The second part of my series previewing the top players in Livingston County football entering 2026 focuses on offensive backs.
With only five football-playing schools in the county, I have always lumped together quarterbacks and running backs. Nobody wants to be known as the fifth-ranked quarterback in a county with five schools.
“Offensive backs” is kind of an archaic term in football but I’m old, so it works for me.
Howell has three running backs on this list and could’ve had one more. It seems like whoever carries the football for the Highlanders will have success.
Official practices begin on Aug. 10, with all five county teams beginning their seasons on Aug. 27.
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1. Dom Nauss, Brighton, junior
Nauss led the county in rushing last season with 1,489 yards and 18 touchdowns on 215 carries. He was also productive in the passing game, catching 12 passes for 183 yards and two scores.
Along the way, he became one of only three players to Livingston County history to rush for 1,000 yards in his team’s first six games. He was on pace to break Joey Clifford’s school record of 1,659 yards set in 2015 before being limited by a hip injury down the stretch.
With good health and continued improvement, Nauss has a chance to become the county’s all-time leading rusher. He will also see action at linebacker this season after playing exclusively on offense as a sophomore.
Central Michigan University has been in contact with Nauss, who ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash during a camp at Ferris State University in June.
“He’s an extreme talent,” Brighton coach Brian Lemons said. “He’s explosive and strong. His speed is elite, but he’s got a body that guys are going to have to make a decision whether or not they want to tackle him.”
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2. Bryce Kish, Howell, senior
Kish might be No. 1 on this list if he had a heavier workload for Howell and the numbers that go along with it.
Kish has fallen just short of 1,000 yards each of the last two seasons. He had 979 yards and nine touchdowns on 138 carries as a sophomore playing alongside school record-setter Justin Jones. Kish shared rushing duties with several other capable backs last year, rushing for 971 yards and 20 touchdowns on 160 carries.
Kish showed what he’s capable of when he’s the featured back, rushing for 216 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries in a victory over Brighton last season.
Kish, who was recruited by Clemson University as a linebacker, is a problem to bring down. He’s 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and has run the 100-meter dash in 11.11 seconds, Howell’s fastest time since 2011.
“He’s going to Clemson to play defense,” Howell coach Brian Lewis said. “We want to make sure he’s fresh, healthy and feeling good on that side of the ball. We’re going to take care of his body and make sure he stays healthy, because he’s got a lot of football ahead of him. Everybody is trying to make sure his future stays bright.”
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3. Dom D’Agosta, Brighton, junior
The only quarterback on this list, D’Agosta became the starter in Week 2 following a season-ending injury to Tayden Plave in the opener.
That puts D’Agosta further along in his progression than expected, making him a dangerous weapon for a Brighton team that is still young at the skill positions.
He got invaluable experience competing in two playoff games, including a victory at West Bloomfield. His 1,679 passing yards rank 11th in county history for a single season and his 15 touchdown passes are also in the top 20.
Brighton has a strong offensive line and a running threat that demands respect in Nauss, so D’Agosta should have a clean pocket in which to work most of the time.
“He’s got a really good head, football I.Q.,” Lemons said. “Now his arm tools are great; he’s getting those to match. That experience as a sophomore, you can’t buy that type of experience.”
4. Christian Farren, Howell, senior
Farren would be the featured back for a lot of teams, but is highly effective in the No. 2 role behind Kish in a stacked Howell backfield.
Farren averaged 7.1 yards per carry last season, racking up 815 yards and 11 touchdowns on 114 carries. A 6-foot, 205 pounds, Farren runs with bad intentions and is difficult to bring to the ground.
Farren’s potential was unleashed in the KLAA championship game against Belleville when he ran 16 times for 180 yards and three touchdowns.
“He’s physical and has a great feel,” Lewis said. “He has a wild ability to move laterally while going forward and sit behind blocks. He’s an elite blocker. He’s willing to do it over and over in our offense. In football, that’s an elite skill. He’s going to get time on defense as well; he’s taken that step.”
Farren will not only team up with Kish in the backfield, but as edge rushers who could make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.
5. Jack Gondick, Howell, junior
As if Howell didn’t have enough talent in its backfield, along came Gondick around midseason to give opponents yet another runner to fear.
Gondick didn’t have a carry in Howell’s first three games, but slowly worked his way into the rotation before exploding late in the season to finish the year with four straight 100-yard performances against quality opponents.
He ran for 112 yards against Brighton, 131 against Belleville, 170 against Kalamazoo Central and 112 against East Kentwood to finish the season with 691 yards and two touchdowns on 70 carries. He also caught five passes for 57 yards and a score.
“He’s incredible,” Lewis said. “He’s really taken another step. That experience he got last year with his strength and conditioning, we’re really excited to see what he brings to the table.”
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Who are the top 5 offensive backs in 2026 Livingston County football?
Reporting by Bill Khan, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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By Bill Khan, Livingston Daily | USA TODAY Network
