High school football preview: Ranking the Top 10 Fort Worth-area running backs in 2022

By Brian Gosset

August 22, 2022 6:00 AM

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram continues its 2022 Texas high school football player-by-player preview and today we look at the area’s best running backs.

Last season, the area saw three 2,000-yard rushers, but only one returns in Southlake Carroll’s Owen Allen.

How many will the Fort Worth-area have this fall?

Here are the Top 10 RBs entering the 2022 season:

1. Owen Allen

Senior, 6-0, 200, Southlake Carroll

Facts: During his career, Allen has been voted with a district superlative every year. He was newcomer of the year as a freshman, offensive MVP as a sophomore and District 4-6A MVP last season as a junior. He has rushed for over 5,000 yards and 83 touchdowns in his career, including career-highs of 2,145 yards and 32 TDs last season as the Dragons went to the state semifinals.

Midland Legacy’s Canyon Moses, left is stiff-armed by Southlake Carroll’s Owen Allen as he races up the field for a first down near the goal line in the fourth quarter of their Class 6A Division 1 Area football game Saturday, November 20, 2021 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Carroll went on to win 42-7. Special/Bob Haynes Bob Haynes Special to the Star-Telegram

2. Landen Chambers

Senior, 5-11, 210, Keller Fossil Ridge

Commit: BYU

Facts: The 3-star back finished with the third-most rushing yards last season among 2022 returners and most yards per game at 176. Chambers ranks in the Top 100 senior running backs in the country. He hit the century mark in all 10 games and had 200 yards three times with a season-high of 236 yards.

Keller Fossil Ridge running back Landen Chambers (Brian Perroni/247Sports)

3. Deago Benson

Senior, 6-0, 200, Midlothian

Commit: Washington

Facts: The 3-star Benson had 10 offers before committing to Washington in July. He ranks in the Top 100 senior running backs in the country. He rushed for 1,200 yards and 14 TDs last season. Benson rushed for 800 yards and six TDs as a sophomore in 2020.

Midlothian’s De’ago Benson, right, out paces Birdville’s Cameron Jones to go 79 yards and a touchdown to take a 20-0 lead in the second quarter of their Division 1 District 4- 5A football game Thursday, October 22, 2020 at the Midlothian Multi-Purpose Stadium in Midlothian, Texas. Special/Bob Haynes Bob Haynes Special to the Star-Telegram

4. Ezra Carter

Senior, 5-10, 200, Boswell

Facts: Carter finished with the fourth-most rushing yards among 2022 returners. He also had the fifth-most rushing yards per game (142) and seventh most touchdown runs (18).

Fort Worth Boswell running back Ezra Carter (23) tries to elude Eaton linebacker Brock Hayward (1) during the first half of the 6A Bi-District Region I Division II High School Football playoff game played at Northwest ISD Stadium on Thursday, November 11, 2021, in Justin. (Steve Nurenberg/Special to the Star-Telegram) Steve Nurenberg Special to the Star-Telegram

5. Jarvis Reed

Senior, 6-0, 185, Mansfield Timberview

Facts: Reed was a first-team all-district running back after helping the Wolves to the third round of the playoffs last season. Reed had nearly 1,500 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. He had eight games with 100 or more yards and also averaged 10 yards per catch.

Timberview running back Jarvis Reed (1) takes the ball into the end one ahead of Ennis defensive back Jace Berry (4) in a Class 5A Division 2 area round football playoff game at Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie, Texas, Friday Nov. 19, 2021. Timberview led 21-14 at the half. (Special to the Star-Telegram Bob Booth) Bob Booth Bob Booth

6. Sergio Snider

Senior, 5-11, 185, Arlington Martin

Facts: Snider is a 3-star back that holds 22 offers, which include Nebraska, Auburn and Baylor. Snider is also ranked as a Top 100 running back in the country by 247Sports. Listed as an all-purpose back, he had over 220 touches during the past two seasons, which include 188 rushes and 41 catches. He rushed for 11 touchdowns for the Warriors last season.

7. Gary Maddox

Senior, 5-10, 160, Euless Trinity

Facts: It’s finally Maddox’s time to shine in the Trinity back field after waiting behind last year’s all-area offensive MVP Ollie Gordon, who’s now at Oklahoma State. Despite Gordon’s workload, Maddox managed to rush for 700 yards each of the past two seasons. Last season, he averaged seven yards per carry. That average was nine in 2020, which included 10 touchdowns. With a big offensive line, the ceiling is high for Maddox.

8. Chris Gee

Senior, 6-0, 200, FW Paschal

Facts: The 3-star prospect is a two-way athlete for the Panthers, at running back and safety. Listed as an athlete on 247Sports, he ranks as the No. 45 senior athlete in the country and 85th best senior in the state. He was voted district all-purpose player of the year in 2021 after having 192 carries for 1,423 yards and 12 touchdowns.

9. Antwuan Polk

Senior, 6-0, 220, Fort Worth Southwest Christian

Facts: Polk enters the 2022 season as the top running back among Fort Worth-area private school teams. The Eagles went 10-3 and reached the state semifinals last season and Polk was a big reason why after rushing for over 1,600 yards and 27 touchdowns.

10. Kyle Cummings

Senior, 5-11, 185, Justin Northwest

Facts: Cummings led the Texans’ rushing attack with nearly 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns, and helped the program to a district title season. He averaged nearly 100 yards per game on the ground and 11 yards per catch. He went over the century mark in four games.