Deep Dive: Top 7 Durham/Orange County RBs

We're just getting started with our Deep Dives series, where we go in-depth on the best players by position in each county. I'm going through the Raleigh-Durham area, covering 11 counties around our state's capital. Here, I'm looking at the running back position, ranking the top backs in Durham and Orange County.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top 7 RBs in Durham/Orange County</h2>   Editor's Note: The ranked running backs are listed in order from first to seventh. Other names are in no particular order. Rankings reflect predicted 2026 impact.   Other Durham/Orange County Deep Dives: <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/durham-orange-county-qb-deep-dive/">QBs</a>    When Holloway makes his cut to get north and south, he gets to full speed in a hurry. The junior has elite speed and the vision to create space at the line of scrimmage. A two-way player, he's key for Southern Durham, and it's no surprise he's the top back in this ranking, especially after a 1,400-yard season on just 122 carries.     Hayes was dynamic as a junior before missing the final two games of the season, scoring in every game. He was at his best against top competition, eclipsing 200 yards against both Southern and a strong Panther Creek defense. A 1,200-yard season in less than nine full games is impressive, and Hayes has the speed and power to be even better in 2026.     Thomas was a bright spot on an inconsistent Orange offense, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns. He shows good vision and he's extremely difficult to bring down, especially for a guy his size. His weight is kept down largely due to him being a standout wrestler, and you can tell based on how he moves his weight and balance around that he has a strong background in that sport.     Mayo transferred into a crowded Hillside backfield as a two-way player and was the featured back for about half of the season, with at least 12 touches and 60 yards in five games, and fewer than eight touches in the other five. He's a versatile athlete, able to help in a variety of roles. After the departure of a couple of key playmakers, we expect him to have a bigger role in 2026.     Moore put on some weight last offseason and it really helped him work more consistently between the tackles. He's a patient runner who waits for a hole before exploding through, and you can tell that he's put in the work in the offseason. With another full offseason to add strength, I think he can have a strong junior campaign.     Douglas has shared carries for multiple seasons at Hillside and offers a complementary skillset to his running mates. He has good vision and is usually able to bounce runs to the outside and get around the edge when possible. I'm intrigued by a potentially larger role in 2025, and I think he could do a lot of damage with more consistent touches.     Brooks-McMillan entered the 2025 season as a two-way player, but left as a guy who will likely focus on the running back position (in our opinion) after a strong stretch to end the season. In his final six games, Brooks-McMillan scored eight touchdowns and averaged 70 yards a game, helping Chapel Hill secure a winning conference record.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Names To Know</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='1216913' first='Kayden' last='Bradsher'] | Orange   [player_tooltip player_id='1708903' first='Daniel' last='Smith'] | Hillside   Make sure we don't miss anyone. Let me know on Twitter/X (@whelms21) which players need to make our deep dive rankings. Don't miss out on everything Prep Redzone has to offer. Our 7-Day free trial offer runs from March 5-9.

We're just getting started with our Deep Dives series, where we go in-depth on the best players by position in each county. I'm going through the Raleigh-Durham area, covering 11 counties around our state's capital. Here, I'm looking at the running back position, ranking the top backs in Durham and Orange County.