Robert Lavette, Georgia Tech’s all-time leading rusher, has been named to the ACC Legends class of 2013. Lavette, one of just five ACC running backs to clear 4,000 yards, will be honored at the ACC championship game in Charlotte Dec. 7.

Lavette played for Tech 1981-84 for coach Bill Curry, twice going over the 1,000-yard mark. His 19 touchdowns in 1982 set an ACC record (since broken). He was All-ACC in 1982 and 1984. When his Tech career ended, he was the school’s leading career rusher, pass receiver (114 catches) and scorer (276 points). The latter two records are now held by Kelly Campbell (195) and Luke Manget (322 points).

Lavette, who now lives in Austell, also shares the school record for 100-yard games with Tashard Choice (18). Lavette also was productive for teams that were 1-10, 6-5, 3-8 and 6-4-1. He contributed to Tech's upset of No. 1 Alabama in 1981 and ran for 203 yards in a losing effort to No. 1 Georgia in 1982, scoring twice. At that point, he was just second Tech player to run for 200 yards in a game, after Eddie Lee Ivery's 356-yard masterpiece in 1978.

Tech’s other ACC legends: Ken Swilling (2012), Lucius Sanford (2011) Joe Hamilton (2010), Marco Coleman (2009), George Morris (2008), Pat Swilling (2008), Eddie Lee Ivery (2007) and Randy Rhino (2006).

There’s obviously many to pick from for future years. It bears mention that availability is a factor, which is why Mark Price only became an ACC legend this year on the basketball side. Some possibilities: John Davis, Pat Swilling, Willie Clay, Coleman Rudolph.

Another matter: Could Lavette’s rushing record be broken during the Paul Johnson era? I’d say it is entirely possible. Jonathan Dwyer would almost certainly have broken the record had he played his senior season and remained healthy. Dwyer finished with 3,226 yards, while Lavette finished with 4,066. (Dwyer had 517 carries in 40 games, Lavette had 914 carries. I can’t find a game total, but his max would have been 44.)

Dwyer and Anthony Allen both cleared 1,300 yards in their seasons as starting B-back. It would take a B-back on the order of Dwyer or Allen to win the job as a freshman or sophomore, get the large majority of the carries and stay for four years, stay healthy and be consistent and productive, which is a lot of variables. But three 1,200-yard seasons and then a 500-yard season would take care of it. Whether it happens is another matter. It may well turn out that Dwyer will be not only the best B-back to play for Johnson, but simply one of Tech's all-time great backs.

The 2013 class

Name                          School                  Years           Position               Hometown (Current Residence)

Mike Cloud                  Boston College     1995-98       Running Back        Portsmouth, R.I. (Rockwell, Texas)

Terry Kinard                Clemson                 1979-82       Safety                     Sumter, S.C. (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) 

Wes Chesson              Duke                       1968-70       Halfback, End        Edenton, N.C. (Raleigh, N.C.)

Jamie Dukes                Florida State          1982-85       Guard                     Orlando, Fla. (Atlanta, Ga.)

Robert Lavette           Georgia Tech        1981-84       Tailback                  Cartersville, Ga. (Austell, Ga.)

Boomer Esiason          Maryland               1981-83       Quarterback         East Islip, N.Y. (Plandome, N.Y.)

Edgerrin James           Miami                     1996-98       Running Back        Immokalee, Fla. (Miami, Fla.)

Ken Willard                 North Carolina      1962-64       Fullback                 Richmond, Va. (Midlothian, Va.)

Dave Buckey               NC State                 1972-75       Quarterback         Akron, Ohio (Raleigh, N.C.)

Don Buckey                 NC State                 1972-75       Wide Receiver     Akron, Ohio (Raleigh, N.C.)

Johnny Majors            Pittsburgh              1973-76;     Head Coach           Lynchburg, Tenn. (Knoxville, Tenn.)

                                                                      1993-96

Floyd Little                  Syracuse                1964-66       Halfback                 New Haven, Conn.(Syracuse, N.Y.)

Tom Scott                    Virginia                   1950-52       Defensive End      Baltimore, Md. (Charlottesville, Va.)

Andre` Davis               Virginia Tech         1998-01       Wide Receiver     Niskayuna, N.Y. (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)

Jay Venuto                   Wake Forest         1979-80       Quarterback         Salem, N.J. (Newfield, N.Y.)