{"id":404796,"date":"2026-08-12T19:42:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T19:42:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/404796\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T19:42:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T19:42:08","slug":"top-running-backs-entering-the-2026-texas-high-school-football-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/404796\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Running Backs Entering the 2026 Texas High School Football Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the 2026 Texas high school football<\/a> season encroaches, High School On SI <\/a>continues with its series on the top returning players. Two running backs, Richmond Randle’s Landen Williams-Callis and DeSoto’s SaRod Baker, dominated the 2025 playoffs, and they will look to replicate their special junior seasons. <\/p>\n

But there are many talented running backs throughout the state, and many will make a significant impact on the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

Top Running Backs Entering the 2026 Texas High School Football Season<\/p>\n

SaRod Baker \u2014 Sr., DeSoto<\/p>\n

Baker had a phenomenal 2025 playoff run that vaulted him to national prominence and a Class 6A DII State Championship. He finished the season with 3,096 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns. He also caught four touchdowns. He is committed to Texas Tech.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lathan Whisenton \u2014 Sr., Waco Midway<\/p>\n

Whisenton finished 2025 with 1,502 yards and 24 touchdowns on 9.1 yards per carry. He is a strong back who ran 10.54 seconds in the 100-meter in February. He is committed to Notre Dame.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Landen Williams-Callis \u2014 Sr., Richmond Randle<\/p>\n

Williams-Callis was High School On SI\u2019s National Offensive MVP<\/a> last season. In 2025, he ran for 3,502 rushing yards and 59 touchdowns on 10.8 yards per carry. He helped Richmond Randle to a\u00a0 5A D-II state runner-up finish. He is 3,828 yards away from the Texas career rushing yards record set last season by Kaegan Ash. He is committed to Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carson James – Sr., Fort Worth Arlington Heights<\/p>\n

James was named to the Blue Bell\/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State Second Team. He had 2,352 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns last season. He is committed to UTEP.<\/p>\n

Dylan Pierre Belinga – Sr., Liberty Hill<\/p>\n

Belinga ran for 1,443 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns last season. He was the 5A District Offensive MVP.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kameron Coleman – Sr., Fort Worth Brewer<\/p>\n

Coleman was the District 3-5A-I Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 2024, and in 2025 he ran for 1,912 yards and 22 touchdowns.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Khelvy Jefferson – Sr., West Orange-Stark<\/p>\n

Jefferson was named to the Blue Bell\/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State First Team after he ran for 2,384 yards and 34 touchdowns.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kiante Ingram – Sr., North Crowley<\/p>\n

Ingram had 1,700 yards as a junior and holds recent offers from Tulsa, Sacramento State and SMU.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cruse Coleman – Jr., Henrietta<\/p>\n

Coleman had a stellar sophomore season. He ran for 2,524 yards and 36 touchdowns. He was named to the Blue Bell\/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State First Team.<\/p>\n

Kendray Porter – Sr., Newton<\/p>\n

Porter is a threat on the ground and through the air. He ran for just over 2,000 yards and 2025. He added 29 touchdowns on the ground and seven receiving touchdowns. He ran a speedy 10.72 100-meter time in track and field. He is committed to Houston.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tristan Willis – Sr., C.E. King<\/p>\n

Willis is a top athlete with potential to score on every run. He averaged just over six yards per carry in 2025. He is committed to Georgia Tech.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Keldrid Ben – Sr., Montgomery<\/p>\n

Ben is a 4-star prospect committed to Oklahoma. He had 1,560 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025. He averaged 10.3 yards per carry.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sean Simon – Jr., La Porte<\/p>\n

Simon was a star sophomore with 2,191 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns. He is a 4-star prospect who has recently received scholarship offers from Virginia Tech, Wisconsin and Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Micah Rhodes – Jr., Klein Oak\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rhodes runs through contact and is difficult to bring down. Entering his junior season, he has received recent offers from Indiana, LSU and Iowa State, among others.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jeremiah Tabor – Jr., Melissa<\/p>\n

Tabor ran 181 times for 1,154 yards and nine rushing touchdowns. He earned scholarship offers from Florida State, North Texas and Utah this offseason.<\/p>\n

Cadarius McMiller – Sr., Tyler\u00a0<\/p>\n

McMiller is a speedy back who ran for 939 yards on 108 carries in 2025. He also scored 17 rushing touchdowns. He is committed to Oregon.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Javian Jones-Priest – Sr., Arlington Martin\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jones-Priest is a 4-star prospect committed to Virginia Tech. He used his speed to run for 1,154 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025. He ran a 10.41 100-meter time in 2026.<\/p>\n

Jakoby Dixon – Sr., Brenham<\/p>\n

Dixon was a District 10-5A-II Overall MVP as a sophomore in 2024. In 2025, Dixon spent time away from the program<\/a>. He is a 3-star committed to Oklahoma.<\/p>\n

Victor Scott – Sr., Lancaster<\/p>\n

Scott is a talented running back from Lancaster. He is a 3-star committed to North Texas. He could become North Texas\u2019 top signee ever, according to 247sports.com.<\/p>\n

Neree Castleberry – Sr., Winnsboro<\/p>\n

Castleberry ran for 1,176 yards on 11.09 yards per carry. He scored 17 touchdowns. He is committed to Texas State.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wayne Shanks Jr. \u2014 Sr., The Kinkaid School<\/p>\n

Shanks Jr. accumulated 2,461 all-purpose yards and 31 total touchdowns as a junior. He is committed to Arizona.<\/p>\n

Correll Buckhalter Jr. \u2014 Sr., Liberty Christian<\/p>\n

Buckhalter ran for 1,288 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior. He is a 3-star prospect committed to Kansas State.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Christopher Chizer – Jr., Dekaney<\/p>\n

Chizer is a multi-sport athlete who runs track, and he has received recent scholarship offers from Florida State and Arizona.<\/p>\n

William Green III – So., Byron Nelson<\/p>\n

Green III is a sophomore who is gaining interest from colleges around the country. He received scholarship offers from Alabama and Ohio State this summer.<\/p>\n

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