My final running back to watch in the class of 2026 in St. Louis County is Martez Stephenson Martez Stephenson 5'9" | 160 lbs | RB Lutheran North | 2026 State MO . Stephenson is coming off a strong junior year in which he ran the ball 123 times for 1,363 yards and 17 touchdowns. Martez is a shifty ball carrier who has shown the ability to make cuts on the dime to make defenders miss. He has also shown the contact balance to break tackles without losing stride along with the speed to break away for a big gain. Stephenson also played a key role as a receiving threat this past season, catching 13 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns. Martez currently holds an offer from Northwest Missouri State and I expect his recruitment to continue to heat up heading into his senior year.

The Pop Hughes Player of the Year is averaging 13.1 yards per carry. That’s game system numbers for an RB! Add that to 1117 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. Tez is an electrifying talent that can do so much on the football field that causes defensive coordinators headaches prior, during, and after the game. He is deceivingly strong and his quickness is insane. When you think you got him, that’s when he gets you. Stephenson has gamebreaking potential and we’ll see if the colder weather slows him down because he can catch the rock too.

Stephenson finished the regular season with only 82 carries for 1106 yards. That’s a crazy 13.5 yards per carry average with 17 touchdowns. Lutheran North just upset Ritter going into the playoffs with a 8-1 record.

71 carries for 1047 yards, 14.7 avg rushing (#2), 15.8 avg receiving, with 17 total touchdowns. Best game vs Lutheran St. Charles – 11 car for 246 yds, 4 Tds.