Who are the area’s top running backs this century?
While embarking upon a massive project to pick the area’s top football players this century, we knew it’d come with a mix of difficulty and fun.
Consider this edition part of the fun.
After looking at the top quarterbacks last month and the top defensive linemen a couple weeks ago, we’re now choosing the top 10 running backs since 2000. Throughout the season, we’ll roll out more positions.
The players are presented below in alphabetical order. Current high schoolers are not eligible.
Dan Dierking, Wheaton Warrenville South
The 2007 graduate carried the Tigers in a romp to the 2006 Class 8A title. Dierking rushed for 6,309 yards and 98 touchdowns in three seasons, placing him in the top 10 of the IHSA record books in both categories.
Dierking played in 48 games in four seasons at Purdue without redshirting. A team captain his senior year, he overcame injuries to lead the Boilermakers with 718 all-purpose yards.
Dierking signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
Ethan Greenfield, Lakes
Greenfield, a 2018 graduate, earned all-state honors as a senior after rushing for 1,225 yards, adding 230 receiving yards.
He blossomed at the next level. Greenfield won two national titles at North Central College and was named the Gagliardi Award winner as the top player in Division III. Greenfield rushed for 6,679 yards and 87 touchdowns in four seasons. He also had 959 receiving yards.
Brian Grzelakowski, Hinsdale Central
The 2003 graduate was so physical, the University of Illinois shifted him to linebacker after a couple seasons.
Grzelakowski piled up 3,775 yards and scored 38 touchdowns with the Red Devils including 2,355 yards and 27 scores as a senior. He still holds an IHSA Class 8A playoff record with 336 yards in the 2002 quarterfinals.
Justin Jackson, Glenbard North
One of the greatest running backs in state history, Jackson thrived with the Panthers and at Northwestern before a five-year NFL career when he rushed for 1,210 yards after being picked by the Chargers in the 2018 draft.
The 2014 graduate rushed for 6,531 yards and 85 touchdowns at Glenbard North, including 3,171 yards as a senior. Jackson rushed for at least 1,000 yards in all four seasons at Northwestern.
Sam Ojuri, Barrington
The 2009 graduate could have pursued FBS offers but instead chose a better situation at North Dakota State after notching 1,852 all-purpose yards as a senior with the Broncos.
Ojuri rushed for over 1,000 yards in three straight seasons while helping the Bison to national championships each year. For his career, he rushed for 3,594 yards.
Ojuri signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL before going into coaching.
Matt Perez, Maine South
The 2010 graduate overcame a litany of injuries to put up some of the best numbers in state title game history.
In the 2009 Class 8A final victory over Marist, Perez set state records with 316 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. That senior year he averaged a remarkable 11.7 yards per carry while rushing for 2,246 yards and 34 touchdowns, adding 441 receiving yards.
Perez accepted a scholarship to Indiana.
Michael Ratay, Geneva
Ratay brought the Vikings to the IHSA title game for the first time in 33 years while rushing for 2,859 yards and 44 touchdowns as a senior.
The 2009 graduate as a junior had 1,743 yards and 29 touchdowns. Ratay took his talents to Division II power Grand Valley State, where he accumulated 2,880 all-purpose yards despite recovering from knee surgery heading into his senior year.
Jordan Rowell, IC Catholic Prep
As a senior, Rowell powered the Knights to a Class 3A title with a devastating combination of power and speed.
The 10-time track and field state medalist, a 2017 graduate, finished his senior season with 2,297 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns to give him 6,032 total yards. That’s good for 12th in IHSA history.
Rowell spent two seasons at Northern Illinois University before transferring to Maine.
Dan Vitale, WW South
The 2012 graduate ground his way to 1,340 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior before heading to Northwestern.
Vitale found his niche as a “superback” with the Wildcats and played as a true freshman. His blocking and pass-catching ability (135 receptions for 1,427 yards in four seasons) opened the eyes of NFL scouts.
Drafted by Tampa Bay in the sixth round of the 2016 draft, Vitale played 44 games in four seasons with Cleveland and Green Bay.
Mark Weisman, Stevenson
In his junior and senior seasons with the Patriots, the 2010 graduate rushed for 2,806 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Weisman committed to Air Force but transferred to Iowa, where he worked his way up the depth chart to become a starter. He led the Hawkeyes in rushing for three straight seasons on his way to 2,602 yards.
An undrafted free agent in 2015, Weisman signed with the Bengals.