Great list. I'm pretty sure I remember during games that they would announce Okoye's weight as 260. Perhaps that was with pads.

And a small critique. Would you include the teams they played for next time? Thanks.

Was about to say the same thing.

I would hear stuff about this mountain of a human being just destroying dudes in Central Kansas when I was in Kirksville. I didn't think much of it; he didn't even really stay on my radar when he was at Auburn.

But then when he kinda burst onto the scene for the Giants I was like "Wait a minute, is THAT the monster that played at Coffeyville?"

Dude was taaaaaaall for a RB, that's why he's as heavy as he is. Henry is sort of the same way. That's why you had to love guys like Heyward and Tolbert - those dudes were like 5'10'' and built like bowling balls.

Excellent thread. I'm a huge fan of the "phat backs" myself.

Guys like Barry Foster, Means, Okoye, etc...

I remember that as well. For some reason I also thought Marion Motley was a monster of 280 or something. But I'm just using the PFR listed weight, and they seem to run a little smaller than i remember.

Talking about 'perceived size' - you figure it's because Henry is an upright runner?

I seriously have no idea how that guy has any ribs left. You're right, he looks like a planet out there and it has to be because he's just running through the line like me on a morning jog. Guy doesn't get himself behind his pads at all.

But somehow he's the guy delivering blows more often than not.

Still not sure how he abuses teams the way he does. Seems like he should end up with a bruised spleen pretty much every week.

I remember that DVD offense in Atlanta. Warrick Dunn, Vick, and Duckett. Thunder and lightning.

i think the pads have gotten more "space age", if you will......so much slimmer than back in the 70s and 80s.

Okoye looked like he had two satellite dishes for shoulder pads!

The pads in the past definitely make a visual comparison difficult. Big backs were 225 to 235 back in the 70's and 80's but looked like mountains.

James Wilder was 225 but in pads looks bigger. My favorite clip of him against Nebraska below. Great game, that team was loaded but always seemed to play down to competition as well as up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzMil-f8MpE

The Nigerian Nightmare
 

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Brandon Jacobs was a load. I'll never forget him running over Laron Landry.

Landry may as well have been a speed bump.

durr William Perry durrrrrrrr

When I think of really big backs who were hard to stop:
Marion Motley
Larry Csonka
Christian Okoye
Earl Campbell
Ironhead Heyward
Jerome Bettis
Norm Bulash
Cookie Gillcrist
Ickey Woods
John Riggins

Bush was playing while at least 260 while a Raider. He might have been 243 when drafted.

Since you mentioned Derrick Henry in the opening.

It is going to be really interesting to see what happens with Derrick and the Tennessee Titans with him being a UFA free agent this next year.

He certainly deserves to be paid. He is a very important part of the Titans offense.

BUT, how much do you pay and for how many years with a physical back that probably has a very limited number of years to be good?

Titans also have to deal with giving Ryan Tannehill a big increase of the Salary Cap Pie.

Possible big backs in the 2020 NFL draft.

A.J. Dillon, 6-0, 250 Boston College, 4.58 est 40, JR declared, Shoe Size ???

Najee Harris, 6-2, 230 Alabama, 4.53 est 40, JR undeclared but has until 7 days after National Championship game. Again no idea on shoe size.