The Best Running Backs of 2025

We’ve all seen those laughable youth football clips where one kid who clearly hit a growth spurt or two ahead of schedule drags three defenders for 10-15 yards. But what happens when the younger kid is the one dominating a position? We couldn’t get that thought out of our heads when evaluating the Class of 2025 and setting our first state player rankings for that class. In total, seven of the 26 players we placed on the list were running backs. Five of the seven had extensive varsity experience; the other two were junior varsity guys only because of a heavy dose of established older players at the position. None them could be considered small. All of them gave us a great first body of work. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="272723" first="Ashten" last="Allen-Hawkins"], Summerville Green Wave coach Ian Rafferty used the term “special” when it comes to Allen-Hawkins. And after watching him crush junior varsity competition all season, we get why. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound tailback doesn’t shy away from contact; he was bigger than some of the defensive linemen trying to bring him down, so we get that. What’s more, he is adept hitting the hole and then running to space.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/01/WideWide-Clip-006.mp4"][/video] &nbsp; &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="272722" first="Zion" last="Gilbert"], Carolina Forest Had it not been for senior [player_tooltip player_id="89329" first="Luke" last="Janack"], [player_tooltip player_id="267465" first="Kalil" last="Johnson"] or <strong>Bryson Johnson</strong>, Gilbert would have had more time on the top squad at Carolina Forest this year. He did get some reps during the team’s first-round playoff game against Chapin, and he ran for 23 yards. But with the highly regarded Janack heading to the college ranks, we’ll see the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Gilbert plenty in this run-heavy offense next year.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/zion-gilbert/BfnQgGmMEeyA2wJt_kT-Ug/videos.htm?videoid=75e735fe-47db-4ddc-9976-ef131984a2b6">GILBERT HIGHLIGHTS ON MAXPREPS</a> &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="272717" first="Tre" last="Leonard"], Trinity Collegiate Leonard is an interesting prospect for three main reasons. First, despite playing behind two FBS-level seniors ([player_tooltip player_id="200708" first="Tre" last="McLeod"] and [player_tooltip player_id="91178" first="Reggion" last="Bennett"]), Leonard (pictured above) made sure he was part of the offense. When his number was called, he took advantage, averaging just shy of 10 yards per carry and tallying 351 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Lastly, combined with a recent growth spurt, the now 5-foot-10, 165-pounder is a legit 4.5 player in an offense that features running backs. Need we say more? <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15330862/619a9d1e4debab06ac245702" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="272714" first="Aiden" last="Mosley"], AC Flora In the Falcons’ fourth game of the year, then-coach Dustin Curtis wanted to see what his freshman tailback could do in what turned out to be a lopsided game against Chapin. This is a team that has top-flight tailback [player_tooltip player_id="202726" first="Markel" last="Townsend"] for another year, but Mosley proved in his first varsity game that he belonged. He rushed for more than 100 yards and got into the end zone. Moving forward, Mosley will have a new coach, but most of the Falcons’ offensive talent returns, meaning his development won’t be rushed. (No film available) &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="272712" first="Preston" last="McNair"], Midland Valley Midland Valley’s defense struggled in 2021, when the Mustangs gave up 41-plus points in each of their first five games. But much of that load was created by an offense that couldn’t stay on the field. Right away the midway point, that started to change. And McNair and teammates [player_tooltip player_id="231445" first="Joenathan" last="Peeples"] and [player_tooltip player_id="267472" first="Antrone" last="Butler"] had a lot to do with it. McNair finished the season with 256 yards and a score. With this 5-foot-9, 190-pound frame, his numbers will jump next year.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16288864/61968a9f3df596086022d322" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="272707" first="Caleb" last="Ford"], Gray Collegiate Ford was in a lot of ways the cleaner last year. After [player_tooltip player_id="89314" first="Kazarius" last="Adams"] would get done putting up some insane rushing totals, coach Adam Holmes would bring Ford in to close it out. As far as relievers go, well, just yeah. The 5-foot-10, 215-pounder rushed for 392 yards and four touchdowns in eight games. Did we mention he averaged 12.6 yards per carry? With Adams off to Georgia State, the torch is being passed to Ford.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16904034/61ec5d87b3c8cc04287a2a37" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="272702" first="Jevon" last="Edwards"], South Aiken South Aiken got what it needed from Edwards without taking much tread off the tires. Edwards, the most productive of the state’s freshman tailbacks last fall, ran for 1,148 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games. It was among the biggest factors toward South Aiken winning eight straight games and a region championship. In the process, Edwards averaged fewer than 15 carries per game. That lack of wear and tear is part of the long game with one of the CSRA’s best young players. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15865044/61988624d45e080a50bd3a2a" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> &nbsp;