Top five returning high school football running backs for the 2015 season

Five Running Backs to Watch in 2015 13,507 views 3:08

Video: Five running backs to watch in 2015
These five rushers were tops in the land in terms of yardage last season.

The trend at all levels of football these days is to pass and to pass happy. It's gotten to the point that the running game and running backs have been thrown — quite literally — to the flat.

Don't tell that to these five gents.

These are the top returning high school rushers from last season who combined to rush for more almost 15,000 yards and 200 touchdowns in 2014. Here they are in order from last season's statistics as reported to MaxPreps.

See the Top 5 Returning Quarterbacks


1. Kiante Enis, Winchester (Ind.)

Kiante Ellis, Winchester

Courtesy photo by Karla Reed

The great nephew of former Penn State great and NFL running back Curtis Enis, Kiante rushed 299 times for 3,189 yards and 49 touchdowns last season, ranking fifth nationally among all rushers. The 6-foot-2, 198-pounder rushed for more than 200 yards in 10 of his team's 12 games (10 wins), with a high of 466 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-6 win over Union City. Enis has committed to Michigan.

2. Kierre Crossley, Everman (Texas)
The incoming senior rushed for a 3,153 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior, which ranked sixth nationally and first in Texas. But, at only 5-8 and 156 pounds, his recruitment has been minimal. Only Louisiana-Monroe has shown much interest. Last season he averaged 10.2 yards per carry, had a run of 90 yards and scored six touchdowns in a 61-12 win over Southwest.

3. Cody Reece (Mount Pleasant, N.C.)
The 5-9, 184-pound senior ranked second in North Carolina — seventh nationally — with 3,141 rushing yards to go along with 37 touchdowns. He led the country in attempts — a remarkable 457 in 15 games (30.4 per game). Despite a 4.64-second time in the 40-yard dash and the ability to squat 450 pounds and bench press 275, Reece is seeking his first college offer.

4. Chris Schwarz, River Ridge (New Port Richey, Fla.)
Florida is known for its great running backs — Emmitt Smith, Frank Gore, Fred Taylor and Derrick Henry to name a few — and Schwarz is the leading returning rusher from the Sunshine State after going for 2,689 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. The 5-10, 190-pound senior also had 48 tackles from his middle linebacker spot. He was the country's No. 24 rusher in 2014.

5. Travis Brannan, Vandegrift (Austin, Texas)
The 6-foot, 170-pound incoming senior rushed 324 times for 2,680 yards — No. 25 nationally — and 42 touchdowns for the 12-3 Vipers. Also a big threat out of the backfield, Brannan caught 27 passes for 600 yards and four scores last season when Vandergrift reached the state 5A semifinals. The Vipers are ranked 38th in Texas due largely to Brannan's all-around skills and 15 returning starters.