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Tennessee football’s 10 RBs with greatest NFL careers

By Caleb Calhoun

BALTIMORE - DECEMBER 28: Running back Jamal Lewis #31 of the Baltimore Ravens on the sideline during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 28, 2003 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won 13-10 in overtime. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE - DECEMBER 28: Running back Jamal Lewis #31 of the Baltimore Ravens on the sideline during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 28, 2003 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won 13-10 in overtime. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images /

2004-2008. Arian Foster. 2. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Years in NFL: 8. 839

Teams played for:

  • Houston Texans, 2009-2015
  • Miami Dolphins, 2016

Arian Foster is obviously the overachieving story on here. After redshirting for Tennessee football in 2004, he became the starter midway through 2005 due to a season-ending injury to Gerald Riggs Jr. Injuries made for an up and down career, but he still finished second all-time on the school’s rushing list with 2,964 career yards.

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An underwhelming senior season due to the transition to Dave Clawon’s offense, which saw the Vols go 5-7 and fire Phillip Fulmer, hurt Arian Foster’s draft stock along with nagging injuries that year. As a result, he went undrafted but signed with the Houston Texans.

By late 2009, though, Foster demonstrated his ability to pick up the position and learn offenses quickly, and his vision and size at 6’1″ 227 pounds made up for any perceived lack of speed. As a result, he became the starter in 2010.

That year, Foster burst onto the scene, leading the league with 1,616 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. He also had a league-leading 2,220 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns. Two years later, Foster led the league in rushing touchdowns again with 15. He had three straight seasons of over 1,200 yards and made three straight Pro Bowls.

Related Story. Vols top 10 NFL single seasons of 2010s. light

Foster helped lead Houston to its first two playoff appearances in 2011 and 2012. He went for over 1,200 yards and made a fourth Pro Bowl in 2014, and he finished his career with the Miami Dolphins in 2016. In eight years, Foster had 6,527 rushing yards, 8,873 yards from scrimmage and 68 total touchdowns. He became a surprise star from UT.

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