SBLive’s Top 10 running backs in Idaho high school football for 2023 season
SBLive Idaho is turning its attention to the best high-profile positional players in the state of Idaho.
Next up – top running backs.
The main criteria for these top players are statistics, coaches recommendations and the good old-fashioned eye test. Players are divided up by classification, and listed in alphabetical order:
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CLASS 5A
Photo courtesy of Lewiston athletics
Noah Burnham, Eagle, sophomore
Coming into the season, a lot of the talk surrounding Eagle was centered around Idaho State QB commit Davis Harsin, the son of ex-Boise State coach Bryan Harsin. But it's been this 5-foot-9, 160-pounder who has been the one getting most of the headlines.
The numbers: Rushing: 931 yards, 14 TDs. Receiving: 140 yards.
Coach’s comment: "Noah is an extremely patient runner, with the ability to go the distance any time he touches the ball," Eagle coach James Cluphf said. "He understands how to use leverage and never stops running his legs, making him one of the most elusive runners I’ve been around."
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Tevin Burns, Post Falls, senior
The 5-foot-9, 175-pounder currently has a 4.15 grade-point average and is taking several college courses, including calculus at North Idaho College. That high-level intellect is translating onto the gridiron, as well.
The numbers: Rushing: 1,417 yards, 19 TDs.
Coach’s comment: "He is hard working, smart and tough," Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said. "He picks up new concepts extremely well. Tevin has good feet at the line of scrimmage and reads blocks well."
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Jackson Lathen, Lewiston, senior
Lathen sat behind Cruz Hepburn and played alongside Ethan Shaw the past two years. The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder absorbed it all - which was good, because the backfield this season is his alone. He’s handled that tall task exceptionally well.
The numbers: Rushing: 901 yards, 11 TDs. Receiving: 127 yards, TD.
Coach’s comment: "Jackson is a really quick and physical running back," Lewiston coach Matt Pancheri said. "He is capable of scoring any time he touches the ball."
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Jevon Nelson, Borah, senior
Everyone on this list was a known commodity on the football field - except for this 5-foot-10, 185-pounder who has kind of come out of nowhere. He’s already run for more yards than the College of Idaho’s Parker Rushton did all of last season.
The numbers: Rushing: 1,068 yards, 14 TDs. Receiving: 209 yards, TD.
Coach’s comment: "Jevon is a guy that wears opponents down over time," Borah coach JQ Kenyon said. "Most running backs get their big runs early in games off of miscues, he gets his by physically wearing down the opponent."
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Jackson Riddle, Highland, senior
The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder missed nearly all of last season with a broken collarbone. He tried to return, but the comeback lasted all but a game and a half. So now Riddle, who has an offer from the Navy, is really showing the Rams what they missed out on.
The numbers: Rushing: 718 yards, eight TDs. Receiving: 300 yards, four TDs.
Coach’s comment: "As a running back, he has the speed, quickness and vision to change the game on one play," Highland coach Nick Sorrell said. "He is also very dynamic catching the ball out of the backfield. He is tough to bring down in the open field. He is a guy that you want to put the ball in his hands because he can break one at any time."
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CLASS 4A
Photo by Julian Jenkins
Ryken EchoHawk, Pocatello, senior
No other player on here can claim to be at four-year varsity starter. The 5-foot-8, 180-pounder has nothing left to prove. He might already be the best player in program history. There’s a reason why his accession correlated with Pocatello’s resurgence.
The numbers: Rushing: 503 yards, three TDs. Receiving: 120 yards.
Coach’s comment: “With great strength, speed and the best vision I’ve ever seen in a running back, Ryken isn’t just a special football player,” Pocatello coach Dave Spillett said. “He’s also a special kid.”
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Peter Minnaert, Bishop Kelly, senior
The Knights have always been known for running the football. So, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that they’ve produced some of the state’s very best over the years. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder is carrying on that tradition.
The numbers: Rushing: 888 yards, 18 TDs. Receiving: 129 yards, two TDs.
Coach’s comment: "Peter is one of the best running backs I have ever been around," Bishop Kelly coach Chris Culig said. "He works at his craft daily. His hard work and toughness along with his balance and jump cuts are as good as they get. He is a complete one-of-a-kind back."
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CLASS 3A
Photo by Loren Orr
Carson Harris, Sugar-Salem, senior
At the heart of the Diggers’ dynasty, which includes four state championships over the past five years, is this 5-foot-7, 185-pounder. He came up an inch short of the goal line in the 2021 title game loss, but he's been bulldozing defenders since.
The numbers: Rushing: 765 yards, 12 TDs. Receiving: 58 yards, two TDs.
Coach’s comment: "When we need tough yards or are in critical situations, we want the ball in his hands,” Sugar-Salem coach Tyler Richins said. "He is extremely reliable and consistent in everything he does. We can count on him to put our team in good situations."
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CLASS 2A
Photo courtesy of Tyson Moser
Parker Moser, West Side, senior.
His versatility knows no bounds. About the only thing Moser hasn’t done this season is throw a touchdown pass. He’s even racked up a total of 382 return yards, including a pair of punt returns for scores. Not bad for someone who is only 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds..
The numbers: Rushing: 907 yards, 16 TDs. Receiving: 116 yards.
Coach’s comment: "He has great balance and is very hard to get clean tackles on," said father and West Side coach Tyson Moser. "He has a way of making people miss."
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CLASS 1A (D1)
Photo courtesy of Bry Severe
Bry Severe, Oakley, senior
The 5-foot-9, 185-pounder is a rare breed. He broke both ankles in a six-month span last offseason, only to return to lead the Hornets to a third consecutive state title a year ago. Needless to say, Severe hasn’t lost a step. If anything, he’s only gotten better.
The numbers: Rushing: 792 yards, 11 TDs. Receiving: 221 yards, three TDs.
Coach’s comment: "He has a really rare combination of power and speed. He has an ability to change direction that you don’t see very often at our level. Very rarely," Oakley coach Brennan Jones said. "He’s one of those kids that when he was 12 they said, ‘Are those legs growing out of his shoulder?’ He’s just built like a tank."
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