Top Five Rushing Leaders Returning in 4A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking a look at each of the top five rushing leaders in yards that return in Class 4A 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-returning-passers-in-4a/">Top Five Returning Passers in 4A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1238169"],"_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-68928b85cca70"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The top returning rusher in 4A back this season, Carter Hoffman served as the bell cow running back for Cedar Rapids Xavier's offense last year, taking 197 carries for 1,278 yards and 11 touchdowns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A smooth mover in and out of cuts, Hoffman has a strong lower body that's tough to bring down. Not the fastest running back in the state, Hoffman drives his legs through tackles and shakes them off with ease. Putting some weight on his frame, Hoffman could project to fullback or linebacker at the next level, or if he dedicates a few years to his speed, could be a feature back for a Division 2 program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1619815"],"_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-68928b85ccb01"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Listed in the Top Five Passers in 4A as well, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1619815' first='Hudson' last='Shull']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/hudson-shull/"></a> of ADM is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in class 4A. Passing for 1,363 yards and 13 touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 1,168 yards and 18 scores on the ground last season, Shull is one of just two quarterbacks in 4A to eclipse 1,00 yards on the ground and through the air.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-returning-passers-in-4a/">shared earlier on Tuesday</a>, Shull is a slippery runner that "seemingly fights through all eleven would-be tacklers on some runs, escaping and finding his way to the endzone. On multiple occasions last season, he fought off two or more tacklers at the same time, squeaking away and gaining more yards or scoring."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A constant threat to pull the ball down and take off, Shull and ADM are a threat to beat opposing defenses over the top, too, as the lefty can beat you on the ground or through the air. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1619687"],"_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-68928b85ccb70"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The second quarterback in the 1,000 and 1,000 club is [player_tooltip player_id='1619687' first='Caden' last='Klein'] of Newton, who took 128 carries for 1,126 yards and 14 scores, in addition to 1,445 yards, as well as eight touchdowns through the air last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A shifty QB that can dupe opposing defenses into biting on him or his running back in the option game, Klein is as deceptive as they come, showing the ability to fake the pitch to his D1 running back, [player_tooltip player_id='1366537' first='Isaiah' last='Hansen'], and take off for the endzone. Like Shull, he can burst through tackles or send opposing defenders to the ground with a nasty juke. Between he and Hansen, Newton may have one of the best run games in the entire state next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1240470"],"_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-68928b85ccbdb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A featured part of the formidable Pella offense last season, [player_tooltip player_id='1240470' first='Emmanuel' last='Diers'] finished the year with 1,112 yards rushing along with 13 scores. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Diers sets himself apart in 4A with his vision and speed, as he's able to find a hole or a crease in the defense, fire through it and make them pay with a big play or a score. That same pairing of skills make the 5'8", 185-pound senior a threat on the swing pass or in the screen game, too. With quick feet that can fly around the corner and slip out of would-be tackles, Diers is a weapon on special teams, as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1621113"],"_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-68928b85ccc4b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The lone junior in this group, [player_tooltip player_id='1621113' first='Drew' last='Bergfeld'] took 167 carries for 960 yards and and five scores last season on behalf of Western Dubuque. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bergfeld is a patient runner that allows the offensive line to set up blocks for him, waiting until the hole opens up before breaking through it. If time runs out and he's forced to make something out of nothing, he can do that, too. When running into a crowd, it's not a shocker when he comes out the other side, brushing off arm tackles and maintaining his balance when defensive players go after his ankles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->