20 best running backs in the nation during the 2023 high school football regular season

These 20 ball-carriers have put up big stats this fall

From five-star talents to underrated up-and-comers, athletes across the country have blossomed over the course of the 2023 high school football regular season.

With the playoffs fast approaching in several states, SBLive Sports set out to find the best offensive and defensive players in the nation this fall. We began with quarterbacks and are now moving on to the players who pick up yards on the ground.

Here are 20 running backs who have piled up yards and touchdowns during the 2023 football regular season.

Note: All stats are current through Oct. 9. 

Conor Booth, sr., Bishop Neumann (Nebraska)

A physical back at 6-foot-1 and 216 pounds, Booth has rumbled for 1,501 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior. Booth is committed to Nebraska for football and baseball. 

Jason Brown Jr., sr., O’Dea (Washington)

One of the most explosive players on the West Coast, Brown Jr. is a four-star recruit who has narrowed his list of suitors to Michigan State, Oregon and Washington. He has been unstoppable as a senior, including a 185-yard, two-touchdown performance in a recent win over top-ranked Eastside Catholic.

Marquise Davis, jr., Cleveland Heights (Ohio)

Davis has run for 1,838 yards on 180 carries and scored 28 touchdowns and is one of the leading candidates to be named Ohio Mr. Football. He had 361 rushing yards and six touchdowns in a thrilling win over Medina.

Traevon Dunbar, sr., Midland Valley (South Carolina)

Dunbar is averaging north of 10 yards per rush as a senior, carrying it 133 times for 1,409 yards and 17 touchdowns. A three-star prospect, Dunbar’s offers include Arkansas, Ole Miss and Penn State. 

Vaaimalae Fonoti, sr., Kahuku (Hawaii)

Fonoti has come on strong during the second half of Kahuku’s tough schedule that includes a win over St. John Bosco (California). The senior notched a season-high 189 yards in a recent win over Campbell and has 744 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns as a senior. 

Jerrick Gibson, sr., IMG Academy (Florida)

Gibson is averaging nearly 100 yards rushing per game for IMG Academy and has 14 career touchdowns. A four-star prospect, Gibson is committed to Texas. 

Raycine Guillory, so., Aledo (Texas)

A sophomore with more than a dozen Division I offers, Guillory is a speed back for Class 5A contender Aledo. Guillory has run for 617 yards this fall with 14 total touchdowns. 

Jacob Hadley, sr., Willamina (Oregon)

A small-school star for Class 2A Willamina, Hadley has been one of the most productive backs in Oregon the past two seasons. The senior has carried it 156 times for 1,475 yards and 28 touchdowns this fall. 

Savion Hart, sr., St. Thomas Academy (Minnesota)

Hart has topped the 1,000-yard mark for rushing yards in each of the past three seasons. He has run for 1,061 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior and is averaging more than 10 yards per carry. 

Cornell Hatcher II, sr., Corona Centennial (California)

A three-year varsity standout for Centennial, Hatcher II has 165 carries for 1,297 yards and 19 touchdowns this fall. He is a three-star prospect with double-digit Division I offers. 

Alvin Henderson, jr., Elba (Alabama)

Henderson recently went over 5,000 rushing yards for his career and has amassed 1,391 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior. A four-star prospect, Henderson’s numerous offers include Alabama, Auburn and Florida State. 

Javon McMahan, sr., McCallie (Tennessee)

McMahan has run for 916 yards and 14 touchdowns this season for Class 3A contender McCallie. The senior has also been a factor in the passing game with seven catches, including a touchdown. 

Ethan Pillar, sr., Pine-Richland (Pennsylvania)

Pillar carried it a staggering 56 times — a Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League record — for 297 yards and three touchdowns in Pine-Richland’s recent upset win over star-studded Pittsburgh Central Catholic. The heroic performance put Pillar over 2,000 yards rushing for his career. He has 872 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. 

Kentrell Rinehart, jr., Bishop Ready (Ohio)

Rinehart has turned 216 carries into 1,941 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior for Bishop Ready. A three-star recruit, Rinehart’s offers include Purdue and several Mid-American Conference schools. 

Cam Robinson, sr., Mill Creek (Georgia)

Despite playing for Class 7A contender Mill Creek, Robinson is one of the most underrated running backs in the country. The 5-foot-9, 193-pound speedster has run for 945 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior. 

Garrett Sherrell, sr., Brownsburg (Indiana)

A bell cow since his sophomore season for Brownsburg, Sherrell has carried it 179 times for 1,725 yards and 20 touchdowns this fall. He also has eight receptions for 259 yards and three more scores. 

Kiefer Sibley, sr., Connally (Texas)

Sibley is an electric runner who has amassed 1,604 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns this season. The three-star recruit’s offers include Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma State. 

Taylor Tatum, sr., Longview (Texas)

A five-star prospect and the nation’s No. 1 senior running back, Tatum will play college football for Oklahoma. He is tearing it up for Longview this season with 945 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns. 

Ca’Lil Valentine, sr., Chandler (Arizona)

Valentine is a workhorse for Class 6A power Chandler who has 659 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior. Valentine, an Illinois commit, is a four-star recruit. 

Jabree Wallace-Coleman, jr., Imhotep Charter (Pennsylvania)

Wallace-Coleman, a four-star Georgia commit, is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. The junior has run for 893 yards and 14 touchdowns this season while also catching four passes for 144 yards and another score. 

(Jerrick Gibson photo by Doug McSchooler)

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports