Delone Carter's [Final] Run Through the Record Book

All year long we at The Cuse Connection have tracked Delone Carter's journey through the top-10 of Syracuse University's All-Time Rushing Leaders List. We watched as he passed Syracuse Football legend Ernie Davis (2,386) for 10th All-Time. We cheered as Carter passed Dee Brown (2,626) and David Walker (2,643). Cuse fans rejoiced as Carter etched himself past another legend and NFL Hall of Fame inductee Floyd Little (2,704). We wondered how far he'd go, and Syracuse fans assumed he would settle in somewhere around 3rd or 4th All-Time on Syracuse's rushing list.

Delone Carter entered his final game in a Syracuse uniform with 2,906 total rushing yards in his career, just 28 yards behind another legend of the gridiron, Larry Csonka. In his final game for Doug Marrone, DC3 rushed for a game high 198 yards and two touchdowns in the 2010 New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

His efforts earned Carter the game's MVP trophy, and if it was an audition for the upcoming NFL draft, Delone Carter can sleep well knowing that he put on one of his most ferocious rushing performances in his final college game. Kansas State had trouble wrestling Carter to the ground all game, and DC3 routinely carried defenders for extra yards after initial contact. It was the kind of game power running backs dream of!

With 198 yards, Delone Carter finishes his Syracuse career with 3,104 total yards on the ground on 646 carries with 24 touchdowns. Carter averaged 4.8 yards per attempt in his career, and averaged an amazing 7.3 yards per attempt in the Pinstripe Bowl. Carter cements his name in 3rd place, and closes out his SU career 320 yards behind Walter Reyes' 2nd place career total of 3,424 yards.

At the conclusion of the 2010 football season, the Orangemen's All-Time Rushing List goes as follows:

1. Joe Morris 4,299

2. Walter Reyes 3,424

3. Delone Carter 3,104

4. Larry Csonka 2,934

5. James Mungro 2,869

6. Floyd Little 2,704

7. David Walker 2,643

8. Dee Brown 2,626

9. Bill Hurley 2,551

10. Damien Rhodes 2,461

photo courtesy of michael borkowski

Delone Carter's Run For the Record Book

In Saturday's 28-20 loss to Louisville in the Carrier Dome, Delone Carter ran for 107 yards on 21 carries and 1 touchdown. It was Carter's 10th 100 yard rushing game of his career and also moved him up the leader board to the #5 spot on Syracuse's All-Time Rushing List.

His performance this week moved him past #7 Dee Brown who had 2,626 rushing yards, #6 David Walker (2,643 rushing yards), and Syracuse legend Floyd Little who was fifth on the All-Time list with 2,704 yards. Carter now has 2,724 yards in his career which puts him in 5th place behind only James Mungro, Larry Csonka, Walter Reyes and Joe Morris.

Delone Carter is now 145 yards behind the #4 runner James Mungro, who rushed at Syracuse from 1998 to 2001. He finished his career at Syracuse with 2,869 yards and was the 1999 Music City Bowl MVP, when he rushed for 162 yards and 2 TDs on 12 carries against the University of Kentucky. James Mungro played in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts from 2002-2006.

With three games remaining on Syracuse's regular season schedule, third place on the All-Time leader board is still very much attainable. If Delone Carter averages 71 yards per game over the last three games on the schedule, he will finish with 2,937 yards. That's three more yards than Larry Csonka who currently sits in third place.

Top Ten All-Time Leading Rushers at Syracuse University:

1. Joe Morris 4,299

2. Walter Reyes 3,424

3. Larry Csonka 2,934

4. James Mungro 2,869

5. Delone Carter 2,724

6. Floyd Little 2,704

7. David Walker 2,643

8. Dee Brown 2,626

9. Bill Hurley 2,551

10. Damien Rhodes 2,461

photo courtesy of Michael Borkowski