Top 50 high school running backs of all time

While the yardage factor alone is not the only reason that Smith is considered the greatest high school running back, it certainly helps. Consider that very few high school running backs excel at every level to the point that Smith did. He finished his career as the all-time leading rusher in the state of Florida (since surpassed), he was a unanimous All-American in college and is the NFL's all-time leading rusher. That's a resume that's hard to resist.

Thus, Smith tops the MaxPreps list of the Top 50 Greatest high school running backs. He edges out two other players who did one better than Smith at the college ranks, winning a Heisman Trophy, but don't match him at the prep and NFL level. Herschel Walker, a powerhouse at Johnson County (Ga.) in the late 1970s, comes in at No. 2 while Earl Campbell, a Texas legend at Tyler in the early 1970s, comes in at No. 3.

The running backs were ranked based mostly on their high school achievements with their college and professional careers also factoring in, but to a lesser extent. Running backs were eligible to be considered for the Top 50 only if they were named to an All-American team. For those players who played before 1947 (when the first All-American teams were chosen), the player had to be considered one of the great high school running backs in the country at that time. 1. Emmitt Smith, Escambia (Pensacola, Fla.), 1986
High school: Smith graduated as the all-time leading rusher in Florida (now No. 3) with 8,804 yards. He ran for a state record 2,915 yards as a junior and 2,424 yards as a sophomore, but was limited his senior year due to an injury. He still earned All-American honors from USA Today and Parade.
College: Smith set 58 school records while at Florida and finished with 3,928 career rushing yards while earning All-American honors.
Professional: Selected to eight Pro Bowls and named All-Pro four times, Smith is the NFL's all-time rushing leader with 18,355 yards. At three levels of football, Smith ran for a combined 31,087 yards.

2. Herschel Walker, Johnson County (Wrightsville, Ga.), 1979
High school: Walker set a state record with 3,167 yards rushing as a senior while leading Johnson County to a state championship. He finished his career with 6,137 yards and 86 touchdowns. He was named a Parade All-American.
College: He immediately contended for the Heisman Trophy as a freshman after rushing for 1,616 yards at Georgia. He earned the Heisman as a junior and finished his college career with 5,259 yards.
Professional: Spent three years in the USFL and ran for a professional football record of 2,411 yards rushing in one season. He spent 12 years in the NFL and rushed for 8,225 yards.



3. Earl Campbell, Tyler (Texas), 1973
High school: Campbell didn't play running back until late in his high school career, but he rushed for 2,036 yards and 29 touchdowns for a Tyler team that went 15-0 and won the largest classification in Texas. Campbell earned Parade All-American honors.
College: After leading the nation in rushing as a senior at Texas with 1,744 yards, Campbell won the Heisman Trophy. He finished with 4,443 career rushing yards and 40 touchdowns.
Professional: A member of the NFL Hall of Fame, Campbell rushed for 9,407 career yards in just eight seasons in a career cut short by injuries. He led the NFL in rushing three times and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection playing for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints.

4. Tony Dorsett, Hopewell (Aliquippa, Pa.), 1972
High school: Dorsett earned Parade All-American honors after rushing for 1,238 yards. He finished his career with 2,272 yards.
College: Besides winning the Heisman Trophy in 1976, Dorsett also finished his college career as the NCAA's all-time leading rusher with 6,082 rushing yards.
Professional: In a career predominantly spent with the Dallas Cowboys, Dorsett ran for 12,739 yards and was named to the Pro Bowl four times. He's a member of the college and NFL Halls of Fame.

5. Derrick Henry, Yulee (Fla.), 2012
High school: The National Player of the Year as a senior, Henry broke the national rushing record held by Ken Hall and finished with 12,124 career yards. He ran for 4,261 yards as a senior.
College: Played three years at Alabama and won the Heisman Trophy after rushing for 2,261 yards and 28 touchdowns. Finished his career with 3,591 yards rushing.
Professional: In three seasons with the Titans, Henry has rushed for 1,507 yards.

6. Red Grange, Wheaton-Warrenville South (Wheaton, Ill.), 1921
High school: One of the first great high school players, Grange scored 74 career touchdowns and a then-state record 532 career points.
College: A three-time All-American, Grange led Illinois to a national championship in 1924. He once scored five touchdowns the first five times he touched the ball in a game against Michigan. He finished his college career with 4,280 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns.
Professional: Grange played for the NFL when it was in its infancy, but was a star attraction for the Bears, helping them earn two NFL championships and twice earning All-Pro honors.

7. Jim Brown, Manhasset (N.Y.), 1952
High school: A multi-sport athlete in high school, Brown excelled at track, lacrosse, basketball (38 points per game) and football. He led his football team to an undefeated season, was named Nassau County's top player and scored 20 touchdowns in just seven games while earning Wigwam Wiseman All-American honors.
College: A unanimous All-American at Syracuse, where he was also a lacrosse standout, Brown rushed for 986 yards in just eight games and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Professional: A nine-time Pro Bowl player and three-time NFL MVP, Brown finished his professional career as the league's all-time leading rusher with 12,312 yards and 126 total touchdowns.

8. Marcus Allen, Lincoln (San Diego), 1977
High school: A running quarterback in high school, Allen earned Parade Magazine All-American honors.
College: At USC, Allen won the Heisman Trophy in 1981 after rushing for 2,342 yards. He finished his career with 4,682 yards and 45 touchdowns.
Professional: Allen spent time with the Raiders and Chiefs and had a Hall of Fame career that includes six Pro Bowl selections, an NFL MVP award and 12,243 career rushing yards with 123 touchdowns.



9. Billy Sims, Hooks (Texas), 1974
High school: Sims twice led the state of Texas in rushing with 3,080 as a junior and 2,885 yards as a senior. He finished his career with 7,738 yards, which ranked No. 2 all time in the state at the time. Earned a spot on Parade's All-American team.
College: Sims won the Heisman Trophy as a junior at Oklahoma while rushing for 1,896 yards and 22 touchdowns. He finished his college career with 4,023 yards and 51 touchdowns.
Professional: A three-time Pro Bowl player, Sims gained 5,106 career yards during a six-year career shortened by a knee injury.

10. Ken Hall, Sugar Land (Texas), 1953
High school: Held the national record for most rushing yards in a career (11,232 yards) for nearly 60 years. rushed for 4,045 yards as a senior in 1953, 3,458 yards as a junior and 3,160 yards as a sophomore. Named to the Wigwam Wiseman All-American Team.
College: Hall committed to play for Paul "Bear" Bryant at Texas A&M, but never played for the Aggies.
Professional: Played in the Canadian Football League before a stint with three different teams in the NFL and AFL. Earned an AFL championship with the Houston Oilers and led the league in kickoff returns.

11. Dick Bass, Vallejo (Calif.), 1954
High school: Bass rushed for 1,964 yards as a senior in leading Vallejo to a 9-0 record and a national championship. He also had 37 touchdowns and 256 points and rushed for 1,726 yards as a junior.
College: Playing at Pacific (Stockton), Bass led the nation in rushing twice, including 1,361 yards in 1958 when he earned All-American honors.
Professional: Made the Pro Bowl three times and gained 5,417 yards in a 10-year career with the Los Angeles Rams.

12. Adrian Peterson, Palestine (Texas), 2003
High school: A recipient of the Hall Trophy as the nation's top high school player, Peterson rushed for 2,315 yards and 32 touchdowns. He also rushed for 4,353 yards in his career.
College: Ran for 1,925 yards as a freshman at Oklahoma and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. He finished his career with 4,041 yards and 41 touchdowns.
Professional: A seven-time Pro Bowl selection and the 2012 NFL MVP, Peterson has rushed for 12,714 yards in his career.

13. Frank Gore, Coral Gables (Fla.), 2000
High school: Gore is considered one of the top running backs ever from Dade County. He ran for 2,997 yards his senior year and scored 39 touchdowns. A Parade All-American, he was ranked the fifth-best prospect in the nation as a senior.
College: At Miami, Gore suffered two ACL injuries and played only 28 games in four years with the Hurricanes. He still managed to rush for 1,975 career yards, which ranks seventh in school history.
Professional: In 14 NFL seasons, Gore has emerged as one of the most durable running backs in league history. His 14,358 career rushing yards are the fourth-highest total in NFL history and he has been named to the Pro Bowl five times.

14. Eric Dickerson, Sealy (Texas), 1978
High school: Dickerson finished his career with 5,877 yards after rushing for 2,642 yards as a senior and 2,001 as a junior. Earned Parade Magazine All-American honors.
College: Dickerson finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1982 after rushing for 1,617 yards. He ended his career at SMU with 4,450 career yards.
Professional: Ranks as one of the NFL's all-time leading rushers with 13,259 yards, including an NFL record 2,105 yards in one season. Made the Pro Bowl six times and is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame.

15. Glenn Davis, Bonita (La Verne, Calif.), 1942
High school: Davis led Bonita to an 11-0 record in 1942 and the Southern Section championship. He finished his career with 404 career points and led the state in scoring three years in a row, according to Cal-Hi Sports.
College: As part of the Mr. Inside-Mr. Outside backfield tandem with Felix "Doc" Blanchard at Army, Davis was a three-time consensus All-American and won the Heisman Trophy in 1946.
Professional: Davis was required to fulfill his commitment to Army and did not join the Los Angeles Rams until 1950. He made the Pro Bowl once, but injured his knee and was released after three seasons.



16. Reggie Bush, Helix (La Mesa, Calif.), 2002
High school: Bush led Helix to a pair of San Diego Section championships and rushed for 1,691 yards as a senior despite missing four games with a broken wrist. Named Parade All-American and USA Today All-American and was also ranked the No. 1 running back in the nation.
College: Bush played on two national championship teams at USC and won the Heisman Trophy in 2005 while rushing for 1,640 yards. He finished his career with 3,169 rushing yards.
Professional: First team All-Pro in 2008, Bush has 5,490 career rushing yards.

17. Cedric Benson, Midland Lee (Midland, Texas), 2000
High school: Benson led Lee to a 43-3 record and three state championships. He rushed for 3,526 yards as a junior and 2,871 yards as a senior. He finished his career with 8,423 yards
College: A consensus All-American as a senior at Texas, Benson is one of the all-time leading rusher in NCAA history with 5,540 yards.
Professional: Played eight seasons in the NFL with three teams and rushed for 6,017 yards.

18. Leonard Fournette, St. Augustine (New Orleans), 2013
High school: The No. 1 recruit in the country, Fournette ranks as one of the all-time rushing leaders in Louisiana with 7,619 career rushing yards.
College: Rushed for 1,953 yards as a sophomore and ended his career with 3,830 career yards while earning consensus All-American honors.
Professional: In two seasons, Fournette has 1,111 yards rushing for the Jaguars.

19. Gale Sayers, Omaha Central (Omaha, Neb.), 1960
High school: Sayers earned All-American honors from Wigwam Wiseman after making the all-state team in Nebraska and finishing with a state best 128 points.
College: At Kansas, was one of the leading rushers in the nation as a sophomore with 1,135 yards and was a two-time consensus All-American.
Professional: The NFL Rookie of the Year in 1965 after scoring an NFL record 22 touchdowns, Sayers twice led the NFL in rushing. However, his career was cut short by knee injuries and finished with 4,956 yards. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1977.

20. Shaun Alexander, Boone County (Florence, Ky.), 1994
High school: Alexander earned USA Today All-American honors after finishing is career No. 2 in career scoring in Kentucky with 662 points. He ran for 3,166 yards as a senior and was No. 3 all-time with 6,662 yards.
College: After four seasons at Alabama, Alexander left as the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,433 yards. He was a first team All-American in 1999.
Professional: Named All-Pro in 2005 after leading the NFL in rushing, Alexander made the Pro Bowl three times and finished with 9,453 career rushing yards in nine seasons.

21. Johnathan Gray, Aledo (Texas), 2011
High school: Gray threatened the all-time rushing and scoring record during his career at Aledo, which went 56-4 in his four years on the varsity. He rushed for 10,889 yards in his career, which ranks second in Texas history. He also has 1,232 career points, which is 300 more than the No. 2 player on the Texas list and his 205 career touchdowns are 60 more than the No. 2 player in Texas. The TD total is also a national record. Named a Parade and USA Today All-American.
College: Gray twice tore his Achilles tendon while playing for Texas and finished with 1,431 yards in three seasons.
Professional: Went undrafted and has not played in the NFL.

22. Marcus Dupree, Philadelphia (Miss.), 1981
High school: A Parade All-American, Dupree was among the all-time leading scorers in high school history following his senior year as he rushed for 7,355 career yards and scored 87 touchdowns. His career rushing total ranked No. 5 all-time following his senior season in 1981.
College: Named second team All-American at Oklahoma as a freshman after rushing for 1,393 yards and 12 touchdowns. He suffered injuries during his sophomore season and left the team.
Professional: Played briefly in the USFL and for two undistinguished season with the Los Angeles Rams in the early 1990s.



23. Mike Hart, Onondaga Central (Nedrow, N.Y.), 2003
High school: One of the nation's all-time leading rushers with 11,045 career rushing yards, Hart also set a national record with 204 touchdowns. Led team to a 46-1 record and three state championships.
College: Hart earned All-Big Ten honors three times and finished among the all-time leading rushers in NCAA history with 5,040 yards while at Michigan.
Professional: Played three seasons for the Baltimore Colts, rushing for 264 career yards.

24. Curtis Warner, Pineville, 1978
High school: One of the best athletes to come out of West Virginia, Warner earned all-state honors and All-American honors by rushing for 2,532 yards and 48 touchdowns as a senior. Also scored over 1,500 points in basketball.
College: At Penn State, Warner twice earned All-American honors and gained 3,398 yards rushing with 24 touchdowns.
Professional: The third overall pick in the 1983 draft, Warner made three Pro Bowls and finished his eight-year career with 6,844 yards rushing and 56 touchdowns.

25. John David Crow, Springhill (La.), 1953
High school: Crow led Springhill to a state championship as a junior and rushed for 1,366 yards on 84 carries as a senior while earning Wigwam Wiseman All-American honors. He scored 51 touchdowns and 353 points in his high school career.
College: Along with Ken Hall was one of two prized recruits for coach Paul "Bear" Bryant at Texas A&M in 1954. While Hall never played for the Aggies, Crow went on to win the Heisman Trophy. Played in seven games due to injury his senior season, but rushed for 562 yards and six touchdowns.
Professional: Played in the Pro Bowl four times and was twice first team All-Pro. Finished with 4,963 yards rushing and 3,699 receiving yards.

26. Ron Dayne, Overbrook (Pine Hill, N.J.), 1995
High school: A Parade All-American as a senior, Dayne rushed for 1,566 yards as a junior and 1,785 yards as a senior.
College: Dayne was a workhorse at Wisconsin, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1999 with 2,034 yards. He also rushed for 2,109 yards as a freshman and finished his career with an NCAA record 7,125 yards.
Professional: Playing eight years with three teams, Dayne gained 3,722 yards rushing.

27. Robert Smith, Euclid (Ohio), 1989
High school: Mr. Ohio Football as a senior, Smith rushed for 2,042 yards as a senior and had 5,038 yards rushing in his career. Named to the Parade All-American team.
College: Played two seasons at Ohio State, rushing for 1,945 yards.
Professional: Made the Pro Bowl twice and gained 6,818 yards in his career.

28. Terry Kirby, Tabb (Yorktown, Va.), 1987
High school: In leading Tabb to a state title, Kirby earned USA Today and Parade Magazine All-American honors. He ran for 7,428 yards in his career
College: Kirby played four years at Virginia and ended his career as the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,348 yards.
Professional: Kirby played mostly as a reserve running back in the NFL, rushing for 2,851 yards in his career.

29. Napoleon Kaufman, Lompoc (Calif.), 1990
High school: A standout in track and football at Lompoc, Kaufman earned state Player of the Year honors by Cal-Hi Sports in football and was the 100-meter sprint champion at the state track meet. He led the state with 234 points as a junior and rushed for 1,960 yards as a senior, despite battling injuries.
College: Ran for over 1,000 yards three straight years at Washington and finished as the school's all-time leading rusher with 4,106 career yards
Professional: Ran for 4,792 yards in six years with the Raiders.



30. Ahman Green, Omaha Central (Omaha, Neb.), 1995
High school: Green earned prep All-American honors after earning state Player of the Year honors as a senior while rushing for 1,591 yards. He finished with 3,810 yards rushing in his career.
College: Green ran for 1,086 yards as a freshman and earned All-American recognition. He finished his college career with 3,880 yards rushing.
Professional: Played 12 years in the NFL and rushed for 9,205 yards and 60 touchdowns. He played in four Pro Bowls.

31. Stephen Davis, Spartanburg, 1991
High school: The No. 1 running back recruit in the country, Davis led Spartanburg to a state championship and set a state record with 2,449 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns. He earned All-American honors from Parade and USA Today.
College: Davis was all-conference his final two seasons and finished his career as Nebraska's fourth all-time leading rusher.
Professional: In an 11-year career, Davis earned Pro Bowl honors three times and was first team All-Pro in 1999 after leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns. Finished his career with 8,052 yards rushing and 65 touchdowns.

32. Thurman Thomas, Willowridge (Houston), 1982
High school: After leading his team to a Class 4A state championship and rushing for 1,556 yards, Thomas earned Parade Magazine All-American honors.
College: A two-time All-American, Thomas has 4,595 career rushing yards and is the all-time leader at Oklahoma State.
Professional: A five-time Pro Bowl selection and the NFL MVP in 1991, Thomas has rushed for 12,074 career yards.

33. Tom Harmon, Horace Mann, 1936
High school: A single-wing rushing quarterback, Harmon led Horace Mann to a state title, scoring 150 points his senior season. Considered a natural athlete, Harmon also won the 100-yard dash and the 220-yard hurdles at the state meet, threw no-hitters in baseball and was a strong basketball player.
College: At Michigan, Harmon led the nation in scoring for two straight seasons and finished his career with 33 touchdowns and 3,438 yards rushing and passing combined. He earned the Heisman Trophy in 1940 and was runner-up in 1939.
Professional: The No. 1 pick in the 1941 draft, Harmon served during World War II as a pilot for four years. He played only two years in the NFL with the Rams.

34. Felix Blanchard, St. Stanislaus (Bay St. Louis, Miss.), 1941
High school: Leading St. Stanislaus to an undefeated season in 1941, Blanchard scored 165 points and was named to the All-Gulf Coast team.
College: In three seasons at Army, Blanchard did not lose a game, finishing 27-0-1. He won the Heisman Trophy as a junior, and was a three-time All-American. He finished his career with 38 touchdowns and 1,666 career rushing yards.
Professional: Although drafted with the third overall pick in the NFL draft by the Steelers, Blanchard remained with the Army, eventually serving in Korea and Vietnam as a pilot.

35. Toby Gerhart, Norco (Calif.), 2005
High school: Gerhart set the California career rushing record with 9,662 yards and was named Gatorade State Player of the Year and Cal-Hi Sports State Player of the Year.
College: At Stanford, Gerhart finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting to Mark Ingram. He rushed for 1,871 yards as a senior and finished his career with 3,522 yards rushing.
Professional: Gerhart played five seasons in the NFL with the Vikings and Jaguars and finished with 1,675 career rushing yards.



36. James McAlister, Blair (Pasadena, Calif.), 1969
High school: Teamed with Kermit Johnson to form  the "Blair Pair", leading the Pasadena school to a 13-0 record and a national championship. He scored 228 points on the season and rushed for 2,081 yards to lead the state in both categories, according to Cal-Hi Sports.
College: McAlister teamed with Johnson again at UCLA and was known as Mr. Inside. He rushed for 1,492 yards in two seasons. Also great in track, McAlister had the farthest long jump in the world in 1972.
Professional: McAlister ran for 1,008 yards as a member of the Southern California Sun in the World Football League in 1974. Played briefly in the NFL with the Eagles and Patriots, gaining 677 yards.

37. Kevin Willhite, Cordova (Rancho Cordova, Calif.), 1981
High school: One of the nation's top running backs and sprinters as a senior at Cordova, Willhite rushed for 4,901 yards in his career with 72 touchdowns. He also won the 200 meters at the state meet his junior season. He was named the national high school running back of the year and earned Parade Magazine honors along with Player of the Year honors from the Touchdown Club of Columbus (Ohio).
College: A torn hamstring late in his senior year prevented Willhite from being much of a contributor at the University of Oregon, where he finally became a starting fullback as a senior.
Professional: Willhite's only NFL action came during the NFL strike season in 1987 as a replacement player.

38. John "Booty" Johnson, Waco (Texas), 1923
High school: Considered in some circles as the greatest high school running back in Texas history, Johnson was part of Waco's dynasty during the 1920s. He ran for 1,948 yards and 231 points as a junior, but had an injury-plagued senior season. Still managed to finish with 3,935 career yards and 357 and added 357 points. In three seasons on the varsity, Johnson's Waco team went 31-1-1 and outscored opponents 1,628 to 37.
College: A broken leg suffered in high school prevented Johnson from playing football in college or at the professional level.

39. Travis Henry, Frostproof (Fla.), 1996
High school: Became the first player in Florida history to rush for over 4,000 yards (4,087), breaking the previous state record by over 1,100 yards. He also scored 42 touchdowns and was named Parade All-American while leading team to a runner-up state finish.
College: Henry earned first team All-SEC honors as a senior at Tennessee while rushing for 1,314 yards. He still holds the school record for career rushing yardage with 3,078 yards.
Professional: During an eight-year career in the NFL, Henry earned Pro Bowl honors in 2002 as a member of the Buffalo Bills. He finished with 6,086 yards and 38 rushing touchdowns while playing for the Bills, titans and Broncos.

40. Robert Strait, Cuero (Texas), 1988
High school: Strait finished his career as one of the leading rushers in Texas history after rushing for 3,515 yards as a junior and finishing with 8,411 career yards, 127 touchdowns and 841 career points. He helped lead Cuero to a state championship in 1987 after runner-up finishes in 1985 and 1986.
College: Strait attended Baylor and finished second in career scoring with 32 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,856 yards which ranked eighth in school history.
Professional: Although drafted by the Cleveland Browns, Strait never played in the NFL.

41. Travis Minor, Catholic-B.R. (Baton Rouge, La.), 1996
High school: Minor earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors and he was the USA Today Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 4,706 career yards and 52 touchdowns. He also had 20 more touchdowns on receptions.
College: At Florida State, Minor rushed for 3,218 yards in his career, which ranks fourth in school history. He twice earned All-ACC honors.
Professional: In eight years in the NFL, mostly with the Dolphins, Minor rushed for 1,230 career yards.



42. Charlie Justice, Asheville (N.C.), 1942
High school: Justice led Asheville to two straight undefeated regular seasons and was one of the leading scorers in the nation with 27 touchdowns.
College: After four years in the armed forces, Justice played at North Carolina where he was twice an All-American and twice finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. He was responsible for 64 touchdowns as a passer and runner in his college career.
Professional: In four years with the Redskins in the NFL, Justice rushed for 1,284 yards.

43. Billy Cannon, Istrouma (Baton Rouge, La.), 1955
High school: Cannon was a multi-sport athlete in high school, scoring 39 touchdowns his senior year. He earned all-state honors and was named to the Wigwam Wiseman All-American Team.
College: At LSU, Cannon won the Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to the national championship. He was valuable as a runner, passer, receiver and return man.
Professional: Cannon earned All-Pro honors as a running back with the Houston Oilers and as a tight end with the Oakland Raiders during the 1960s in the American Football League.

44. Bill DeCorrevont, Chicago Austin, 1937
High school: Few players have played in front of as many fans as DeCorrevont, who played in a front of 90,000 spectators in the Chicago Mayor's Cup in 1936 and then topped that in the 1937 Mayor's Cup when his Austin team played Leo in front of 120,000 people. DeCorrevont was considered the top prep player in the country, once scoring nine touchdowns on 10 carries. Finished his senior season with 35 touchdowns and led Austin to a national championship.
College: DeCorrevont struggled to maintain the same type of play he exhibited at the prep level, but he was considered, at times, one of the top running backs in the nation in his four seasons at Northwestern.
Professional: After a stint in the armed forces during World War II, DeCorrevont played in the NFL with four different times, playing mostly as a kick returner.

45. Maurice Clarett, Harding (Warren, Ohio), 2001
High school: Named the USA Today Offensive Player of the Year and a Parade All-American, Clarett rushed for 2,194 yards and 38 touchdowns. Also named the Ohio Division 1 state player of the year.
College: Made a huge impression in his freshman year at Ohio State when he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year after rushing for 1,237 yards and leading the Buckeyes to the 2002 BCS National Championship. Was eventually dismissed from the team, however, following his sophomore season. 
Professional: Drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2005, Clarett never made the team. He later spent time in prison for robbery.

46. Russell White, Crespi (Encino, Calif.), 1988
High school: White twice earned Cal-Hi Sports state player of the year honors and was an All-American by both USA Today and Scholastic Coach. He scored 94 touchdowns and 568 points in his career and ran for 5,998 yards in his career, despite being hampered by injuries his senior season.
College: At California at Berkeley
Professional: White played a single season for the Los Angeles Rams, appearing in five games mainly as a kick returner. Signed with Green Bay in 1995, but did not play.

47. Dick Todd, Crowell (Texas), 1934
High school: One of the top scoring running backs in the nation during the 1930s, Crowell scored 318 points in 1934 on 53 touchdowns. He also had 105 career touchdowns and 664 points. He led Crowell to an 11-1 record, outscoring opponents 549-63. He is a member of the Texas Hall of Fame.
College: Todd played four years at Texas A&M and was considered one of the great open-field runners in school history.
Professional: Todd played eight years for the Washington Redskins, including two stretches of four years separated by a four-year stint in the Navy during World War II. Named to two Pro Bowls.



48. Mickey Cureton, Centennial (Compton, Calif.), 1966
High school: A two-time CIF Southern Section 4A Player of the Year, Cureton earned Parade All-American honors after rushing for 2,504 yards as a senior with 36 touchdowns and 240 points. His points total broke the Southern Section record previously held by Glenn Davis. He finished his career with 474 points and 4,920 yards on 563 carries.
College: Played at UCLA where he earned second team All-American honors in 1969 after rushing for 721 yards and six touchdowns. Did not play his senior year due to a neck injury that ended his playing career.
Professional: Did not play professional football due to neck injury.

49. Ryan Knight, Rubidoux (Riverside, Calif.), 1983
High school: Considered the top running back prospect coming out of high school following the 1983 season, Knight was the USA Today Offensive Player of the Year. A big, strong running back at 6-2, 200 pounds, Knight rushed for 2,620 yards on 337 carries with 31 touchdowns as a senior. He also had a single game high of 501 yards on 31 carries.
College: While Knight is seen as having a disappointing college career, based on the expectations coming out of high school, he still ranks No. 13 on the all-time rushing list at Southern California with 1,875 career yards.
Professional: Did not play professional football.

50. Marquette Smith, Lake Howell (Winter Park, Fla.), 1990
High school: Named Gatorade National Player of the Year and USA Today Offensive Player of the Year in 1990.  Ranked third in career rushing yardage in Florida when he graduated with 6,733 yards (currently 14th). Ran for 2,409 yards as a senior.
College: After initially attending Florida State, Smith transferred to Central Florida where he rushed for 2,569 career yards and had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He also earned second team All-American honors.
Professional: Played briefly with the Carolina Panthers in the NFL, but knee injuries effectively ended his career.