Ronald Dayne (born March 14, 1978) is an American former football running back who played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1999. He also played professional football for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft. He also played for the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans.
Dayne is one of only two players in college football history to rush for 2,000-plus yards in a single season twice in his career, the other being Troy Davis of Iowa State.[citation needed]
Dayne would be the all-time rushing yards leader in NCAA Division I FBS history, with 7,125 yards with the bowl game statistics included, though the statistics accumulated in bowl games prior to 2002 are not accounted for by the NCAA. Thus, Dayne is officially recognized as the second-leading rusher behind Donnel Pumphrey.