All-TSF: Running Back Primer

Dependable and proven, that would be the best way to sum up the top stars out of the backfield in 2015. Veteran seniors and exciting underclassmen set the tone for plenty of offenses in 2015.

Badin RB Cody Boxrucker (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

The running back position is evolving right before our very eyes. Coaches are getting the ball to their backs in wide open spaces more than ever. Running backs are catching more passes than ever and it is leading to some hefty offensive productivity for those who can catch the football as well as run it. Teams now seem to have a combination of speed and power and that diversity is shines through brightly in our list of nominee’s from this past year.

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Here is a look at the running back nominees for the 2015 Postseason All-TSF team:

NOMINEES: Alex Anderson (Harrison); Andrew Arnold (Holmes); Micah Blythe (Clark Montessori); Luke Bohenek (Turpin); Ra’Von Bonner (Sycamore); Robby Boone (Glen Este); Austin Bowling (Lawrenceburg); Tim Bradshaw (Beavercreek); Bobby Brown Jr. (Thurgood Marshall); Cody Boxrucker (Badin); Monalo Caldwell (Colerain); Tony Clark (Miamisburg); Will Coker (Woodward); Danny Davis (Springfield); Jayden Davis (Kenton Ridge); Clarence Dawson (Sycamore); Justin Durham (Lloyd Memorial); Mason Dyer (Stebbins); Tyler Glenn (Lakota East); Hunter Gillespie (Taylor); Raveion Hargrove (Trotwood-Madison); Corey Hastings (Carroll); Adam Hisch (McNicholas); Michael Hoecht (Oakwood); Nathan Jeffers (Bishop Fenwick); Darryn Jordan (Cincinnati Country Day); David Keeling (Fairfield); Nick Kendall (Highlands); Avery Koller (Kings); Jeremy Larkin (LaSalle); Davion Langford-Fails (Belmont); Roberto London (Scott); Jalen Lumpkin (Winton Woods); Zach Mears (Batesville); Cole McCreary (Franklin County); Avery Miliner (Northmont); Danny Otakasongo (Lakota West); Halsey Page (Walton-Verona); Ja’Vhari Portis (Elder); Dillon Powell (Simon Kenton); Jakob Prall (Tippecanoe); Sean Prophit (St. Xavier); Doug Rosemeyer (East Central); Ridge Reed (Carlisle); Nykwan Presswood (Taft); Justin Shields (Wyoming); Jacob Smith (NewCath); Ethan Stringer (Beechwood); Darien Tipps-Clemons (Piqua); Davey Tunon (Clinton-Massie); Andy Turpin (Alter); Luke Waddell (Loveland); Bailey Wallen (Brookville).

Loveland RB Luke Waddell (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

THRICE AS NICE: This the third time that senior Boxrucker and junior Waddell have been on our list of post-season nominees at this position.

TOUCHDOWN STREAK: Waddell will entire his senior season having scored at least one touchdown in 33 consecutive games. The streak started all the way back in his third varsity game as a freshman for Waddell, who has found the end zone 73 times (57 rushing, 16 receiving) during his career. He also has a current “good hands” streak with at least one reception in 12 straight contests.

THE RAVE OF THE RAMS: One of the most incredible breakout seasons ever was by sophomore Hargrove, who ran for 3,039 yards, averaged 11.3 per carry and found the end zone 41 times (39 rushing). What makes the 5-foot-7, 165 pound speedster’s campaign even more incredible is that he was hurt for three of those games mustering only 53 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries in that span. The other 11 tilts saw him run for 300 yards or more four times (including a career high 385 vs. Greenville) and all came in the last six weeks which included four Division III playoff games and the regular-season finale versus Division II postseason squad, Butler. Hargrove ran for 200 yards or more on five other occasions.

THE Ra’VIATORS: For the past two seasons senior Dawson and junior Bonner have been electrifying crowds as Sycamore with their speed and power. The dynamic duo combine to run for 2,400 yards (Bonner – 1,429, Dawson – 971) and 33 touchdowns (Bonner 27) last fall. In ’14 the pair ran for a combined 2,142 yards (Bonner – 1,120, Dawson – 1,022) and 26 scores (Bonner 16). Bonner was name Division I Second Team All-Southwest District for a second straight season in ’15.

Woodward RB Will Coker (photo by Emily Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

A WELL STOCKED COKE MACHINE: It was a slow start for Coker running for just 45 and 85 yards in Woodward’s two losses to open 2015. The junior quenched the teams thirst for victory and success after that finishing the year with 2,294 yards and 29 touchdowns. The Bulldogs would go 6-1 down the stretch as Coker and his high octane running topped the 300-yard mark five times and ran for more than 230 in the other two affairs. He had at least four rushing scores in each of Woodward’s last six games.

2,000 YARD CLUB: The top area rusher was Hargrove (3,039 yards) followed Coker (2,294), J. Davis (2,163) and Gillespie (2,038). They were the only four to top 2,000 yards.

JAYDEN’S JEWEL: It was a night to remember for Jayden Davis when he ran for 407 yards and six touchdowns on 20 carries leading Kenton Ridge to a 53-28 win over Bellefontaine in Week 8. Davis tallied 313 of those yards on his six scoring runs of 86, 70, 33, 49, 31 and 44 yards.

TUNON TUNED IN: It was hard to gauge how good of a senior year Tunon had for Clinton-Massie as he rarely played in the second half of so many Falcons blowout victories during the regular season. Tunon stepped up big time in the playoffs. In the opening round he ran for a school record 374 yards in a win over Taft. The following week he topped that mark running for 393 yards as Clinton-Massie knocked out previously unbeaten Indian Hill. Tunon finished the year with 1,944 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground.

La Salle’s Jeremy Larkin (Michael Noyes/TSF).

LARKIN’S LEGACY: Larkin was the focal point in for La Salle and it’s back-to-back Ohio Division II state title’s the past two seasons. He finishes his career having scored more touchdowns than any other player in Greater Catholic League history with 93 total touchdowns – 74 rushing, 15 receiving, three kickoff returns and one punt return setting the bar for all those who follow. His other accomplishments include amassing 8,217 all-purpose yards, running for 5,079 yards with 68 receptions for another 1,320 yards as a Lancer.

COMMITTED: The Big 10 got a welcomed addition as Larkin decides on Northwestern after de-committing to Cincinnati. Brown out of the Ivy League lands to of the most productive and underrated small school players in Southwest Ohio in Hoecht and Prall.

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