Eleven of the top 12 running backs to start the 2026 season are all seniors, but in terms of experience, that number is deceiving.
Certainly the running backs at the top of the list have plenty of experience, as the top three were all 1,000-yard rushers last season. However, only the top six players were starters or their team’s primary rusher. The other six were backups who showed off their talent in limited action and are expected to have either leading roles this season or bigger roles as part of a rotation with three of the running back joining new teams and another returning to his old team.
Here are the 12 area running backs we have our eyes on going into the 2026 high school football season.
Kamari Smith, Lake Wales, Senior
Smith rose to being the most productive runner in the county in his first season at Lake Wales. After rushing for 926 yards and 10 touchdowns in leading Haines City to a district title in 2024 as a sophomore, Smith led the Highlanders in rushing with 1,573 yards and 18 touchdowns.
AJ Truedell, Lakeland Christian, Senior
Truedell rushed for 479 yards in his first three games of the season last year and went on to rush for 1,077 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had 197 yards receiving and 230 yards on kickoff returns.
Reagan Korlacki, Santa Fe Catholic, Senior
Korlacki had four 100-yard rushing games in his first seven games but saved his best for last. He went over the 200-yard mark in his final three games, piling up 757 yards in those games, and finished the season with 1,671 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Ahnarri Cooper, Lakeland, Senior
Cooper’s power running ability allowed him to emerge as Lakeland to rusher last year. He fell just shy of 1,000 yards as he finished with 925 yards and 11 touchdowns on 130 carries.
Xavion Mitchell, Kathleen, Senior
Mitchell was a bright spot for Kathleen the past two seasons as he rushed for 604 yards in 10 games as a sophomore and 615 yards in seven games as a junior. He’ll join Cooper and Steward Butler in the Lakeland backfield this season.
Anthony Howard Jr., Auburndale, Junior
Howard rushed for 708 yards as a freshman before attending IMG last season. He has returned to the Bloodhounds and is rehabbing from a knee injury. Considered one of the junior running backs in the state, his position on this list will depend on how quickly he can get back to 100%.
Tyberius O’Neil, Winter Haven, Senior
O’Neil emerged as Fort Meade’s top rusher last year as he rushed for 779 yards on 100 carries and will now lead the Blue Devils’ backfield this season.
Kenyon Helms, Ridge Community, Senior
Helms filled in effectively when Lavonski Tubbs was out with an injury last year. He rushed for 493 yards on 65 carries and had a season-high 203 yards in a victory over Haines City.
Brayden Scott, Bartow, Senior
Scott, whose father is former Winter Haven standout Robert Scott, was at Lake Wales last season but was stuck behind Smith. He made the most of his opportunities by rushing for 212 yards and will lead Bartow’s backfield in his senior season.
Raymond Diaz, Lake Gibson, Senior
Diaz will play a bigger role for the Braves as last season’s leading rusher Brian Mapp having graduated. He rushed for 238 yards on 48 carries as the team’s second-leading rusher.
Steward Butler, Lakeland, Senior
Despite the addition of Mitchell, Butler is expected to play a bigger role in the backfield after the graduation of Jadarius Dobie and Kevin Hendrix. He rushed for 242 yards, one of five Dreadnaughts, including quarterback Kelin Hendrix, with at least 200 yards rushing.
Bricen Philomond, Victory Christian, Senior
Philomond rushed for 193 yards as Preston Coney’s backup and is slated to have a bigger role this season.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Here are Polk County’s top 12 running backs for the 2026 season
Reporting by Roy Fuoco, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Roy Fuoco, Lakeland Ledger | USA TODAY Network
