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The Tennessean ranked the top 20 Nashville area high school running backs returning for the 2026 TSSAA football season.
Now, you get to choose the best.
Vote for the Ponce Law 2026 Preseason Top Running Back. Voting will close Thursday at noon.
Rankings are based on 2025 statistics, strength of schedule, observations, recruiting interest, and coach feedback. Players are listed in alphabetical order with their grades for the 2025-26 school year.
Turner Bucher, Gordonsville, Jr.: Bucher rushed for 1,200 yards and 12 TDs on 154 carries.
More: Ponce Law is honored to offer the 2026 Perspectives Scholarship to support students’ educational journey. Learn more.
More: Ranking Nashville area's top 20 running backs for 2026 TSSAA football season
Alie Bangura, Middle Tennessee Christian School, Jr.: Bangura, the DII-A East Region Offensive MVP, rushed for 1,139 yards and 13 TDs on 147 carries.
Lionel Brooks, Spring Hill, Sr.: Brooks, the Region 5-4A Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 1,594 yards and 22 TDs as a junior.
Carsen Carter, Lincoln County, Sr.: Carter rushed for 1,324 yards and 16 TDs on 222 carries.
Zach Cartwright, Green Hill, Sr.: Cartwright, a 4-6A All-Region selection, rushed for 1,270 yards and 15 TDs on 176 carries.
EJ Gibson, Ensworth, Sr.: Gibson, whose offers include Richmond, Arkansas State and EKU, rushed for 1,493 yards and 20 TDs on 204 carries in 2025.
Gyan Ezeta, Lebanon, Sr.: Ezeta, the 4-6A Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 1,355 yards and 17 TDs in addition to a receiving score.
Fletcher Fields, Battle Ground Academy, Sr.: Fields, whose offers include UT-Martin and EKU, rushed for 699 yards and eight TDs. He also caught 34 passes for 281 yards and two scores.
Ahvare Galbreath, Clarksville, Sr.: Galbreath rushed for 691 yards on 112 carries with 11 TDs while starring on the defensive side of the ball as the Region 5-6A Region Defensive Player of the Year.
Tot Gardner, Marshall County, Jr.: Gardner, the Region 5-4A Athlete of the Year, rushed for 1,171 yards and 22 touchdowns on 158 carries. He also had 362 yards receiving and two scores.
King Gardner, Donelson Christian Academy, Sr.: Gardner, who has an offer from Midway, rushed for 1,090 yards and nine TDs on 140 carries. He also caught 26 passes for 232 yards and three scores.
Bryson Harrison, Fairview, Jr.: Harrison rushed for 1,007 yards and 12 TDs on 134 carries.
Walker Hobbs, Cheatham County, Jr.: Hobbs rushed for 1,218 yards and 11 TDs on 184 carries.
Kaden McCrory, Mt. Pleasant, Sr.: McCrory rushed for 958 yards and 19 TDs on 148 carries. He also had a receiving score and a kickoff return TD.
Quincy Mitchell, Forrest, Jr.: Mitchell, a Class 3A Mr. Football finalist, had the best rushing total in the state as a sophomore, compiling 2,919 yards and 36 TDs on 296 carries. He also had three receiving TDs.
Isaac Otey, Page, Sr.: Otey rushed for 780 yards and 13 TDs on 91 carries as a junior while splitting time at the running back position.
Larry Sanders, Brentwood Academy, Sr.: Sanders rushed for 1,833 yards and 31 TDs on 238 carries as a junior, in addition to two receiving touchdowns. He rushed for 215 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries in the Division II-AAA state championship.
Cole Sims, White County, Sr.: Sims rushed for 1,537 yards and 15 TDs on 287 carries.
Jacob Vaughn, Oakland, Jr.: Vaughn, whose offers include Miami (Ohio) and Liberty, was the Region 3-6A Co-Running Back of the Year while at Riverdale last season. He had 144 carries for 1,004 yards and eight touchdowns while adding 248 receiving yards and two TDs.
Ryder Wolcott, Friendship Christian, So.: Wolcott rushed for 712 yards and 12 TDs on 131 carries as a freshman.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at [email protected] and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Who is Ponce Law top TSSAA football running back for 2026? Vote now
Continue reading...
Now, you get to choose the best.
Vote for the Ponce Law 2026 Preseason Top Running Back. Voting will close Thursday at noon.
Rankings are based on 2025 statistics, strength of schedule, observations, recruiting interest, and coach feedback. Players are listed in alphabetical order with their grades for the 2025-26 school year.
Turner Bucher, Gordonsville, Jr.: Bucher rushed for 1,200 yards and 12 TDs on 154 carries.
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More: Ponce Law is honored to offer the 2026 Perspectives Scholarship to support students’ educational journey. Learn more.
More: Ranking Nashville area's top 20 running backs for 2026 TSSAA football season
Alie Bangura, Middle Tennessee Christian School, Jr.: Bangura, the DII-A East Region Offensive MVP, rushed for 1,139 yards and 13 TDs on 147 carries.
Lionel Brooks, Spring Hill, Sr.: Brooks, the Region 5-4A Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 1,594 yards and 22 TDs as a junior.
Carsen Carter, Lincoln County, Sr.: Carter rushed for 1,324 yards and 16 TDs on 222 carries.
Zach Cartwright, Green Hill, Sr.: Cartwright, a 4-6A All-Region selection, rushed for 1,270 yards and 15 TDs on 176 carries.
EJ Gibson, Ensworth, Sr.: Gibson, whose offers include Richmond, Arkansas State and EKU, rushed for 1,493 yards and 20 TDs on 204 carries in 2025.
Gyan Ezeta, Lebanon, Sr.: Ezeta, the 4-6A Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 1,355 yards and 17 TDs in addition to a receiving score.
Fletcher Fields, Battle Ground Academy, Sr.: Fields, whose offers include UT-Martin and EKU, rushed for 699 yards and eight TDs. He also caught 34 passes for 281 yards and two scores.
Ahvare Galbreath, Clarksville, Sr.: Galbreath rushed for 691 yards on 112 carries with 11 TDs while starring on the defensive side of the ball as the Region 5-6A Region Defensive Player of the Year.
Tot Gardner, Marshall County, Jr.: Gardner, the Region 5-4A Athlete of the Year, rushed for 1,171 yards and 22 touchdowns on 158 carries. He also had 362 yards receiving and two scores.
King Gardner, Donelson Christian Academy, Sr.: Gardner, who has an offer from Midway, rushed for 1,090 yards and nine TDs on 140 carries. He also caught 26 passes for 232 yards and three scores.
Bryson Harrison, Fairview, Jr.: Harrison rushed for 1,007 yards and 12 TDs on 134 carries.
Walker Hobbs, Cheatham County, Jr.: Hobbs rushed for 1,218 yards and 11 TDs on 184 carries.
Kaden McCrory, Mt. Pleasant, Sr.: McCrory rushed for 958 yards and 19 TDs on 148 carries. He also had a receiving score and a kickoff return TD.
Quincy Mitchell, Forrest, Jr.: Mitchell, a Class 3A Mr. Football finalist, had the best rushing total in the state as a sophomore, compiling 2,919 yards and 36 TDs on 296 carries. He also had three receiving TDs.
Isaac Otey, Page, Sr.: Otey rushed for 780 yards and 13 TDs on 91 carries as a junior while splitting time at the running back position.
Larry Sanders, Brentwood Academy, Sr.: Sanders rushed for 1,833 yards and 31 TDs on 238 carries as a junior, in addition to two receiving touchdowns. He rushed for 215 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries in the Division II-AAA state championship.
Cole Sims, White County, Sr.: Sims rushed for 1,537 yards and 15 TDs on 287 carries.
Jacob Vaughn, Oakland, Jr.: Vaughn, whose offers include Miami (Ohio) and Liberty, was the Region 3-6A Co-Running Back of the Year while at Riverdale last season. He had 144 carries for 1,004 yards and eight touchdowns while adding 248 receiving yards and two TDs.
Ryder Wolcott, Friendship Christian, So.: Wolcott rushed for 712 yards and 12 TDs on 131 carries as a freshman.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at [email protected] and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Who is Ponce Law top TSSAA football running back for 2026? Vote now
Continue reading...
