Top 5 Running Backs of Southern WI

We are back for our series diving into the Top 5 at Each Position in Northern and Southern Wisconsin. Our first installment covered the top 5 RBs from northern WI along with a handful of honorable mention selections. Today, we are heading south of Hwy 10 into southern WI to find the Top 5 RBs along with another handful of honorable mention athletes. All 10 of these athletes are names to know for the next few years. Check them out and don’t miss out! <strong><span style="font-size: 1rem;">[player_tooltip player_id="245970" first="Corey" last="Smith"], ’24- Catholic Memorial</span></strong> Corey still has two more seasons of high school football ahead of him, but the underclassman is showing the signs of the next elite RB prospect to come out of WI. He holds roughly 10 FBS level offers with many more to come, undoubtedly. He checks off every physical trait you could want in a running back. Speed, agility, quickness, instincts, vision. All of them grade out as elite traits. Corey finished 2021 with a State Championship, 96 carries, 1,130 rushing yards, 18 TDs, 5 receptions, 129 receiving yards, and 2 TDs. Corey currently sits at RB1 and #3 overall in the Class of 2024. Even at #3, I may be too low on him. He is a special talent, and is going to have a great fall for Catholic Memorial. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104372" first="Keany" last="Parks"], ’23- Kenosha Bradford</strong> Keany is the top soon to be senior ball carrier, and brings to the table a three down versatility that should have college coaches very excited. Parks can attack defenses between the tackles with his contact balance and play out in space thanks to his patience to allow his blocks to set up, speed, and agility.. He is a threat out of the backfield as a receiver also. Bradford graduated a lot of senior talent, so I expect Keany to take another step forward and carry an even bigger workload than his 135 carries, 810 rushing yards, 8 rushing TDs, 20 receptions, 360 receiving yards, and 5 receiving TDs. This is the #1 athlete to know in the class of 2023 when it comes to the RB position. <strong>Cortez Legrant Jr., ’23- Sun Prairie East</strong> The 5’10" 175 lbs RB was the #1 ground option for one of the most electric, productive offenses in the 2021 season. Cortez finished with a workhorse sized load of 190 carries, 1,467 rushing yards, 22 rushing TDs, 4 receptions, 33 yards, and 1 receiving TD. Cortez wins with his elusiveness. It allows him to carry the ball inside or outside. He can weave his way through the tight quarters between the tackles, or make DBs miss with agility or use his track speed to beat pursuit angles. Expect him to have just as many explosive plays this fall for the newly established Sun Prairie East team. <strong><span style="font-size: 1rem;">[player_tooltip player_id="104986" first="Terrance" last="Shelton Jr"], ’24- Franklin</span></strong> Despite serving as the second option behind senior Tanner Rivord, Terrance was able to carve out a key role on the most high flying offense of the 2021 season. I expect to see him step into the starting role in 2022, and put up numbers and highlights that prove he is a D1 level talent. In 2022, Terrance put up 107 carries, 545 rushing yards, 15 rushing TDs, 19 receptions, 217 receiving yards, and 1 receiving TD. Looking through the film from 2021, Shelton is a natural playmaker who consistently turned his limited touches into big play after big play. He made it look easy thanks to his ability to see the field and his blocks. Sky is the limit for him this fall. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104381" first="Wynn" last="Stang"], ’23- Mukwonago</strong> Stang was the lightning in a dominating thunder- lightning duo during the 2021 season. The 6’1" 190 lbs RB is perfect for that role. His vision, play speed, and contact balance come together to make Stang one of the top RB prospects in the state. Last year, he put up 150 carries, 1,028 rushing yards, 19 rushing TDs, 7 receptions, and 84 receiving yards. I’m excited to see how he does this year because that contact balance allow shim to run between the tackles with success, and as soon as he gets into the open field or attacks the edges he has the speed to pull  way form the defense. I think we are in for a gig breakout this fall. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Honorable Mention</strong></span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="245737" first="Bashir" last="Kila"], ’23- Eau Claire Memorial: </strong><em>Played JV in 2021, Varsity starter graduating in 2022 leaving void</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="304379" first="Micah" last="Kracht"], ’23- Markesan:<em> </em></strong><em>52 Carries,  420 Rushing yards, 3 Rushing TDs, 6 Receptions, 126 Receivng Yards, 4 Receiving TDs</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="105009" first="Gavin" last="Lettenberger"], ’24- Manitowoc Lincoln: </strong><em>81 Carries, 279 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD, 12 Receptions, 86 Receiving Yards</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="245983" first="Kameron" last="Williams"], ’25- Milwaukee Academy of Science: </strong><em>Current </em><em>2025 RB1</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="205780" first="Kaden" last="Bates"], ’25- Oak Creek: </strong><em>24 Carries, 154 Rushing Yards</em>