Area Running Backs to Watch in 2022

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By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

There are many talented running backs across our coverage area that features more than 60 teams. Below are some of the top running backs to watch this season. This list is in alphabetical order.

NOTE: Some worthy players may appear on one of our other SEVEN football watch lists. In an effort to highlight as many players as possible, A PLAYER CAN ONLY APPEAR ON ONE LIST.

The football watch lists we will be releasing are: Quaterbacks, Running Backs, Receivers, Offensive Linemen, Defensive Linemen, Linebackers, Defensive Backs and Breakout Players.

QUARTERBACKS TO WATCH – CLICK HERE
RECEIVERS TO WATCH – CLICK HERE

LINEBACKERS TO WATCH – CLICK HERE
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN TO WATCH – CLICK HERE
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN TO WATCH – CLICK HERE
DEFENSIVE BACKS TO WATCH – CLICK HERE
BREAKOUT PLAYERS TO WATCH – CLICK HERE

JAMBOREE PHOTOS – CLICK HERE
ALL FALL SPORTS PREVIEWS – CLICK HERE

Hunter Adams, Ava Sophomore

His freshman year was the stuff legends are made from, with Adams rushing for 1,174 yards and 25 touchdowns. It’s not just the numbers, but how he got them. He went for 235 vs. Liberty, 130 vs. Strafford and 122 vs. Thayer. The only team to keep him out of the end zone was Lamar. He’s the future of the SCA.

Logan Crockett, Lamar Senior

Crockett is the epitome of a Lamar back. He’s a 195-pound bruiser that is as explosive as they come. He’s a north-south runner whose physicality is apparent in every single carry. As a junior he rushed for 729 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 56 carries (7 games) due to injury. He’s due for a big senior season.

Ramone Green, Nixa Senior

He rushed for 225 yards in five quarters before an injury ended his junior season. As a sophomore, he was one of the area’s top backs and D2s are lining up for his services. A big senior year could see bigger schools get involved. With Nixa’s explosive passing game, expect Green to see favorable fronts consistently.

Keelan Jordan, Bolivar Senior

Bolivar graduated a loaded senior class, which could mean more work for Jordan, who rushed for 1,117 yards and eight touchdowns last year. He earned All-Ozark Conference honors for those efforts. He returns the OC’s second-most rushing yards.

Cade Muscia, Lebanon Senior

Lebanon Football prides itself on physicality and toughness, which is exactly who Muscia is. Last year he was a hammer and opposing defenses were nails as he carried the ball an impressive 314 times for 1,724 yards and 27 touchdowns. Not many backs in the area are better at getting downhill.

Quin Renfro, Joplin Junior

By season’s end, Renfro had earned his reputation as the future back of the COC. He went from 112 yards and a touchdown against Nixa in districts, part of his 754 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. He has a great frame and is an explosive athlete that also catches the ball out of the backfield. He’s the next great back in Joplin’s recent line that has included Isaiah Davis and Nathan Glades.

Blake Russell, Hollister Senior

Hollister is on the best run of the program’s young history and Russell is putting up ridiculous numbers in the process. Last year he rushed for 1,601 yards and 16 touchdowns on just 159 carries, earning All-Big 8 and All-Region honors. He’ll go down as the most accomplished player in program history.

Connor Sandridge, Republic Senior

Sandridge has built a reputation as a strong baseball prospect, but there’s a reason the 5-foot-9 bowling ball was an All-COC selection. He’s a physical runner and breaks tackles, but he also has some wiggle to him. Also a wrestling standout, he rushed for 966 yards on just 113 carries. Entering his second season in Ryan Cornelsen’s system, those numbers could grow dramatically.

Avious Steadman, Nevada Senior

Steadman is the most explosive back on this list. It doesn’t matter if it’s a handoff, a reception or in the return game, Steadman is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. He was unknown to the area prior to last year, but the area quickly learned about him after he rushed for 1,851 yards and 27 touchdowns while adding 325 receiving yards on 18 receptions.

Ricky Woodhouse, Skyline Senior

Woodhouse ran wild as a junior, rushing for 1,627 yards and 23 touchdowns for a team that went to the district championship game. For as good as he was, we’re looking at who he’ll be. Nick Griffin is taking over means Woodhouse will be lining up all over the field, seeing more touches in space. He’s a 2000-yard threat this fall and that’s just rushing yards.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Jake Anthonysz, Cassville Senior
Nathan Bartel, Lebanon Senior
Preston Blubaugh, Reeds Spring Senior
Evan Bradford, Waynesville Senior
Caleb Cole, Rogersville Senior
Dayvion Harris, Marshfield Junior
Kanon Krol, Republic Senior
Dante Sample, Hillcrest Senior
Jared Siler, Neosho Senior
Drew VanGilder, Joplin Senior
Spencer Ward, Nixa Junior

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