Iowa's best high school football players: Meet the state's top running backs

Some of the top running backs in Iowa prep football

Over the next few weeks, we will be taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Iowa high school football. This list focuses on running backs.

There are hundreds of standout football players in Iowa and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know about any other running backs worthy of fans’ attention in 2023.

Ty Cozad, 5-11, 205, Sr., Muscatine

Cozad, who has committed to the Air Force Academy, is the all-time leading rusher in Muscatine High School history. He broke loose for 2,095 yards and 20 touchdowns during his junior season, carrying the football 246 times. Cozad had 497 yards as a sophomore and this season, he has carried 82 times for 699 yards and nine touchdowns. A first-team Class 5A all-stater, Cozad has amassed 3,291 yards and 32 touchdowns for his career.

Jaxon Cherry, 6-2, 225, Sr., Webster City

During his junior season, Cherry led Class 4A in all-purpose yards (2,162), rushing yards (1,804), rushing touchdowns (31) and was 21st in tackles with 61. Since seeing some playing time as a freshman, Cherry has racked up 3,852 rushing yards and 65 touchdowns. He has already rushed for 1,047 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. An outstanding all-around athlete, Cherry placed fifth at 220 pounds in the state wrestling meet in Class 2A, holds the school’s discus record and anchored the school’s best 4x100 relay.

Adrian Carrillo, 5-10, 185, Sr., Spencer

The catalyst for the Tigers’ wishbone attack, Carrillo had a strong junior season with 1,204 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry to earn second team Class 4A all-state honors. It’s been a tough go for the Tigers this season, with an 0-6 mark, but Carrillo has 340 yards on 63 carries.

Grant Glausser, 5-11, 200, Sr., Western Dubuque

Glausser leads Class 4A with 1,228 yards and 13 touchdowns and has helped his team to a 5-1 mark and No. 3 ranking. Glausser earned second team all-state honors last season after rushing for 1,564 yards and 19 touchdowns. He set the school’s single-game rushing record with 389 yards against then top-ranked North Scott earlier this season.

Titus Cram, 6-1, 190, Sr., Bondurant-Farrar

The top rusher for the Class 3A sixth-ranked Bluejays has 951 yards and 13 touchdowns on 99 carries. Cram has added 192 receiving yards and three touchdowns and is the team’s leading tackler with 41 stops from his linebacker spot. He has two interceptions, including a pick-six.

Lance Coon, 5-9, 190, Sr., Humboldt

Coon carried 219 times for 1,566 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, earning first team Class 3A all-state accolades. A three-year starter, Coon has 2,362 career yards and 31 touchdowns. His numbers thus far this season include 307 yards on 43 carries and five touchdowns.

Brevin Doll, 6-0, 200, Sr., ADM

A University of Iowa commit, Doll led the state with 2,682 all-purpose yards as a junior. He rushed for 1,475 yards (8.2 per carry) and 27 touchdowns and had 640 receiving yards and six scores. Doll averaged 38.8 yards on 12 kickoff returns and found the end zone once, while returning four punts for 100 yards and a score. An outstanding track sprinter, Doll also had football offers from Army, Iowa State, Kansas State, Minnesota, Oklahoma State and Purdue, among others. 

Cason Stevenson, 5-10, 175, Sr., Nevada

Stevenson ran for 1,144 yards and nine touchdowns, garnering second team Class 3A all-state honors as a junior for a team that finished 8-3 and lost to eventual state champion Harlan in a playoff quarterfinal. He is putting together another monster campaign this fall, with 939 yards and nine touchdowns on 105 carries.

Brennan Hayes, 6-1, 195, Sr., Creston

Hayes flourished in his role as the feature back for Creston last season after sharing duties with older brother Riley as a sophomore. He rushed for 1,338 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 7.3 yards per carry to earn second team Class 3A all-state honors. Hayes had 687 yards and scored three times as a sophomore and thus far this season, he has 773 yards on 105 carries with six touchdowns for the unbeaten and third-ranked Panthers.

Braden McShane, 6-2, 215, Sr., New Hampton

McShane rambled for 1,733 yards and scored 22 touchdowns last season, good enough for first team Class 2A all-state plaudits. He carried 256 times as a junior and thus far has toted the pigskin 41 times this season for 267 yards and four scores. McShane placed third in 2A at 220 pounds in last year’s state wrestling tournament.

Graham Eben, 6-1, 195., Sr., Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

One of a number of talented performers back from last year’s Class 2A state champions. Eben, the son of Lions’ Coach Curtis Eben, made second team all-state as a junior. Eben committed to the University of Iowa this summer as a defensive back, but he rushed for 1,330 yards and 19 touchdowns. On defense, he had 28.5 tackles (2 for loss) with four interceptions and two punt returns for scores. The Lions are top-ranked again this season and Eben has 18 rushing touchdowns and 574 yards on 72 carries.

Titan Schmitt, 5-11, 175, Jr., Clear Lake

Schmitt earned second team Class 2A all-state honors as a sophomore, rushing for 977 yards and 17 touchdowns. An all-conference performer in basketball and track sprinter, Schmitt is already nearing last season’s production with 839 yards on 135 carries with 11 touchdowns. The Lions are unbeaten and ranked second in Class 3A.

Ben Gordon, 6-0, 190, Sr., Van Meter

Gordon had 1,734 yards and 28 touchdowns for Van Meter’s Class 1A state championship team last season, earning first team all-state honors. The senior tailback has already churned out 888 yards and scored 10 times this season, while also hauling in a couple of scoring passes. Meanwhile, Gordon has averaged 47.5 yards on six kickoff returns, returning two for touchdowns.

Wyatt Powell, 6-1, 215, Sr., MFLMarMac

Powell reached 1,154 yards on 107 carries as a junior, ranking ninth in Class 1A, which helped him land first team all-state honors. His 10.8 yards per carry was tops in 1A and he scored 15 touchdowns on the ground and two through the air. Powell ranked sixth in 1A with 1,547 all-purpose yards. The Bulldogs are a top five team in 1A this season as Powell has 380 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

Justin Knaack, 5-9, 156, Sr., Grundy Center

Knaack is one of five all-staters returning for Grundy Center this season, but the Spartans have moved up to 1A after putting together an unbeaten Class A state championship campaign in 2022. Knaack rushed for 890 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior and has 305 yards and six scores this season for the unbeaten and top-ranked Class 1A team.

Corder Noun Harder, 5-9, 155, Sr., Lynnville-Sully

Harder had the second-most rushing yards of any returning running back in the state last season, with 1,896 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was an all-stater in both football and baseball and was a member of state runner-up 4x400 relay team.

Kaden Amigon, 6-0, 180, Sr., Columbus

After rushing for over 1,000 yards as a sophomore, Amigon broke loose for 1,872 yards and 26 touchdowns last season, an average of 11.2 yards per carry, and made the Class A all-state second team. He is having a stellar senior season with 1,051 yards and 15 touchdowns for a 5-1 squad and is among the team leaders with 21.5 tackles.

Luke Sternberg, 6-1, 185, Jr., AHSTW

Sternberg earned second team Class A all-state honors as a sophomore, rushing for 1,791 yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging 10,7 yards per carry. He also caught 12 passes for 146 yards and four scores. This season, he has 631 yards on 81 carries with 11 touchdowns.

Hunter Bowers, 6-3, 185, Sr., East Buchanan

Bowers averaged an amazing 13.9 yards per carry last season and was one of three backs to eclipse 1,000 yards for East Buchanan. Bowers finished with 1,098 yards and 11 touchdowns and made second team all-state in Class A despite not becoming a backfield starter until the third game of the season. Teammate Tanner Thurn (853 yards, 14 touchdowns) is leading the way for the Buccaneers this season, but Bowers has accounted for 395 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Javon Sanders, 6-1, 185, Jr., Des Moines Lincoln

Sanders has burst onto the scene for the Railsplitters, leading Class 5A in rushing with 1,194 yards and is second in touchdowns with 15. Sanders didn’t suit up for Lincoln until midway through last season, but rang up 645 yards and six touchdowns in five games. He spent his freshman season at West Des Moines Valley and is the nephew of former Lincoln star Jordan Bernstein, who played at Iowa and was drafted by the franchise now known as the Washington Commanders in 2012.

Ra’Shawd Davis, 5-8, 185, Jr., West Des Moines Dowling

Davis leads Class 5A with 16 rushing touchdowns to go along with 872 yards on 148 carries. He had 787 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore, then in the first game this season, Davis rushed for four touchdowns and returned a kickoff for a score against Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Lance McShane, 6-3, 210, Sr., Maquoketa Valley

McShane is the leading rusher in the state with 1,555 yards and has already scored 26 touchdowns in just six games. It’s the second straight 1,000-yard season for McShane, who had 1,297 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior.

McKade Bloker, 5-11, 205, Sr., Clarksville

Nobody in 8-player football has run for more yards than Bloker, who has 1,138 yards on 103 carries, an average of 11.0 per carry, with 20 touchdowns. That’s a big reason why the Indians are unbeaten and ranked No. 7 in the state. Bloker also had a big season a year ago, rushing for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns and as a sophomore, he gained 1,037 yards and scored 13 times. He is a two-time state qualifier in track and field and a two-time state wrestling placewinner.

Micah Grier, 5-8, 190, Sr., Denver

Grier ranks fifth statewide with 1,150 yards (11.2 yards per carry) and has scored 14 touchdowns. Denver Coach Rhett Barrett calls Grier the team’s “most improved player.” After all, Grier had just 197 rushing yards last season and this fall, the Cyclones have ridden their outstanding back to a 5-1 mark and No. 7 spot in Class 1A. Grier is the leading rusher in 1A.

Adrien Robbins, 5-11, 169, Sr., PCM

Robbins is the leading rusher in Class 2A with 1,063 yards and ranks second with 15 touchdowns. In a recent 49-15 win over Vinton-Shellsburg, Robbins set a school record with 307 yards and scored four touchdowns.

Dakota Johnson, 6-1, 182, Sr., Decorah

Johnson is third in Class 4A with 1,018 rushing yards and has scored 15 touchdowns. He had a huge contest against Waverly-Shell Rock, rambling for 243 yards and four touchdowns. Three of those scores were 40 yards or longer and two were over 70 yards.

Photo of Humboldt's Lance Coon by Matthew Putney