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Today we begin our series on who we believe deserve a spot amongst the best Arizona State football players of all-time at each position group. We begin with the second team players this week and will reveal our first team the following week.
Arizona State is a school with a rich history of great running backs so narrowing it down to only a few players is no easy feat. Nonetheless, here are the All-Sun Devil second-team running backs.
Wilford "Whizzer " White: Wilford White built the framework upon which all other ASU running backs would be judged.
White began his Sun Devil career in 1947 and started off by rushing for 197 yards on 71 carries. Although not the most impressive numbers, White would steadily improve on his number every year.
His second and third years at Arizona State White rushed for 539 and 935 yards respectively. They would only be a small taste of what was to come for White's senior campaign.
As a senior in 1950, White would rush for 1,502 yards and score 22 total touchdowns on only 180 carries (8.3 yards per carry average). Those 1,502 yards is the second highest single-season total in school history.
White would finish his career wit 3,173 rushing yards, fourth most in Sun Devil history.
After the conclusion of his senior season White would go on to be drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1951 NFL draft. He would play for two seasons before suffering a career-ending knee injury.
Freddie Williams: The Arizona State Sun Devils were spoiled with many great running backs through the 1970's and one of them was Freddie Williams.
Williams had a quiet first year at Arizona State gaining only 182 yards in 1973. That season Williams played behind all-time Sun Devil greats Ben Malone and Woody Green.
While his first season was a quiet one, his next two seasons would be anything but.
As a sophomore, Williams would rush for 1,299 yards and eight touchdowns in 1974. Williams' year was spectacular but the Sun Devils managed to go only 7-5.
The disappointment of the 7-5 season would serve as motivation for the 1975 campaign that would go down as one of the best in Sun Devil history.
On the back of Williams and his 1,427 yards and nine touchdowns, the 1975 Sun Devils went 12-0 and defeated Nebraska 17-14 in the Fiesta Bowl.
With all the success he'd had, Williams seemed primed to break out in the 1976 season but it was not meant to be. Williams only managed 516 yards and no touchdowns in 1976 as the Sun Devils struggled their way to a 4-7 record.
When it was all said and done Williams is second in career rushing yards in Sun Devil history with 3,424. The only thing holding him back was his touchdown numbers. Williams only managed only 19 touchdowns in his four years with the Sun Devils.