Every fall in Texas high school football, new names emerge as the engines of their offenses, but 2025 has already delivered a unique wave of senior ballcarriers who are making noise with historic-level production. These backs are not only carrying the ball, they are carrying their teams, putting up numbers that demand attention on the recruiting trail. While some are already drawing interest from college programs, others remain under the radar despite week-after-week dominance.
Here’s a closer look at the senior standouts rewriting the stat sheets and proving themselves as legitimate next-level prospects.
Ernie Powers – El Paso Franklin
Twitter: @ErniePowers16
Few players in the state have been as productive as Powers. After a 2,224-yard, 23-touchdown junior season, the Franklin star has already piled up 1,572 rushing yards and 28 scores through five games. His skill set is tailor-made for high-volume production: patience at the line, a sharp one-cut ability, and the burst to turn daylight into six points.
Programs such as UTEP, Navy, Air Force, and Lehigh have already extended offers, but given his pace and consistency, expect more schools to step into the picture before long. Powers has proven he can handle a heavy workload and be the difference-maker in big moments.
Tre Mosley – Southwest Christian
Twitter: @Treythefuture1
Mosley’s emergence as the centerpiece of Southwest Christian’s attack has been impossible to ignore. At 6-foot, 200 pounds, he has the physicality to thrive between the tackles and the speed to pull away at the second level. In Week 5, he showcased his dominance with an 8-touchdown explosion, putting his season total over 1,200 rushing yards.
What stands out with Mosley is his combination of balance and vision. He consistently breaks through arm tackles and finishes runs with authority. As a senior, he’s shaping his résumé as both a durable workhorse and a big-play threat.
Christian Villarreal – Ozona
The Ozona Lions are 5-0, and Villarreal is the primary reason why. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound bruiser thrives in a power run scheme, lowering his shoulder to deliver punishment while maintaining excellent contact balance. After rushing for 1,438 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior, he has nearly matched those numbers already, 1,424 yards through five games.
His physical style translates directly to the next level, and his size–speed combo makes him a nightmare for defenders who try to meet him in the hole. Villarreal is built like a classic feature back who can control a game’s tempo from the first snap to the last.
Dawson Witherspoon – Mount Vernon
Twitter: @DawWitherspoon
Witherspoon has become one of the most reliable playmakers in East Texas. Following a junior season with 1,627 yards and 25 touchdowns, he’s continued to produce big numbers in 2025. He plays with a low center of gravity at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, which makes him difficult to square up, and his quickness in tight spaces allows him to create separation at the line of scrimmage.
Back-to-back showcase games, 304 yards against Rusk in Week 2 and 312 yards versus Pottsboro in Week 3, have cemented his reputation as a big-game performer. His ability to grind out yards while also hitting explosive plays gives him intriguing upside as a versatile back at the next level.
Ryelan Morris – Honey Grove (Stanford Commit)
Twitter: @morrisboys607
Morris might be the most dynamic all-purpose back in the state. The Honey Grove standout has the speed and elusiveness to break off chunk runs, but what separates him is his ability to contribute in the passing game. He is a polished route runner with reliable hands, making him a legitimate dual-threat weapon.
So far, Morris has amassed 1,219 rushing yards, including a jaw-dropping performance last week with 375 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns on the ground, and 113 receiving yards with 2 more scores. Already committed to Stanford, Morris has proven himself to be more than just a rusher, he’s a complete offensive playmaker who will translate seamlessly to the next level.
The Wrap Up
Texas is no stranger to producing elite running backs, but the 2025 season has showcased a special group of seniors who are dominating in different ways. From the power and physicality of Villarreal and Mosley, to the versatility of Morris, to the explosive production of Powers and Witherspoon, these backs are putting up numbers that rival some of the best in the nation.
As the season progresses, don’t be surprised if more of these names begin popping up on recruiting boards across the country. They’ve exposed themselves on Friday nights, now it’s time for college coaches to take notice.
