Best WNC running backs in 2024 North Carolina high school football season

From Gavin Langley to Max Guest, the Citizen Times and Times-News ranked the top running backs for the 2024 North Carolina high school football season in WNC.

Asheville Citizen Times

The Western North Carolina football scene is filled with talented running backs. The run-heavy offenses many WNC teams use means some of the area's top players are RBs, making this list of WNC's best NCHSAA running backs stacked with skill.

From Reynolds' Max Guest to West Henderson transfer Da'Zion Murray to Brevard's Braylon Thompson, who is WNC's best running back?

Here are the Citizen Times and Times-News' rankings of the area's best RBs, from 15 to 1:

Best North Carolina high school football RBs in WNC for 2024

15. Gavin Langley

Tuscola

Vitals: 5-11, 190, Sr.

Though quarterback Jed West led the offense in rushing last season, Langley rushed for 548 yards with five touchdowns on 102 carries. He'll likely be tasked with a heavier workload as a senior.

14. Ayden Johnson

Smoky Mountain

Vitals: 5-11, 205, Sr.

Johnson was a productive backup for the Mustangs last season, averaging 6.3 yards on 75 carries. After Isaiah McNeely graduated, Johnson's carries could double as a senior.

13. Hunter Pittman

McDowell

Vitals: 5-10, 185, Jr.

Pittman was consistent in the backfield for the Titans, rushing for 791 yards over nine games, averaging nearly 90 yards per game on 144 carries.

12. Tyvon Patterson

Reynolds

Vitals: 5-8, 160, Jr.

Patterson was strong in the backfield for Reynolds last season with 134 carries for 851 yards and 13 touchdowns. With Max Guest returning this season, he will shift into a hybrid running back-wide receiver role.

11. Mason Gasperson

North Henderson

Vitals: 5-11, 205, Sr.

As the Knights' No. 2 option in a strong backfield, Gasperson rushed for 714 yards on 107 carries. He scored 14 touchdowns and can be even more productive as the main option for a young North Henderson squad.

10. Braylon Thompson

Brevard

Vitals: 5-10, 170, Jr.

Thompson will take over as the Blue Devils' main tailback after splitting carries a season ago. Thompson scored 11 rushing touchdowns on 133 carries with 705 rushing yards.

9. Tyrin Credle

Roberson

Vitals: 6-0, 184, Sr.

Credle is an explosive running back and is taking over as the main option for the Rams' run-heavy attack. Credle was the team's fourth rushing option a season ago and averaged 9.5 yards per carry, rushing the ball 63 times for 600 yards and six touchdowns.

8. Tre Graves

Hayesville

Vitals: 5-9, 161, Jr.

Graves will get the bulk of Hayesville's carries after sharing with Taylor McClure last season. Graves' 147 carries and 826 yards as a sophomore led the Yellow Jackets, and his 11 rushing touchdowns were tied for the team lead.

7. Josh Ellis

Asheville High

Vitals: 5-7, 158, Sr.

The Cougars are returning their entire starting offensive line, providing extra experience for Asheville High's talented backfield. Ellis led Asheville with 11 rushing touchdowns last season and had 82 carries for 681 yards.

6. Loreynzo Sanchez

Polk County

Vitals: 5-5, 140, Jr.

Sanchez nearly rushed for 1,000 yards as a sophomore despite his undersized frame. He'll be the Wolverines' main target on offense after going for 913 yards and eight touchdowns on 145 carries.

5. Kyheem Plummer

Asheville High

Vitals: 5-11, 185, Sr.

The second half of the Cougars' 1-2 punch in the backfield, Plummer rushed for 720 yards on 91 carries last season to lead the team and scored 10 touchdowns.

4. Hezzie Rudisill

Hendersonville

Vitals: 6-0, 173, Sr.

Rudisill was a bright spot on a 4-6 Hendersonville team last season, rushing for 1,079 yards and eight touchdowns on 149 carries.

MOVE TO THE MOUNTAINS:What new Reynolds quarterback Ely Hamrick said about transfer, IMG Academy experience

3. Cameron Clem

Murphy

Vitals: 6-0, 175, So.

As Murphy's backup running back a season ago, Clem carried the ball 111 times for 940 yards and eight touchdowns. After Hunter Stalcup graduated, Clem is set for a breakout sophomore campaign in the run-heavy Murphy offense.

2. Da'Zion Murray

West Henderson

Vitals: 5-9, 200, Sr.

Murray is transferring to West Henderson from Chase, where he rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns on 123 carries as a junior. If his production and workload remain consistent with the Falcons, he could be one of WNC's best running backs.

1. Max Guest

Reynolds

Vitals: 5-10, 185, Sr.

Committed: Appalachian State

Guest returns to the backfield after missing nearly all of 2023 with a right foot injury. He returned in the playoffs to carry the ball nine times for 33 yards. In 2022, as a sophomore, Guest was named All-WNC first team after racking up 1,764 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns.

Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at egerike@citizentimes.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @EvanGerike. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.