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California's best running backs since 2004
Marshawn Lynch leads with 3,230 rushing yards in 35 games at California; Justin Forsett had 3,220.
Every running back with 5 or more games at California since 2004, ranked by rushing yards; the lines are each player's rushing yards game by game, the top 8 drawn. A link opens the player's page, where he has one, or his row on the board.
42 running backs with 5+ games at Californiarushing yards
| # | player | seasons | games | rushing yards | rushing touchdowns | yards from scrimmage | receptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marshawn Lynch | 2004–2006 | 35 | 3,230 | 29 | 3,830 | 68 |
| 2 | Justin Forsett | 2004–2007 | 41 | 3,220 | 26 | 3,606 | 41 |
| 3 | Shane Vereen | 2008–2010 | 38 | 2,834 | 29 | 3,508 | 74 |
| 4 | Jahvid Best | 2007–2009 | 31 | 2,668 | 29 | 3,201 | 62 |
| 5 | Jaydn Ott | 2022–2024 | 34 | 2,597 | 24 | 3,309 | 95 |
| 6 | Isi Sofele | 2009–2012 | 46 | 2,499 | 15 | 2,653 | 21 |
| 7 | Patrick Laird | 2014–2018 | 28 | 2,153 | 14 | 2,761 | 99 |
| 8 | Khalfani Muhammad | 2013–2016 | 44 | 2,073 | 11 | 2,644 | 55 |
| 9 | J.J. Arrington | 2004 | 12 | 2,018 | 15 | 2,139 | 21 |
| 10 | Daniel Lasco | 2012–2015 | 32 | 1,872 | 18 | 2,330 | 48 |
| 11 | Christopher Brooks | 2018–2021 | 36 | 1,734 | 14 | 2,079 | 50 |
| 12 | Vic Enwere | 2014–2017 | 36 | 1,411 | 17 | 1,507 | 18 |
| 13 | Tre Watson | 2014–2017 | 31 | 1,390 | 8 | 1,769 | 37 |
| 14 | C.J. Anderson | 2011–2012 | 25 | 1,135 | 12 | 1,485 | 22 |
| 15 | Kendrick Raphael | 2025 | 13 | 943 | 13 | 1,188 | 34 |
| 16 | Brendan Bigelow | 2011–2013 | 32 | 877 | 5 | 1,182 | 42 |
| 17 | Damien Moore | 2020–2022 | 23 | 812 | 6 | 931 | 19 |
| 18 | Jaivian Thomas | 2023–2024 | 19 | 736 | 8 | 851 | 14 |
| 19 | Marcel Dancy | 2018–2021 | 29 | 646 | 5 | 980 | 46 |
| 20 | Marcus O'Keith | 2004–2006 | 15 | 443 | 4 | 554 | 7 |
| 21 | Isaiah Ifanse | 2023 | 8 | 365 | 7 | 415 | 8 |
| 22 | DeCarlos Brooks | 2021–2022 | 16 | 346 | 1 | 371 | 9 |
| 23 | Covaughn DeBoskie-Johnson | 2009–2011 | 17 | 321 | 2 | 367 | 5 |
| 24 | Ashton Stredick | 2021–2023 | 11 | 227 | 2 | 254 | 4 |
| 25 | Jeffrey Coprich | 2013–2015 | 12 | 205 | 2 | 279 | 9 |
| 26 | Ashten Emory | 2026 | 7 | 205 | 4 | 273 | 12 |
| 27 | DeShawn Collins | 2019 | 8 | 199 | 2 | 210 | 2 |
| 28 | Terrell Williams | 2004–2005 | 12 | 191 | 3 | 211 | 1 |
| 29 | Kadarius Calloway | 2024 | 7 | 124 | 1 | 124 | 1 |
| 30 | Darren Ervin | 2013 | 6 | 124 | 0 | 140 | 4 |
| 31 | Chris Manderino | 2004–2005 | 20 | 120 | 2 | 433 | 24 |
| 32 | LJ Johnson Jr. | 2025 | 7 | 117 | 2 | 135 | 4 |
| 33 | Chris Street | 2020–2021 | 6 | 109 | 1 | 113 | 1 |
| 34 | Brandon High Jr. | 2025 | 5 | 98 | 1 | 103 | 1 |
| 35 | Justin Williams-Thomas | 2023 | 6 | 91 | 0 | 98 | 1 |
| 36 | Byron Cardwell Jr. | 2024 | 5 | 75 | 0 | 106 | 2 |
| 37 | Anthony League | 2025–2026 | 9 | 62 | 1 | 115 | 11 |
| 38 | Derrick Clark | 2017–2018 | 7 | 52 | 0 | 59 | 2 |
| 39 | Malik McMorris | 2015–2018 | 19 | 22 | 1 | 132 | 15 |
| 40 | Zion Echols | 2017 | 6 | 17 | 0 | 34 | 5 |
| 41 | Ashton Hayes | 2022 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| 42 | Lucus Gingold | 2013–2014 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 4 |
Also at California: quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, defenders, kickers, punters. Every school and conference: schools, conferences. The games are ESPN's box scores since 2004 (the Method says where they fall short); a position is the roster's, else read off the box score, so a tight end from before 2014 may be listed with the wide receivers.