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Anthony Thompson

Running Back

Inducted 2007

Date of Birth

4/8/1967

Birthplace

Terre Haute, IN

School

Indiana University (1986-1989)

Bio

Anthony Thompson impressed everyone. His teammates, coaches, opposing coaches and players were all in awe of Thompson. Iowa's Hayden Fry said, "Anthony Thompson is by far the best running back we've seen in years and years and years." As a freshman, Thompson missed the first six weeks of practice due to a deep thigh bruise and did not make his first start until the season's eighth game. In that game, he set a Big Ten freshman rushing recorded with 207 yards. Despite his late start, he was the team's leading rusher at season's end. The following year, Anthony became a 1,000-yard rusher as he surpassed the 100-yard barrier in five different games. Thompson also displayed an ability to come out of the backfield as a pass receiver. He became one of the nation's top backs as a junior when he became a consensus All-America selection and placed ninth in the Heisman voting. His rushing totals were third nationally, he placed eighth in all-purpose yardage, and was the nation's second leading scorer with 24 touchdowns. Anthony also won the prestigious Silver Football as the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player. As a senior, he narrowly missed winning the Heisman in one of the closest votes in the trophy's history. However, he did win the Maxwell and Camp Awards, the two other major player of the year trophies. In individual statistics, he led the nation in both rushing and scoring and was fourth in all-purpose yardage. At the end of his career he held the all-time FBS record for touchdowns. IU now names its MVP award in his name.