Newsome leads 2012 national rushing leader favorites

A pair of running backs who could challenge the all-time national career rushing record are among 10 players MaxPreps has targeted as the best candidates to lead the nation in rushing in 2012.

Kelvin Taylor of Glades Day (Belle Glade, Fla.) already unofficially holds the all-time rushing record in Florida, if you count his yardage as an eighth-grader. Then there is Arkeel Newsome of Ansonia (Conn.), who could become the all-time leading rusher in Connecticut by the end of his junior year.

Both Taylor and Newsome have a shot at breaking the all-time career rushing mark held by Ken Hall of Sugar Land, Texas. Hall set the mark in the early 1950s and his total of 11,232 yards has barely been threatened in more than 60 years. Taylor gets the first shot at it this season and Newsome will have his chance next year.

In the meantime, both Taylor and Newsome will battle for the title of national rushing leader for 2012. Here's a look at the 10 potential candidates.



Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia (Conn.),
313 carries - 3763 yards - 58 touchdowns
Last year, Newsome posted the second-best single-season yardage total for a sophomore. While a lot of things will have to fall into place for him to do it again, namely a deep run in the playoffs, there's no reason to believe that Newsome won't be near the top again. In two years, he could also challenge the record of Ken Hall.

Why he will lead the nation in rushing: He finished third in the nation to Jonathan Gray of Aledo last year and Gray has graduated.

Why he won't lead the nation in rushing: A slip-up in the playoffs might be enough to cost Newsome the rushing title.

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Kelvin Taylor, Glades Day (Belle Glade, Fla.),
292 - 2,884 - 40
If Taylor leads the nation in rushing this year, it will also likely mean that he has eclipsed one of the great records in high school football history. With 7,702 yards in his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons, Taylor, the son of former NFL running back Fred Taylor, is just 3,530 yards away from breaking the career national rushing record of 11,232 yards held by Ken Hall. The National Federation of High School Associations does not recognize stat totals accumulated as an eighth-grader. If it did, Taylor would have an additional 1,692 yards to his career total.

Why he will lead the nation in rushing: He's proven every year that he's capable of rushing for more than 2,500 yards, why not 3,500?

Why he will not lead the nation in rushing: He will likely need more than 300 carries to get the job done and Taylor has never carried the ball that many times in a season.



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Olito Thompson, Concord (Calif.),
408 - 3,488 - 34
In setting a Northern California rushing yardage record, Thompson carried the ball more than any other runner listed on the MaxPreps leaderboards with 408. Concord reached the North Coast Section championship game last year and Thompson was a big reason why, rushing for 1,387 yards in four playoff games, including 457 in a triumph over Las Lomas.

Why he will lead the nation in rushing: Thompson will definitely carry the ball a bunch. He carried 54 times in the section championship game.

Why he won't lead the nation in rushing: That many carries often can lead to injury. While we wish Thompson nothing but the best, avoiding injury will be key to a repeat performance of 2011.

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Kentayvus Hopkins, Bourbon County (Paris, Ky.),
253 - 2,924 - 38

Kentayvus Hopkins - "Unfinished Business" from Dane Sears on Vimeo.

Averaging nearly 12 yards per carry and more than 243 yards per game, Hopkins has one of the best averages in both categories of any returning running back. He ran for more than 200 yards nine times, including a high of 408 yards against Western Hills.

Why he will lead the nation in rushing: His average gain per carry is impressive and a deeper run in the playoffs could mean a shot at 3,000 yards.

Why he won't lead the nation in rushing: Hopkins was held to less than 100 yards twice last year.



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Derrick Henry, Yulee (Fla.),
309 - 2,567 - 34
Henry ranks as one of the top running backs in the Class of 2013 and he proved it last season with his final season totals. He rushed for more than 100 yards in every game with a high of 308 in the playoffs against Taylor County.

Why he will lead the nation in rushing: As one of the premier running backs in the country, Henry has the athletic ability to get the job done. Plus, he has already prospered despite being the focal point of opposing defenses.

Why he won't lead the nation in rushing: Yulee will need to go deeper into the playoffs for Henry to have a chance and that's not easily done in Florida's brutal football landscape.

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Jordan Fraga, Devine (Texas),
106 - 1,070 - 14
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Yes, Fraga only gained 1,070 yards last year, but consider that the other starting running back on the team, Joseph Sadler, ran for 3,887. Devine likes to run the ball and had a national-best 6,163 yards as a team, according to the MaxPreps leaderboards. Fraga might step in and take over the role as main ballcarrier on this run-happy team.

Why he will lead the nation in rushing: Devine averaged 440 yards per game last year. Fraga could take over from Sadler as one of the nation's leading rushers.



Why he won't lead the nation in rushing: If Devine decides to spread the ball around this year, Fraga's chances will be reduced.

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Ray Lewis lll, Lake Mary Prep (Fla.),
177 - 2,321 - 29


The son of NFL linebacker Ray Lewis, the younger Lewis certainly has the genes. Last year, he just didn't have the carries. Lewis averaged 13.1 yards per carry, but he only had 177 carries and his team played just 10 games.

Why he will lead the nation in rushing: Lake Mary Prep plays at the 2A level. Lewis' talent is enough to average closer to 260 yards per game this year.

Why he won't lead the nation in rushing: Lewis never carried the ball more than 30 times and he carried it only three times in one game.

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Tyrone Swoopes, Whitewright (Texas),
170 - 2,267 - 29
A quarterback, Swoopes ran for 2,267 yards and passed for only 1,394. Considered one of the top combo quarterbacks in the country, Swoopes ran for more than 200 yards five times, including a high of 540 yards and seven touchdowns against Tom Bean.



Why he will lead the nation in rushing: Swoopes holds the ball on every play and he plays in a 2A district in Texas.

Why he won't lead the nation in rushing: If Whitewright coach Jack Wylie decides to showcase Swoopes' passing skills, that will eat into his rushing totals.

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Sean Tow, Union Mine (El Dorado, Calif.),
223 - 2,217 - 20
With more than 246 yards per game last year, Tow has one of the best per-game averages of any returning running back. He rushed for at least 200 yards eight times and had 414 against Galt.

Why he will lead the nation in rushing: Tow gets the ball about 25 times a game and he is a proven ground gainer as he had 2,261 yards as a sophomore. Furthermore, his team will go as far as he takes it, so he's the main option.

Why he won't lead the nation in rushing: Union Mine went 5-4 last year and didn't reach the playoffs. And the Diamondbacks are already off to an 0-1 start.

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Jalen Hurd, Beech (Hendersonville, Tenn.),
212 - 1,606 - 23




While he only rushed for 1,606 yards as a sophomore, Hurd already has 700 yards through two games as a senior. He had a big outing last week with 462 yards in a 55-41 victory over Henry County.

Why he will lead the nation in rushing: If his current pace of 350 yards per game holds up, it's hard to bet against Hurd.

Why he won't lead the nation in rushing: Hurd only averaged 123 yards per game as a sophomore.