Over the next few months, MaxPreps will dive into a position-by-position look at the best players to perform under the Friday Night Lights.
We start with the running backs, and these 20 ball carriers have combined for 19 Pro Bowl selections, two Heisman Trophies, three BCS National Championships, three CFP national championships, two NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards, one NFL MVP and four Super Bowls.
Our criteria focuses toward on-field accomplishment, 247Sports composite ranking, awards, all-state selections and the impact the players made toward their team's success.
Henry and Bush lead the Florida and California contingents as each state lands four players on the list while the ageless Peterson and newly-crown Super Bowl champion Fournette represent Texas and Louisiana, each with two selections.
No
running back in high school football history has rushed for more yards
than the former five-star recruit. Henry racked up 12,124 yards on the
ground and finished his career with 153 touchdowns. During his senior
season, he had 462 carries for 4,261 yards and 55 touchdowns and was
the 2012 MaxPreps National Football Player of the Year.
One
of three running backs to be ranked No. 1 overall in 247Sports
composite rankings since 2003. During his final two years, Peterson rushed for
over 5,000 yards and 54 touchdowns while averaging 10 yards per carry. The
NFL's fifth leading all-time rusher was inducted into the Texas High
School Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
Finished
his high school career as the all-time touchdown leader with 205. Rushed for 10,881 yards, which ranks sixth all-time and trails only former Sugar Land legend Ken Hall for most in Texas history. He
helped lead the Bearcats to three state titles (2009-11) and was the 2011 MaxPreps National Football Player of the Year and Gatorade
Player of the Year.
The
last running back to be ranked No. 1 overall in 247Sports composite
rankings, Fournette finished his career with 7,619 yards rushing and 88
touchdowns. He's the only player in state history to twice be named
the Louisiana Gatorade Football Player of the Year.
Ended
his high school career with 4,995 yards rushing and had 75 total
touchdowns. He was a five-star prospect in the Class of 2003 and was the
third-rated running back on 247Sports composite rankings.
When
it comes to high school highlight tapes, Austin's has to be considered
for best of all-time. While he went on to play wide receiver at college
and in the NFL, he was a running back at the high school level and still
owns the state record for total offense (9,258), rushing yards (7,962)
and total points (790). He was a two-time Maryland Consensus Offensive
Player of the Year and helped lead Dunbar to three consecutive state
titles to close out his career.
7. Kelvin Taylor, Glades Day (Belle Glade, Fla.) | Class of 2013Ranks
second all-time with 12,063 rushing yards, trailing Derrick Henry while Taylor's 192 career touchdowns are good for third best. The son of former
Jacksonville Jaguar star running back Fred Taylor was a five-star
prospect in the Class of 2013 and second-rated running back.
When
you look at the record books for running backs Hart's name shows up a
lot. He ranks second all-time with 204 career touchdowns and fourth
all-time with 11,045 yards rushing. Michigan's new running backs coach
helped the Tigers to a 46-1 record and three state titles during
his legendary career.
9. Lorenzo Booker, St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.) | Class of 2002Named
the 2002 Gatorade Football Player of the Year after rushing for 2,878
yards and 50 touchdowns during his senior season. He added 16 receptions
for 300 yards and three more scores. Booker was the second-rated player
overall on 247Sports composite rankings and finished his career with
8,502 yards rushing and 137 touchdowns.
10. Christian McCaffrey, Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) | Class of 2014Just
like he does on Sundays, he was one of the best all-around running
backs on Friday nights. McCaffrey finished his high school career with 8,845
all-purpose yards and 141 touchdowns. He was named the Colorado Gatorade
Football Player of the Year twice and helped lead the Eagles to four
state titles.
The
No. 1 recruit in the country from the Class of 2007 was one of the most
versatile players in high school football. He did it all from the
running back position, was a standout defensive back and also starred
on special teams. He was selected to the Louisiana Sports Writer
Association all-state first team in 2004 (return specialist), 2005
(defensive back, MVP), and 2006 (athlete, MVP). During his final two
years, he accounted for 50 total touchdowns. He led the Patriots
to three consecutive state championships from 2004-06.
The
top-rated player from Florida in the Class of 2007 rushed for over
6,000 yards and set a Lee County record with 92 career touchdowns. Just
like the previously mentioned Austin, Devine's highlight tape was one of
the best ever. According to 247Sports composite rankings, he was the 10th-rated prospect overall and No. 3 running back.
We recently released our
Top 25 teams of all-time
and Jones-Drew's 2001 Spartans squad was No. 1 and a lot had to do with what the three-time Pro Bowl running back did
during his junior season. In the first ever No. 1 vs. No. 2 high school
football game, Jones-Drew was the best player on the field accounting for
165 total yards and four scores in a 29-15 win over Long Beach Poly.
The nine-year NFL veteran was the top-rated all purpose back in
the Class of 2003.
Accounted
for over 7,000 total yards and 87 touchdowns during his high school
career and helped lead the Rebels to state titles in 2007
and 2008. The former five-star recruit was the top-rated all purpose
back in the Class of 2010 and was named the South Carolina Gatorade
Football Player of the Year during each of his final two years.
Finished
his career with more than 7,000 all purpose yards and 90 touchdowns
while playing for one of the top programs in the country. From his
sophomore to senior year, the Dreadnaughts were 45-0, winning three
straight 5A state championships. Lakeland was named the No. 1 team in
the country by USA Today in 2005 and followed that up with a No. 3
finish in 2006.
In 2012, he joined Ricky Watters as the only players in school history
to have their jersey retired. McCoy rushed for 6,654 yards and 71
touchdowns despite being limited to 33 games during his career. He
averaged over 200 yards rushing per game.
During
his final three years of high school he rushed for 7,783 yards and 93
touchdowns. Harris was the top-rated running back in the Class of 2017
and only Jaelan Phillips was rated ahead of him on 247Sports composite
rankings.
Rushed
for over 7,200 yards and 90 touchdowns and was the top-rated running
back in the Class of 2009. The only player rated ahead of Brown on
247Sports composite rankings was Matt Barkley.
The
top-rated running back in the Class of 2010 was the eighth-rated
recruit overall, according to 247Sports composite rankings. He rushed for
8,097 yards and 84 touchdowns during his career and was named the
Arkansas Gatorade Football Player of the Year in 2008 an 2009.
Ranks
first all-time in Illinois state history with 9,045 yards rushing, a total good for 25th best nationally. During his senior season, he
had a game when he rushed for 478 yards and seven touchdowns ... all in the first half. Robinson finished his career with a state best 158 rushing
touchdowns.
