Greatest High School Running Back You Ever Saw Play?

greenminer · June 5, 2007

Does anyone have high school clips of Jamario, Cobbs, or Galbreath?

slboucher · March 9, 2012

The best high school back I ever saw was Paul Rice when he played for Lewisville High in the early seventies. He was recruited by every big college in the country. Unfortunately, he pissed all of his chances away with poor behevior.

He was kicked out of USC, Ranger Jr. College, SMU and TCU and still was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was one of the last players cut.

All that talent and no common sense.

I went to Lewisville High School with Paul Rice. He was a year ahead of me and a big star there. He was very intense and thrilling to watch on the field. I loved watching him because he reminded me of my cousin, Pete DEMMERLE, a 1974 All American wide receiver from Notre Dame. I always wondered what happened to Paul after High School. I moved to New Hampshire my sophomore year and list touch with him.

cwb · March 9, 2012

Although I barely remember it b/c I was just a tot, I got to see the "Tyler Rose" Earl Campbell run all over my Longview Lobos. I was just in grade school at the time, but remember thinking, "Why is that MAN out there playing high school football?"

I also saw Cedric Bensen play in a state championship game in DKR Memorial Stadium. I think it was against Austin Westlake. Aside from Cedric bowling over people I remember the offensive line meeting seperately from the rest of the team during the pre game ritual. As great as Cedric was in high school, he still owed a lot to his o-line.

GO MEAN GREEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't know if you were still around, but do you remember Clifford Ward? I was at Pine Tree and in the last game of the 1979 season, his and my freshman year, he ran roughshod over my varsity Pirates.Wasn't even in the program so we did not know who he was. The next year, he fought it out with our Jay Earnhardt for rushing leader in 14 4A. He was a beast and, if I recall correctly, got busted for drugs and vaished. I just remember this #7 (I think) totally slashing us as a freshman and thinking I would see him on Sundays. And not as a preacher.Probably one of the biggest wastes of talent that I can remember. Do you have any info on what happened to him?

cl_1_2008 · March 9, 2012

The best running back I ever saw play in high school is currently the best running back in the NFL, Adrian Peterson. He's a man amongst boys in the NFL. I can't even put into words how good he was in high school.

NT03 · March 9, 2012

Almost 5 years in between post. GMG record ?

GreenN'walinsVet · March 9, 2012

Terrius Purvey for Gainesville in 2003

Jonathon Gray for Aledo past two years

casual fan · March 9, 2012

I was at the 1978 championship game between Sealy and Wylie in Waco. Eric Dickerson was by far the best running back I've ever seen (rushed well over 300 yards and 4 TDs). He was also the best defensive back I've ever seen. It was basically 10 guys at the line of scrimmage and Dickerson as the defensive backfield. At 6'3 and well over 200 he could flat cover ground and lay people out. He also won state in the 100 dash.

I read he ran 100 YARDS(not meters) in 9.4 seconds.

He still holds the NFL single season rushing record at 2105 yards.

Marty · March 9, 2012

Terrius Purvey for Gainesville in 2003

Jonathon Gray for Aledo past two years

Purvey was fantastic that year. Too bad he couldn't keep his head on straight.

PlummMeanGreen · March 9, 2012

Steve Worster of the Bridge City Indians. Saw him play in a bi-district game near Clear Lake City (near Houston).

DKR signed him at UT where he joined a backfield that included Super Bill Bradley, Chris Gilbert and ___?___ Bertelson. That group of UT Longhorns would win 30 games in a row.

In fact, the Mean Green's late, great Ron Shanklin told me (and Abner Haynes) at Fort Worth's Dos Gringos years ago that a

PS: Also saw Paul Rice of Lewisville when they played Denton HS at their old Bronco Stadium. He didn't seem to be on his game that night, though.

An Update:

I was a very young kid, but the great Ken Hall of Sugarland played a game against my HS alma mater Danbury Panthers at the home football stadium and the family never missed a home game.

buff64 · March 9, 2012

Years ago Warren McVea and Linus Behr both from San Antonio. I will never forget at the end of their Sr. year in HS they were selected to play in the THSCA summer all-star game. Behr had some sort of injury, I don't think he played. Anyway, the South Coach decided to play McVea at split end instead of RB.The South got way behind and finally in the 2nd half he put McVea in the backfield. The 1st three times he ran the ball he scored TDs. McVea played for the U of Houston and then pro ball for several years. Behr played at UT.

MeanGreenTexan · March 9, 2012

Growing up in DeSoto (before moving to Richardson for Jr. High - High school), it was all about Byron Hanspard. The guy could not be tackled.

McKinneyMiner · March 9, 2012

Back in the early 90's I was a stringer for the El Paso Herald Post and I was assigned to watch a game between my alma mater Coronado High School and Cathedral High School...

The best high school running back I have ever seen played that night for Coronado... Toraino Singelton...

He was bigger, faster and stronger than anyone on the field by a long shot and he could easily have had 500 yards or more had the coaches been inclined to do that...

He got tons of interest from major schools, but unfortunately young Toraino was bad news off the field...

He ended up at UTEP (under then runnings backs coach Darrell Dickey) and had back to back 1000 yard seasons...

He signed with Tampa Bay but was released after being sentenced to a 12 year prison sentence...

DeepGreen · March 9, 2012

Steve Worster of the Bridge City Indians. Saw him play in a bi-district game near Clear Lake City (near Houston).

DKR signed him at UT where he joined a backfield that included Super Bill Bradley, Chris Gilbert and ___?___ Bertelson. That group of UT Longhorns would win 30 games in a row.

Then in 1969 UT played for the national championship in the (then) Game of the Century versus Frank Broyles UA Razorbacks (which was largely composed of a team that the Mean Green had all but had beaten only one year before).

In fact, the Mean Green's late, great Ron Shanklin told me (and Abner Haynes) at Fort Worth's Dos Gringos years ago that a former Razorback on that team later told him UNT really got screwed in that game by the SWC zebras and should have won the scoreboard aspects of that game. Just think what kind of quality must have been on our 1968 University of North Texas Mean Green football team?!?!? <img src="http://www.gomeangreen.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="blink.gif" /> 

PS: Also saw Paul Rice of Lewisville when they played Denton HS at their old Bronco Stadium. He didn't seem to be on his game that night, though.

Slight correction. They are the Bridge City Cardinals, not to be confused with the Port Neches Groves Indians. BC is just across the Neches river where I live. Worster was considered one of the finest "wishbone" running backs while at UT.

And yes, UNT did get screwed in 1968 against the Razorbacks. I witnessed it first hand. <_<

Edited March 9, 2012 by DeepGreen

Ibleedgreen · March 9, 2012

I will admit that I was never lucky enough to see him play while he was in high school, but based on the film and the way he was recruited...and based on what I DID see at UNT, it would have to be Jamario Thomas.

greenminer · March 9, 2012

Back in the early 90's I was a stringer for the El Paso Herald Post and I was assigned to watch a game between my alma mater Coronado High School and Cathedral High School...

The best high school running back I have ever seen played that night for Coronado... Toraino Singelton...

He was bigger, faster and stronger than anyone on the field by a long shot and he could easily have had 500 yards or more had the coaches been inclined to do that...

He got tons of interest from major schools, but unfortunately young Toraino was bad news off the field...

He ended up at UTEP (under then runnings backs coach Darrell Dickey) and had back to back 1000 yard seasons...

He signed with Tampa Bay but was released after being sentenced to a 12 year prison sentence...

He was at UTEP when I remember watching my first Miner games growing up. The guy could never be brought down for a loss. I think his Miner nickname was "The Train". Little did I know back then that his RB coach would be my school's head coach while I attended.

Me personally:

High School it was probably Lee Benson (Midland Lee) vs. El Paso Franklin. I don't put too much stock in high school performances, though. It seems like there are superstars in every district about every 4 years.

College, though is different. I saw LT a couple times, including his 400+ yard outting against UTEP in Fort Worth. He couldn't be caught from behind, and he just threw would-be tacklers away like swatting off flies. He was special. Side note: I think that was TCU's last year in the WAC.

EagleD · March 9, 2012

I saw Earl Campbell play for John Tyler High when I was about 7 years old.

All About UNT · March 9, 2012

Back in the early 90's I was a stringer for the El Paso Herald Post and I was assigned to watch a game between my alma mater Coronado High School and Cathedral High School...

The best high school running back I have ever seen played that night for Coronado... Toraino Singelton...

He was bigger, faster and stronger than anyone on the field by a long shot and he could easily have had 500 yards or more had the coaches been inclined to do that...

He got tons of interest from major schools, but unfortunately young Toraino was bad news off the field...

He ended up at UTEP (under then runnings backs coach Darrell Dickey) and had back to back 1000 yard seasons...

He signed with Tampa Bay but was released after being sentenced to a 12 year prison sentence...

While he is not quite playing in the NFL.... he is out of prison and doing Personal Training in Sacramento. Has a couple of videos online too. Linkedin

PlummMeanGreen · March 9, 2012

Slight correction. They are the Bridge City Cardinals, not to be confused with the Port Neches Groves Indians. BC is just across the Neches river where I live. Worster was considered one of the finest "wishbone" running backs while at UT.

And yes, UNT did get screwed in 1968 against the Razorbacks. I witnessed it first hand.

DG, were they ever called the Indians? I saw them with my HS football coach & his wife in a Bi-District game

over in Clear Lake City near Webster and NASA, circa, 1967?. As said many times ad nausem "he was a

man among boys." As you would know Worster was pronounced "woo'ster.'

Arkansas versus North Texas, 1968: Can you give us a detailed play by play as to what happened to Shank' and Ramsey on that certain game winning TD pass that was not a certain game winning TD pass? The reactions from our fans and players, etc, etc, etc...?

UNT has been on the cusp of winning some pretty big games against ranked schools during the NCAA's modern era, but

for whatever reason, we would come up short or just receive some of the worst blatant homer calls that any referee should be ashamed to ever make.

GMG!

Edited March 9, 2012 by PlummMeanGreen

Big E · March 9, 2012

I'm partial, but my vote is for my former teammate at Lake Highlands, Detron Smith (Class of '92). He was a man among boys as the fullback in our wishbone attack. Went on to play for Texas A&M, the Denver Broncos and finished with the Colts. He was 240 in high school with power and speed and quickness. He was the strongest guy on our team. Great memories!

qbdade · March 9, 2012

I played against Earl Campbell in a bi district game in 1973. Our Plano HS team had the best defense in the state that year and Earl beat us 34-0. I knew Paul Rice and I saw Dickerson, James and Benson play live. Imo none could hold Earl's jock

Edited March 9, 2012 by qbdade

PlummMeanGreen · March 9, 2012

Warren McVea, San Antonio Brackenridge , went on to star for U of H then the NFL. How about Eric Dickenson of Sealy

Didn't see McVea play Texas HS football but did watch him play for UH at numerous games in the Astrodome.

He had a real problem holding on to the ball his freshmen year as I recall.

The QB for the Coogs during that era was Bo Burris. Bo was from my home county (Brazoria County) and played at Brazosport HS (Freeport, Texas).

It was a new stadium, ie, the Astrodome that played a huge part in propelling Bill Yeomans's UH football program to national acclaim.

Darn shame we couldn't have built one of our own back then since we know how important stadiums are for the advancement of a school's football

program and even conference affiliation.

After UH's 7 years in the Astrodome with a winning program UT's Darrell K. Royal pushed for UH's admission into the SWC which they received in 1972

albeit they didnt' begin offical SWC play until 1976. I really do miss the Southwest Conference and really dislike what is happening in the NCAA present day.

GMG!.

Edited March 9, 2012 by PlummMeanGreen

All About UNT · March 10, 2012

I will admit that I was never lucky enough to see him play while he was in high school, but based on the film and the way he was recruited...and based on what I DID see at UNT, it would have to be Jamario Thomas.

Jamario's high school tapes

Youtube

Graddean · March 10, 2012

I saw Roosevelt Leaks in the High School All-Star game at Amon Carter. He was a man among boys. His senior year he was to be the tailback running behind a young fullback named Earl Campbell. He had a great day against SMU and had his knee torn up. He was never the same.

Voice of Reason · March 10, 2012

I was at the 1978 championship game between Sealy and Wylie in Waco. Eric Dickerson was by far the best running back I've ever seen (rushed well over 300 yards and 4 TDs). He was also the best defensive back I've ever seen. It was basically 10 guys at the line of scrimmage and Dickerson as the defensive backfield. At 6'3 and well over 200 he could flat cover ground and lay people out. He also won state in the 100 dash.
I read he ran 100 YARDS(not meters) in 9.4 seconds.
He still holds the NFL single season rushing record at 2105 yards.

Saw him several times in high school. I have yet to see another back with all of his qualities.

trussbussdad · March 10, 2012

In 1977 - 78 I went to North Mesquite and played against Herkie Walls from Garland. He was a qb and went on to play at Texas. Ran the option to perfection. It was amazing to see him run...I had a good vantage point on the field...far behind him.