Longview Lobo Top 10 RBs Since 2000

The list that will forever change, Longview has had incredible backs in school history. Limiting it to 10 is almost insane, but hey it's what I do. The Top 10 Backs since 2000.

https://business.facebook.com/watch/?v=408206617124337

Years: 2010-12

COLLEGE: LAMAR

I played with him for a snap as a senior while he was a sophomore. He got a toss against Mesquite Horn in the 4th round of playoffs. He gained 18 yards on the play, and from that moment on I knew he was going to be excellent. Tory White is probably the best back you've forgotten over the past decade. Tory had blazing speed, proving it by having the longest rush in history in 2012, going 99 against Dallas Jesuit. His senior year Tory posted two efforts north of 200 yards, going for 232 against Lufkin and 240 against Dallas Jesuit, which ranks 14th all-time in school history, and he's 22nd all-time in rushing touchdowns with 21.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFhRcWW8oGI

Years: 2015

Pig was so explosive that he finished second on the team in rushing in 2015, had over 1200 yards, and didn't even start the year off at running back. He was out of position at wide receiver in attempt to get the best athletes on the field. I watched from the sidelines his junior year on JV and the guy literally didn't get tackled. As small as he was you would think he would only be a perimeter runner, but the man could run inside zone and power with the best of them. He was as quick as he was fast and had a knack for popping a long gain, whether after the catch or a big run. What's even more crazy is that the only comparison I have for him is Allen Iverson. He ran for 14 touchdowns in his one year of varsity football. 

Years: 2013-15

A short, stout, running back, Miller reminds you of a lesser version of Ezekiel Elliott. A reserve running back as a sophomore Miller rushed 23 times for 140 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2013. As the man in 2014, Miller lit up the numbers with 198 carried for a 1,444 yards and 18 touchdowns with 8 catches for a 145 yards. That effort was good enough to be named District MVP. As a senior, with limited playing time due to a torn meniscus, Tylan still was the teams leading rusher, rushing for over 1100 yards and 11 touchdowns. For a career Miller rushed for over 2600 yards 33 touchdowns.

Years: 2016-18

College: Abilene Christian 

Jessie holds the record for single season touchdown record, with 28. Those stats are impressive, and honestly, really don't even have to be expanded on, but I will. The 2018 offense is one of the most explosive groups in the nation. Haynes through for over 40 touchdowns, Keilyn Williams had over 10 touchdowns, all in the same season when Jessie ran for 28. After making a splash as a sophomore, making big runs during reserve time, Jessie was slotted to be the #1 tailback his junior year. Through 3 games Jessie ran for 259 yards and 3 touchdowns before basically ending his season on a wrist injury. He missed all the way til December, and ran the ball late, but was a shell of his former self. As a senior Jessie started the year off at fullback, but received the majority of his carries as the tailback. Jessie ran the ball 160 times for 1,243 yards, a longest rush of 95 yards and 26 touchdowns. He caught another 19 passes for 295 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. 

YEARS: 2012-14

COLLEGE: BAYLOR

JaMycal Hasty spent the majority of his time at running back during his career for the Lobos, but has some of the best hands I've ever seen with my own two, and made jaw dropping catches at ease. His sophomore year Hasty sparked the end of a blowout loss to Coppell with a 47 yard touchdown catch. For the next few weeks he disappeared as older players got their shots, but the sophomore scored 4 touchdowns rushing in the final 5 games of the season, ending with 5, making way for a breakout junior year. Hasty ran for 1,420 yards and 13 TDs, on his way to being named an honorable mention all stater. The biggest play that year came against Olive Branch Mississippi, a nationally ranked team. Hasty lined up in the slot and ran a simple seam route. Chumley place the ball on him and Hasty looked up last second. He snagged the ball out of the air with one hand. (Skip to 4:05). After a scary injury, in which he broke his back in the offseason, Hasty played in 3 games his senior season. He was used lightly against Hallsville, but against Lufkin Hasty made his mark. In the bi-district playoff game Hasty finished with 121 total yards along with 1 touchdown, a 24 yarder.

Years: 2018-2020

College: Air Force

As the school leader in total and rushing touchdowns, Meredith is certified at this point. As a sophomore he ran for 792 yards and 11 touchdowns and returned a kick for a touchdown against Amarillo Tascosa in the 5th round of the State Championship run in 2018. As the starter in 2019, Meredith rushed for 1,652 yards and 20 touchdowns, also returning a kick against Marshall for a TD. As a senior he had a huge finale, rushing for 1,398 yards and 26 touchdowns as well as a 40 yard catch and run touchdown. 60 career touchdowns for a consistent workhorse.

Years: 2008-09

Tyler was as special as they come and was truly one of a kind. His junior year he scored 27 touchdowns, broke his ankle in the state championship game. The next year, he comes back to the tune of 19 touchdowns, finishing before getting hurt again, this time the week before the state championship. Tyler had the ability to take over drives and games. He had an unreal vision, I'm not sure if he was partly lucky or if this guy was a physic. For as finesse as everyone remembers, Tyler to be, he would lower his shoulder and finish off runs as well. The most important thing to notice is that Tyler had to share his carries with so many people his senior year. In 2009, DaCedric Hunt ran for 15 touchdowns, Aaron Johnson had 12, and Dakota Anthony had 8. Both Rayshone McGee and Aaron Johnson threw for over 1,000. It says a lot for a back to be that productive in 2 seasons while competing for touches around other talented people.

Years: 2017-18

Personally, I've never seen someone run with as much determination as Keilyn Williams. We all know about the folk lore story of his size. 5 foot 4 inches, 145 pounds and would absolutely try to murder you every single down he was on the field. His run style was sort of untamed which helped him as much as hurt him. For a career, Keilyn ran for 2,675 yards and probably left another 500 on the field dancing in and out of holes. He was impossible to get a clean hit on, and ran with a pace and urgency that I've never seen here at Longview High School. He took over as the starter in game 4 of his junior year when Jessie Anderson went down. He ran the ball 170 times for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns, while catching it 11 times for 151 yards and 1 touchdown. He added a throwing touchdown in the 5th playoff game against Midway and returned the opening kick of the season against Lufkin for 20 total touchdowns his junior year. His senior was just as potent, rushing 206 times for 1,550 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding 23 receptions for 564 yards and 9 touchdowns. 47 career touchdowns for a back at that size and splitting time with a teammate who's on this list as well. 

Years: 2003-2005

College: Texas

Vondrell McGee is the best runner that I've ever seen at the high school level. Vondrell was better than everyone else on the field. He finished his career with 48 rushing touchdowns, spending his sophomore year as the primary backup to Jerrell Williams. He finished with 4 touchdowns his sophomore year, but his junior year he exploded on the scene and rushed for 27 touchdowns in 13 games. To put that in prospective Tyler ran for 26 in 15 games. His senior season in 11 games, he rushed for 17 TDs (McCray 19 in 15 games). He looked like he weighed 225 and ran a 4.4. His moves were mature, he was physical. He finished runs, something that every coach absolutely loves to see. There was no catching Vondrell McGee when he got into the open field. The most impressive thing about Vondrell, and Tyler likewise, was the supporting cast around him. He had to share carries with Chris Ivory (19 career tds) and share with the passing game with targets like Malcolm Kelly, David Robinson, and Adrian Reese, and still put up GOAT like numbers. 

Years: 2021-2023

College: Oklahoma

Taylor isn't my favorite at this spot, but with his combination of skill sets, we've never seen anything like him in Longview. At 5'11 195 pounds, Taylor is one of the most physically imposing backs in Longview history. A member of a state qualifying sprint 4x100 and 4x200, Taylor has elite football speed. One of the more balanced backs in the country, Taylor can hit the power up A gap, or line up in the slot and give you buckets from the slot position. He's tough to tackle repeatedly, and while he may not have the 1v1 juke moves as some of the other guys, he has the knack to hit the home run. 

His varsity action as a sophomore teased the idea of what he could become. He ran for just over 700 yards and 9 touchdowns. 

In 2022, Taylor was special. He totaled with 1,891 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns, the latter being a school record. He also caught 3 touchdowns, setting the school record for touchdowns in a season. He led Longview all the way to the 5th round playoff game before being stopped by Aledo.

Taylor's senior year wasn't as impressive numbers wise, but without Jalen Hale out wide, teams packed it in on the Lobos, and with the emergence of Boosie Washingotn, Tatum's carries dropped. Nonetheless, Taylor still ran for 1,463 yards, 7.75 per carry and 20 touchdowns in 11.5 games. The Lobos went 11-2 this past season losing to McKinney (150 yards 2 tds) and Lancaster (Taylor didn't play to a broken wrist.)