Diverse Tailback Group Holding Down 2026 Rankings

The 28 running backs who now find themselves included in the Prep Redzone Class of 2026 rankings aren't here by accident.    They've put up thousands of yards and reached the end zone plenty. How they did it was with their own brands of speed, power, field vision, film study and so much more.   The following list includes players with a variety of skill sets, not to mention what makes them special to their respective programs. We're going to get to all that, but let's first take a look at the group as a whole.     BREAKING DOWN THE TOP FIVE   [player_tooltip player_id='473001' first='Jaylen' last='McGill'] Mountain View Prep   Our No. 1 overall 2026 edged out the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='212416' first='J'Zavien' last='Currence'] and [player_tooltip player_id='473011' first='Desmond' last='Green'] by being the most electric player in junior class last fall. He averaged better than 10 yards per carry and 17 yards per reception. He scored more than 30 touchdowns and was only prevented from reaching the end zone in one game all season (a blowout where he essentially played the first quarter). And he did all that for a team he joined a matter of weeks prior to the start of the season.   [player_tooltip player_id='473027' first='Meliq' last='McGowan'] Goose Creek   We had little choice but to drop McGowan slightly after he suffered a shoulder injury from the opening weeks of the season sidelined him for all or parts of seven games. Still, when he was healthy, we saw that he's still got it. He rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener at North Myrtle Beach and while he only accounted for one more 100-yard game the rest of the season, we are better than an offseason to get the shoulder right and some missed time will bring McGowan back badder than ever.   [player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Michael' last='Doe'] North Augusta    The Region IV-4A Player of the Year went from pretty good to great over the course of his junior year. He finished the season with 1,828 yards on the ground and hauled in another 400 yards worth of passes. He scored 32 touchdowns and was used in a variety of ways that made it clear this offense revolves around him until he graduates.    [player_tooltip player_id='473029' first='Jaiden' last='McDowell'] Gaffney   Much like McGowan, we're willing to give McDowell (pictured) some leeway after his own injury-plagued 2024 season. He messed up his ankle in the opener against JL Mann and then missed all of September and October. After returning for the final two games of the regular season, he then managed to run for 203 yards and three touchdowns and catch another 146 yards worth of passes that helped him reach the end zone two more times in three playoff games.    [player_tooltip player_id='1148537' first='Jaryn' last='Fox'] Carolina Forest   Fox went from backup as a sophomore (536 yards, three touchdowns) to the most dangerous offensive weapon in the region as a junior. He rushed for 1,774 yards and 21 touchdowns. He caught nine passes for another 198 yards and two more scores. He rushed for at least 100 yards eight times, 200 yards in half of those and gave us this freakish outburst while we were in attendance.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-prep-redzone wp-block-embed-prep-redzone"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://prepredzone.com/2024/10/foxs-career-game-propels-carolina-forest-past-myrtle-beach/ </div></figure>    8 RUNNING BACKS POSITIONED WELL FOR 2025   [player_tooltip player_id='1267286' first='Amadre' last='Wooden'] Batesburg-Leesville   Wooden's junior year was so strong that he had 1,500 yards in the regular season. He finished with north of 2,100 and 26 rushing touchdowns, averaged just shy of nine yards per carry and led the Panthers to the third round of the state playoffs. Wooden can carry a heavy workload, and assuming that's what he's facing, it's important to point out that he also appears to thrive on that type of rhythm. Some of his best games were where he got carry and carry and continued to get stronger.    [player_tooltip player_id='1025778' first='Domanick' last='Felton'] Dillon    Felton hasn't proved he can be an every-down, season-long back over the course of the last two years, as he's dealt with a variety of injuries. He played only seven games as a sophomore and eight as a junior (missing the equivalent of three-quarters of a year combined). Still, his 15-game totals (96 carries, 741 yards, 12 touchdowns) is strong enough to mean Dillon has a returning weapon.    [player_tooltip player_id='1395098' first='AJ' last='Lee'] Andrews    In 10 games last fall, Lee went for 1,432 yards and 17 touchdowns. And while those numbers aren't among the very best in the state, we also recognize that this was the first year of a new offensive scheme. You give the coaching staff and Lee another offseason to adjust to the pistol looks and a third straight 1,000-yard season appears not only predetermined but a super low baseline for Lee's production potential.   [player_tooltip player_id='1592230' first='Sean' last='Mitchell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1592214' first='Andrew' last='Johnson'] May River   There aren't many schools in the state bringing back north of 2,000 yards worth of rushing yards in 2025. May River is doing that and then some, thanks to another year of eligibility from the Sharks' primary two ball carriers. Johnson finished with 1,158 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Mitchell had 991 and five. This team is losing most of the pieces around them, which tells us that May River has eight months to replace some considerable talent. Having these two as a starting block looks like a solid option.    [player_tooltip player_id='1592288' first='Jamol' last='Horton'] Indian Land   With most defenses possibly paying attention to quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1467825' first='Matt' last='Kucia'] and whatever position [player_tooltip player_id='1036748' first='Sequel' last='Patterson'] is playing from one snap to the next Horton was able to establish himself as the perfect third part of the combination. He rushed for 1,374 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging better than six yards per carry. Horton is the definitely of nicely positioned to improve his stock.   [player_tooltip player_id='1592244' first='Brandon' last='Mack'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1356028' first='Solomon' last='Kelson'] AC Flora   On paper, there aren't many offenses that look to be as loaded as the Falcons heading into 2025. From linemen to quarterback to receivers, AC Flora has exactly what it needs to be downright explosive. Mack (976 yards, eight touchdowns) and Kelson (525 yards, five scores) add a significant ground component to an already developed passing attack. The fact that they caught 28 passes between them is further icing on the cake.     FIVE SLEEPER STANDOUTS   [player_tooltip player_id='1592297' first='Cole' last='Martin'] Chapin   Martin's debut season for the Eagles went pretty well. Despite playing in an offense that threw the ball much more than it ran, the junior had 767 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground and factored heavily into the passing game, catching 42 passes for 411 yards and two touchdowns. The door is certainly open for him to improve dramatically given the departures of Chapin's quarterback and top receiver.    [player_tooltip player_id='1394751' first='Michael' last='Cohen'] Myrtle Beach   The Seahawks' Rhino package - a heavy-set version of the wildcat - cost Cohen a lot of scoring opportunities in 2024. Still, he was the most utilized back by nearly three times the player with the second-most carries and is expected to have an even larger role in 2025. When Myrtle Beach uses the traditional running schemes, the ball will be in his hands.    [player_tooltip player_id='1361647' first='Derrick' last='Thomas'] Orangeburg-Wilkinson    Thomas helped sparked a rejuvenation in Orangeburg that led to a dramatic improvement in scoring (up to 26 points per game from about 11 in 2023) and wins (up to eight from two). Thomas' 1,367 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 9.2 per rush were one of the biggest reasons for the jump. And given that he's got another year, we think he's one of the main cornerstones of this offense as a senior.    [player_tooltip player_id='1283827' first='Aidan' last='Keeffe'] Ridge View    Two big facts don't helped Keeffe's chances of a huge senior year. First, Ridge View is loaded at quarterback and receiver and really likes to throw the ball. Second, starting tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1149057' first='Spencer' last='Bobian'] gets the bulk of the team's carries. Still, Keeffe had two multi-touchdown games and rushed for 416 yards on the year. If for whatever reason his carries increase, his individual on-field value should reflect that quickly.    [player_tooltip player_id='1592270' first='Troy' last='Hailey'] Darlington   You're an opposing linebacker staring into the Falcons' backfield and chance are 6-foot-3 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1395094' first='Jaylen' last='Augustus'] is getting all of your attention. Makes sense. What you might not see is 5-foot-4 Hailey standing behind or next to him. Here's the thing, both of them rushed for more than 1,000 yards last fall. Hailey will be primed to do so again with an even more developed offensive line in front of him shielding him from view.

The 28 running backs who now find themselves included in the Prep Redzone Class of 2026 rankings aren't here by accident.