Tim Biakabutuka
Tshimanga "Tim" Biakabutuka is a former American football running back. He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1993 to 1995, and was drafted with the eight overall pick in the 1996 [NFL draft] by the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He holds the Michigan Wolverines [football statistical leaders|Michigan Wolverines single-season rushing record] with 1,818 rushing yards in 1995. He is also distinguished as being the first Zairian to play in the NFL.
Early life
Biakabutuka left the former Zaire with his family for Canada when he was four years old, settling in the Montreal area, where his family still lives. He did not play gridiron football until his high school in Longueuil organized a team. After grade 11, he attended CEGEP at Vanier College in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, where his football exploits earned him the nickname "Touchdown Tim" and a scholarship to play college football at the University of Michigan.College career
Biakabutuka enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1993 and played college football for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1993 to 1995. As a freshman in 1993, he was a backup to Tyrone Wheatley and Ricky Powers, but he saw significant action against Purdue on November 6, 1993, rushing for 140 yards and scoring two touchdowns on 24 carries.As a sophomore, Biakabutuka was again a backup to Wheatley, being used as a starter in only one game. Despite his role as a backup, Biakabutuka rushed for 783 yards and had four 100-yard games.
Biakabutuka became the Wolverines' full-time starting running back in 1995. That year, he broke Jamie Morris's single-season rushing record. Biakabutuka totalled 1,818 rushing yards on 303 carries during the 1995 season. On November 25, 1995, he rushed for 313 yards on 37 carries in a 31–23 victory over previously unbeaten Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]. His performance against Ohio State ranks as the second highest single-game performance in Michigan history, trailing only Ron Johnson's 347-yard game against Wisconsin in 1968.