Every 1,000-Yard Rusher in Mississippi State Football History
By Chris Wright
Last Updated:
What if I told you one of the greatest rushers in Mississippi State football history wasn’t a running back?
It’s true, though.
Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald twice rushed for 1,000 yards in a season as a Bulldog. Not only that, his totals rank No. 3 and No. 9 all-time on MSU’s single-season rushing list. They’re the most by a quarterback in program history.
Here’s a detailed look at Mississippi State’s 1,000-yard rushing history entering the 2025 season.
Miss State’s 1,000-Yard Rushers
Six of Mississippi State’s 1,000-yard rushing seasons happened during the Dan Mullen era (2009-2017). It’s worth noting that Dak Prescott also would have rushed for 1,000 yards in 2014. Prescott rushed for 1,125 yards that season, but his official total was 986 yards due to 139 yards he lost on sacks.
MSU’s Single-Season Rushing Record Progression
In 1973, Wayne Jones became the first Mississippi State football player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, thus setting the program record. Here’s a look at every record-holder since (bold indicates the year the record was broken):
Every 1,000-Yard Rusher by SEC School
Here’s the complete history for every SEC school’s 1,000-yard rushers and single-season record holders:
- Alabama’s 1000-yard rushers
- Arkansas’ 1000-yard rushers
- Auburn’s 1000-yard rushers
- Florida’s 1000-yard rushers
- Georgia’s 1000-yard rushers
- Kentucky’s 1000-yard rushers
- LSU’s 1000-yard rushers
- Mississippi State’s 1000-yard rushers
- Missouri’s 1000-yard rushers
- Oklahoma’s 1000-yard rushers
- Ole Miss’ 1000-yard rushers
- South Carolina’s 1000-yard rushers
- Tennessee’s 1000-yard rushers
- Texas’ 1000-yard rushers
- Texas A&M’s 1000-yard rushers
- Vanderbilt’s 1000-yard rushers
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
