After looking at some of the state’s top quarterbacks a week ago, here is a look at the Top 10 running backs entering the 2023 Alabama high school football season. (Rankings according to 247Sports Composite.)
10. Blaine Burke (Moody)
We begin this list of top Alabama high school running backs in 2023 with Burke, who returns for his senior season as one of the biggest names for a Moody team that went 10-2 last season to reach the second round of the Class 5A playoffs. Burke, a three-star prospect, rushed for 1,605 yards and 20 touchdowns on 162 attempts in 2022, while also catching 31 passes for 367 yards and 4 more scores.
9. Ashton Ashford (Ramsay)
Ashford is coming off a junior season in which he helped lead Ramsay to a 13-2 record and the Class 5A state title. He rushed for 1,881 yards and 26 touchdowns on 253 attempts a year ago, while also catching 7 passes for 93 yards and another score.
8. Malcolm Simmons (Benjamin Russell)
Simmons, a four-star prospect in the 2024 class, is one of multiple names returning this fall for Class 6A’s Benjamin Russell. He rushed for 753 yards and 11 touchdowns on 120 attempts last season, while also amassing 513 yards and 7 more scores on 31 receptions.
7. Eli Frost (Fairview)
Frost returns for his senior season as arguably the biggest name for Class 5A’s Fairview. The two-way player is coming off a year in which he rushed for 2,484 yards and 39 touchdowns on 235 attempts.
6. Ronnie Royal III (Gulf Shores)
Royal, a four-star NC State commit, enters his senior year at Gulf Shores after playing a key role in the Dolphins’ 11-2 record and Class 5A quarterfinal appearance in 2022. He rushed for 1,147 yards and 24 touchdowns on 129 attempts, while also catching 61 passes for 876 yards and 8 more scores.
5. Cole Gamble (Mountain Brook)
The lone selection from Class 6A among the top-five Alabama high school running backs in 2023 is Gamble, who enters his senior season as one of the biggest names on a Mountain Brook team that finished last year as state runner-up. Gamble had 2,222 yards and 39 touchdowns on 268 attempts for the Spartans in 2022.
4. J’Marion Burnette (Andalusia)
After helping lead Andalusia to a 14-1 record and the Class 4A state title as a junior, Burnette sits in the No. 4 spot on our list entering the 2023 season. The four-star Auburn commit rushed for 1,473 yards and 17 touchdowns on 187 attempts last season, and he caught 7 passes for 80 yards.
3. Kevin Riley (Tuscaloosa County)
Riley is arguably the state’s top running back recruit in the 2024 class. The four-star Miami commit rushed for 1,306 yards and 11 touchdowns last season for Class 7A’s Tuscaloosa County.
2. Da’Marion Bothwell (Oneonta)
Falling just short of the top spot is Bothwell, who is coming off a truly stellar junior year for an Oneonta team that reached the Class 4A state semifinals. Bothwell rushed for a notable total of 3,112 yards and 41 touchdowns on 256 attempts last season.
1. Alvin Henderson (Elba)
Arguably the state’s top junior at the position, Henderson is the pick for No. 1 among Alabama high school running backs entering the 2023 season. A four-star prospect, he helped lead Elba to an 11-1 record and a Class 1A state quarterfinal appearance while rushing for 2,636 yards and 47 touchdowns on 195 attempts.
Honorable Mention
- Santae McWilliams Jr. (Saraland)
- DJ Butler (Davidson)
- Kamore Harris (B.B. Comer)
- Ri Fletcher (Hartselle)
- AJ Green (Thompson)
- Zack Simmons (Central-Phenix City)
- Jacquez Wilkes (Wadley)
- Rodreckus Johnson (Clay-Chalkville)
- Ken Cherry (Madison Academy)
- Jacob Cornejo (Cherokee County)
