The Tennessean ranked the top 20 Nashville area high school running backs returning for the 2025 TSSAA football season.
Now, you get to choose the best.
Vote for the Ponce Law 2025 Preseason Top Running Back. Voting will close Thursday at noon.
Rankings are based on 2024 statistics, strength of schedule, observations, recruiting interest, and coach feedback. Players are listed by their grade for the 2025-26 school year.
Chelton Swafford, Beech, Sr.: Swafford rushed for 1,186 yards rushing and 17 TDs on Beech’s Class 5A quarterfinal team. He has offers from ETSU, UT-Martin, SEMO, and EKU.
Ethan Kellum, BGA, Sr.: Kellum thrived when he had the chance in BGA’s pass-first offense. He had 966 yards rushing and 15 TDs on 119 carries. He also caught 27 passes for 256 yards and two scores. He has offers from UT-Martin and ETSU.
Jabari Kemp, Blackman, Sr.: Kemp rushed for 614 yards and five TDs.
Larry Sanders, Brentwood Academy, Jr.: Sanders made himself a presence in BA’s pass-first offense. He had 482 yards rushing and eight TDs on 91 carries.
Rawls Patterson, CPA, Sr.: Patterson rushed for 1,593 yards rushing and 18 TDs on 193 carries during CPA’s DII-AA state title run. He had the TSSAA Blue Cross Bowl’s third-best rushing performance in history last year, with 336 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries. His offers include UTSA, Army, ETSU, Appalachian State and Southern Miss.
Caden Stroud, Davidson Academy, Sr.: Stroud rushed for 1,483 yards and 15 TDs on 270 carries. He also caught 11 passes for 131 yards.
Kinnie Fuller, East Nashville, Sr.: Fuller finished with 1,253 yards and 11 TDs. Arkansas State, Memphis, Austin Peay, MTSU and Southern Miss are among his 17 scholarship offers.
EJ Gibson, Ensworth, Jr.: Gibson had a breakout year, rushing for 1,072 yards and nine TDs on 148 carries. He also caught 21 passes for 171 yards. His offers include Southern Miss and UAB.
Quincy Mitchell, Forrest, So.: Mitchell had eye-popping stats as a freshman in just 5.5 games. He totaled 1,300 yards rushing and 18 TDs.
Cam Glenn, FRA, Jr.: Glenn was dynamic with the ball in his hands, rushing for more than 10 yards per touch with 726 yards and 14 TDs on just 65 carries.
Zach Cartwright, Green Hill, Jr.: Cartwright rushed for 834 yards rushing and 12 TDs.
TJ Ward, Nashville Christian, Sr.: Ward sat out much of Nashville Christian’s DII-A state title run while waiting to become eligible due to TSSAA rules. He totaled 653 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on 61 carries in just four games. His offers include Auburn, Florida State, Indiana, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Purdue.
Craig Tutt, Oakland, Jr.: The Class 6A Mr. Football finalist totaled 1,649 yards and 21 touchdowns from scrimmage during Oakland’s state title run. The Region 3-6A co-MVP also had 64 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles on defense. Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia are among his 18 Power 4 offers.
Isaac Otey, Page, So.: Otey turned heads as a freshman during Page’s Class 5A state runner-up season, with 567 yards rushing and five TDs on 101 carries.
Omarion Starnes, Pearl-Cohn, Sr.: Starnes finished with 1,214 yards rushing and 17 TDs.
Caden Pace, Ravenwood, Jr.: Pace was good as a sophomore against Ravenwood’s tough schedule. He finished with 845 yards rushing and 10 TDs.
Robert Bailey, Shelbyville, Sr.: Bailey, who has an Eastern Kentucky offer, rushed for 1,894 yards and 22 TDs on 210 carries.
Jaidon Hurst, Springfield, Sr.: Hurst was a big presence during Springfield’s run to the Class 5A state semifinals. He averaged eight yards per touch, with 1,239 yards rushing and 12 TDs on 155 carries.
Marvancy Johnson, Tullahoma, Sr.: Johnson finished with 1,464 yards rushing and 17 TDs on 204 carries.
James Pierre, Webb School – Bell Buckle, Sr.: Pierre, a Montreal native, rushed for 1,289 yards and 13 TDs on 190 carries. He also had 169 yards receiving and a touchdown.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for him? Reach Tyler at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also writes The Tennessean’s high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to the newsletter here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA football: Vote for Ponce Law 2025 Nashville area preseason top RB