Sunday, June 14, 2020

Top 100 High School Career Rushing Leaders

While bouncing around football topics I landed on this list of high school rushing leaders at MaxPreps. Whenever I think of the most accomplished runners in the history of this nation's high schools I can't help but think of Sugar Land's Ken Hall. As a single-wing quarterback from 1950-53, Hall posted rushing yardage that wouldn't be touched for nearly 60 years. He once gained 520 yards in a game, on 11 carries. Ridiculous numbers were the norm for Hall. It's interesting that after so many decades two backs passed Hall in during the same season. Kelvin Taylor, Glades Day (FL), was the first in 2012. Seven days later, current Tennessee Titan freight train Derrick Henry, Yulee (FL), passed Taylor. 59 years after Hall's last high school carry.

Football has changed so much since Ken Hall's days. Passing out of spread formations has become the norm at all levels. For years, many high school football players have been spending their summers competing in 7-on-7 leagues. It's all passing and that simply rolls into the fall game. One would think that a list of high school career rushing leaders would be littered with players from Hall's days and the decades following. Players like Doak Walker, Earl Campbell, Billy Sims, Marcus Dupree. Running backs from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. That isn't the case. 17 of the Top 20 career leaders played at least some of the high school career in this century. #3 Ken Hall (1950-53, #12 Mac Campbell (1993-97), and #19 Troy Flemming (1995-98) are the only backs among the Top 20 that played before 2000. 80% of the Top 100 high school rushing leaders played at least some the prep days in the last 20 years. The high school running back isn't endangered.

#33 Emmitt Smith, Escambia (FL), is the only running back on the list that went on to excel on the college and NFL levels.

No Adrian Peterson! I was scanning the list for Peterson until I remembered that he only played two years of varsity football.
Jr year: 2,051 yards
Sr year: 2,960 yards

from MaxPreps:
The list was compiled using the MaxPreps leaderboards, the National Federation of High Schools record book, state association record books, the Georgia High School Football Historians website and Joe Lee Smith's Texas High School Football History website. The totals include all varsity seasons including those played by eighth-graders. The NFHS record book does not recognize yardage gained by an eighth-grade player on the varsity level.

Top 100 High School Career Rushing Leaders:

*State record holder
1.    12,124, Derrick Henry, Yulee (Fla.), 2009-12*
2.    12,063, Kelvin Taylor, Glades Day (Belle Glade, Fla.), 2008-12
3.    11,232, Ken Hall, Sugar Land (Texas), 1950-53*
4.    11,045, Michael Hart, Onondaga (Nedrow, N.Y.), 2000-03*
5.    10,895, Kevin Parks Jr., West Rowan (Mt. Ulla, N.C.), 2006-09*
6.    10,889, Johnathan Gray, Aledo (Texas), 2008-11
7.    10,867, Charlie Spegal, New Palestine (Ind.), 2016-19*
8.    10,685, Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia (Conn.), 2010-13*
9.    10,292, Traylon Shead, Cayuga (Texas), 2006-09
10.  10,241, Toney Baker, Ragsdale (Jamestown, N.C.), 2001-04

11.   9,868, Trevor Speights, McAllen Memorial (McAllen, Texas), 2012-15
12.   9,839, Mac Campbell, Alexandria (Ala.), 1993-97*
13.   9,819, Terrance Hollingsworth, Berry (Ala.), 2009-13
14.   9,668, Terrance Wilkes, Wadley (Ala.), 2003-06
15.   9,662, Toby Gerhart, Norco (Calif.), 2002-05*
16.   9,650, Daniel Bangura, Harvest Prep (Canal Winchester, Ohio), 2014-17*
17.   9,561, Cory Kyle, Seagraves (Texas), 2012-15
18.   9,475, Kellen Overstreet, Penney (Hamilton, Mo.), 2011-14*
19.   9,442, Troy Fleming, Battle Ground Academy (Franklin, Tenn.), 1995-98*
20.   9,426, Tyrell Sutton, Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio), 2001-04

21.   9,207, Jamarius Henderson, Dale County (Midland City, Ala.), 2011-14
22.   9,193, Brad Hocker, Archie (Mo.), 1988-91
23.   9,078, Rushel Shell, Hopewell (Aliquippa, Pa.), 2008-11*
24.   9,076, Demetris Summers, Lexington (S.C.), 1999-2002*
25.   9,045, James Robinson, Lutheran (Rockford, Ill.), 2012-15*
26.   9,042, Grayson Overstreet, Staunton River (Moneta, Va.), 2014-17*
27.   9,027, Jeremiah Young, Steelton-Highspire (Steelton, Pa.), 2005-08
28.   9,004, T.A. McLendon, Albemarle (N.C.), 1999-2001
29.   8,981, Elijah Hood, Charlotte Catholic (Charlotte, N.C.), 2011-13
30.   8,855, Wes Danaher, Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas), 1992-95

31.   8,844, Monte Williams, Commerce (Commerce, Ga.), 1997-2000*
32.   8,806, Nick Brossette, University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.), 2010-14*
33.   8,804, Emmitt Smith, Escambia (Pensacola, Fla.), 1983-86
34.   8,745, Branden Rankins, Aquinas (San Bernardino, Calif.), 2014-17
35.   8,661, Kenny Hilliard, Patterson (La.), 2007-10
36.   8,633, J.J. Jude, Johnson Central (Paintsville, Ky.), 2008-11*
37.   8,595, Tommy Henry, Maiden (N.C.), 2003-06
38.   8,595, Ryan Brumfield, Owen J. Roberts (Pottstown, Pa.), 2007-10
39.   8,586, Jacob Bruce, Hulbert (Okla.), 2015-18*
40.   8,552, Trey Robinson, Mountain Heritage (Burnsville, N.C.), 2014-17

41.   8,551, Caleb Schaffitzel, Fair Grove (Fair Grove, Mo.), 2006-09
42.   8,536, Tim Simon, Cordova (Ala.), 2005-08
43.   8,502, Lorenzo Booker, St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.), 1999-2001
44.   8,477, Caleb Pratt, Westville (Ill.), 2004-07
45.   8,472, DeAngelo Evans, Collegiate (Wichita, Kan.), 1992-95*
46.   8,460, Cory McCaffrey, Sisters (Ore.), 2003-06*
47.   8,443, Larry Dupree, Luther (Okla.), 1996-98
48.   8,441, Rodney Thomas, Groveton (Texas), 1987-90
49.   8,432, James Mungro, East Stroudsburg, (Pa.), 1993-96
50.   8,431, Kevin Grady Jr., East Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids, Mich.), 2001-04*

51.   8,423, Cedric Benson, Midland Lee (Midland, Texas), 1998-00
52.   8,411, Robert Strait, Cuero (Texas), 1985-88
53.   8,394, Dominick Bragalone, South Williamsport (Pa.), 2012-14
54.   8,334, Isaiah Woullard, Presbyterian Christian (Hattiesburg, Miss.), 2013-16*
55.   8,325, Zach Barket, Schuylkill Haven (Pa.), 2006-08
56.   8,302, Jacquizz Rogers, Lamar Consolidated (Rosenberg, Texas), 2004-07
57.   8,279, Alex Thomas, Ansonia (Conn.), 2004-07
58.   8,254, Noah Ingrahm, Scott Central (Forest, Miss.), 1998-2000
59.   8,248, Kyle Bell, Weld Central (Keenesburg, Colo.), 2000-03*
60.   8,246, Gaige Garcia, Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.), 2016-19

61.   8,224, Derek Homer, Fort Knox (Ky.), 1993-96
62.   8,222, Montee Ball, Timberland (Wentzville, Mo.), 2005-08
63.   8,216, Jason Bainum, Williamsburg (Ohio), 1998-2001
64.   8,213, Anthony Wales, Central (Louisville, Ky.), 2008-11
65.   8,143, Buddy Hanson, Tom Bean (Texas), 2000-03
66.   8,110, Sam Mireles, Elwood (Ind.), 2010-13
67.   8,108, Washaun Ealey, Emanuel County Institute (Twin City, Ga.), 2006-08
68.   8,103, Trey Williams, Dekaney (Houston, Texas), 2009-11
69.   8,097, Michael Dyer, Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock, Ark.), 2006-09*
70.   8,095, Don Ragsdale, Pisgah (Sandhill, Miss.), 2013-17

71.   8,059, Brandon Reese, Texas School for Deaf (Houston, Texas), 1996-99
72.   8,048, Germaine Williams, Ascension Catholic (Donaldsonville, La.), 1986-89
73.   8,029, Edgar Segura, Mendota (Calif.), 2011-13
74.   8,003, Marco Dailey, Mt. Pleasant (Tenn.), 2004-07
75.   7,999, Antonio Williams, North Stanly (New London, N.C.), 2012-15
76.   7,966, Tony Dixon, Parrish (Ala.), 1999-2003
77.   7,962, Tavon Austin, Dunbar (Baltimore), 2005-08*
78.   7,947, Willie Green, Osceola (Kissimmee, Fla.), 1996-99
79.   7,930, Markel Jones, Columbus East (Columbus, Ind.), 2012-14
80.   7,924, Jeremiah Crawford, Mineola (Texas), 2013-16

81.   7,922, Jacques Patrick, Timber Creek (Orlando, Fla.), 2011-14
82.   7,908, Kendal Gibson, Aliceville (Ala.), 1997-2000
83.   7,866, Robert Toomer, Worth County (Sylvester, Ga.), 1988-91
84.   7,860, D'Angelo Jones, Foothill (Henderson, Nev.), 2003-06*
85.   7,842, Josh Culbertson, Nitro (W. Va.), 2002-05*
86.   7,839, Jeremy Britt, Danville (Ky.), 1995-98
87.   7,834, Cecil Collins, Leesville (La.), 1993-95
88.   7,827, Zach Sherman, Platte County (Platte City, Mo.), 1998-2001
89.   7,813, Tim Shaw, Clarenceville (Livonia, Mich.), 1998-2001
90.   7,805, Ethan Wright, Manchester (Akron, Ohio), 2016-19

91.   7,803, Bradley Stephens, McAllen Memorial (McAllen, Texas), 2003-06
92.   7,802, LenDale White, Chatfield (Littleton, Colo.), 1999-2002
93.   7,800, Jason Gwaltney, North Babylon (North Babylon, N.Y.), 2001-04
94.   7,799, Rob Standard, Chaminade (St. Louis), 2008-10
95.   7,787, Deronte McNeill, Northeastern (Elizabeth City, N.C.), 2003-06
96.   7,782, Anthony Saunders, Western Guilford (Greensboro, N.C.), 1993-96
97.   7,775, Jonathan Stewart, Timberline (Lacey, Wash.), 2001-04*
98.   7,774, Sheldon Wilson, Anadarko (Okla.), 2008-11
99.   7,767, Rocky Reid, Concord (N.C.), 2011-14
100. 7,761, Dominique Dorsey, Tulare Union (Tulare, Calif.), 1997-2000
100. 7,761, Carlos Snow, Academy of Physical Education (Cincinnati, Ohio), 1983-86

Some notables in bold

No comments:

Post a Comment