Top 20 high school football running backs in the country

Expect these 20 RBs to make headlines throughout the 2024 high school football season

Althoff 2025 running back Dierre Hill Jr. has committed to Oregon. / Photo by Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports

The 2024 high school football season ramps up this week with more than 35 states kicking off their seasons. Throughout the preseason, SBLive/SI has been highlighting the best football players in the country, position by position. Now it's time to take a look at the top running backs.

TOP PLAYERS: Defensive backs | Quarterbacks | Wide receivers | Tight ends

Here are the 20 best high school running backs in the country heading into the 2024 season.

TOP 20 RUNNING BACKS

Harlem Berry, sr., St Martin’s Episcopal (Louisiana) 

The No. 1 Class of 2025 running back prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings, Berry ran for 2,080 yards and 37 touchdowns during his junior season. The LSU commit also had seven receiving TDs. He has been timed at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash. 

Karson Cox, sr., Oak Hills (California)

UCLA commit Karson Cox has 37 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons. / Photo by James Quigg | USA TODAY NETWORK

Cox is a do-everything back who has averaged nearly 10 yards per carry during his Oak Hills career. The UCLA commit compiled 18 rushing touchdowns as a sophomore and closed his junior year with 1,349 yards on the ground and 19 TDs. 

Gideon Davidson, sr., Liberty Christian (Virginia) 

Blessed with a deadly combination of power and speed, Davidson ran for 2,716 yards and 43 touchdowns as a junior. The talented back has been committed to Clemson for more than a year. 

Jordon Davison, sr., Mater Dei (California)

Oregon Ducks commit Jordon Davison split time at running back last year for Mater Dei but should get the bulk of the carries as a senior. / Photo: Jan Hendry

Davison rushed for 662 yards and 10 touchdowns on 101 carries while splitting time in the backfield last season with Nate Frazier and Ajon Bryant. In three seasons at Mater Dei, the Oregon commit has scored 31 rushing touchdowns and has another on a scoring reception.

Marquise Davis, sr., Cleveland Heights (Ohio)

The reigning Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year, Davis stars at running back and linebacker for Cleveland Heights. The Kentucky commit ran for 2,228 yards and 35 touchdowns as a junior while also recording 63 tackles and three interceptions on defense. 

Akylin Dear, sr., Quitman (Mississippi) 

Quitman running back Akylin Dear, photographed in Ridgeland, Miss., Aug. 10, 2024. / Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

Dear is a powerful back who piled up 2,016 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns a season ago. He decommitted from Ole Miss over the summer and is considering Alabama and Auburn, among others. 

Isaiah Groves, sr., East Robertson (Tennessee)

East Robertson High School’s Isaiah Groves stands for a portrait during Media Day at Nissan Stadium on July 10, 2024. / Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

Groves rumbled for 3,085 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior, carrying East Robertson to the program’s first state title game appearance. The Georgia Tech commit’s 3,510 all-purpose yards were 120 short of the Tennessee single-season state record. 

Tiqwai Hayes, sr., Aliquippa (Pennsylvania) 

Aliquippa running back Tiqwai Hayes gets away from a Dallas defender during the 2023 PIAA Class 4A state championship game. Aliquippa won 60-14 and Hayes ran for 22 yards and three touchdowns. / Paul Burdick, SBLive Sports

Hayes, the 2023 Pennsylvania Class 4A state player of the year, enters his senior season with 6,078 career rushing yards. The Penn State commit ran for 2,129 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior while leading Aliquippa to a perfect 14-0 record and a state title. 

Alvin Henderson, sr., Elba (Alabama)

Henderson was a man among boys at the Class 1A level last season, carrying it 225 times for 3,525 yards (averaging 15.7 yards per carry) and an Alabama single-season record 61 touchdowns. The Auburn commit’s 68 total touchdowns led the country. 

Marquise Henderson, sr., Belton-Honea Path (South Carolina)

Belton-Honea Path's Marquise Henderson (3) scores a touchdown against DW Daniel High on Nov. 24, 2023. / Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK

Henderson scored 39 total touchdowns a season ago, the most in Belton-Honea Path history. The Clemson commit finished with 2,336 yards on the ground. 

Dierre Hill Jr., sr., Althoff Catholic (Illinois)

Hill averaged 13.6 yards per carry as a junior, running for 1,788 yards and 25 touchdowns en route to Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The two-way standout is committed to Oregon. 

KD Jones, jr., Jenks (Oklahoma)

A breakout performer as a sophomore, Jones compiled 2,205 all-purpose yards and 19 total touchdowns for Jenks. The star back’s numerous offers include Alabama, Oklahoma and Tennessee. 

JT Lindsey, sr., Alexandria (Louisiana)

JT Lindsey (6) of Alexandria High School runs the ball against Ruston High School. / Melinda Martinez/The Town Talk / USA TODAY NETWORK

Lindsey, an LSU commit, is an elusive runner with breakaway speed. He compiled 1,729 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior while also returning kicks. 

Javian Osborne, jr., Forney (Texas)

Osborne put up monster numbers as a sophomore, running for 2,231 yards and 39 touchdowns as Forney reached the Class 5A Division I semifinals. He led the Dallas-Fort Worth area in rushing yards and total touchdowns (41). Osborne’s early offers include Alabama, Florida State and Texas. 

Jeffrey Overton Jr., sr., Hayfield (Virginia)

A two-time Class 6A Offensive Player of the Year and the reigning Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year, Overton has been one of the most productive backs in the country over the last three seasons. The Virginia Tech commit ran for 2,329 yards as a junior and scored 44 total touchdowns. After spending three seasons at Freedom, he is now at Hayfield. 

Jamarion Parker, sr., Cardinal Ritter (Missouri)

Cardinal Ritter running back Jamarion Parker is committed to Nebraska. / Photo by David Smith, SBLive

Parker averaged 11.2 yards per attempt as a junior, running for 1,644 yards while scoring 26 total touchdowns. The dynamic playmaker is committed to Nebraska. 

Girard Pringle Jr., sr., Armwood (Florida)

A track star with 10.56 speed in the 100 meters, Pringle knows how to use his wheels on the football field. The Miami commit ran for 1,732 yards and 24 touchdowns a season ago. 

Kentrell Rinehart, sr., Westland (Ohio)

Rinehart was a workhorse for Bishop Ready as a junior, accumulating 3,003 all-purpose yards and 46 total touchdowns. Now at Westland, the N.C. State commit is poised for a huge senior season. 

Rickey Stewart, sr., Chapel Hill (Texas)

Stewart carried Chapel Hill to the Class 4A Division I title game a season ago, running for 2,855 yards and 40 touchdowns while averaging 10.5 yards per carry. The Texas commit also had four receiving touchdowns. 

Jonaz Walton, jr., Central (Georgia) 

A Day 1 varsity contributor, Walton ran for 3,327 yards and 42 total touchdowns during his first two seasons with Central. His numerous offers include Alabama, Georgia and Michigan. 

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