Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 4A Rushers

Throughout the month of April, we'll have some kind of football preview coverage released to HSOT Insiders each day.

Today is a look at the top statistically returning rushers in the 4A classification. These players could be running backs, quarterbacks, or any other kind of offensive weapon. The only requirement is that they had 100 carries last year.

We have four sections: Yards/Game, Yards/Carry, Touchdowns/Game, and Touchdown Rate (touchdowns/carry). We are using these efficiency stats because the bulk numbers like total yards and total touchdowns can be deceiving and don't always correlate year-to-year.

Note: If your player's stats have not been published to MaxPreps or have not been sent to me, they are not going to be included below.

HSOT Insiders: Prepare for the 2024 football season

• Confirmed transfers impacting the 2024 North Carolina high school football season
• The Huddle: 2024 QB Tiers
• The Huddle: 2024 RB Tiers
• Every in-state football offer for North Carolina's class of 2025
• Building the Fence: Class of 2025 in-state football commits
• These class of 2025 North Carolina players are committed to out-of-state programs
• Every in-state football offer for North Carolina's class of 2026
• Every in-state football offer for North Carolina's class of 2027
• What the 4 defending football state champions return in 2024
• Here are the key returners in 2024 for the 4 defending football state runners-up
• The key players back for the eastern regional runners-up in 2024
• Impact returners for the western football regional runners-up in 2024
• These HSOT All-State football selections will be back in Fall 2024
• Top returning players in 2024 for the defending NCISAA football champions
• The returning players in 2024 for the defending NCISAA runners-up
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 4A Quarterbacks
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 3A Quarterbacks
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 2A Quarterbacks
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 1A Quarterbacks

Top Returning 4A Rushing Leaders: Yards per Game

Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum 2023 carries to qualify: 100. Ties broken by total rushing yards.

1. De'Von Thomas, senior, Rolesville — 164.9 YPG
2. Amareon Blue, senior, Jordan — 164.8 YPG
3. Jamarion Ross, junior, Riverside — 154.1 YPG
4. Jayden Jones, junior, Independence — 152.5 YPG
5. Mitchell Summers, senior, Grimsley — 150.0 YPG
6. Mekhi Herron, senior, A.L. Brown — 132.9 YPG
7. Jaylen Moore, junior, East Forsyth (transfer from Reagan) — 129.9 YPG
8. Jaelan Brewington, senior, Ashley — 128.4 YPG
9. Devin Walker, senior, Olympic — 123.8 YPG
10. Zymire Spencer, senior, Pinecrest — 120.5 YPG
11. Brilison McCullers, junior, Millbrook (transfer from Sanderson) — 111.4 YPG
12. Maddox Greene, senior QB, Watauga — 104.9 YPG
13. Everett Gryder, junior, Watauga — 103.5 YPG
14. Jamari Jones, senior, Pine Forest — 101.0 YPG
15. Zion Thompson, senior, Mount Tabor — 98.8 YPG

Finalized schedules for the 2024 North Carolina high school football season

Top Returning 4A Rushing Leaders: Yards per Carry

Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum 2023 carries to qualify: 100. Ties broken by most carries.

1. De'Von Thomas, senior, Rolesville — 10.9 Y/C
2. Jayden Jones, junior, Independence — 10.1 Y/C
3. Amareon Blue, senior, Jordan — 9.5 Y/C
4. Maddox Greene, senior QB, Watauga — 8.9 Y/C
5. Mitchell Summers, senior, Grimsley — 8.8 Y/C
6. Jamarion Ross, junior, Riverside — 7.8 Y/C
7. RJ Alexander, senior, Myers Park — 7.6 Y/C (122 carries)
8. Jaylen Moore, junior, East Forsyth (transfer from Reagan) — 7.6 Y/C (119 carries)
9. Nick Diamond, senior, Weddington — 7.2 Y/C
10. Devin Walker, senior, Olympic — 7.0 Y/C
11. Zymire Spencer, senior, Pinecrest — 6.8 Y/C
12. Tim Baker, junior, Western Guilford — 6.7 Y/C (111 carries)
13. Eric Heal, senior, Mooresville — 6.7 Y/C (110 carries)
14. Ezekiel Reed, junior, Gray's Creek — 6.7 Y/C (103 carries)
15. Jaelan Brewington, senior, Ashley — 6.6 Y/C

Top Returning 4A Rushing Leaders: Touchdowns per Game

Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum 2023 carries to qualify: 100. Ties broken by most touchdowns, then fewest carries).

1. Mitchell Summers, senior, Grimsley — 3.0 TD/Gm (42 TDs)
2. Amareon Blue, senior, Jordan — 2.8 TD/Gm (34 TDs)
3. Brilison McCullers, junior, Millbrook (transfer from Sanderson) — 2.1 TD/Gm (21 TDs)
4. De'Von Thomas, senior, Rolesville — 1.8 TD/Gm (25 TDs)
5. Jayden Jones, junior, Independence — 1.6 TD/Gm (19 TDs, 118 carries)
6. Zymire Spencer, senior, Pinecrest — 1.6 TD/Gm (19 TDs, 212 carries)
7. Everett Gryder, junior, Watauga — 1.6 TD/Gm (17 TDs, 188 carries)
8. Mekhi Herron, senior, A.L. Brown — 1.6 TD/Gm (17 TDs, 238 carries)
9. Jayden Williams, senior, Butler — 1.4 TD/Gm (20 TDs)
10. Maddox Greene, senior, Watauga — 1.4 TD/Gm (18 TDs)
11. Jaylen Moore, junior, East Forsyth (transfer from Reagan) — 1.4 TD/Gm (10 TDs)
12. Kavon Simmons, senior QB, Wake Forest — 1.3 TD/Gm (15 TDs)
13. Jamari Jones, senior, Pine Forest — 1.3 TD/Gm (13 TDs)
14. Jake Anderson, senior, Charlotte Catholic — 1.2 TD/Gm (13 TDs)
15. Amare Akers, junior, Northern Guilford — 1.1TD/Gm (9 TDs)

2023-2024 North Carolina high school football coaching changes

Top Returning 4A Rushing Leaders: Touchdown Rate

This is the rate of total rushing touchdowns scored to number of carries. Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum 2023 carries to qualify: 100. Ties broken by most carries.

1. Mitchell Summers, senior, Grimsley — 0.176 TD/Car
2. Amareon Blue, senior, Jordan — 0.163 TD/Car
3. De'Von Thomas, senior, Rolesville — 0.118 TD/Car (211 carries)
4. Maddox Greene, senior, Watauga — 0.118 TD/Car (152 carries)
5. Kavon Simmons, senior, Wake Forest — 0.111 TD/Car
6. Brilison McCullers, junior, Millbrook (transfer from Sanderson) — 0.105 TD/Car (200 carries)
7. Jayden Jones, junior, Independence — 0.105 TD/Car (181 carries)
8. Eric Heal, senior, Mooresville — 0.1 TD/Car
9. Jake Anderson, senior, Charlotte Catholic — 0.096 TD/Car
10. Everett Gryder, junior, Watauga — 0.09 TD/Car (188 carries)
11. Chase Hardy, junior, Athens Drive — 0.09 TD/Car (100 carries)
12. Jayden Williams, senior, Butler — 0.089 TD/Car (224 carries)
13. Zymire Spencer, senior, Pinecrest — 0.089 TD/Car (212 carries)
14. Jared Lockhart, senior, Porter Ridge — 0.085 TD/Car
15. Jaylen Moore, junior, East Forsyth (transfer from Reagan) — 0.084 TD/Car