By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
There are many talented running backs across our coverage area that features more than 60 teams. Below are some of the top running backs to watch this season. This list is in alphabetical order.
NOTE: Some worthy players may appear on one of our other SEVEN football watch lists. In an effort to highlight as many players as possible, A PLAYER CAN ONLY APPEAR ON ONE LIST.
The football watch lists we will be releasing are: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Receivers/Tight Ends, Offensive Linemen, Defensive Linemen, Linebackers, Defensive Backs and Breakout Players.
RUNNING BACKS TO WATCH
Hunter Adams, Ava
After missing nearly his entire sophomore season due to injury, we knew Adams would come back and be a factor, but the way he did it was nothing short of impressive, rushing for 1,712 yards and 27 touchdowns while leading Ava to an 11-1 season. Adams is one of the top backs in the area and a legitimate threat to win the rushing crown this year, which would be his third 1,500-yard season.
Landyn Collins, Carthage
Carthage continues to churn out big-time backs, and Collins fits the mold of the rest. He’s a big back at 5-11, 205 pounds, which allows him to excel between the tackles. But he also has breakaway speed and elusiveness that makes him a handful to deal with in the open field. He rushed for 1,489 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior and returns plenty upfront to help him repeat or exceed those numbers.
Braden Dodson, Mount Vernon
He’s one of many on this list that could go either here or on the linebackers list, but it’s impossible to ignore what he did with the ball in his hands. As a junior he rushed for 1,720 yards and 23 touchdowns. Great feet and great vision lead to him finding himself alone in green grass often.
Jax Glendenning, Lebanon
Speaking of elite linebackers, Glendenning is an absolute monster on the defensive side of the ball. However, you can’t really do what he did to the Ozark Conference last year and expect to get more love as a linebacker. Glendenning’s 1,533 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns helped guide Lebanon to another double-digit win season. He’s been killing it since his freshman year with no signs of slowing down this fall. He’ll be heading to D2 Harding for his college ball.
Braxton Gross & Bryce Nolen, Forsyth
Both are better known as key pieces on Forsyth’s 23-win baseball team – that should be a favorite to compete for a state championship this spring – but they are absolute dogs on the football field. Gross was a stud as a sophomore, but an injury-riddled junior season slowed his growth. Nolen picked up the slack and both were All-Big 8 selections. This will be one of the best backfield tandems in the Ozarks.
Tyce Jones, Marshfield
As a quarterback last year, Jones was one of the most dynamic in the area at making plays with his feet, rushing for 1,042 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s shifty and quick, but also runs with a ton of power. Now he transitions to running back where he should see even more touches, which should make for a big year.
Michael Kelsey, Waynesville
Waynesville figured it out early that getting the ball in the hands of #20 is always a good thing. Kelsey finished his junior year with 1,337 yards and 18 touchdowns in 10 games, his second consecutive 1,000-yard season. He’s a three-sport standout and adding weight during the offseason will make him even better between the tackles, to go along with his 4.5 speed.
Kellen Lair, Fair Grove
Lair is Reggie Bush 2.0 with his ability to change a game with one touch. His junior year felt like a movie with him posting numbers you couldn’t rack up on NCAA College Football playing on freshman difficulty. He rushed for 1,986 yards and 37 touchdowns on just 165 carries and turned 30 receptions into 638 yards and 10 more scores. He also returned four kicks for six. Lair is a walking cheat code.
Cash Pomeroy, Marionville
I have no idea what position Pomeroy will play in college, but you can bet he will be really good at it regardless. As a sophomore running back, he rushed for 1,340 yards and 21 touchdowns. He makes sense as an H-back or tight end, with defense possibly being his calling card but rest assured knowing that his rare speed and mobility at his size will be his ticket to playing on Saturdays. He’s my favorite on this list to have a 2,000-yard 2024 season.
Dylan Rebura, Nixa
At this point you could put Ned Reynolds behind the Nixa offensive line and he’d probably run for 1,000-yards. But, Rebura is a little faster than Nitwit, which means this could be a record-breaking season for No. 5. Not even splitting carries could stop him from shredding defenses for 1,288 yards and 18 touchdowns. He’s also great as a receiving threat out of the backfield. He’ll be playing on Saturdays this time next year.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Caden Calvin, Miller
Jayce Depriest & Josh Harvath, Warsaw
River Enlow, East Newton
Cooper Haun, Lamar
Tyler Henry, Skyline
Jack Rickman, Stockton
Malosi Sosef, McDonald County
Jordan Tindle, Hillcrest
Remi Wilson, West Plains
Denver Welch, Neosho
SPECIAL MENTION: Jack Cheaney, Nevada
Cheaney will be sidelined due to injury, but just two backs went over 2,000 yards last year and Cheaney was one of them. His junior year saw him total 2,056 yards and 31 touchdowns, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry. He’s fantastic at getting north and south and is an absolute workhorse that can sustain as many carries as necessary.
