The Wolverine continues its series of the top 25 Michigan players since 1997 with No. 8, Chris Perry.
Michigan has a great history of running backs, and Perry is near the top of the list of players to play the position in the Maize and Blue.
Perry played well for Michigan throughout his career, but really came on in the 2002 season. That year Perry carried the ball 267 times, currently ninth most in a single season in school history, and found the endzone 14 times. Michigan went 10-3 that season, finishing the year with a 38-30 victory over Florida in the Outback Bowl, and Perry was named the MVP of that game.
The 2003 season is what Perry will be most remembered for, however. That season Perry literally carried the team to victory in certain games, toting the ball a school record 51 times in the Wolverines' 27-20 victory over Michigan State in East Lansing. His 338 attempts that season still stand as the No. 1 mark in single season school history. Perry rushed for 1,674 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2003, leading Michigan to a second 10-3 record in a row, a Big Ten Title and a Rose Bowl appearance. His 18 rushing touchdowns still stand tied as the second best single season total in Michigan history. In four games that season, Perry rushed for over 150 yards and went over 200 yards twice. Perry also caught 44 balls for 367 yards and two touchdowns. His 2,041 all-purpose yards that season are the most by a Wolverine in a single season.
Following the 2003 season, Perry finished fourth in Heisman Trophy Voting and was named a consensus All-American, as well as first team All-Big Ten. Perry also won the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, the Doak Walker Award and the Jim Brown Award. For his career, Perry is third in career attempts, fifth in career rushing touchdowns and seventh in career rushing yards at Michigan.
Perry entered the 2004 NFL Draft and was selected No. 26 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals, the highest drafted Michigan running back since Tim Biakabutuka was drafted No. 8 overall in 1996. Perry was with the Bengals until 2009 but struggled with injuries throughout his career.
The full list:
No. 9: Anthony Thomas
No. 10: Leon Hall
No. 11: Chad Henne
No. 14: Denard Robinson
No. 15: Marlin Jackson
No. 16: Glen Steele
No. 17: David Baas
No. 18: Jourdan Lewis
No. 19: David Harris
No. 20: Ernest Shazor
No. 21: John Navarre
No. 22: Jake Butt
No. 23: David Molk
No. 24: Taco Charlton
No. 25: Jeremy Gallon
