Rankings / Football

District 11-6A Running Back Rankings: Kiante Ingram Explodes for 150 Yards, 3 Touchdowns on Just 10 Carries

North Crowley’s explosive backfield leads DUB Sports Media’s Week 8 rankings, while Waxahachie’s Taylen Strange and Duncanville’s Brayden Arnold deliver impactful performances.

1. No. 1 — Kiante Ingram | North Crowley

   Grade: A+ | Class of 2027

   Week 8 Stats: 10 carries, 150 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns, 15.0 yards per carry

   Kiante Ingram headlines this week’s rankings following a dominant performance against Mansfield Lake Ridge.

   Every time Ingram touched the football, he was a threat to go the distance.

   His combination of outstanding contact balance, explosiveness, and breakaway speed makes him one of the district’s most dangerous offensive weapons. Ingram possesses the ability to absorb contact without losing momentum, create additional yards after contact, and turn an ordinary rushing attempt into a game-changing play.

   Averaging 15 yards per carry while scoring three touchdowns speaks to his ability to create explosive plays with limited opportunities.

   The Class of 2027 prospect holds Division I offers from programs including Ole Miss, Arizona, SMU, Texas State, and Tulsa.

   DUB Sports Media Evaluation: An explosive, physical runner with outstanding contact balance and home-run ability.

2. No. 2 — G’Yrell Smith | North Crowley

   Grade: A+ | Class of 2027 | North Texas Commit

   Week 8 Stats: 3 carries, 123 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns, 41.0 yards per carry

   North Crowley didn’t have just one running back putting on a show Friday night.

   G’Yrell Smith needed only three rushing attempts to produce 123 yards and two touchdowns against Mansfield Lake Ridge.

   Smith is arguably the fastest athlete on this week’s list, possessing elite breakaway ability that allows him to separate from defenders in the open field.

   Throughout the season, Smith has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to turn a single rushing attempt into a long touchdown.

   His acceleration, open-field speed, and ability to reach the end zone make him an extremely dangerous complement to Ingram in North Crowley’s backfield.

   The Class of 2027 running back is committed to the University of North Texas and has also received offers from programs including Nevada, UTEP, and New Mexico State.

   DUB Sports Media Evaluation: Exceptional breakaway speed and big-play production. A home-run threat whenever he gets into open space.

3. No. 3 — Taylen Strange | Waxahachie

   Grade: B+ | Class of 2028

   Week 8 Stats: 124 total offensive yards, 1 touchdown

   Taylen Strange delivered another productive performance as Waxahachie defeated Red Oak 48–3.

   Strange made an impact in multiple areas of the offense, contributing both as a traditional running back and as a receiving option out of the backfield.

   His versatility gives Waxahachie another way to move the football, whether he’s taking a handoff or creating opportunities in the passing game.

   The Class of 2028 prospect has attracted significant college attention, with reported offers from SMU, Rice, UTSA, Louisiana Tech, UNLV, Lamar, and Arkansas State.

   Strange’s ability to contribute in different offensive situations was an important part of Waxahachie’s convincing district victory.

   DUB Sports Media Evaluation: A versatile offensive weapon who contributes as both a runner and receiver, with the physicality to produce between the tackles.

4. No. 4 — Brayden Arnold | Duncanville

   Grade: B+ | Class of 2028

   Week 8 Stats: 11 carries, 54 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns

   Duncanville’s Brayden Arnold rounds out this week’s rankings following an important performance in the Panthers’ 28–15 victory over Crowley.

   While Arnold didn’t produce the same rushing yardage as some of the backs ahead of him, his impact on the scoreboard was significant.

   In a tightly contested district matchup, Arnold found the end zone twice, helping Duncanville secure a valuable win.

   His production highlights an important part of evaluating running backs: a player’s impact isn’t always measured by total yardage alone.

   Arnold made his opportunities count when his team needed points.

   The Class of 2028 athlete has already drawn major recruiting interest, with reported offers from Oregon, Penn State, Auburn, Nebraska, SMU, Houston, and Iowa State.

   DUB Sports Media Evaluation: Productive in scoring situations, with the ability to capitalize on opportunities and make an impact in competitive games.