Vote for Louisville-area high school preseason running back of year before polls close

Courier Journal readers can vote for the Louisville-area football preseason running back of the year. The poll closes Aug. 14. Meet the nominees.

The 2025 class was loaded with talented running backs.

With many of them having graduated in the spring, there's opportunity for another group of running backs to rise up and be among the state's best.

Vote for who you think is the best ahead of the season, which begins Aug. 22. The poll closes at 6 p.m. Thursday, and the winner will be announced Friday.

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Here are the nominees:

DuZye Grundy, Atherton

Atherton's Du Zye Grundy (10) found the endzone during first half action as the Doss Dragons hosted the Atherton Ravens in KHSAA football action at Doss High School on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024

The all-district honoree averaged 10.5 yards per carry and finished last season with 669 rushing yards with eight touchdowns in addition to 62 yards and another score on eight receptions as the Ravens' No. 2 running back.

Jake Greene, Spencer County

Burst onto the high school scene by rushing for 1,161 yards and 11 touchdowns (8.4 yards per carry), catching three passes for 40 yards and a TD and returning a punt for another TD as a freshman.

Jamari Pennebaker, Holy Cross

Holy Cross' Jamari Pennebaker runs for yardage against KCD in the second quarter during the 2024 Class A KHSAA football playoffs.

Rushed for 1,456 yards (an average of 7.1 yards per carry) and 19 touchdowns, earning all-district and honorable-mention All-State honors. He also totaled 287 yards and three touchdowns on 18 receptions.

Parker Rudolph, Kentucky Country Day

Kentucky Country Day's Parker Rudolph (5) gets congratulated after scoring the Bearcats' first touchdown of the game in the first quarter Friday night during KHSAA football Oct. 25, 2024. KCD won 20-18.

Holding offers from Calumet and Oakland City, Parker Rudolph tallied 1,088 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry en route to all-district honors.

Gerian Traynor, Manual

Manual’s Gerian Traynor scores a touchdown against Frederick Douglas Friday night.
Sept. 6, 2024

The Bethune-Cookman commit and all-district honoree was limited to nine games because of injury. He still rushed for 633 yards and eight touchdowns (4.8 yards per carry) in addition to catching 15 passes for 194 yards and two TDs.

Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at [email protected] and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA poll: Vote for Louisville-area high school preseason RB of year

Category: General Sports