Ranking the Top 5 Florida Gator Running Backs of All-Time
#4 Neal Anderson (1982-1985)
Complementing John L. Williams out of the backfield, Neal Anderson carried the bulk of the work between the two backs. At Florida, Anderson ran for 30 touchdowns and 3,234 yards. As these stats clearly indicate, he played a big role in both of Florida’s 9-1-1 seasons as a junior and a senior in 1984 and 1985. He was also a member of that 1983 squad that won the Gator Bowl. In essence, his collegiate wins and losses mirror those of Williams.
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While out-gaining Williams by approximately 800 more yards and running for 16 more touchdowns than him, it is no surprise that Anderson garnered some awards during his playing days at Florida. Some of these accolades include:
- Honorable mention All-American in 1984 and 1985
- First Team All-SEC in 1985
- UF Hall of Fame inductee in 1995
It seemed like the only thing Anderson could not beat Williams in was draft status. In the 1986 NFL Draft, Anderson went 27th overall to the Chicago Bears, 12 spots behind his teammate. His time in the NFL was shorter than Williams but still productive as he went to four Pro Bowls in his seven-year career.
Next: No. 3 Fred Taylor