We’re approaching the last two weeks of the regular season of high school football in northeast Indiana.
As mentioned this past week, these will be my final updates to position rankings until the completion of the season. We knocked out QB’s last week, now it’s time to head to the backfield and rank some of the top running backs in the area.
1. Braylon Burton, junior, Snider
After sustaining an injury last season that derailed his sophomore year, Braylon Burton has been on a mission this season to prove himself as a top back in not only the area, but the entire state. After only winning three games last season, the Snider Panthers have already surpassed that feat in 2026 and have looked much better than last. Much of this reason is due in part to the offensive linemen and Burton. He has 779 yards on the ground and 12 TDs this year with two games left to play before the postseason. His burst through the holes and big-play ability has stood out in the area so far this season, leading to his rise to the No. 1 spot.
2. Kobe Reese, senior, Northrop
He has one less game to measure compared to other backs on this list, but Kobe Reese has been electric for the Bruins for the majority of the season, minus a rough week against Snider when he was held to just 29 yards rushing. Much like Burton, Reese has that quick burst, impressive acceleration and vision you can’t teach. With one less game, Reese has 538 yards and nine touchdowns. His yardage and stats don’t tell the entire story, but the film does.
3. TJ Epperson, junior, Bishop Luers
Our preseason No. 1 falls a couple of spots, but still remains in the top three. Although Bishop Luers has just one victory and has been struggling to say the least, Epperson still has been producing. While not to the level he did last year, he still has 757 yards on the ground and 10 rushing touchdowns. He does have three fumbles, which is uncharacteristic of him. When your team is struggling, it’s tough to stay level-headed and motivated, but still may end up being a 1,000-yard rusher through it all while carrying a lot of the offensive load for the Knights. He is amongst the fastest backs we have in the area.
4. Austin Phillips, sophomore, East Noble
After a few rough weeks offensively for East Noble, it has responded with back-to-back 35-plsu point performances and seem to be in the driver’s seat for another NE8 title and an undefeated regular season. The past couple of games, Phillips has been on a tear and has been reminding everyone of his dangerous abilities when he gets the ball. The combination of his lower body strength and durability makes Phillips deadly in the open field for opposing players to try and tackle. He’s now sitting at 797 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season and has the Knights on another impressive run.
5. Leighton Brown, senior, Jay County
Rounding out the Top 5, we’ve got the leading rusher in the area, Leighton Brown of Jay County. This past week, he announced his commitment to play at Taylor University. The Trojans will be getting a quick, explosive back that has the potential to break out for huge gains at any given moment. The Patriots RB1 leads the area with 1,080 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s been kind of floating under the radar, but he’s been having an incredible season in Portland.
6. Cooper Craig, senior, Bluffton
When it comes to vision and decision making out of the backfield, Cooper Craig is amongst the best backs around. The combination of Axton Beste and Craig has been lethal as expected again this season and Craig’s 809 yards and 17 touchdowns have been a huge reason why the Tigers are on the cusp of something big. As a team, they are 7-0 and as long as they take care of business and Craig keeps doing what he’s been doing, they will end their long losing streak to Adams Central this Friday and win the ACAC.
7. Christian Jemison, senior, Huntington North
Jemsion didn’t have as good of a week against Leo last week, but he has had several solid performances this season that has seen him surpass 800 yards to go with 11 touchdowns for the Vikings. I got to see him in person against DeKalb a couple weeks ago and he is a really talented back that has a lot of potential that I don’t believe he’s come close to reaching yet. With two games left, plus the playoffs, he could be in the midst of a 1,000-yard season.
8. Noah Geiger, junior, Columbia City
Although Lukas Duncan leads the program in rushing yards, Geiger has been the go-to guy in my eyes for that home run play, so to speak. The junior has been able to spring big run after big run and, when they need to get in the end zone, he finds a way for the Eagles. He has accumulated 750 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the year. He really stood out to me with his 143 yards and three rushing touchdowns against East Noble. After being that successful against a top defense, I was more than convinced enough to put Geiger into the Top 10.
9. Brandon Gaither II, junior, North Side
This is one of those ‘film doesn’t lie’ moments here. It has been a tough year for the North Side Legends for both personnel and players. There’s been a lot of distractions surrounding the program. Add in the fact that Gaither II was a transfer in and that has put more pressure on him to perform after he surpassed 1,200 rushing yards last season for Luers and has a lot of defenses keying in on him defensively. Gaither II finally had the breakout game last week he was looking for that once again proved why he’s a top back in the area. In a rivalry game for the Totem Pole against South Side, Gaither II and teammate Caleb Kiengele went off, including 208 yards rushing yards from Gaither II. It was a game he needed as he now sits at 581 yards and nine touchdowns on the season.
10. Noah Dove, junior, Eastside
The one-two punch of Job Richman and Noah Dove continues to destroy defensive game plans this season as the Blazers remain undefeated. No one has been able to slow down either, with Dove at No. 10 in my Top 10 sitting at 567 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns on the season. His smart decision making out of the backfield to keep the ball moving for Eastside and help provide some additional support for Richman every game is what has made Eastside so successful and dangerous on offense.
ON THE RADAR
Kolyn Campbell, Bishop Dwenger – 279 yards, five touchdowns in four games
Isaiah Detmers, Leo – 427 yards, six TDs
Lukas Duncan, Columbia City – 811 yards, eight TDs
Miguel Gutierrez, Fairfield – 955 yards, three TDs
Jayvon Irby, South Side – 433 yards, six touchdowns
Ashtin Jacquay, Woodlan – 522 yards, six TDs
Caleb Kiengele, North Side – 439 yards, two TDs
Jaxton Litchfield, Heritage – 644 yards, seven TDs
Aiden Reed, Garrett – 912 yards, seven TDs, four fumbles
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