Alabama’S Top High School Football Running Backs: Meet The Best: Alabama’s top high school football running backs: Meet the best RBs in Double-A Private are turning heads across the state, and the 2025 season has already produced a standout class of athletes worth watching closely.
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Key Takeaways
- – Double-A Private classification features some of Alabama’s most explosive and underrated prep talent at running back
- – Several players in this class are drawing early interest from Division I and Division II college programs
- – Speed, vision, and pass-catching ability are the defining traits separating the elite from the rest in 2025
Why Double-A Private Produces Elite Running Backs
Alabama’s high school football landscape is vast, but the Double-A Private classification quietly develops some of the most technically refined backs in the state. Smaller rosters mean more carries, more film, and more opportunity for elite athletes to shine.
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We’ve tracked film, box scores, and combine data throughout the early 2025 season to compile this ranking. Our analysis focuses on yards per carry, yards after contact, receiving production, and overall football IQ.
The competition in Double-A Private is fierce, physical, and deeply competitive — exactly the environment that forges elite running backs.
Alabama’s Top High School Football Running backs: Meet the Best RBs in Double-A Private
🟦 1. Rushing Stats Leaderboard — Double-A Private (2025 Season, Through Week 6)
| Rank | Player | School | Carries | Rushing YDS | YPC | TD | REC | REC YDS | Fumbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaylen Booker | Bessemer Academy | 87 | 1,042 | 11.97 | 14 | 12 | 134 | 0 |
| 2 | Marcus Tillman | Glenwood School | 79 | 956 | 12.10 | 11 | 8 | 88 | 1 |
| 3 | DeShawn Pryor | Escambia Academy | 91 | 934 | 10.26 | 10 | 15 | 162 | 0 |
| 4 | Caleb Monroe | Montgomery Academy | 74 | 881 | 11.91 | 9 | 6 | 57 | 0 |
| 5 | Trevon Hale | Patrician Academy | 68 | 812 | 11.94 | 8 | 10 | 103 | 1 |
| 6 | Jordan Sims | Edgewood Academy | 80 | 798 | 9.98 | 7 | 18 | 201 | 0 |
| 7 | Darius Webb | Evangel Christian | 65 | 754 | 11.60 | 9 | 5 | 44 | 0 |
| 8 | Alonzo Fitch | Coosa Valley Academy | 72 | 731 | 10.15 | 6 | 11 | 97 | 2 |
🟦 2. Advanced Metrics — Yards After Contact & Explosive Plays
| Player | YAC (Total) | YAC/Carry | 10+ Yard Runs | 20+ Yard Runs | Broken Tackles | Avg Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylen Booker | 498 | 5.72 | 34 | 18 | 27 | 19.4 |
| Marcus Tillman | 461 | 5.83 | 31 | 16 | 22 | 19.1 |
| DeShawn Pryor | 489 | 5.37 | 29 | 13 | 31 | 18.8 |
| Caleb Monroe | 412 | 5.57 | 28 | 15 | 19 | 19.2 |
| Trevon Hale | 388 | 5.71 | 26 | 12 | 24 | 19.0 |
| Jordan Sims | 341 | 4.26 | 22 | 9 | 14 | 18.5 |
| Darius Webb | 362 | 5.57 | 25 | 11 | 18 | 18.9 |
| Alonzo Fitch | 329 | 4.57 | 21 | 8 | 16 | 18.3 |
🟦 3. Recruiting Interest Tracker — Double-A Private RBs
| Player | Class Year | Offers (D1) | Offers (D2) | Top Interest From | Committed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylen Booker | 2026 | 3 | 5 | UAB, South Alabama | No |
| Marcus Tillman | 2026 | 2 | 6 | Jacksonville State | No |
| DeShawn Pryor | 2027 | 1 | 3 | Troy (informal) | No |
| Caleb Monroe | 2026 | 4 | 4 | UAB, Samford | No |
| Trevon Hale | 2027 | 0 | 2 | Undecided | No |
| Jordan Sims | 2025 | 1 | 7 | West Alabama | No |
| Darius Webb | 2026 | 2 | 4 | Shorter University | No |
| Alonzo Fitch | 2026 | 0 | 3 | Huntingdon | No |
Player Spotlights: Breaking Down the Top Three
Jaylen Booker, Bessemer Academy — The Complete Back
Jaylen Booker is the runaway leader in our ranking of Alabama’s top high school football running backs: meet the best RBs in Double-A Private, and the numbers justify that position. He has not fumbled once in six games, a testament to his ball security and situational awareness.
Booker runs with a rare combination of burst and patience, allowing blocks to develop before hitting the crease at full speed. At 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, he already carries a college-ready frame.
Three Division I programs have extended offers, with UAB and South Alabama monitoring his progress closely through the back half of the season.
Marcus Tillman, Glenwood School — The YAC Monster
Marcus Tillman leads the field in yards after contact per carry at 5.83, which tells you everything about his running style. He does not go down on first contact — ever — and his broken-tackle numbers reflect a physical maturity well beyond his years.
Tillman’s 12.10 yards per carry is the highest average among all backs in this ranking. Jacksonville State has already engaged his family in preliminary recruiting conversations.
He is the player in Alabama’s top high school football running backs: meet the best RBs in Double-A Private who most resembles a college-level feature back right now.
DeShawn Pryor, Escambia Academy — The Dual-Threat Weapon
DeShawn Pryor leads all backs in this class with 31 broken tackles and 15 receptions, making him the most dangerous dual-threat option in the group. His receiving numbers — 162 yards on 15 catches — give opposing defensive coordinators a genuine headache in game-planning.
Pryor is only a junior, meaning his best football is still ahead of him. A Troy University representative attended one of his games this fall for an informal evaluation.
Among Alabama’s top high school football running backs: meet the best RBs in Double-A Private, Pryor has the highest ceiling of any underclassman in the field.
What Sets Double-A Private Apart From Other Classifications
The Double-A Private classification in Alabama operates under the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA), which governs many of the state’s private schools outside the AHSAA umbrella. This creates a distinct competitive environment with its own playoff structure, rivalries, and recruiting pipeline.
Scouts and college coaches have increasingly turned their attention to this classification after several alumni found success at the FCS and Division II levels. The physicality of the conference schedules — particularly in the southern and central Alabama regions — mirrors what players will face at the next level.
Alabama’s top high school football running backs: meet the best RBs in Double-A Private are products of a system that demands toughness, versatility, and mental discipline from day one.
Ones to Watch: Rising Underclassmen
Trevon Hale of Patrician Academy is perhaps the most intriguing sophomore in this class. At just 15 years old, he has already posted 812 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, with a broken-tackle rate that rivals the seniors above him.
Jordan Sims of Edgewood Academy is the class’s best receiver out of the backfield, with 201 receiving yards on 18 catches. His ability to line up in the slot gives his offense a unique dimension.
Both players represent the future of Alabama’s top high school football running backs: meet the best RBs in Double-A Private, and both should appear on recruiting radars well before their senior seasons.
🟦 Final. Match Odds — AISA Double-A Private Playoff Contenders (Week 7 Projections)
| Team | Spread | Total (Points) | Moneyline (Win Outright) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bessemer Academy | -7.5 | 48.5 | -320 |
| Glenwood School | -4.0 | 44.5 | -195 |
| Escambia Academy | -3.0 | 42.5 | -175 |
| Montgomery Academy | +1.5 | 41.0 | +130 |
| Patrician Academy | +3.5 | 39.5 | +160 |
The Bigger Picture: Alabama’s Running Back Pipeline
Alabama has long been one of the premier states for developing running back talent at every level of play. The Double-A Private classification adds a layer of competition that is often overlooked in national recruiting conversations, but the talent is undeniably real.
We will continue updating this ranking as the 2025 playoff race intensifies. Alabama’s top high school football running backs: meet the best RBs in Double-A Private will be revisited at the end of the regular season with updated statistics and confirmed recruiting news.
Bookmark this page and follow the AISA’s official coverage for bracket updates and playoff schedules.
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