On October 24, 1998, the Aztecs honored one of the greatest playersin San Diego State football history: running back Marshall Faulk.
During ceremonies at halftime, Faulk had his number 28 jerseyretired while being inducted into the Aztec Hall of Fame in his firstyear of eligibility.
A three-time first-team All-American selection from 1991-93 andrunner-up in the 1992 Heisman Trophy voting, Faulk burst on the nationalstage with an NCAA-record 386 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in thesecond game of his freshman year.
In 1991, he led the nation in rushing (158.8 yards per game) andscoring (15.6 points per game), the first freshman to ever do so. Hebecame just the first freshman to earned Associated Press All-Americanhonors as well as the first Aztec to garner that honor.
Faulk is still SDSU's all-time leading rusher with 4,589 yards, andhe still holds every SDSU career and single-season rushing record butone. He personally elevated recognition of Aztec football nationally asSan Diego State appeared on network telecasts a record 14 times in athree-year period.
Faulk completed his Aztec career owning 19 NCAA records and 18Western Athletic Conference marks. Deciding to forego his senior season,he was the second player taken in the 1994 National Football Leaguedraft. It was the highest an Aztec or any WAC player has ever beendrafted. Since then he has been named the AFC Rookie-of-the-Year (1994)and has been a two-time NFL Pro Bowl selection.
His jersey retirement is the third football number to be so honored,joining receiver Haven Moses (25) and quarterback Todd Santos (#8).
Here's a look at Faulk's many honors and the NCAA records he set asan Aztec:
First Team All-American
Associated Press - 1991-93
Sporting News - 1991-93
Football News - 1992-93
Football Writers of America Assn. - 1992-93
Sporting News - 1992-93
Walter Camp - 1992-93
American Football Coaches Assn. (Kodak) - 1992-93
NCAA Record Collection
Career Scoring Average
12.1 points per game
Career Touchdowns (Three-Year)
62 touchdowns
Career Points (Three-Year)
376 points
Combined Rushing Receiving Yardage (Three-Year)
5.552 yards
Most All-Purpose Yardage by two Players, Same Team
10,523 yards (with Aztec receiver Darnay Scott)
Most Yards Rushing by a Freshman in a Game
386 vs. Pacific (Sept. 14, 1991)
Most All-Purpose Yards in a Game
422 vs. Pacific (386 rushing, 11 receiving, 25 kickoff returns)
Highest Rushing Average by a Freshman
158.8 yards
Earliest game for Freshman Reaching 1,000 Yards Rushing
7 games - 1,157 yards (ties Emmitt Smith)
First Freshman to Lead Nation in Rushing
158.8 yards per game in 1991
First Freshman to Lead Nation in Scoring
15.6 points per game in 1991
Most Rushing TDs in a Game by a Freshman
7 touchdowns vs. Pacific - Sept. 14, 1991
Most Rushing TDs in a Season by a Freshman
21 touchdowns in 1991
Most TD's by a Freshman in a Season
23 in 1991 (21 rushing, 2 receiving).
Highest All-Purpose Yardage Average by a Freshman
184.8 yards per game in 1991
Most Points Scored in a Game by a Freshman
44 vs. Pacific - Sept., 14, 1991 (seven TDs, one two-point conversion)
Most Points Scored in a season by a Freshman
140 points in 1991
Most Rushing Yardage in a Game by two Opposing Players
553 yards - with Ryan Benjamin, Pacific (167) - Sept. 14, 1991
In addition, Faulk's 148.0 yard per game career rushing average ranksas fifth-best in NCAA history. His 4,589 rushing yards ranks fourth inNCAA history among three-year players. His 62 touchdowns and 376 careerpoints both rank second on the NCAA list (not including placekickers).
During his Aztec career (32 games), Faulk rushed for 100 yards ormore 23 times, for 200 yards or more seven times' and for 300 yards ormore twice. In that span, he had 16 games scoring two or more touchdownsand 11 games scoring three or more TDs.