Could this be the season of the running back in high school football?

Could this season be the “Year of the Running Back” for area high school football teams?

A number of schools return key backs, including a couple at some programs like Venice High.

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Some have changed schools, such as Trayvon Pinder, now at Manatee from Braden River, to form a formidable trio with Cory Sanders and Kei'Shawn Smith. Jaden Judge now is at Bayshore after leaving Sarasota and likely will be the Bruins’ featured back.

While the forward pass likely will be the strength of most programs, it will be interesting to see which running backs emerge as elite.

Carson Beach, Cardinal Mooney Catholic

Beach nearly joined the 1,000-yard rushing list a year ago, falling 48 yards shy. Nonetheless, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound workhorse had five 100-yard games and eight touchdowns after rushing for 624 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore. Beach also is a target out of the backfield with 32 catches during the past three seasons.

Evan Brown, St. Stephen’s Episcopal

Brown averaged nearly 120 yards per game as the main back in the Falcons’ backfield. In 11 games, the 5-11, 172-pounder gained 1,316 yards with eight games of 100 or more yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

Edd Guerrier, Port Charlotte High

The 5-10, 195-pound Guerrier averaged two touchdowns per game, scoring 20 in 10 games. He was among the area leaders in rushing yards with 1,450 and had eight games of more than 100 yards. Guerrier nearly eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau as a sophomore with 936 yards and looks to expand upon his 2,562 career rushing yards during his senior season.

Ahmad “Tooda” Hunter, Booker High

Hunter burst onto the varsity scene with 1,212 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 11 games as a junior.

Alvin Johnson, Venice High

As part of a two-headed backfield at Venice, Johnson accumulated 955 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games as a junior. He has a knack for finding the end zone with 21 touchdowns during his past two seasons and 22 scores on the ground during his scholastic career. Johnson also improved his pass-catching ability with 14 catches for 106 yards and two TDs.

DJ Johnson, Riverview High

The definition of a power back, the 5-10, 175-pound Johnson barreled his way for eight touchdowns in eight games, gaining 661 yards on the ground.

Jaden Judge, Bayshore High

Transferring to Bayshore from Sarasota High, Judge gained 727 yards on the ground and 268 more through the air with seven touchdowns. Following family tradition, Judge should provide the Bruins with a steady threat in the backfield.

Javon Moss, Parrish Community High

Listed as an athlete, Moss did most of his damage out of the backfield for the Bulls with 839 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in nine games during his first varsity season. The 5-8, 154-pound junior also caught 11 passes for 69 yards.

Trayvon Pinder, Manatee High

The 5-10, 205-pound bruising back had two seasons of more than 1,000 yards at Braden River, including 1,190 as a sophomore. Notched 13 touchdowns on the ground each of the past two seasons and has had 13 100-yard games.

Cory Sanders, Manatee High

Sanders’ production has multiplied during the past three seasons. The shifty 5-8, 175-pounder went from 103 yards his freshman season to 510 as a sophomore and 802 last season as a junior. His touchdown totals also rose from one to four to 10. Sanders also is a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield.

Joseph Scott, Lemon Bay High

In seven games, the 6-foot, 165-pound Scott rushed 658 yards on 96 carries and scored a dozen touchdowns. He also caught eight passes for 121 yards. Against IMG Academy Blue, Scott gained 164 yards on the ground and scored four touchdowns.

Kei'shawn Smith, Manatee High

The rising junior is the "most explosive," according to coach Jacquez Green, of the three running backs in the Hurricanes' backfield. Smith rushed 52 times for 261 yards and reached the end zone five times last year as a sophomore.

Jamarice Wilder, Venice High

As the other half of the Venice backfield, the 5-9, 180-pound Wilder found the end zone 12 times and gained 898 yards as a sophomore. He also caught seven passes for 78 yards, one for a touchdown.

Joe Ziegler, Sarasota High

Expected to share time with Jaden Judge before Judge transferred to Bayshore, Ziegler likely will receive an expanded role. The 5-9, 200-pounder gained 750 yards in eight games and scored five touchdowns a year ago for the Sailors.

Keep an eye on: Nasir Edwards, Palmetto High; Torry Holloman, Braden River High; Teagan Randall, Lakewood Ranch High; Isaac Smith, North Port High

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Running backs could dominate high school football