Longhorns.

John Lattner

6-foot-1, 190 lbs.

Seasons: 1951-53

Of the Irish’s seven Heisman Trophy winners, Lattner remains the lone running back. Lattner won the award in 1953 when he edged Minnesota’s Paul Giel by a mere 56 votes, the second-closest margin to Bo Jackson’s 45-vote victory over Chuck Long in 1985.

Ironically, Lattner, an outstanding all-around player, won the trophy despite not leading the Irish in rushing, passing or receiving during his senior season. But Lattner, a key cog on coach Frank Leahy’s last of four national championship squads, racked up 331 kickoff return yards on only eight attempts — and two went for touchdowns. Lattner’s school record for career all-purpose running yards was later broken by Vagas Ferguson in 1979. Also a standout defensive back, Lattner recorded 13 interceptions during his Irish career.

George Gipp

6-foot, 170 lbs.

Seasons: 1917-20

The versatile Gipp was an outstanding all-around player who led the Irish in rushing for three consecutive seasons. And despite missing four games during his freshman season, Gipp established ND’s career rushing record of 2,341 yards. The mark stood for more than 50 years before Jerome Heavens broke it in 1978.

In 1920, despite a shoulder injury which sidelined him for three quarters of his final game at Northwestern, Gipp capped his career by rushing for 827 yards in leading the Irish to a 9-0 record. During that 33-7 Irish victory, Gipp contracted strep throat, the complications of which caused his death less than three weeks later at age 25.

Gipp was also a standout defensive back who didn’t allow a completed pass during his career. As a quarterback, Gipp threw for 1,769 yards and eight TDs. He also averaged 38.4 yards per punt.