The ground game is what Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan high school football is all about. It’s the focal point of nearly every South Bend Tribune coverage area offense, whether effective or not, year in and year out.
There are a handful of exceptions, but even many of the most productive area quarterbacks are those who can also get it done as a rusher. These 16 primary running backs for 11 different coverage area teams either have established themselves as dominant forces or seem primed to become one in 2026.
The list includes a committee of six, four all-conference selections, two all-state honorees and many emerging talents. Here are the top returners, listed in alphabetical order by school.
Kaden Santana, Brandywine (Mich.)
The senior put up 460 yards and five touchdowns on 84 carries last season as the 2-7 Bobcats’ primary running back. However, with rushing leader and quarterback Kaeden Warfield graduated, Santana should step into an even larger workload this season.
Logan Moser, Bremen
The senior was not the 6-5 Lions’ primary running back last season, but he did compile 481 yards and four touchdowns on 72 carries, good for a team-high 6.7 yards per carry. With leading rusher Brayden Pearish graduated, Moser should get the majority of Bremen’s carries this season.
Max Cornelius, Buchanan (Mich.)
The junior was an immediate standout for the 6-4 Bucks last season with 1,069 yards and 11 touchdowns on 160 carries while standing at 5’8″ and weighing in at 165 pounds. New Buchanan head coach Nick File touted Cornelius as one of the Bucks’ “strongest” players in 2026.
Giovanni Orue, Edwardsburg (Mich.)
The junior was an All-Wolverine Conference Second Team selection last season for the 6-4 Eddies, sure to step into an even larger role this season. He had 889 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.
Reed Raymond, La Porte
The senior was an All-DAC and IFCA Junior All-State selection last season for the 4-7 Slicers, compiling 1,387 yards and 12 touchdowns on 271 carries. He also had 55 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Kadyn O’Neal, Mishawaka
The senior was an All-NLC and IFCA Junior All-State selection last season for the 10-2 Cavemen, compiling 1,366 yards and 17 touchdowns on 221 carries.
Vinny Gruber, Mishawaka Marian
The junior compiled 1,020 yards and 11 touchdowns on 225 carries last season for the 4-8 Knights. He also had one receiving and passing touchdown each.
Lucas Halderman, New Prairie
The junior put up 518 yards and three touchdowns as the Cougars’ primary running back last season, but he was not 3-7 New Prairie’s first option on the ground, as that role belonged to quarterback Reed Robinson. With Robinson now at Northern Illinois University for baseball, Halderman is sure to have a larger role in 2026.
Brady Weaver, NorthWood
The junior had just 346 yards and six touchdowns on 43 carries for the 5-5 Panthers last season, but the three leading rushers ahead of him either graduated or transferred away from NorthWood. Also putting up 270 yards and a touchdown as a receiver last season, Weaver figures to be a fixture of the offense in 2026.
Carson Bryce, South Bend Adams
The junior All-NIC First Team selection put up 918 yards and four touchdowns on 190 carries for the 4-7 Eagles last season, and he also had 570 yards and two touchdowns on punt and kick returns.
South Bend Saint Joseph’s committee
This may not be a traditional entry on this list, but the defending IHSAA 4A regional champion Huskies were as effective as any team in the area last season on the ground thanks to their committee approach. Eight players got at least 20 rushing attempts and six of them are back this season, including junior Daivid Waite, sophomore Will Sollman, junior Matt Champlin, senior Antwone Ross, senior James Criniti and senior Conor Gallagher. They combined for 1,855 yards and 17 touchdowns on 341 carries for the 12-2 Huskies.
Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at ksmedley@usatodayco.com or follow him on X @KyleMSmedley.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Mishawaka’s O’Neal, Adams’ Bryce highlight top returning running backs
Reporting by Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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By Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
