Few running backs in Terrier football history had better back-to-back seasons than Gregg Drew enjoyed in 1980 and 1981. In 22 games over those two years, he rushed for a total of 2416 yards and 21 touchdowns on 547 carries. He had 23 receptions for 169 yards, and two TDs.
No one could have predicted he would have such an impact during those two years for he was coming off major reconstructive knee surgery. In 1979, as a sophomore, he was in the starting lineup when the Terriers opened the season against Maine. On his 13th carry of the game, Drew went down with the season-ending injury.
With the outstanding efforts of noted surgeon and Terrier team physician Dr. Robert Leach, and Drew's hard work, he was the Terriers' starting back when the Terriers opened the 1980 season against Kings Point. In the 42-0 win, Drew rushed for 154 yards on 24 carries, and he was off and running. By season's end, he had 1159 yards and eight TDs on 238 carries. He also had 17 receptions for 107 yards and two TDs.
The team finished with a 9-2 record, won its second straight Yankee Conference title with a 5-0 record and finished 10th in the final NCAA Division I-AA poll.
The following season, he improved with 1257 yards and 13 TDs on 309 carries. In addition, Drew caught six passes for 62 yards. He was named All-New England, All-East, Second Team AP All-American and First Team Coaches' All-American. The Terriers finished with its fourth straight winning record, marking the first time in 30 years that Terrier football teams were able to accomplish that.
Drew ranks fourth in the Terrier career record books in carries (640) and yards (2852), while he is sixth in points (156).
"Gregg was the prototypical I-back," said Rick Taylor, head coach at the time. "He was a hard-running back with good speed. He was also a tough kid who loved to play or he might not have been able to bounce back after that knee surgery. He was also well liked by the guys on the team. Sometimes when you are the featured player on a team, there can be resentment on the part of some of the players. But that wasn't the case with Gregg. He is certainly worthy of being in the Hall of Fame."
