Earlier this week, we kicked off our position-by-position breakdown of the 2022 high school football season starting with
quarterbacks.
Up next are the running backs, led by Rueben Owens of El Campo (Texas). He was named the
2021 MaxPreps Junior of the Year after racking up over 3,200 total yards and 49 touchdowns.
Owens, who is headed to Louisville, is one of four backs on the list to have already delivered a verbal commitment. Kaleb Jackson of Liberty Magnet (Baton Rouge, La.) and Trey Holly of Union Parish (Farmerville, La.) are both committed to LSU. Jeremiah Cobb of Montgomery Catholic (Montgomery, Ala.) committed to Auburn earlier this month.
Three of the 10 selections are non-seniors led by the IMG Academy duo of Jerrick Gibson and Stacy Gage. They are the top-two rated backs in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports.
Florida leads the way with five running backs featured and Louisiana is the only other state with multiple players on the list with two. Alabama, Georgia and Texas all have one.
1. Rueben Owens II, El Campo (Texas)Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190
Status: Committed to Louisville | Class: Senior (2023)
Finished his junior season with 2,989 yards rushing and 46 touchdowns. The five-star prospect heads into his senior year with 5,308 career rushing yards and 76 TDs.
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 200
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2023)
Has rushed for nearly 6,000 career yards and is on track to become the sixth player in Georgia high school football history to rush for at least 7,000 yards.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 215
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2023)
One of the best all-around backs in the country rushed for 1,700-plus yards and 26 touchdowns in 2021. The four-star will announce his college choice Aug. 12 and his finalists include Florida, Miami, Texas and Texas A&M.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 200
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2023)
Selected to the MaxPreps Junior All-America second team after rushing for nearly 1,800 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 195
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2024)
247Sports lists Gibson as the top-rated running back for the Class of 2024. He transferred to IMG after a strong sophomore campaign at Mundy's Mill (Jonesboro, Ga.) and will be a huge playmaker for the No. 4 team in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 200
Status: Committed to LSU | Class: Senior (2023)
Rushed for at least 100 yards in every game last season. He finished his junior year with 2,031 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns to go with 21 receptions for 394 yards and four scores.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 215
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2024)
One of the most productive running backs in the country over the past two years, Gause has been a first team selection on the MaxPreps Freshman All-America and Sophomore All-America squads in back-to-back seasons.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 200
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2024)
Selected to the MaxPreps Sophomore All-America first team after a strong season splitting carries with Kaytron Allen.
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 185
Status: Committed to LSU | Class: Senior (2023)
Enters his senior season with 7,829 career yards rushing and is 876 yards away from breaking Nick Brossette's state record.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190
Status: Committed to Auburn | Class: Senior (2023)
The four-star prospect has eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark on the ground in back-to-back seasons.
