Top 10 Orange County Running Backs (6-10)
Orange County has a long history of dominant running backs from DeShaun Foster in the 1990s to Isaac Hurtado in 2019. There is an interesting crop of running backs in 2020, some of whom have drawn major recruiting interest, and…
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Continue ReadingOrange County has a long history of dominant running backs from DeShaun Foster in the 1990s to Isaac Hurtado in 2019. There is an interesting crop of running backs in 2020, some of whom have drawn major recruiting interest, and some that have flown under the radar.
This list was determined based on past production, potential and college appeal. Here is a look at the top 10 running backs in Orange County.
10. Justin McCoy, Newport Harbor, 2021
McCoy is a real feast or famine type of running back. When he is good, he is one of the most dominant running backs in the county. The knock on him is when Newport plays superior teams, McCoy doesn’t produce as much. He makes the list because he has the ability to break tackles and rattle off a series of eight-yard runs in a row. With quarterback Cole Lavin transferring to Brighton of Utah, the Sailors will go as far as McCoy takes them this season. His best game last season was against Fountain Valley when he rushed for 192 yards and four touchdowns.
With 3:53 remaining in the second, Newport Harbor gets on the board thanks to this one yard run by RB Justin McCoy. The score was set up by a roughing the passer penalty by San Marino on third down. We're all tied up at 7 @SGVNSports @ocvarsity pic.twitter.com/cfuj2XYReU
— Will Hernandez (@thewillernandez) September 22, 2018
9. Josiah Murray, Los Alamitos, 2022
Los Alamitos got off to a rocky start last season against really tough competition, but once they found their stride, they made big plays. Murray was part of a three-headed backfield last season which produced big numbers in Sunset League play. In a pivotal third place game against Newport Harbor, Murray rushed for 194 yards on just 15 carries with three touchdowns. He had touchdown runs of 10, 60 and 75 yards and is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball. With a passing game led by Malachi Nelson Malachi Nelson 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA and the team’s other leading rusher graduating, Murray should get plenty of opportunities to score this season and gain recruiting interest.
8. Drew Barrett, Trabuco Hills, 2022
Barrett is the type of running back to give defensive coordinators headaches. He won’t break off many huge runs but he will wear your defense down with a handful of five yard carries in a row. He had 1280 yards and 15 touchdowns for a Trabuco team that made the semifinals. He single-handedly kept the Mustangs in two games against Sunny Hills, rushing for 237 yards and three touchdowns in the first game. The knock on him is that when teams focused on shutting him down, they were able to. He was held under five yards per carry against Villa Park and Aliso Niguel. With another year in the weight room under his belt, I don’t expect any team to slow him down this season.
7. Quincy Craig Quincy Craig 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2022 State CA , Mater Dei, 2022
Craig is definitely a better college prospect than a few other guys that will be higher on this list, but part of the criteria is past production and Mater Dei didn’t depend on him much last season. That of course isn’t Craig’s fault. The Monarchs had a top three quarterback in the nation. Mater Dei will not have that luxury this season with Miller Moss Miller Moss 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Bishop Alemany | 2021 State CA expected to be ineligible and Emmett Brown Emmett Brown 5'11" | 190 lbs | QB San Marcos | 2022 State CA expected to be under center. Craig makes one move and has excellent burst and will play behind one of the best offensive lines in the country. He is outstanding with an offer from Arizona State and will not be the last Mater Dei running back on this list.
https://twitter.com/WhosNextHS/status/1177763393928867842?s=20
6. James Bohls James Bohls 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB San Clemente | 2021 State CA , San Clemente, 2021
Bohls is one of the most college-ready running backs in the state. He is 6-feet tall, one big meal at Pedro’s Tacos away from being 200 pounds and has the speed of an elite track athlete. He led the Tritons with 677 yards on just 120 carries with 9 touchdowns last season. Bohls is always a threat to break a big run and had three carries of over 30 yards last season, including a 70-yard touchdown run in a playoff win against Valencia. He has seven offers, all from Mountain West schools and will garner more during his senior season.
Junior James Bohls of @Tritonfootball standing out at @hbhs_football 7on pic.twitter.com/WbosE2nzDG
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) July 20, 2019