Top 10 high school running backs in Texas for 2019

Earl Campbell. Eric Dickerson. Adrian Peterson. LaDainian Tomlinson.

Texas high school football has always produced top-flight running backs and as seen in the video above, more are on the way.


10. Brandon Campbell, Pearland
A transfer from Katy Taylor, the rising junior rushed for 672 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore and caught 13 passes for 198 yards and two more scores. His recruiting ranking rose during a productive spring and summer. Clocked at 4.58 seconds in the 40 and owning a 36-inch vertical leap, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound standout has 19 college offers, including Houston, USC and Washington.

9. Ty-Coreous Jordan, West Mesquite (Mesquite)
The 5-7, 183-pound rising senior has rushed for 2,017 career yards and 21 touchdowns for the Wranglers, who have gone a combined 14-8 the last two seasons. Ranked the No. 9 all-purpose running back among seniors in the state, Jordan has 25 college offers. USC and Tennessee appear to be at the top of his list. With 4.53 speed, he's also a receiving threat with 19 career catches, 327 yards and four scores.

8. Jordan Jenkins, Lindale
The 6-2, 195-pound rising junior is ranked the No. 34 prospect out of Texas overall in his class. As a sophomore, he was a workhorse, with 273 carries for 1,504 yards and 17 touchdowns, leading the Eagles to a 7-5 record. He shows a nice combination of power and speed. That's why he has offers from Arkansas, Baylor and BYU.

7. L.J. Johnson, Cy-Fair (Cypress)
Another incoming junior, the 5-10, 200-pounder is a load to bring down — if you can catch him — as he showed during a productive sophomore season. He rushed for 1,139 yards and 21 touchdowns, showing off excellent speed (he's been timed at 4.42 seconds in the 40), while earning District 17-6A Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors. He's already got 16 college offers, including ones from Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas. Cy-Fair has gone a combined 26-3 the last two seasons.

6. Tre Bradford, Lancaster
The 5-11, 190-pound senior has 24 college offers but seems to be leaning toward Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, USC or Baylor. Rated the No. 19 senior running back in the country, Bradford rushed for 1,164 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. He's considered a home-run hitter with blinding speed. He doubles as a track star. 5. Seth McGowan, Poteet (Mesquite)
The 6-foot, 215-pound rising senior rushed 218 times for 1,614 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2018 for the 8-3 Pirates. He's ranked the No. 13 running back in the country for his class and No. 25 player overall in Texas. He's got 27 offers, but already committed to Oklahoma. McGowan shows plenty of strength to shed tacklers near the line and he's fast enough to outrun the secondary. He's rushed for 2,817 yards and 37 touchdowns in his career.

4. E.J. Smith, Dallas Jesuit (Dallas)
The son of the NFL's most prolific rusher Emmitt Smith hasn't rested on his bloodlines, having rushed for 2,067 career yards and 36 touchdowns over a two-season prep career. The nation's fourth-rated all-purpose back from the Class of 2020 is also a tremendous receiver out of the backfield with 73 career catches for 1,018 yards and 10 more scores. He's received 22 offers, but it appears he's picking between Ohio State and Stanford.

3. Camar Wheaton, Lakeview Centennial (Garland)

2. Jase McClellan, Aledo

1. Zachary Evans, North Shore (Houston, Texas)
The 5-11, 200-pounder is ranked the No. 1 senior running back in the country after leading the Mustangs (16-0) to the Class 6A-Division 1 state championship and national championship last year. Blessed with superior speed (4.51 in the 40) and athleticism (37-inch vertical leap), Evans also shows great power, balance and vision. He's racked up 44 college offers, but appears to be leaning toward either Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State or Oklahoma.
247Sports evaluation: "Dynamic athletic running back with prototype size. ... Flashes elite athleticism. ... Makes it look easy, sometimes to the point that it's deceptive. Effortlessly strings moves together in the open field to elude multiple defenders. Chameleon in ability to alter running styles, going from elusive darter to hole-punching, straight-line galloper. Home run hitter with high-volume capability."