Top Five Rushing Leaders Returning in 3A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking a look at each of the top five rushing leaders in yards that return in Class 3A this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-rushing-leaders-returning-in-5a/">Top Five Rushing Leaders Returning in 5A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-rushing-leaders-returning-in-4a/">Top Five Rushing Leaders Returning in 4A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="http://Top Five Returning Passers in 3A">Top Five Returning Passers in 3A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1238514"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1773277,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6894e1638e96b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The No. 5 prospect in Iowa, [player_tooltip player_id='1238514' first='Kasen' last='Thomas'] is a two-way production freak for NW Iowa powerhouse, Bishop Heelan. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking 201 carries for 1,841 yards and 26 scores last season, Thomas averaged a whopping 9.2 yards per carry to lead the Crusaders offense. The Iowa linebacker commit brings his same mentality to both sides of the ball as a runner that punishes would-be tacklers and fights off any attempts at bringing him down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His lateral quickness and long strides make him a constant threat to make a big play on the ground, and if he weren't such a highly-touted defensive prospect, he'd likely be considered the top running back in the state, and a Division I prospect at that. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1615329"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6894e1638e9d4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A workhorse tail back that carried the Charles City offense on his back last season, [player_tooltip player_id='1615329' first='Deacon' last='Caspers'] took 269 carries for 1,365 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knowing what he's up against, Caspers' accomplishments on the gridiron last season shouldn't be overlooked. As the clear, far and away number one option for the Comets' offense, the 5'11", 200-pound running back constantly faced loaded boxes and still averaged over five yards per carry for his team. Keeping his legs churning despite running into masses of bodies, Caspers was able to rack up stats and lead Charles City to a 3-0 start last fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jaxon Griffith","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"175","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Webster City","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6894e1638ea87"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The second half of Webster City's rushing attack in 2024, Jaxon Griffith took 98 carries for 824 yards last season for an average of 8.4 yards per carry, scoring four times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For a team that runs the Wing-T offense and lost their leading rusher, Cael Nixon, to graduation, Griffith will be the main offensive weapon this fall for the Lynx. Evidenced by his longest run of the year being 62 yards, plus a kick returned for a touchdown, Griffith is tall runner with breakaway speed, and if he finds a hole and has a path to the endzone, he's gone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1240418"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6894e1638ead9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The leading rusher for Algona and the main mode of attack for the Bulldogs after Alex Manske went down with an injury last fall, [player_tooltip player_id='1240418' first='William' last='Weichert'] took 141 carries and ran for 818 yards and nine scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weichert moves like an old-school Madden ball-carrier on the PlayStation 2 (sorry X-Box users, this is my only frame of reference). With the slightest push of the joystick, Weichert wiggles and moves around opposing defenders to gain chunk yardage in the run and pass game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Providing a balanced attack for the Bulldogs while Manske was healthy and pushing the offense forward once the Iowa State signee went down, Weichert will have some much-needed experience to help Algona's offense hit the ground running this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Zandrik Allison","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fairfield","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6894e1638eb71"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">His team's leading rusher as a sophomore last fall, Zandrik Allison took 143 carries for 765 yards and eight touchdowns for Fairfield. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also part of a Wing-T offense that lost a senior who took a good chunk of the carries last fall, Allison should be in line to carry the offensive load for the Trojans. Fairfield threw the ball quite a bit more than Webster City did last fall, but they'll still be heavily dependent on Allison for much of their offensive production. A tough runner that makes the Fairfield offense go, Allison should be in line for a quite a bump in yards and touches in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->