Stats alone don’t lead to success in Texas High School football, though piling up the yards and collecting touchdown catches certainly helps.

Last year was last year, and it is hard to predict what will happen based on the previous season’s failures or successes. Still, it’s nice to know which playmakers, game-changers and record-breakers will once again play under the Friday night lights.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at the top returning players in terms of passing yards, rushing yards and receiving yards in the 6A, 5A, 4A/others and private school classifications.

Below are the top returning rushers at private schools, based on The Dallas Morning News’ top 20 rushing leaders from a season ago (listed in descending order of yards).

Stats: 132 carries for 1,082 yards (8.20 average) and 13 TDs

Stats: 138 carries for 969 yards (7.02 average) and 11 TDs

Stats: 139 carries for 917 yards (7.11 average) and 23 TDs

Stats: 107 carries for 761 yards (7.11 average) and 23 TDs

Stats: 69 carries for 674 yards (9.77 average) and 8 TDs

Private schools: Passing | Rushing | Receiving