Top 10 running backs in North Texas high school football: Tre Wisner, Kalib Hicks headline list
By Chuck Cox
As the high school football season approaches, we are taking a look at the top players at each position in the North Texas region.
Whether power backs or speed demons, this group of special players gave opposing defenses nightmares during the 2021 season.
Take a look at our list of the best-of-the-best, and see how your picks for the cream of the crop at running back compare to ours.
TOP 10 RUNNING BACKS IN NORTH TEXAS
Tre Wisner, 5-11, 180, Sr., DeSoto
A Waco Connally transfer, Wisner is a four-star prospect who is coming off a solid junior season that saw him rush for 909 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning District 9-4A Most Valuable Player accolades. A two-year starter for the Cadets, Wisner put up similar numbers as a sophomore.
Wisner, a Texas commit who ranks No. 52 in the state by 247Sports.com, makes a potent Eagles' offense even scarier this season. His speed and athleticism already helped DeSoto win a 7-on-7 state title during the summer.
A'Marion Peterson, 6-0, 200, Sr., Wichita Falls Hirschi
A three-year starter for the Huskies, Peterson is doing big things in Wichita Falls. Last season, the USC commit rushed for 1,817 yards and 28 touchdowns to lead his team to a 12-3 season that culminated with a trip to the Class 4A Division I state semifinals.
Peterson has breakaway speed and can stretch defenses and break a monster play any time he touches the ball. With his experience and talent, Peterson could put up even bigger numbers in 2022.
Kalib Hicks, 5-11, 200, Sr., Denton Ryan
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
In his first season as the full-time starter, the lightning-fast Hicks tallied 1,448 yards and 18 touchdowns on 216 attempts to help the Raiders finish 12-2 in 2021. Hicks has plenty of varsity experience, though, and is ready for a big senior season as Denton Ryan looks to claim its fourth state title.
The four-star recruit has committed to play at Oklahoma once his high school football career wraps up, which he hopes is in December at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Jambres Dubar, 6-0, 190, Sr., Anna
Dubar and his teammates won't be short on motivation this season. The Coyotes finished 7-3 (3-3 in district) and missed out on a playoff berth last year.
Dubar was a big reason why Anna won seven games, rushing for 1,193 yards and 16 touchdowns and catching 29 passes for 236 yards and two more TDs. That versatility helped lead Dubar, also a track standout for the Coyotes, to commit to continue his playing career at Boise State in the Mountain West Conference.
Sergio Snider, 5-10, 190, Sr., Arlington Martin
After transferring from Fort Worth Nolan, Snider put up big numbers as the No. 2 back for the Warriors, rushing for 608 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Martin finished 9-3 and won a District 8-6A championship and a playoff game.
Snider and the Warriors play a killer non-district schedule this year, including games against Lake Travis, Cedar Hill, Allen and Temple. Snider has not committed, but he is receiving FBS interest from programs like Nebraska, Arizona State, Baylor and Auburn.
Owen Allen, 6-0, 205, Sr., Southlake Carroll
Photo by Brian McLean
All Allen does is produce. As a junior in 2021, he tallied 2,145 yards and 32 touchdowns to give him back-to-back 2,000-yard rushing seasons.
There's more. Allen is Carroll's all-time leading rusher after racking up almost 5,500 yards and 83 touchdowns over the last three seasons. Last year, he helped the Dragons to a 14-1 finish and a trip to the state semifinals. Duncanville knocked off Carroll, 35-9, to end the run.
Allen has not committed, but he is garnering interest from the service academies - Air Force, Army and Navy. Some college program is going to get a steal with this hard-nosed runner.
Deago Benson, 6-0, 200, Sr., Midlothian
The cousin of the late, legendary Texas running back Cedric Benson, this senior is a physical running back who runs through opposing defenses.
Last season, he racked up 1,173 yards and 14 touchdowns to help the Panthers to an 8-5 record and a regional semifinal trip that ended with a 28-20 loss to Mansfield Summit.
The versatile Benson, who began his varsity career on defense, committed to Washington State.
AJ Newberry, 6-0, 200, Sr., South Grand Prairie
Another speedster who runs track in the spring, Newberry rushed for 1,184 yards and 20 touchdowns to lead the Warriors to a 7-4 record and a postseason berth.
He also caught 19 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns. SGP lost to Lake Highlands, 29-24, in a bi-district rematch in 2021.
Newberry also has lots of varsity experience. Entering his fourth year as a starter for the Warriors, he has committed to play at Colorado.
Landen Chambers, 6-0, 210, Sr., Keller Fossil Ridge
Chambers used his strength and speed to rack up 1,757 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground last season as a junior. The Panthers finished 4-6 overall, but that came on the heels of back-to-back one-win seasons, so the Ridge showed much improvement.
Entering his third season as a starter for the Panthers, the "L Train" committed to continue his playing career at BYU.
Jaylen Boardley, 6-0, 190, Jr., Texarkana Pleasant Grove
A two-way starter for the Hawks, Boardley tallied 1,219 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground to go with 428 yards and four more scores through the air as a sophomore last season.
Pleasant Grove finished 8-6 with a trip to the regional finals. The season ended with a 36-15 loss to district foe Gilmer, which went 14-2 and finished as a state runner-up. Pleasant Grove won state titles in 2017 and 2019.
Boardley is getting looks from Baylor, Arkansas, Houston, SMU and North Texas.
