Fresh legs: Next crop of backs rotates in to carry load

American Press

3 days ago

Several of the area's top high school running backs graduated last season, but there are many returning starters eager to take up the mantle.
Gone are five backs who picked up more than 1,500 yards, including Louisiana Mr. Football Xavier Ford, who ran for 3,467 yards and 52 touchdowns.
However, the talent pool is not dry as Jaiden Briggs, J'vien Adams, Charles McFarland, Makelin Lemoine, Braylon Garrick, Dakota Strother and Dillian Green look to put up big numbers in 2025.
Jaiden Briggs
Briggs (5-10, 165) set Vinton's single-season rushing record at 1,734 yards on 248 carries last season after an injury-plagued sophomore season in 2023. A switch to the split-back veer offense led to Briggs scoring a career-high 21 touchdowns in 2024, and Vinton recorded its first winning season since 2014. He earned District 5-2A first team and American Press All-Southwest Louisiana Small School honors last season.
'I think a change in the offense and getting him more carries helped, and his maturity as a player,' Vinton head coach Tyler Lavergne said. 'We definitely got a lot riding on him this year. We want what he gave us last year and more, possibly.'
J'vien Adams
Adams (5-9, 170) was part of Iowa's big four that included Jeremiah Bushnell, Cohen Charles and Jonathan Walker Jr., threats who helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the semifinals for the third time in program history.
After running for 1,220 yards and 12 touchdowns on 147 carries in 2024, the senior, along with Bushnell, will have to take on an increased load.
'He needs to step up into a leadership role to help these young ones and do whatever it takes to be able to move the ball,' Iowa head coach Tommy Johns said of Adams.
Braylon Garrick
With Westlake's big receiving threats — Kevin Rideau and Ryan Allen — playing at McNeese State, Garrick, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior, is looking to make noise in the tough District 3-3A.
Garrick ran for 881 yards and 13 touchdowns on 147 carries last season, despite being limited by injuries. Head coach John Richardson said he expects an explosive season out of him after helping the Rams reach the regional round.
'He struggled last year with a lot of injuries,' Richardson said. 'He only played about half of the snaps last year and had about 800 yards.
'If he can stay healthy this year, he is going to have a big year. He looks great right now. He stands out in practice. He is faster and in better shape.'
Dillian Green
Green (5-7, 150) ran for 850 yards and 12 touchdowns to help LaGrange recover from back-to-back one-win seasons.
Green is part of a large senior class that looks to give the Gators their first playoff win since 2014.
'Dillian Green is going to be Dillian Green,' LaGrange head coach Idaibi Ogbanga said. 'He is one of the most elusive backs that I have seen in a while. He is just a really good athlete.'
Makelin Lemoine
A two-way starter who earned all-District 4-1A first-team and all-Southwest Louisiana honors last year, Lemoine, along with Tristan Leblanc (2,030 yards, 23 TDs), was part of Elton's one-two punch. He picked up 1,648 yards on 152 carries and scored 23 total touchdowns. Lemoine, a 5-10, 185-pound junior, will draw a lot of attention from opposing teams as Elton looks to build on its 8-4 season last year.
Charles McFarland
McFarland ran for 1,480 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first season as a full-time starter with nine consecutive games over 100 yards and looks to carry Grand Lake to its seventh consecutive winning season.
Dakota Strother
With East Beauregard switching back to the double-wing after a season running the spread offense, Strother, a 5-8, 165-pound senior, is poised to have a breakout year as the Trojans look to rebound from a 1-8 season. He ran for 934 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024.
'We look for good things from him,' East Beauregard head coach Ronnie Simmons said.
'He was our best offense last year, right at almost a 1,000 yards rushing. He had a good offseason, so we are excited about having him back.'