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Who were the top 15 high school running backs from the Gadsden area in 2023?

Maxwell Donaldson, Gadsden Times
·3 min read

With the high school football season over there were plenty of great running back performances across the season, so who were the top 15 running backs from the Gadsden area?

One back went over the 3,000 yard mark while three more cross the 2,000-yard mark. Countless others crossed the 1,000-yard mark.

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1. Jacob Cornejo, Cherokee County

Season stats: 3,003 yards, 36 TDs

Grade: Senior

Why chosen: The only back in the area to cross the 3,000-yard mark, Cornejo put his name in the AHSAA record books inside the top-10 for multiple records.

Cherokee County's Jacob Cornejo topped 3,000 yards in rushing in 2023.
Cherokee County's Jacob Cornejo topped 3,000 yards in rushing in 2023.

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2. Logan Anderson, Fyffe

Season stats: 2,864 yards, 45 TDs

Grade: Junior

Why chosen: Anderson had the best statistical season in Fyffe history for a running back, something that isn't easy to do with its long history.

Fyffe's Logan Anderson ran for more than 2,800 yards to lead the Red Devils to the state title in 2023.
Fyffe's Logan Anderson ran for more than 2,800 yards to lead the Red Devils to the state title in 2023.

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3. Mason Teague, Southside

Season stats: 2,412 yards, 20 TDs

Grade: Senior

Why chosen: Teague put on a beautiful performance to cap off his Southside career, especially as the offense was placed on his shoulders.

Southside's Mason Teague capped his senior year by rushing for more than 2,000 yards in 2023.
Southside's Mason Teague capped his senior year by rushing for more than 2,000 yards in 2023.

4. Aiden Parham, Sylvania

Season stats: 2,532 yards, 28 TDs

Grade: Junior

Why chosen: Parham's yards and touchdowns are eye-popping but the fact he had zero fumbles is the biggest stat of them all.

5. TJ Worthy, Gadsden City

Season stats: 1,501 yards and 24 rushing touchdowns with 430 receiving yards and 6 TDs

Grade: Junior

Why chosen: Worthy was probably the breakout star of the area, with almost 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns of total offense.

Gadsden City's TJ Worthy was a breakout star with almost 2,000 yards of offense in 2023.
Gadsden City's TJ Worthy was a breakout star with almost 2,000 yards of offense in 2023.

6. Carlos Mann, Geraldine

Season stats: 1,656 yards, 32 TDs and 581 receiving yards, 9 TDs

Grade: Senior

Why chosen: Mann shined as the Bulldogs made a run to the semifinal, as was a major reason why Geraldine made it there.

Geraldine's Carlos Mann was a big reason the Bulldogs made the semifinal round in 2023.
Geraldine's Carlos Mann was a big reason the Bulldogs made the semifinal round in 2023.

7. Enelson Delva, Guntersville

Season stats: 1,503 yards, 16 TDs

Grade: Junior

Why chosen: Delva stepped up without Julyon Jordan, who was out with injury for most of the year, running for over 1,500 yards and leading the Wildcats to the semifinals.

8. Quintavious Rogers, Collinsville

Season stats: 1,093 yards, 15 TDs, 309 receiving yards, 4 TDs

Grade: Freshman

Why chosen: Rogers was an unknown back at the beginning of the season but broke out for the Panthers.

9. Tristan Childers, Boaz

Season stats: 1,243 yards, 10 TDs

Grade: Junior

Why chosen: Childers helped lead Boaz to the playoffs and into the second round.

Boaz's Tristan Childers ran for more than 1,200 yards in 2023.
Boaz's Tristan Childers ran for more than 1,200 yards in 2023.

10. Blaze Gerhart, Sardis

Season stats: 1,089 yards, 9 TDs, 218 receiving yards, 3 TDs

Grade: Senior

Why chosen: Gerhart found success for the Lions throughout the season and helped them get the cusp of the playoffs.

Sardis's Blaze Gerhart ran for more than 1,000 yards in 2023 to cap his high school career.
Sardis's Blaze Gerhart ran for more than 1,000 yards in 2023 to cap his high school career.

11. Legion McCrary, Pisgah

Season stats: 1,019 yards, 18 TDs, 257 receiving yards, 6 TDs

Grade: Senior

Why chosen: McCrary played mostly just in the first half for most of the season but came through when it mattered most for the Eagles.

12. Aaron Mann, Glencoe

Season stats: 1,056 yards, 12 TDs

Grade: Junior

Why chosen: Mann was the leader of the Yellow Jackets offense, breaking out on the season.

Glencoe's Aaron Mann was a breakout star with more than 1,000 yards in 2023.
Glencoe's Aaron Mann was a breakout star with more than 1,000 yards in 2023.

13. Rock Sainsbury, West End

Season stats: 1,168 yards, 12 TDs

Grade: Senior

Why chosen: Sainsbury helped lead the Patriots back to the playoffs and crossed the 1,000-yard mark.

14. Kanon Wilson, Coosa Christian

Season stats: 709 yards, 11 TDs

Grade: Junior

Why chosen: Wilson caught fire late in the season and helped lead the Conquerors to the state title game.

Coosa Christian's Kanon Wilson heated up in the postseason to help the Conquerors make the 2023 1A state title game.
Coosa Christian's Kanon Wilson heated up in the postseason to help the Conquerors make the 2023 1A state title game.

15. Ryder Gipson, Fyffe

Season stats: 1,088 yards, 16 TDs

Grade: Freshman

Why chosen: Gipson was the backup to Anderson but found his own role in the Red Devils offense.

Fyffe's Ryder Gipson carved his backup role into a 1,000 yard season in 2023.
Fyffe's Ryder Gipson carved his backup role into a 1,000 yard season in 2023.

Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden-area high school football top running backs in 2023