The list of elite NCAA running backs from Alaska is short and sweet. There are three names in the fraternity, and a new one hasn’t been added in 20 years.
Until now.
Fairbanks’ Josh Cummings has carved his name into Alaska’s Mount Rushmore of college running backs.
Not since the likes of Yohance Humphery, Rocky Klever and Mike Connaker has a college running back from Alaska dominated the ground game in this fabulous fashion.
Yohance Humphery
Rocky Klever
Mike Connaker
Josh Cummings
Cummings has made a statement after the Western Colorado University senior surpassed the 1,000-yard benchmark for the season and extended his personal scoring streak to eight games.
Cummings is just the third Alaskan to produce a 1,000-yard season and became the second flex player from the state to score a touchdown in eight straight NCAA games.
His 15 touchdowns this year are third most for an Alaska running back.
Wait, there’s more.
Earlier this year he became the fourth Alaskan to score four touchdowns in a game and moved into the top-5 on the state’s all-time list with a career-high 206-yard game.
Historic stuff.
“It feels crazy,” Cummings said of his breakout campaign. “Honestly, I’m extremely blessed and grateful for how this season has gone so far.”
He kept it going Saturday against Colorado Mesa with 128 yards a touchdown to power Western Colorado to a 23-9 victory in NCAA Division 2 action.
The former West Valley star leads the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with 1,050 yards, 15 touchdowns and a 116.7-yard per game average.
His high games read like bowling scores – 206, 163, 154. He’s had five games with two or more touchdowns.
But his greatest accomplishment is matching Humphrey’s scoring streak of eight games as well as equaling Humphery’s touchdown total during the streak (15).
Humphery, of Chugiak High fame, is widely considered the greatest running back from Alaska. At the University of Montana, the player better known as ‘Yo’ rushed for 4,825 yards and 61 total TDs between 1998 and 2001.
“I’m honored to be compared to Yo,” Cummings said. “He was a great running back and I’m lucky to be in the same conversation.”
Comparing players from different eras can be tough, but statistics do help gauge greatness.
Led by Cummings, Western Colorado is 8-1 with at least two more games to play. Plenty of time for Cummings to add to his totals.
But he’s not necessarily driven by statistics.
“I think about them sometimes for sure,” he said, “but my main motivation is trying to be someone my teammates can always rely on to make plays regardless of the situation and to do that you have to work hard and be consistent, so that’s really helped push me this season.”
Longest TD Streak
8 games (15 TDs) Yohance Humphery Montana 2001
8 games (15 TDs) Josh Cummings Western Colorado 2021
Scored 4 TDs NCAA Game
1980 Rocky Klever Montana
1996 Mike Connaker Western Colorado
2001 Yohance HumpheryMontana
2021 Josh Cummings Western Colorado
1,000-yard Rushing NCAA Season
2,101 Yohance Humphery Montana 2001
1,363 Yohance Humphery Montana 1999
1,129 Yohance Humphery Montana 2000
1,050 Josh Cummings Western Colorado 2021
1,042 Mike Connaker Missouri Western 1999
Most Rushing Yards NCAA Game
265 Yohance Humphery Montana 2001
216 Mike Connaker Missouri Western 1998
206 Josh Cummings Western Colorado 2021
201 Yohance Humphery Montana 2001
197 Yohance Humphery Montana 2000
197 Parker Kizer Luther 2019
194 Yohance Humphery Montana 2000
185 Rocky Klever Montana 1981
179 Mike Connaker Western Colorado 1996
167 Yohance Humphery Montana 1999
Most Rushing Yards NCAA Career
4,825 Yohance Humphery Montana 1998-2001
2,911 Mike Connaker Missouri Western / Western Colorado 1996-2000
2,228 Rocky Klever Montana 1977-1981
1,413 Josh Cummings Western Colorado 2018-
1,134 Brandon Miles Bemidji State 2008-2011
Most Rushing TDs NCAA Season
23 Yohance Humphery Montana 2001
17 Yohance Humphery Montana 1999
15 Josh Cummings Western Colorado 2021
13 Yohance Humphery Montana 2000
11 Mike Connaker Western Colorado 1996