Cam Akers’ historic day vaults him up FSU career rushing ranks

You never want to make too much out of one performance. Even if that performance was one of the best your program has ever seen. Sure, Florida State running back Cam Akers tied the Seminole record for rushing touchdowns in one game during Saturday’s win over Syracuse.

But his four scores where just part and parcel of an exceptional junior campaign for the Mississippi native, whose name is rising among the ranks of all FSU RBs, and across all records.

Since Saturday’s big story was Akers’ scores, let’s start there. In his freshman year of 2017, Akers rushed for seven touchdowns, followed by six last year. Obviously, neither of those totals crack the top 20 for a single season as a ’Nole. But after this weekend’s four, he jumped from eight TDs to 12 in 2019. Those dozen scores are already tied for a top-10 mark in a lone FSU campaign. Here’s who’s still ahead of Akers.

1: Greg Allen (1982), 20

T2: Dalvin Cook (2015), 19

T2: Dalvin Cook (2016), 19

4: Amp Lee (1990), 16

T5: Dayne Williams (1987), 15

T5: Antone Smith (2008), 15

7: Devonta Freeman (2013), 14

T8: Greg Allen (1983), 13

T8: Warrick Dunn (1995), 13

T10: Pooh Bear Williams (1995), 12

T10: Warrick Dunn (1996), 12

T10: Cam Akers (2019), 12

Akers is now even higher up the list of career rushing TDs at Florida State.

1: Dalvin Cook (2014-2016), 46

2: Greg Allen (1981-1984), 44

3: Warrick Dunn (1993-1996), 37

T4: Amp Lee (1989-1991), 30

T4: Devonta Freeman (2011-2013), 30

6: Travis Minor (1997-2000), 28

7: Antone Smith (2005-2008), 26

8: Cam Akers (2017-present), 25

As far as yardage goes, Akers’ previous season high came in 2017, when he rushed for 1,024 yards. That’s ninth in a single-season as a Seminole— but not for long, because he’s about to break his own personal best, along with the marks of several others. Akers now has 917 yards in 2019, already 20th.

1: Dalvin Cook (2016), 1,765

2: Dalvin Cook (2015), 1,691

3: Warrick Dunn (1995), 1,242

4: Sammie Smith (1987), 1,230

5: Warrick Dunn (1996), 1,180

6: Greg Allen (1983), 1,134

7: Larry Key (1977), 1,117

8: Warrick Dunn (1994), 1,026

9: Cam Akers (2017), 1,024

10: Devonta Freeman (2013), 1,016

11: Mark Lyles (1979), 1,011

12: Dalvin Cook (2014), 1,008

13: Sam Platt (1980), 983

14: Amp Lee (1991), 977

15: Greg Allen (1984), 971

16: Leon Washington (2004), 951

17: Hodges Mitchell (1972), 944

18: Greg Jones (2002), 938

19: Travis Minor (2000), 923

20: Cam Akers (2019), 917

But Akers’ career-yardage résumé looks even better among FSU greats. Just five ’Noles remain in front of him.

1: Dalvin Cook (2014-2016), 4,464

2: Warrick Dunn (1993-1996), 3,959

3: Greg Allen (1981-1984), 3,769

4: Travis Minor (1997-2000), 3,218

5: Larry Key (1974-1977), 2,953

6: Cam Akers (2017-present), 2,647

Considering the offensive lines behind which Akers has played, these are really astonishing totals— but he’s not done yet. So, how high do you think Akers can climb on these lists?