Let’s take a look and see which running backs were the best at keeping the ball secure.
This counts total fumbles, not just fumbles lost. Touches include rushes, receptions, and returns.
Fumble rates
Player | Fumble rate (touches/fumble) | Fumbles |
---|---|---|
Player | Fumble rate (touches/fumble) | Fumbles |
Bo Scarbrough | 96 | 3 |
Damien Harris | 179.7 | 3 |
Derrick Henry | 123.8 | 5 |
Eddie Lacy | 65 | 6 |
Glen Coffee | 64.9 | 7 |
Jalston Fowler* | 66 | 2 |
Josh Jacobs | 105.7 | 3 |
Kenyan Drake | 49.8 | 7 |
Mark Ingram | 211.3 | 3 |
T.J. Yeldon | 62.2 | 10 |
Trent Richardson | 90.9 | 7 |
* Fowler only had 132 career touches, so factor that in however much you want.
Mark Ingram is the GOAT. Though it’s pretty funny (painful?) how two of this three fumbles came at the worst times. Once against Tennessee in 2009 that gave the Vols a shot at a game-winning field goal (but led to Rocky Block). Then there was that killer against Auburn in 2010 where it bounced along the sideline for 17ish yards and resulted in a touchback, giving Auburn the ball.
Damien Harris didn’t have any fumbles (despite some close calls) in 2017 or 2018. He entered the 2018 season with a fumble every 119 touches but jumped past Derrick Henry for second place.
If I had included him, Najee Harris would actually be in first place. He has 188 touches with no fumbles (fingers crossed). There’s a definite chance he could pass Mark Ingram, though he probably won’t come close to Ingram’s 634 touches.