Top running backs in Louisiana high school football

An impressive crop of Class of 2025 standouts featured on this list, highlighted by LSU commit Harlem Berry

St. Martin's Episcopal senior tailback Harlem Berry / Crescent City Sports

This is "The Year of the Running Back" in Louisiana.

The crop of senior tailbacks in the state is unprecedented in its depth, starting at the top with the country's best in LSU commit Harlem Berry. 

Top quarterbacks in Louisiana high school football

Keep reading to learn more about the senior backs and a couple of juniors as SBLive Louisiana now presents the top running backs to watch for in the 2024 season. 

Top 2025 Louisiana high school football recruits

D'Shaun Ford, Opelousas, Sr.

Measurables: 6-0, 220

Ford ran for 1,836 yards on 174 carries with 19 TDs in the regular season alone for the Tigers, who won five more games to claim the Division II non-select state title. Ranked as a four-star, the No. 5 player in Louisiana and No. 14 running back by Rivals. Will run against some of the state's best programs in non-district games vs. Edna Karr and Zachary.

As a sophomore, helped OHS to its first district title since 1994. That year against Beau Chene, he set a school record with a nine-carry, 317-yard, four-TD performance.

Opelousas 2025 RB D'Shaun Ford building momentum off team's surprising state championship run

James Simon, Calvary Baptist, Sr.

Measurables: 6-0, 200

The University of Texas commit is ranked by On3 as a four-star, the No. 4 player in Louisiana, No. 10 running back and overall No. 162 player. Rushed for 1,600 yards on 192 carries with 21 TDs for a 14-0 team that won the Division III select state title.

Named to The Shreveport Bossier Advocate's preseason Tremendous 13. Older brother John Simon IV is a receiver at Louisiana Tech. Father John Simon coached collegiately. 

Harlem Berry, St. Martin's Episcopal, Sr.

Measurables: 5-10, 182

LSU commit is ranked five stars, the No. 1 player in Louisiana, the No. 1 RB and overall No. 17 player by On3. Rushed for 2,080 yards and 37 TDs as a junior for a Division IV select quarterfinal team. Added 20 catches for 401 yards and seven TDs.

Also placed second in the 200-meter dash at the Class 1A outdoor state track meet. Has rushed for 2,000 yards all three years. Named the Allstate Sugar Bowl's Outstanding Amateur Male Athlete in the New Orleans metro area for 2023-24.

JT Lindsey, Alexandria, Sr.

Measurables: 5-11, 185

LSU commit is ranked four stars, the No. 4 player in Louisiana, No. 5 RB and overall No. 151 player by 247Sports. Rated four stars and a top 10 in-state player by all four major recruiting sites.

Totaled 1,729 yards and 26 TDs for a No. 13 seed that blanked No. 4 Brother Martin, 23-0, in the regionals before falling, 40-34, to Edna Karr in the quarterfinals. Has 4.48 speed in the 40-yard dash and 10.85 in the 100 meters.

Jaylon Coleman, Vandebilt Catholic, Sr.

Measurables: 5-8, 150

Liberty University commit is rated four stars and the No. 9 player in Louisiana by ESPN. Ran for 1,648 yards with 19 TDs (averaged 7.6 yards per carry, caught 12 passes for 148 yards and a TD, and averaged 39 yards per kick return with a score). Runs a 10.4 in the 100 meters and 21.48 in the 200. 

Jasper Parker, Archbishop Shaw, Sr.

Measurables: 6-0, 200

University of Michigan commit is rated four stars, the No. 6 player in Louisiana, No. 14 RB and overall No. 186 player by On3. Ran for 171 yards and five TDs in a rivalry game vs. Archbishop Rummel. Gained 174 yards on 19 carries with three TDs and caught two passes for 87 yards in a 57-50 win over Carencro.

Finished with 1,119 yards on 167 carries (missed two games) with 16 TDs. 

Nate Sheppard, Mandeville, Sr.

Measurables: 5-10, 175

Ranked as the No. 17 player in Louisiana and No. 35 RB by On3, which predicts Duke, California and Ole Miss as the favorites to land Sheppard, who scored six TDs in a quarterfinal upset of Airline. Rushed for 1,847 yards on 270 carries with 36 TDs.

Added 26 receptions for 308 yards and four TDs to ignite the Skippers to their first state semifinal berth since 2015.

Lakedrin Harvey, Dutchtown, Sr.

Measurables: 6-0, 205

Miami, Penn State, North Carolina and Marshall have offered Harvey, who has an attractive size/speed combination. Scored three TDs in a 42-0 win over South Lafourche. Helped the Griffins to the Division I non-select semifinals.

Won the 100 and 200-meter dashes at the district track meet, posting personal best times of 10.73 and 21.91. Was the Offensive MVP of District 5-5A despite sharing carries with senior backs.

Xavier Ford, Leesville, Sr.

Measurables: 5-11, 200

Has rushed for 5,130 career yards and 64 TDs. Picked up a Tulane offer in August. As a junior, rushed for 2,425 yards on 295 carries with 32 TDs.

The nephew of former Leesville & LSU tailback Michael Ford is the two-time All-Vernon Parish Offensive MVP. Named to the Warrick Dunn Award watchlist.

Chad Elzy, Ascension Catholic, Sr.

Measurables: 5-9, 195

Rushed for 2,911 yards on 198 carries with 47 TDs (14.7 yards per carry). Caught 15 passes for 305 yards and two TDs. Finished with 3,468 all-purpose yards and 320 points, which include 10 two-point conversions. Scored nine touchdowns in a win over Opelousas Catholic.

Named the No. 11 senior in the Baton Rouge area by JK Lee Sports. Analyst Brandon Howard said this: "Elzy is a well-put-together back who has several DI FCS offers. He knows how to find the hole, has great vision and shows burst." 

Tavias Gordon, Westgate, Sr.

Measurables: 5-10, 185

Gordon rushed for 1,918 yards with 23 TDs and tacked on 324 receiving yards and four TDs. Shouldered a heavy load after quarterback Jaboree Antoine was injured early in the season. Topped the 200-yard mark in two games and ran for 196 and three TDs in another.

Analyst Sam Spiegelman wrote about Gordon last year: "Well-equipped back who can run inside and out, through contact, and has enough juice and quickness to beat herds of tacklers around the edge."

Re'John Zeno, Jennings, Sr.

Measurables: 5-9, 185

Played a traditional fullback role in a flexbone-type offense. Has 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash and a 4.1 shuttle. Ran for 1,902 yards on 270 carries with 21 TDs for a team that reached the Division II non-select quarterfinals. Was also a Louisiana Football Coaches Association Class 3A first team All-State selection.

Invited to play in the Gridiron Football All-American game. As a sophomore, rushed for 1,008 yards and eight TDs with 334 receiving yards and five scores.

Jim Burlew, Buckeye, Sr.

Measurables: 5-9, 180

Ran for 1,560 yards on 316 carries and 28 TDs. Also played defense, recording 38 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception he returned for a touchdown.

KALB-TV in Alexandria named Burlew its ACA Athlete of the Week in September 2023. "I just play football," the unassuming senior told KALB's Mary Margaret Ellison.

Kyreon Prier, Marksville, Sr.

Measurables: 5-10, 170

Rushed for 1,306 yards and 19 TDs on 149 carries. Also had a memorable season in the secondary with 125 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, six interceptions and 13 passes broken up. Set the school record with a 575 lbs. squat in July.

Played on the Tigers’ state champion basketball team this past spring. Goes by "Monk" and has a second nickname: "Big Truck" 

Jukadynn Carter, Logansport, Sr.

Measurables: 6-0, 170

Paved the way for the Tigers to claim the No. 1 seed in Division IV non-select by rushing for 1,509 yards on 198 carries with 16 TDs. Named the District 3-1A Offensive MVP.

"(Jukadynn) is a speedster who can run and catch," LHS coach Kevin Magee told Matt Vines of The DeSoto Parish Journal in June. Ran for 156 yards on 22 carries with two TDs in a playoff win over Franklin.

Ky'Ree Paul, Istrouma, Sr.

Measurables: 5-10, 175

A jack of all trades on the Class 4A level, Paul returned 12 kicks for 570 yards and six TDs and accumulated 47 tackles on defense with four interceptions (two pick-sixes).

In addition, ran for 1,365 yards and 14 TDs on 146 carries and caught 11 passes for 213 yards and three scores. Squats 445 pounds. Hometown program Southern University offered in May.

Kenny Thomas, North DeSoto, Jr.

Measurables: 5-9, 170

One of two 1,000-yard rushers for the Griffins, who secured the top seed in Division II non-select and reached the semifinals. Thomas ran for a team-high 1,422 yards on 186 carries with 16 TDs.

Ran for 117 yards and two TDs in a win over Northwood-Shreveport. Has a 4.0 GPA, 4.42 speed in the 40-yard dash and 10.8 in the 100 meters. 

Jalen Noel, Lafayette Christian, Sr.

Measurables: 5-9, 195

Rushed for 1,282 yards on 155 carries (8.7 yards per carry) with 14 TDs and five 100-yard games for the Division II select runner-up Knights. Tough, sturdy runner with excellent balance who gained a lot of real estate after contact.

Caught 31 passes for 518 yards and six scores. Has a 3.7 GPA. 

Jordan Hayes, Ruston, Sr.

Measurables: 5-10, 180

"The Jet" led the Bearcats to the Division I non-select state championship with 1,752 yards on 227 carries with 20 TDs (7.7 yards per carry). Rushed for 249 yards in a win over West Monroe. Squats 405 pounds, and runs a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash.

Teams up with power back Dylone Brooks (5-10, 205, Sr.) for a thunder and lightning type combination.

KeRynn Smith, Holy Cross, Jr.

Measurables: 5-9, 185

Ranked by On3 as the No. 8 player in Louisiana, No. 32 RB and No. 287 overall player. Pittsburgh, UCF, Missouri, Arkansas State, TCU, Indiana, Arkansas and Houston are among his scholarship offers.

Helped Holy Cross to the No. 1 seed in the Division I select playoffs. Tom Lemming wrote about Smith: "Very talented running back with 4.4 speed, excellent vision, balance and production."

Shanga Charles, New Iberia, Sr.

Measurables: 5-8, 192

Charles has put together consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. "I'm a downhill running back," he told Jamarcus Fitzpatrick of KATC-3 TV in July. "I don't do a lot of juking. I'm not the size of (current NFL tailback) Derrick Henry, but that's who I feel my game is like."

Emmanuel Williams, Central-Baton Rouge, Sr.

Measurables: 5-7, 195

Durable back who squats 500 pounds and power cleans 280. "It's a whole new lifestyle," he told Louisiana vs. All Y'all of the environment at Central under coach David Simoneaux, who led the Wildcats to the Division I non-select quarterfinals in his first year. Ran for 60 yards on four carries in a win over Capitol. 

Dedric Lastie, Riverside Academy, Sr.

Measurables: 5-6, 150

Led the Rebels to a Division IV select runner up finish by carrying 258 times for 2,528 yards (9.8 ypc) with 42 TDs. Added 25 catches for 262 yards and two scores, and also returned a punt for a TD. Has an offer from Kentucky State. Had a career-high 344 yards and four TDs in a 55-14 win at rival St. Martin’s.

"Looking at the season, this was always going to be the big game," he told Louisiana vs. All Y'all afterward. "(St. Martin's Harlem Berry) is the No. 1 back. I just had to prove I'm up there, too."

Calvin "CJ" Smith, Hahnville, Sr.

Measurables: 5-10, 200

Southeastern Louisiana commit. Scored all three of the Tigers' touchdowns, highlighted by a 90-yard reception, in the spring game vs. Jesuit.

"He's a phenomenal back who had a great spring," Hahnville coach Greg Boyne told Ryan Arena of The Herald Guide. "He's multi-dimensional and you saw that right there."

Jaylon Nichols, Neville, Sr.

Measurables: 6-0, 190

Nichols has been running free in the Tigers' backfield for years. As a sophomore, was named one of Aaron's Aces by KNOE-TV after rushing for 198 yards on 28 carries in a playoff win over East Ascension. Scored on a 1-yard plunge to lift the Tigers to a 30-29 win over Evangel Christian in the 2023 season opener.

Prep Redzone called Nichols "a hard-running mainstay" in its Offseason 3-2-1 Spotlight. 

Reid Chauvin, Episcopal, Sr.

Measurables: 5-9, 195

Bullish runner is a perfect fit for the Knights' blue-collar attack. Two-time powerlifting champion who rushed for 1,224 yards on 166 carries and 20 TDs and caught 14 passes for 166 yards and a TD. Has a 4.0 GPA.

"I'm not a vocal person, I lead by example," he told William Weathers of Geaux Preps in an article titled "Powering Up: Reid Chauvin's ascent to Episcopal's No. 1 running back.” 

Armariyan Asberry, Southern Lab, Sr.

Measurables: 5-11, 205

Asberry, who committed to nearby Southern University, was named to the Warrick Dunn Watch List. A two-time state champion who rushed for 1,278 yards and 19 TDs in 2023. Told John Eads of WAFB-TV that he "gets chills" thinking about playing in the SWAC.

Could go for 2,000 yards with the transfer of Jerome Harris, who rushed for 1,118 yards on 120 carries with 15 TDs as a sophomore, from Southern Lab to another Baton Rouge select school in Dunham. 

Ke'Von Johnson, Northwest, Jr.

Measurables: 5-9, 160

Broke the single season rushing record as a freshman at St. Edmund in Eunice. Led the Lafayette metro area in last year with right around 2,000 yards. Transferred to Northwest, which graduated the area's second leading rusher in Ja'Vain Reese.

Named the Gridiron Football Player of the Week in September 2022 after rushing for 248 yards on 21 carries with two TDs (and an 83-yard kickoff return). 

- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA