Myles McLaughlin of
Knox (Ind.) is on the verge of breaking numerous high school football rushing and scoring records but he doesn't play running back for the
Redskins. Instead, the nation's leading rusher is the team's
quarterback.
McLaughlin finds himself in good company because
the record book is filled with quarterbacks who have made their mark as
record-breaking rushers. MaxPreps has compiled a list of the top 10 record-breaking rushing quarterbacks.
While there have been many
great rushing quarterbacks over the years, including Tommie Frazier of
Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.), Pat White of
Daphne (Ala.), Turner Gill of
Arlington Heights (Fort Worth, Texas), Denard
Robinson of
Deerfield Beach (Fla.), Darian Hagan of
Locke (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Jamelle Holieway
of
Banning (Wilmington, Calif.), just to name a few. However, the 10 players on
this list broke some kind of record with their rushing prowess.
Read on for a look at the list.
Terrelle Pryor had all eyes on Jeannette, Pa., back in 2007 as fans eagerly anticipated not only which school he would attend, but what sport he would play. Pryor ran for over 4,000 yards during his high school career. (PHOTO: Greg Pierson)
The
MaxPreps National Player of the Year in 2007 while leading the Jayhawks
to a 16-0 record and the Class AA state championship. In doing so,
Pryor became the first athlete in Pennsylvania to finish his career with
over 4,000 yards passing and rushing. He had nearly identical totals of
4,250 rushing yards and 4,249 passing yards.
9. W.C. "Dixie" Roberts, Warren County (McMinnville, Tenn.)
Before
going on to star at Vanderbilt, Roberts led McMinnville to its greatest
season ever in 1928 with a 10-0 mark in which it outscored opponents
415-45. Roberts scored 246 points and became the first rusher to gain
over 3,000 yards in a season with 3,690 yards, including 520 yards in
one game.
8. Scott Frost, Wood River (Neb.)
In
becoming a two-time state champion and the captain of the all-state
team as a senior in 1992, Frost became the first player in Nebraska (and
so far the only) to gain over 11,000 yards of total offense. He threw
for 6,793 yards but also ran for 4,302. He became just the third
player in the nation to gain over 11,000 total yards. He went on to win
the Heisman Trophy while leading Nebraska to a 13-0 record.
7. Tanner Wood, Conway Springs (Kan.)
The
third-highest single-game rushing total in high school history is held
by a quarterback. In an 84-56 win over Chaparral in 2012, Wood carried a
season-high 36 times and gained 659 yards with nine touchdowns scored.
No other quarterback is within 100 yards of Wood's rushing record for a
QB.
6. Tyler Vasey, Prairie Ridge (Crystal Lake, Ill.)
After
missing half of the season as a junior due to injury, Vasey broke the
single-season rushing record in Illinois with 3,878 yards in 2022. The
total also ranks as the second-highest single-season rushing total by a
quarterback and is No. 14 on the all-time single-season list.
5. Jack Kiser, Pioneer (Royal Center, Ind.)
Before
McLaughlin came along, Kiser held the record for most rushing yards by a
quarterback in Indiana. He finished his career with 7,364 yards. He
also held the national record for most rushing touchdowns by a
quarterback with 139 until McLaughlin passed it last week.
4. Kyler Murray, Allen (Texas)
In becoming the first player to win
back-to-back MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors, Murray had a
42-0 record as a starter at Allen with three state championships. He
rushed for 4,196 yards in his career and had 14,625 yards of total
offense.
3. Dylan Hair, Blair Oaks (Jefferson City, Mo.)
Hair
is the only high school quarterback with over 125 passing touchdowns
and 100 rushing touchdowns. He finished his career with a combined
259 overall touchdowns including 112 on the ground. He is also believed
to be one of just five quarterbacks with over 6,000 yards rushing. He
has 10,782 yards passing and 6,012 yards rushing.
2. Austin Kafentzis, Jordan (Sandy, Utah)
Only
one quarterback holds his state's record for career passing yards,
career rushing yards and career scoring. Kafentzis rushed for
6,749 yards in his career, which ranks No. 4 all-time among
quarterbacks but No. 1 overall in Utah. He also is the state's
all-time passing yardage leader with 12,929 yards. He produced 100
career touchdowns and 600 career points, both state records.
1. Ken Hall, Sugar Land (Texas)
Hall,
who passed away last March, ranked as the nation's all-time leading
rusher for nearly 60 years after finishing his career in 1953 with
11,232 yards. His total now ranks No. 3 all-time but it is still the
most by a quarterback. While Hall played in the single wing at Sugar
Land, he took the direct snap and did all the passing, making him the de
facto quarterback on the team. He finished his career with 3,326
passing yards. He still holds the national record for most rushing yards
in a single season by a quarterback with 4,045.
