NCAA Running Backs-A Mid-Season Look
We combined all three divisions and found 145 running backs with three running QB's thrown in. The leader boards for Missouri and Kansas athletes competing in the NCAA are right here.
It has been longer than normal since my last newsletter to you. Part of that is because we were between seasons in the summer. And part is because the year to date numbers are just now becoming meaningful and interesting. And there is another reason. There is now an extension of the work done with this newsletter. Playing On Sports and the Missouri Sports Network co-produce a weekly podcast. It is named “Where are They Now Wednesday”.
It is recorded every Tuesday for release at 7:00 AM every Wednesday. You can access it on the Missouri Sports Network Youtube channel, or you can follow Playing On Sports on X at playing_sports. Guy Newcomb and Kent Mueller discuss the achievements of Missouri athletes at the NCAA level. From Year-to-Date stat leader boards to what past Gatorade Players of the Year are up to now. Plus lots more information about what our local athlets are accomplishing at the next level. Please tell a friend, and tell us what you think about the production!
Where are they?
Missouri and Kansas high school boys like their football. Enough so, that 1,733 are currently on NCAA rosters from coast to coast. All three divisions. Most conferences. And many colleges and universities. They break down by division this way:
FBS - 347
FCS - 260
Div. II - 929
Div. III - 197
These athletes have found many places to call their new home:
Number of Conferences - 60
Number of Colleges - 239
There are 143 Running Backs. I have also included a few quarterbacks who like to run. If you know of someone I have not included, but should, please leave me a message!
The Spreadsheets
Playing On Sports has become know for its extensive spreadsheets. Below you will find an attached spreadsheet listing nine stats for 148 running backs and running quarterbacks. The athletes are listed by Yards per Game. As you will see, 11 lead their team in Yards per Game. Don’t miss the spreadsheet!
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The Leader Boards
We assemble leader boards for 11 sports, and update them mid-season on through the end of the year. We have five statistics for NCAA Running Backs charted out below.
Not only do these athletes show up big among Missouri and Kansas grads, but also on a national scale. Two are carrying the ball for a team defending their national championship from a year ago. Amar Johnson (Chaminade/South Dakota State) looks to make it three titles in a row in the Football Championship Series and Blake Delacruz (Parkview/Harding University) looks to repeat in Division II. Delacruz is doing his part with his nine rushing touchdowns, second most in Division II. DJ Giddons (Junction City/Kansas State) is fourth in Division I in Total Rushing Yards and eighth in Yards per Carry. Brandon Hall (North Kansas City/Missouri Western) is third in Division II in both Total Rushing Yards and Yards per Carry. Jayden Mitchell (Riverview Gardens/Lincoln University-MO) isn’t far behind in Division II as he is ninth in Total Rushing Yards. Shane Watts (DeSoto-KS/Fort Hays State) makes it three local athletes in the top ten of Division II as he is tenth in Total Rushing Yards.
Rushing Yards Per Game
139.25 - Brandon Hall - North Kansas City -Senior - Division II - Missouri Western Univesity - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
120.80 - DJ Giddons - Junction City - Junior - FBS - Kansas State University - Big 12 Conference
102.60 - Devin Neal - Lawrence - Senior - FBS - University of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
97.00 - Jayden Mitchell - Parkway Central - Graduate Student - Division II - Upper Iowa University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
94.00 - Amar Johnson - Chaminade - Senior - FCS - South Dakota State - Missouri Valley Football Conference
90.60 - Shane Watts - DeSoto-KS - Senior - Division II - Fort Hays State - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
87.50 - Jaylin Richardson - Schlagle - Junior - Division II - Concordia University-St. Paul - Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
87.00 - Travis Theis - Pratt - Senior - FCS - University of South Dakota - Missouri Valley Football Conference
72.75 - AJ Harris - Lutheran-St. Charles - Sophomore - Division II - Missouri S & T - Missouri Great Lakes Valley Conference
64.50 - Blake Delacruz - Parkview - Senior - Division II - Harding University - Great American Conference
Total Rushing Yards
604 - DJ Giddons - Junction City - Junior - FBS - Kansas State University - Big 12 Conference
557 - Brandon Hall - North Kansas City -Senior - Division II - Missouri Western Univesity - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
513 - Devin Neal - Lawrence - Senior - FBS - University of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
485 - Jayden Mitchell - Parkway Central - Graduate Student - Division II - Upper Iowa University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
453 - Shane Watts - DeSoto-KS - Senior - Division II - Fort Hays State - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
376 - Amar Johnson - Chaminade - Senior - FCS - South Dakota State - Missouri Valley Football Conference
350 - Jaylin Richardson - Schlagle - Junior - Division II - Concordia University-St. Paul - Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
348 - Travis Theis - Pratt - Senior - FCS - University of South Dakota - Missouri Valley Football Conference
321 - Avery Johnson - Maize - Sopomore - FBS - Kansas State University - Big 12 Conference
291 - AJ Harris - Lutheran-St. Charles - Sophomore - Division II - Missouri S & T - Missouri Great Lakes Valley Conference
Average Per Carry (Min. of 40 Carries)
8.3 - Brandon Hall - North Kansas City -Senior - Division II - Missouri Western Univesity - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
7.3 - DJ Giddons - Junction City - Junior - FBS - Kansas State University - Big 12 Conference
7.3 - Avery Johnson - Maize - Sopomore - FBS - Kansas State University - Big 12 Conference
6.7 - Amar Johnson - Chaminade - Senior - FCS - South Dakota State - Missouri Valley Football Conference
6.3 - Travis Theis - Pratt - Senior - FCS - University of South Dakota - Missouri Valley Football Conference
6.2 - Jayden Mitchell - Parkway Central - Graduate Student - Division II - Upper Iowa University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
6.0 - Devin Neal - Lawrence - Senior - FBS - University of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
5.5 - Blake Delacruz - Parkview - Senior - Division II - Harding University - Great American Conference
5.2 - Payton Brown - Hillsboro-MO - Freshman - FCS - Southeast Missouri State - Ohio Valley Conference
5.0 - Jobe Smith - North County - Sophomore - Division II - Southwest Baptist University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Total Touchdowns
9 - Blake Delacruz - Parkview - Senior - Division II - Harding University - Great American Conference
6 - Shane Watts - DeSoto-KS - Senior - Division II - Fort Hays State - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
5 - Brandon Hall - North Kansas City -Senior - Division II - Missouri Western Univesity - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
5 - Travis Theis - Pratt - Senior - FCS - University of South Dakota - Missouri Valley Football Conference
5 - Keegan Zdybel - Slater - Junior - Division III - Westminster University-MO - St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
4 - Amar Johnson - Chaminade - Senior - FCS - South Dakota State - Missouri Valley Football Conference
4 - Jayden Mitchell - Parkway Central - Graduate Student - Division II - Upper Iowa University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
4 - Devin Neal - Lawrence - Senior - FBS - University of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
4 - Payton Brown - Hillsboro-MO - Freshman - FCS - Southeast Missouri State - Ohio Valley Conference
4 - AJ Harris - Lutheran-St. Charles - Sophomore - Division II - Missouri S & T - Missouri Great Lakes Valley Conference
4 - Brady Cook - Chaminade - Senior - Division I - University of Missouri - Southeastern Conference
Longest Run From Scrimmage
86 - Jareese Howard - Riverview Gardens - Freshman - Division II - Lincoln University-MO - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
67 - Brandon Hall - North Kansas City -Senior - Division II - Missouri Western Univesity - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
66 - DJ Giddons - Junction City - Junior - FBS - Kansas State University - Big 12 Conference
66 - Keyon Mozee - Lee’s Summit North - Senior - FBS - Miami-Ohio - Mid-American Conference
63 - Jayden Mitchell - Parkway Central - Graduate Student - Division II - Upper Iowa University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
53 - Devin Neal - Lawrence - Senior - FBS - University of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
52 - Payton Brown - Hillsboro-MO - Freshman - FCS - Southeast Missouri State - Ohio Valley Conference
42 - Shane Watts - DeSoto-KS - Senior - Division II - Fort Hays State - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
42 - Dylan Hair - Blair Oaks - Sophomore - Division II - Truman State University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
42 - Dante Billups - Mexico - Senior - Division III - Westminster University-MO - St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Spreadsheet:
Here is the spreadsheet that contains nine state for 148 Running Backs and running Quarterbacks. It is sorted by Yards Rushing per Game and is as of September 28.
We hope you enjoyed this information. There is much more to come for football plus ten other sports throughout the year. Getting a Free Subscription is easy, and it’s …….Free!