All-time high school football rushing leaders from each state

Hall set the Texas — and national — career rushing record with 11,232 yards in 1953. His national record lasted 59 years until Derrick Henry of Yulee (Fla.) broke the mark in 2012. His Texas record still stands 66 years later.

The newest name on the list? That state rushing record was broken Saturday, as in last Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. On that day, Alfred Failauga of Waipahu (Hawaii) added to the state record he set in August with 188 yards against Moanalua. Failauga is one of two running backs, Charlie Spegal of New Palestine (Ind.) is the other, who broke state rushing records this year. Spegal had 169 yards last Friday against Pendleton Heights.



MaxPreps presents Hall, Failauga and Spegal among the list of the all-time leading rushers from each state. But first, a few qualifying criteria. One, not every state has a state association record book that tracks all-time records. In fact, only 22 state associations post a record book on their respective websites.

Another 22 states have state records that are compiled and maintained by non-state association affiliated groups, including newspapers like the Clarion Ledger in Mississippi and the Boston Globe in Massachusetts, and noted historians, like Joe Lee Smith in Texas and Mark Tennis of Cal-Hi Sports in California.

Another six states have no state association record book or outside group that maintains a record book. Those states include Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Vermont. For these states, we researched the top running backs the state has produced and went with the highest rushing total available. If there is a discrepancy for those states, please e-mail Kevin Askeland at kevinaskeland65@gmail.com

The Top All-Time Rushing Leader From Each State
Alabama
Mac Campbell, Alexandria, 9,839
Years: 1993-97
Best Season: 1997 — 2,596 yards
Source: Alabama High School Athletic Association record book.
What Ever Happened?: Played sparingly at University of Alabama Birmingham

Alaska
Perry Monzulla, North Pole, 4,616
Years: 2003-04
Best Season: 2004 — 2,860 yards (state single-season record)
Source: Alaska Preps (Alaska does not have an official record book through the state association).
What Ever Happened?: Attended Eastern Arizona Junior College.

Arizona
Casey Jahn, Northwest Christian (Phoenix), 7,544
Years: 2008-11
Best Season: 2010 — 2,583 yards
Source: AIAonline.org record book
What Ever Happened?: Earned All-Big Sky honors while at Northern Arizona University.



Arkansas
Michael Dyer, Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock), 8,097
Years: 2006-09
Best Season: 2007 — 2,710 yards
Source: Arkansas Activities Association record book
What Ever Happened?: Started at Auburn, where he was named MVP of the BCS National Championship game against Oregon. Eventually transferred to Arkansas State.

California
Toby Gerhart, Norco, 9,662
Years: 2002-05
Best Season: 2005 — 3,233 yards
Source: Cal-Hi Sports Record Book & Almanac
What Ever Happened?: Attended Stanford and was All-American in 2009. Played in the NFL for six seasons with Vikings and Jaguars.

Colorado
Kyle Bell, Weld Central (Keenesburg), 8,248
Years: 2000-03
Best Season: 2003 — 2,733 yards.
Source: CHSAAnow.com record book
What Ever Happened?: Finished his career as ninth all-time leading rusher at Colorado State.

Connecticut
Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 10,685
Years: 2010-13
Best Season: 2013 — 3,867 yards (state single-season record; 2011 — 3,763 yards.
Source: Connecticut State Football Record Book, by Bob Barton and Gerry deSimas Jr.
What Ever Happened?: Played at UConn where he led the team in rushing as a sophomore and junior.

Delaware
Will Knight, Smyrna, 6,490
Years: 2015-17
Best Season: 2017 — 2,164 yards
Source: Delawareonline, May 15, 2019.
What Ever Happened?: Started college career at Old Dominion before transferring to Delaware in 2019.

Florida
Derrick Henry, Yulee, 12,124 (National No. 1 all-time)
Years: 2009-12
Best Season: 2012 — 4,261 yards (state single-season record)
Source: Florida Prep Records, by Buddy Collings
What Ever Happened?: Won the Heisman Trophy at Alabama. Currently playing for Tennessee Titans in NFL.



Georgia
Monte Williams, Commerce, 8,844
Years: 1997-2000
Best Season: 2000 — 2,505 yards
Source: Georgia High School Football Historians website
What Ever Happened?: Played two seasons at Butler Community College in Kansas.

Hawaii
Alfred Failauga, Waipahu, 5,066
Years: 2016-19
Best Season: 2017 — 1,503 yards
Source: Hawaii Prep World record book
What Ever Happened?: Failauga is still adding to his record as he broke the state mark in early August.

Idaho
Keegan Duncan, Declo, 7,008
Years: 2015-18
Best Season: 2017 — 2,843 yards
Source: Various Idaho newspapers. Idaho does not have an official state association record book.
What Ever Happened?: Attended Boise State in the fall, but tore ACL. Transferring to Utah State.

Illinois
James Robinson, Lutheran (Rockford), 9,045
Years: 2012-15
Best Season: 2013 — 2,469 yards
Source: Illinois High School Association record book.
What Ever Happened?: Currently in senior year at Illinois State. Was FCS All-American as a junior.

Indiana
Charlie Spegal, New Palestine, 8,705 (and counting)
Years: 2016-19
Best Season: 2018 v3,356 yards (state single-season record)
Source: Indiana High School Athletic Association record book.
What Ever Happened?: Spegal is in the middle of his senior season at New Palestine.
Iowa
Levi Ferguson, North Mahaska (New Sharon), 7,142
Years: 2002-05
Best Season: 2005 — 3,082 yards
Source: Iowa High School Sports google site.
What Ever Happened?: Played baseball at Indiana State.

Kansas
DeAngelo Evans, Collegiate (Wichita), 8,472
Years: 1992-95
Best Season: 1993 — 3,060 yards.
Source: Kansas Hall of Fame record book.
What Ever Happened?: Played at Nebraska before transferring to Emporia State.



Kentucky
JJ Jude, Johnson Central (Paintsville), 8,633
Years: 2008-11
Best Season: 2010 — 3,203; 2011 — 3,061.
Source: Kentucky High School Association record book
What Ever Happened?: Played at Eastern Kentucky University before transferring to Georgetown College.

Louisiana
Nick Brossette, University Lab (Baton Rouge), 8,806
Years: 2010-14
Best Season: 2012 — 2,210 yards
Source: 14-0 Productions record book; MaxPreps leaderboards.
What Ever Happened?: Played four seasons at LSU, rushing for 1,039 yards as a senior.

Maine
Brett Gerry, Marshwood (South Berwick), 4,449
Years: 2012-14
Best Season: 2014 — 2,263 yards
Source: Various Maine newspapers. Maine does not have a state association record book.
What Ever Happened?: Attended Hyde Bath and was an All-American wrestler.

Maryland
Tavon Austin, Dunbar (Baltimore), 7,962
Years: 2005-08
Best Season: 2008 — 2,660 yards
Source: Maryland High School Football Foundation record book.
What Ever Happened?: After playing at West Virginia, Austin has spent seven seasons in the NFL with the Rams and Cowboys.

Massachusetts
Cedric Washington, Holyoke, 6,688
Years: 1992-95
Best Season: 1995 — 2,881 yards
Source: Boston Globe. Massachusetts does not have a state association record book.
What Ever Happened?: Went to Boston College. Went on to work as a sheriff's deputy in Hampden County.

Michigan
Kevin Grady Jr., East Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids), 8,431
Years: 2001-04
Best Season: 2003 — 2,507
Source: Michigan High School Athletic Association record book.
What Ever Happened?: Had a troubled career at Michigan, suffering a torn ACL and a team suspension.



Minnesota
Tyler Evans, McLeod West, 7,503
Years: 1999-2001
Best Season: 2001 — 3,498 yards (state single-season record)
Source: Minnesota State High School League record book
What Ever Happened?: Played at the University of South Dakota.

Mississippi
Isaiah Woullard, Presbyterian Christian (Hattiesburg), 8,334
Years: 2013-16
Best Season: 2015 — 3,085 yards.
Source: Clarion Ledger
What Ever Happened?: Currently a sophomore at Ole Miss.

Missouri
Kellen Overstreet, Penney (Hamilton), 9,475
Years: 2011-14
Best Season: 2014 — 4,259 yards (single-season state record); 2013 — 3,327 yards
Source: Missouri State High School Activities Association record book
What Ever Happened?: Played at University of Wyoming.

Montana
Brandon Utterback, Fort Benton, 4,679
Years: 2001-05
Best Season: 2004 — 1,915 yards.
Source: Montana High School Association record book
What Ever Happened?: Attended University of Montana.

Nebraska
Dylan Kautz, Norfolk Catholic (Norfolk), 7,580
Years: 2015-18
Best Season: 2018 — 2,737 yards
Source: Nebraska School Activities Association record book
What Ever Happened?: Attending South Dakota to run track.

Nevada
D'Angelo Jones, Foothill (Henderson), 7,860
Years: 2003-06
Best Season: 2006 — 2,511 yards
Source: Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association record book
What Ever Happened?: Played at UNLV.



New Hampshire
Sean Jellison, Souhegan (Amherst), 5,890
Years: 2002-05
Best Season: 2004 — 1,800 yards
Source: University of New Hampshire media guide. New Hampshire has no state association record book
What Ever Happened?: Played at the University of New Hampshire.

New Jersey
Joe Martinek, Hopatcong, 7,589
Years: 2003-06
Best Season: 2006 — 2,081 yards
Source: NJ.com.
What Ever Happened?: Played at Rutgers.

New Mexico
David McGee, Laguna Acoma (New Laguna), 7,170
Years: 2010-14
Best Season: 2013 — 2,655 yards
Source: New Mexico Activities Association.
What Ever Happened?: Played for New Mexico Highlands College.

New York
Michael Hart, Onondaga (Nedrow), 11,045
Years: 2000-03
Best Season: 2003 — 3,489 yards (single-season state record); 2001 — 3,341 yards.
Source: NYSPHSAA record book
What Ever Happened?: Played at Michigan and briefly in the NFL for the Colts.

North Carolina
Kevin Parks Jr., West Rowan (Mt. Ulla), 10,895
Years: 2006-09
Best Season: 2009 — 3,794 yards (single-season state record).
Source: North Carolina High School Athletic Association record book.
What Ever Happened?: Played four seasons at Virginia, rushing for 3,219 career yards.

North Dakota
James Johannesson, Fargo South, 6,158
Years: 2011-14
Best Season: 2013 — 2,671 yards
Source: Various newspapers, North Dakota does not have state association record book
What Ever Happened?: Played at the University of North Dakota.



Ohio
Daniel Bangura, Harvest Prep (Canal Winchester), 9,650
Years: 2014-17
Best Season: 2016 — 4,128 yards (single-season state record), 2017 — 3,401 yards.
Source: Ohio High School Athletic Association record book.
What Ever Happened?: Walked on at Ohio State, but is not currently on the roster.

Oklahoma
Jacob Bruce, Hulbert, 8,586
Years: 2015-18
Best Season: 2018 — 3,286.
Source: Iwasatthegame.com
What Ever Happened?: Currently at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.

Oregon
Cory McCaffrey, Sisters, 8,460
Years: 2003-06
Best Season: 2006 — 3,335 yards
Source: Oregon School Activities Association record book by Doug Calvert
What Ever Happened?: Was Team MVP and All-Big Sky while at Portland State.

Pennsylvania
Rushel Shell, Hopewell (Aliquippa), 9,078
Years: 2009-12
Best Season: 2009 — 2,740
Source: PIAA records Eastern Pa. Football
What Ever Happened?: Originally attended Pittsburgh before transferring to West Virginia.

Rhode Island
Lorenzo Perry, La Salle Academy (Providence), 4,469
Years: 2000-02
Source: Various newspapers. Rhode Island does not have a state record book.
What Ever Happened?: Played at Bryant College.

South Carolina
Demetris Summers, Lexington, 9,076
Years: 1999-2002
Best Season: 2001 — 2,329 yards
Source: SCVarsity.com.
What Ever Happened?: Played at South Carolina and in the CFL.



South Dakota
Tupak Kpeayeh, Washington (Sioux Falls), 5,796
Years: 2016-18
Best Season: 2018— 2,056
Source: SDsportshistory.com.
What Ever Happened?: Currently playing at Morningside College (Iowa)

Tennessee
Troy Fleming, Battle Ground Academy (Franklin), 9,442
Years: 1995-98
Best Season: 1998 — 3,008 yards
Source: Tennessee Secondary School Activities Association record book
What Ever Happened?: Played at the University of Tennessee and two seasons with the Tennessee Titans in the NFL.

Texas
Ken Hall, Sugarland, 11,232
Years: 1950-53
Best Season: 1953 — 4,045; 1952 — 3,458; 1951 — 3,160
Source: Texas High School Football History, by Joe Lee Smith
What Ever Happened?: Briefly attended Texas A&M before joining the Canadian Football League. Played three seasons in the NFL with the Cardinals and Oilers.

Utah
Austin Kafentzis, Jordan, 6,749
Years: 2011-14
Best Season: 2012 — 1,884 yards
Source: Utah High Schools Activities Association record book
What Ever Happened?: Currently playing safety at BYU.

Vermont
Carson Leary, Otter Valley (Brandon), 4,267
Years: 2012-15
Best Season: 2015 — 2,484 (state single-season record)
Source: Various newspapers. New Hampshire does not have a state association record book.
What Ever Happened?: Played tight end at the University of New Hampshire.
Note: Leary's totals do not include yardage gained during his sophomore and freshman seasons on the varsity.

Virginia
Grayson Overstreet, Staunton River (Moneta), 9,042
Years: 2014-17
Best Season: 2016 — 2,958 yards
Source: VHSL record book
What Ever Happened?: Originally attended the University of Richmond, but he transferred to Emory & Henry in 2019.



Washington
Jonathan Stewart, Timberline (Lacey), 7,775
Years: 2001-04
Best Season: 2003 — 2,566 yards
Source: Washington High School football records compiled by David Maley.
What Ever Happened?: An All-American at Oregon, Stewart gained 7,335 yards in 10 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Carolina Panthers.

West Virginia
Josh Culbertson, Nitro, 7,842
Years: 2002-05
Best Season: 2005 — 3,587 (single season state record)
Source: National Federation of High Schools record book
What Ever Happened?: Played at West Virginia University Tech.

Wisconsin
Bryce Huettner, Iola-Scandinavia (Iola), 6,870
Years: 2015-18
Best Season: 2017 — 2,830 yards.
Source: Wisconsin High School Football Coaches Association record book.
What Ever Happened?: Currently playing at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Wyoming
Jordan Roberts, Sheridan, 4,973
Years: 2009-11
Best Season: 2011 — 2,688 yards (state single season record
Source: Wyoming-Football.com record book, Wyo Prep archived stats.
What Ever Happened?: Began career at South Dakota, transferred to St. Thomas where he was a Division III All-American.