2026 Rankings: Breaking Down The Running Backs

Quick, what are you looking for in a running back?   Do you need a guy who's a threat to break away every time he touches it? A workhorse who's good for a couple hundred carries to keep the clock moving and put your offense in a good position? A rugged, straight-ahead runner who'd just as soon run you over? Or maybe you're a small school and need a guy to go both ways and turn around and play some linebacker when you need him.   Well, you're in luck. Because the 2026 Class at RB has a bunch of all of those guys, and more.   You've got returning state champions, guys who split time last season and are taking over the main role this year, and brand-new stars waiting to emerge.   Here's a look at the class, and some guys we think can make a bunch of noise.    RANKINGS BUSTERS   [player_tooltip player_id='1161156' first='Javen' last='Cook'] Clinton - Life is good when you're the top back on a run-heavy team that's full of returners, and that's exactly where Cook finds himself. He helped lead the Clinton offense that won a state title last season, and he's ideally suited for the Red Devils' wing-based attack. He truly seems to get how important misdirection is to the offense, and as good as he is with the ball in his hands, he's equally impressive carrying out fakes and playing his role when his number isn't called. He's on the short list as one of the best backs in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='1295076' first='Josiah' last='Hill'] Gaffney - Hill steps into a huge role on a loaded team. Already a tremendous running back in North Carolina, a transfer before his senior year has him at Gaffney, and makes the Indians even better offensively. Don't even consider Hill's eye-popping 26 total touchdowns for a second - just consider his durability. Last season, on a King's Mountain team that registered 304 total carries, Hill had 209 of them. Those went for nearly 1,100 yards. Hill's presence allows the Indians to flex [player_tooltip player_id='473029' first='Jaiden' last='McDowell'] out to WR when they want to, and the two of them on the field at the same time is scary.   [player_tooltip player_id='617664' first='Brayden' last='Williams'] Saluda - Williams is one of those do-everything guys that are crucial to small-classification success. He's the Tigers' top RB. He can play some QB if he's called upon. Oh, and he led the team with four interceptions and three forced fumbles last season. Williams is just a football player, and a very good one. He had to learn on the job quickly for the Tigers, and now he's comfortable and ready to lead to an even bigger degree.   [player_tooltip player_id='1025778' first='Domanick' last='Felton'] Dillon - It's weird to say that a guy like Felton has waited his turn, but it's the truth. Despite playing alongside a couple of very talented seniors and being a little banged-up, Felton still had the third-most carries and second-most rushing yards for the Wildcats last season, finishing with 58 carries, 449 yards, and nine touchdowns. It's that gaudy 7.7 yards per carry that's the most intriguing thing about Felton. He's hard to bring down, and if he's healthy, Dillon's opponents should be worried.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267270' first='Dante' last='Caldwell'] Swansea - If Caldwell charges up this list, speed and versatility will be why. He does a little bit of everything for the Tigers, from running the ball to catching passes out of the backfield to being an absolutely lethal return man. Caldwell's also a weight room monster for his size, and will present a matchup nightmare in all the ways the Tigers use him.   [player_tooltip player_id='1283827' first='Aidan' last='Keeffe'] Ridge View - Keeffe is in a tough but good situation, playing in a packed backfield with a dual-threat QB and another back who recorded more carries. While that can be challenging, it can also take some pressure off. He's a physical, straight-ahead guy with some speed as well, and he seems perfectly suited to the Blazers' offense. Keeffe is the kind of guy who can put together a quietly strong season that will open some eyes.   [player_tooltip player_id='1592026' first='Tyqwon' last='Booker'] Broome - Booker was an absolute workhorse last season with more than 1,300 yards rushing, and he'll be the Centurions' feature back again this year. He's got a blend of power and speed, and looks like he'd be happy to run over you or run by you, whichever you prefer. The Centurions lost one of their top playmakers to transfer, so Booker will likely shoulder even more of the offensive load this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1303770' first='Jamijae' last='Karim'] Liberty - Karim is a linebacker for the Red Devils in his spare time. That accounts for the nasty, violent way he plays RB, and that's just fine with Liberty. He picked up more than 1,000 yards and scored 15 touchdowns last year, and he'll have a chance to shine even more this season. There's absolutely nothing fancy about the way Karim goes about his business - he's going by you, or through you, and it doesn't much matter to him which way it happens.   SMALL SCHOOL PLAYER TO WATCH   [player_tooltip player_id='1817436' first='Nehemiah' last='Brown'] Barnwell - Brown's in a situation that seems almost tailor-made for a big year. He's a returning star in a backfield that graduated a fantastic QB. He's a known commodity for an offense that will need one. And he's a dependable threat: last year he totaled 1,088 yards and 11 touchdowns on 227 carries, and that was in an offense in which the QB accounted for 35 scores. Brown is a physical workhorse, and he got better as the season went on, playing his best football down the stretch for the Lower State 2A champions. With huge graduation losses, Barnwell will look a lot different. The nightmare fuel when Brown breaks the line hasn't changed at all.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1639798' first='MJ' last='Earl'] Belton-Honea Path - The Bears graduated a back who re-wrote the school record books. So why is there so much excitement around the position going into this season? Well, just have a look at Earl. More than 550 yards on 85 carries with eight TDs is a great season for a guy who's not the primary back. Now consider that the Bears also had a bowling-ball FB who had 63 carries and a QB who had 70. A bunch of those are going to Earl as the Bears transition into their new look. He'll make the most of them. He's fast, he's physical, and anybody who thinks the Bears aren't going to be just as imposing in the run game are mistaken.    WILD CARD   [player_tooltip player_id='1667450' first='Amari' last='Verner'] Seneca - Verner (pictured) is a really interesting player. He split carries last season, but emerged as the top back, carrying 178 times for nearly 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns. His backfield mate is gone this season, so Verner is likely to be THE guy. The Bobcats have a great QB and a game-breaking WR, and Verner's steady, dependable play in the backfield will round out what's shaping up to be a really good offense. He had a good offseason at camps and showcases, and he looks like a guy who's in a perfect situation and ready to explode.

Quick, what are you looking for in a running back?