Top Running Backs Entering the 2026 Texas High School Football Season

SaRod Baker and Landen Williams-Callis lead a talented group of runners

Richmond Randle running back Landen Williams-Callis is one of the top running backs in the naiton. | Tommy Hays

As the 2026 Texas high school football season encroaches, High School On SI 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.

But there are many talented running backs throughout the state, and many will make a significant impact on the 2026 season.

RELATED: Top Linebackers | Top Offensive Linemen | Top Quarterbacks | Top Tight Ends | Preseason Top 25

Top Running Backs Entering the 2026 Texas High School Football Season

SaRod Baker — Sr., DeSoto

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. 

Lathan Whisenton — Sr., Waco Midway

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. 

Landen Williams-Callis — Sr., Richmond Randle

Williams-Callis was High School On SI’s National Offensive MVP 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  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. 

Carson James - Sr., Fort Worth Arlington Heights

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.

Dylan Pierre Belinga - Sr., Liberty Hill

Belinga ran for 1,443 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns last season. He was the 5A District Offensive MVP. 

Kameron Coleman - Sr., Fort Worth Brewer

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. 

Khelvy Jefferson - Sr., West Orange-Stark

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. 

Kiante Ingram - Sr., North Crowley

Ingram had 1,700 yards as a junior and holds recent offers from Tulsa, Sacramento State and SMU. 

Cruse Coleman - Jr., Henrietta

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.

Kendray Porter - Sr., Newton

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. 

Tristan Willis - Sr., C.E. King

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. 

Keldrid Ben - Sr., Montgomery

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. 

Sean Simon - Jr., La Porte

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. 

Micah Rhodes - Jr., Klein Oak 

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. 

Jeremiah Tabor - Jr., Melissa

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.

Cadarius McMiller - Sr., Tyler 

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. 

Javian Jones-Priest - Sr., Arlington Martin 

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.

Jakoby Dixon - Sr., Brenham

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

Victor Scott - Sr., Lancaster

Scott is a talented running back from Lancaster. He is a 3-star committed to North Texas. He could become North Texas’ top signee ever, according to 247sports.com.

Neree Castleberry - Sr., Winnsboro

Castleberry ran for 1,176 yards on 11.09 yards per carry. He scored 17 touchdowns. He is committed to Texas State. 

Wayne Shanks Jr. — Sr., The Kinkaid School

Shanks Jr. accumulated 2,461 all-purpose yards and 31 total touchdowns as a junior. He is committed to Arizona.

Correll Buckhalter Jr. — Sr., Liberty Christian

Buckhalter ran for 1,288 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior. He is a 3-star prospect committed to Kansas State. 

Christopher Chizer - Jr., Dekaney

Chizer is a multi-sport athlete who runs track, and he has received recent scholarship offers from Florida State and Arizona.

William Green III - So., Byron Nelson

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.