The Inland Empire has produced some great running backs, including Toby Gerhart, who smashed records at Norco before going on to Stanford and the Minnesota Vikings. This season's crop of backs is strong; as many as 20 players could be deserving of a spot on this list, but I have pared it down to the five best in the region.
Superiorr Reid, Arlington
Reid’s numbers on the field stand out as much as his first name. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior rushed to 2,390 yards and 33 touchdowns last season to lead the Lions to a 10-2 season. Idaho and Boise State have taken a strong interest in Reid, who has been hitting the weight room hard in the offseason.
Kelsey Young, Norco
Young brings the perfect combination of power, speed and smarts to Norco’s rushing attack. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior rushed for over 1,700 yards last season while sharing the spotlight with Deantre Lewis and Carl Bradford, who are both at Arizona State now. Young committed to Stanford in the spring and should do fine in 2010, running behind one of the top offensive lines in the state. Norco is implementing a spread offense that should give Young more open field to run in.
Barrinton Collins, Centennial
Collins spent last season at wide receiver, catching 65 passes for 934 yards and seven touchdowns. He takes over at running back after teammate Dion Bass left the backfield to move to cornerback. Collins's experience as a receiver will make him a strong threat to catch passes out of the backfield. Centennial loses three all-league offensive linemen, so the 5-foot-8 Collins’s ability to elude tacklers will be key to the success of their ground game.
Tyler Ervin, Colton
The 5-foot-10 senior-to-be averaged over nine yards per carry en route to 1,408 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in 2009. Ervin’s efforts earned him All-CIF honors in the Central Division and helped the Yellowjackets win their third San Andreas League title in four years. Hawaii and Utah State were the first two to offer a scholarship to Ervin; bigger schools including UCLA and Colorado are interested but waiting to see how his grades pan out.
Todd Handley, King
Handley's 4.44 40 yard dash time makes him a threat to score on every play, something the Wolves desperately need. King has failed to reach the postseason in their first two seasons in the tough Big VIII.
Previous lists:
Follow Dylan Boggs on Twitter for more updates, or click the Subscribe button at the top of the article to be notified of new content.
Comments