KHSAA football season is approaching. Meet 10 top RBs in Louisville area for 2024

Jason Frakes, Louisville Courier Journal

As the 2024 high school football season approaches, the Louisville area is loaded with top-notch running backs with scholarship offers from Division I colleges.

Leading the way is Central senior Cortez Stone, who has 5,439 career rushing yards and is looking to join former Central star Ace Wales as the only running backs in Louisville history to reach 7,000 yards.

Here’s a look at 10 of the top running backs in the Louisville area for the 2024 season, listed alphabetically:

Chayce Burton, Male

Male's Chayce Burton scores a touchdown against Bullitt East in October 2023.
Male's Chayce Burton scores a touchdown against Bullitt East in October 2023.

Year: Junior

Height/weight: 5-10/197

What to know: Enjoyed a solid sophomore season, rushing for 717 yards and seven touchdowns and averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Also caught 11 passes for 82 yards and earned first-team all-district honors. Has offers from Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, Louisville, Purdue and Toledo.

Micheal Curry, Atherton

Atherton running back Micheal Curry (21) averaged 8.4 yards per carry last season.
Atherton running back Micheal Curry (21) averaged 8.4 yards per carry last season.

Year: Senior

Height/weight: 5-10/185

What to know: Rushed for 1,124 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 8.4 yards per carry. Earned first-team all-district and honorable-mention All-Louisville honors. Has offers from Air Force, Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Indiana State, Marian, Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee-Martin and Tennessee State.

Evan Ernspiker, North Bullitt

Year: Senior

Height/weight: 6-1/220

What to know: Evan Ernspiker enters his fourth season as North Bullitt’s lead back and has 1,916 career rushing yards. Limited to seven games last season, he rushed for 387 yards and one touchdown, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Earned first-team all-district honors.

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Giaonni Hunter, Shelby County

Year: Senior

Height/weight: 5-11/210

What to know: Ranked second in Class 4A with 1,742 rushing yards, scoring 19 total touchdowns and averaging 7.7 yards per carry. Caught seven passes for 135 yards. Voted honorable-mention All-State by The Courier Journal. Enters senior season with 3,160 career rushing yards.

Marshall Miller, DeSales

DeSales running back Marshall Miller (2) earned first-team all-district honors last season.
DeSales running back Marshall Miller (2) earned first-team all-district honors last season.

Year: Senior

Height/weight: 5-11/180

What to know: Rushed for 641 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Also caught 21 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns. A two-way player, Marshall Miller ranked fourth on the team with 31 solo tackles. Earned first-team all-district honors.

Jamari Pennebaker, Holy Cross

Holy Cross’ Jamari Pennebaker (34) helped lead his team to the second round of the playoffs last season.
Holy Cross’ Jamari Pennebaker (34) helped lead his team to the second round of the playoffs last season.

Year: Junior

Height/weight: 5-10/170

What to know: Rushed for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, while helping the Cougars reach the second round of the Class A playoffs.

Cortez Stone, Central

Central’s Cortez Stone has a chance to reach 7,000 career rushing yards this season.
Central’s Cortez Stone has a chance to reach 7,000 career rushing yards this season.

Year: Senior

Height/weight: 5-11/175

What to know: Rushed for 1,871 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. He also caught 12 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown and scored seven 2-point conversions. Earned first-team All-Louisville and second-team All-State honors. Cortez Stone, who has 5,439 career rushing yards, has offers from Austin Peay, Ball State, Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Louisville, Miami (Ohio), Purdue, Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee State and Western Kentucky.

Gerian Traynor, Manual

Manual's Gerian Traynor (34) runs through an opening in the St. Xavier line during the second half of their game, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 in Louisville, Ky. Manual won 37-36.
Manual's Gerian Traynor (34) runs through an opening in the St. Xavier line during the second half of their game, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 in Louisville, Ky. Manual won 37-36.

Year: Junior

Height/weight: 5-11/165

What to know: Rushed for 1,041 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Also caught 14 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown. Earned honorable-mention All-Louisville honors. Has offers from Eastern Kentucky and UNLV.

Jeffrey Vazzana, Christian Academy

Christian Academy's Jeffrey Vazzana (3) is a dual-threat running back.
Christian Academy's Jeffrey Vazzana (3) is a dual-threat running back.

Year: Junior

Height/weight: 5-10/180

What to know: Rushed for 613 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Also caught 25 passes for 284 yards and six touchdowns.

Xavion Ware, Western

Year: Senior

Height/weight: 5-10/170

What to know: Rushed for 889 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per carry. Also caught eight passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kickoff for a score.

More high school football: Meet 10 of the top quarterbacks in Louisville area for 2024

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Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA football: Top running backs from Ky. high schools in Louisville

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