Top 4 Class 2A Running Backs in Tennessee: 2026 Scouting Report

High school football in Tennessee is loaded with rising talent, and the Class 2A running back group is no exception. As spring practice gets underway, several standout rushers are emerging as key players to watch for the 2026 season.   In this scouting series breaking down top prospects by position and classification, here's an in-depth look at the top four Class 2A running backs in Tennessee heading into 2026.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   2028 Turner Bucher – Gordonsville High School   Turner Bucher is an intriguing player coming off a standout season for Gordonsville, where he earned Prep Redzone All-State honors. In 13 games played, he rushed for 1,178 yards on 7.6 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns, while being the feature back as just a sophomore.   He's a well-built player, standing 6-foot and weighing 202 pounds with a stocky frame and a lot of muscle for a 2028 prospect. While Bucher is a bigger player for his age and classification, he is surprisingly shifty, with enough wiggle to force teams to respect his outside and inside game.   That said, he is a powerful runner with impressive toughness, physicality and grit about the way he totes the rock. It typically takes multiple guys even to slow him down, further validating his capabilities. His technique is solid but could use some work, as does his explosiveness and the athletic side of things. Regardless, he has shown a lot of good stuff on tape, and I'm excited to see how he progresses throughout his career.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/vbryant.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1698752" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Grundy County RB [player_tooltip player_id='1668505' first='Vince' last='Bryant'] before a game.</figcaption></figure>   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1668505' first='Vince' last='Bryant'] – Grundy County High School   [player_tooltip player_id='1668505' first='Vince' last='Bryant'] is one of the more underrated players in Tennessee, but he has produced over his three-year career with Grundy County High School. He's been the feature back the last two seasons, toting the rock 269 times for 2,386 yards and 30 touchdowns in 23 games. The 2027 prospect gets overshadowed by some of the other top running backs, but he earned Prep Redzone Second Team All-State honors in 2025.   Bryant is a compact player, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 185 pounds, with a lean, athletic frame that keeps him mobile. He's an athletic player, notching 4.61 40-yard dash and 4.51 shuttle times, while being impressive physically with plenty of strength. He's a relentless rusher who bounces off tacklers, but has the speed to outrun a lot of people.   The rising senior possesses solid vision, nice elusiveness and athleticism that make him a dominant force. I'd like to see him become more agile, quicker and shiftier this offseason. However, he's still a good player with the potential to contribute at the FCS level.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   2027 Carson Kelley – Milan High School   Carson Kelley is an intriguing player who's been the No. 2 option at Milan the past two seasons but has an opportunity to be a breakout player in 2026 with the backfield to himself. Even as a rotational option, he was productive. Last season, he rushed for 519 yards on 5.2 yards per carry and four touchdowns.   Kelley is a compact player, but is physical and features a lot of power. He uses it well, running very hard and being a literal bowling ball. The rising senior is tough to bring down, often needing multiple tacklers to stop him. While he is a violent rusher, he has just enough wiggle to keep defenses honest.   Kelley isn't the fastest player, but it's enough to pair with his low center of gravity and relentless motor. With him likely seeing an increased role next season, he should be a guy who breaks the 1,000-yard mark with Milan.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/kmccrory.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2112701" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Mt. Pleasant RB [player_tooltip player_id='1106194' first='Kaden' last='McCrory'] during a game.</figcaption></figure>   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1106194' first='Kaden' last='McCrory'] – Mt. Pleasant High School   Kayden McCrory stepped in as a first-time starter for Mt. Pleasant this past season and was productive, running for 958 yards on 6.5 yards per carry and 19 touchdowns. It was an impressive junior campaign for the tailback, earning him Prep Redzone All-State honors.   He possesses good size for his age and position, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 195 pounds in a long, athletic frame. McCrory is an athletic guy with the ability to take a simple run to the house, solid elusiveness and a relentless motor. Along with that, the rising senior is a powerful rusher who is not afraid of contact, often running through defenders when they try to tackle him head-on.   McCrory is raw in certain areas and needs to improve to reach his ceiling, but he's a rock-solid high school back with college potential. With a final offseason to develop, I'm excited to see what he can do in his senior year.

High school football in Tennessee is loaded with rising talent, and the Class 2A running back group is no exception. As spring practice gets underway, several standout rushers are emerging as key players to watch for the 2026 season.