Donnel Pumphrey, the all-time FBS leading rusher, has a lot to prove at the Senior Bowl

MOBILE, Ala. — Donnel Pumphrey had a prolific career at San Diego State, no matter how you dice his controversial final rushing total. While the NCAA calls him the all-time rushing record holder in the FBS, the postseason rushing totals accrued by Ron Dayne and Tony Dorsett are not counted. In reality, the SDSU running back should be third.

But Pumphrey has bigger fish to fry in Mobile, where he’s trying to prove to NFL talent evaluators that his diminutive stature isn’t going to keep him from finding success.

“I honestly just try to go out there and play with a chip on my shoulder every time I’m on the field and go all out,” Pumphrey said. “I don’t really care what people think. I have heart. A big heart and that’s what got me this far.”

Despite his huge statistics, Pumphrey has an uphill battle after measuring in at 5’8, 169 pounds at the Senior Bowl weigh-in Tuesday morning — 11 pounds lighter than the 180 pounds he was listed as on the SDSU roster. Even Darren Sproles, the poster boy of success for tiny ball carriers, weighs in at 180 pounds.

“I’m not the biggest guy and I know that linebackers and defensive guys are going to try to take my head off,” Pumphrey said. “It’s my job to protect the quarterback and take their head off.”

In the latest mock draft from SB Nation’s Dan Kadar, there are three running backs slated to go in the first round with two in the top eight. At the top of the class are LSU’s Leonard Fournette and Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, each of whom finished far behind Pumphrey in career rushing yards.

But Fournette was listed by LSU as 6’1, 235 pounds and Cook is listed as 5’11, 213 pounds. Both fit the mold of an NFL running back, while Pumphrey will have to prove he has more to offer.

Although showing off rushing ability can be tough during practice reps, it does set the stage for Pumphrey to display his other skills.

“I’m able to show my versatility in the one-on-one drills,” Pumphrey said. “I can show my route-running, as well as my catching. There’s not a lot that you can do here as a running back, but my job is to try and stand out as much as possible and that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to showcase my ability.”

A year ago, 87 of the players invited to the Senior Bowl were selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. Just getting recognized as one of the nation’s elite in Mobile bodes well for Pumphrey’s chances at hearing his name called in April.

“NFL teams are really going to have to figure out where he fits in backfield by committee, most likely,” Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage prior to the week of practices. “He’s a third-down, changeup type of runner, but he runs physically for his size between the tackles.”

And as for the record, Pumphrey understands why Dayne believes there’s “an asterisk” by his name in the history books.

“He should be disappointed,” Pumphrey said. “There’s a lot of yards that are off of his career total, so he has a right to be. It’s just a blessing to have my name up there in the books, to be honest.”

But getting his name on an NFL roster is the next big challenge for the running back who feels like he has a lot to prove.