'26 Wichita Area RB's Ready to Rip This Fall

Coming down the homestretch to this fall, I wanted to make sure and shine the spotlight on some of the top 2026 running backs in the state coming from schools in the Wichita and surrounding area.   With the many wide-open passing attacks currently in use, the traditional running back is getting stretched into a utility back catching a lot of passes out of the backfield. In many cases their running skills are never fully utilized because the team has opted to hang its hopes on the pass game.   At the high school level, however, the coaches with their finger on the pulse still build their offensive attack around the running game, which sets up the pass and takes advantage of the running back's DNA gifts.   For this report I wanted to highlight the old-school running backs who can do whatever is expected of an elite RB, but are making their name being able to tote the mail.   So, without further adieu, I bring you five running backs in the Wichita area who are getting ready to torch the turf this fall:   [player_tooltip player_id='585903' first='Aaron' last='Bohannon Jr.']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/aaron-bohannon-jr/"></a> , 5'7, 175, RB, Wichita East, is ranked #5. As the top ranked running back in the 2026 class, he is coming off a breakout sophomore season when he piled up 1,248 yards rushing on only 111 carries for a jaw-dropping 11.2 yards per carry and also caught 16 passes for 237 yards and scored 16 total touchdowns. He lines up primarily as the lone setback, but is also split out, lines up on the wing and moved around in motion to get the ball to him in a variety of ways. He has great vision and top-end read and react skills with the ball in his hands. He has a great feel for picking his way through traffic, with great spatial awareness and the ability to weave through defenders, shift gears and reverse fields quickly. He has great burst and acceleration and explodes vertically into the open field. He is a strong runner for his size, making decisive cuts and running through arm tackles with ease. Get your popcorn out folks, this young gun is just getting started.   [player_tooltip player_id='426515' first='Brayden' last='Pappas']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/brayden-pappas/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/brayden-pappas/"></a> , 5'7, 185, RB/LB, Eisenhower, is ranked #26. He has steadily moved up in the rankings despite playing five different positions and performing wherever the team needed him most. He has been fine-tuning his offensive skill sets in the camp/combine circuit and getting his name out with a number of small college and D1 visits. Usually lining up as a single back, he has a low-center of gravity and powerful legs who is difficult to bring down. He is a head's up runner, choosing his holes efficiently and seamlessly sliding through the open gaps. He can be a physical runner who will run over defenders if needed but has a good burst when shifting to the next gear and hitting the open field. A year ago he focused on defense, and was an aggressive headhunter of a linebacker, racking up 64 tackles on a tough Eisenhower defense. This year he will focus on carrying the ball and giving the high-powered Eisenhower offense a strong run game this fall. Get out and see a rising star on the ascent in 2024.   [player_tooltip player_id='780429' first='Zane' last='Farney']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/zane-farney/"></a> , 6'0, 185, RB, Sterling, is ranked #41. He is coming off a superlative start to his high school career when he piled up 1,506 yards rushing, averaging 7.4 yards per carry and scored 16 touchdowns a year ago. He is already a two-time all-state RB and last season was a finalist for the Offensive Player of the Year award. He has been hitting it hard in the off-season and is poised and ready to blast off this fall. He lines up as an old-school lone setback who everyone knows is going to get force-fed the football. He is a smooth, athletic runner who is instinctive, finds gaps quickly and will lower the boom on contact. He has agile feet and with his quick burst and acceleration he can blaze into the secondary before the defenders know what has happened. Once in the open field, he can go sideline-to-sideline if needed as an elusive, slippery runner with great lateral movement who leaves defensive backs grasping at air. He is a stud in the making and definitely one to get out and see this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1113405' first='Keedrin' last='Jones']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/keedrin-jones/"></a> , 5'10, 185, RB/FS, Rose Hill, is ranked #123. He is coming off a standout sophomore season when he piled up over a thousand all-purpose yards. He is a versatile running back in the Rose Hill scheme, lining up as a single back to spearhead the running attack. He is a powerful runner who moves with good pad level through gaps in the line. He hits the hole hard and will blow up the defender to get first-down yardage. Once past the line of scrimmage, he has good instincts and uses the entire field, knifing through arm tackles, bouncing, spinning and juking his way to paydirt. He sometimes disappears in the pile up and keeps hammering and churning and suddenly pops out on the other side. As a receiver coming out of the backfield, he has soft hands and catches the ball well. On the other side of the ball he is an instinctive free safety who reads and reacts quickly on the run and tracks well when the ball is in flight. This kid is ready to bust out for a big year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115788' first='Deanthony' last='Jones'], 6'0, 200, RB, Wichita North, is ranked #129. He is coming off a breakthrough year when he put the rest of the City League on notice that there is a new running back getting ready to take off. In nine games a year ago he rushed for just under 600 yards, which included an 86-yard touchdown run, and scored six touchdowns. He is a powerful runner who lines up as a tailback or in the Wildcat and is the featured back in the North offense. He is physical between the tackles and will run over and through defenders as needed. He has strong legs, with a churning, driving running style with a vicious stiff arm. He is also slippery and elusive in the open field, with a variety of spins and shake and bake before hitting the afterburners and scorching the perimeter. He may be flying under the radar now but he is getting ready to make some noise this fall.   In conclusion, get out and see these guys pile up the yardage this fall. And, as always, if you know of anyone flying under the radar feel free to reach out to me via DM on X.

Coming down the homestretch to this fall, I wanted to make sure and shine the spotlight on some of the top 2026 running backs in the state coming from schools in the Wichita and surrounding area.