10 Best High School RBs of the Past 20 Years
Here are the 10 best high school RBs of the past 20 years.
Derrick Henry | Yulee (FL) | Class of 2013
No running back in high school football history has rushed for more yards than the former five-star recruit. Derrick 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.
Adrian Peterson | Palestine (TX) | Class of 2004
Adrian Peterson is one of three running backs to be ranked No. 1 overall in the 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.
Johnathan Gray | Aledo (TX) | Class of 2012
Johnathan Gray finished his high school career as the all-time touchdown leader with 205. He 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.
Leonard Fournette | St. Augustine (LA) | Class of 2014
The last running back to be ranked No. 1 overall in the 247Sports composite rankings, Fournette finished his career with 7,619 yards rushing and 88 touchdowns. He’s the only player in state history to be named the Louisiana Gatorade Football Player of the Year twice.
Reggie Bush | Helix (CA) | Class of 2003
Reggie Bush 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 in the 247Sports composite rankings.
Tavon Austin | Dunbar (MD) | Class of 2009
When it comes to high school highlight tapes, Tavon 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.
Kelvin Taylor | Glades Day (FL) | Class of 2013
Kelvin Taylor ranks second all time with 12,063 rushing yards, trailing Derrick Henry ,while Taylor’s 192 career touchdowns are good enough 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.
Mike Hart | Onondaga (NY) | Class of 2004
When you look at the record books for running backs, Mike 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.
Lorenzo Booker | St. Bonaventure (CA) | Class of 2002
Lorenzo Booker was named 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 the 247Sports composite rankings and finished his career with 8,502 yards rushing and 137 touchdowns.
Christian McCaffrey | Valor Christian (CO) | Class of 2014
Just like he is on Sundays, Christian McCaffrey 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.
Written by: Jacquez McCoy
