Who are the top running backs in Southern Nevada prep football?

By Alex Wright Las Vegas Review-Journal

5 months ago

Arbor View running back Kamareion Bell (20) dives into the end zone for a touchdown while Legac ... — Arbor View running back Kamareion Bell (20) dives into the end zone for a touchdown while Legacy defensive tackle Avion Massey (76) has hold of him during a high school football game against Legacy at Legacy High School on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, in North Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Faith Lutheran running back Cale Breslin (14) runs the ball during the first half of a high school football game against Foothill on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Faith Lutheran’s Cale Breslin (14) scores a touchdown against Green Valley during the second half of a Class 5A Division II Southern League title game at Faith Lutheran High School, on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, in Las Vegas. Faith Lutheran won 37-0. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye Las Vegas Review-Journal @bizutesfaye

Faith Lutheran’s running back Cale Breslin (14) avoids a tackle from Green Valley’s defensive back Bayden Kidwell (12) during the second half of a Class 5A Division II Southern League title game at Faith Lutheran High School, on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, in Las Vegas. Faith Lutheran won 37-0. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye Las Vegas Review-Journal @bizutesfaye

Faith Lutheran running back Cale Breslin (14) runs with the ball during a class 5A Division II state championship game against Bishop Manogue at Allegiant Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Arbor View running back Kamareion Bell (20) carries the ball through an attempted tackle by Legacy cornerback Tobias Carrington-Pauley (2) during the second half of a high school football game at Legacy High School on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, in North Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Palo Verde’s Bryant Johnson (20) evades a tackle from Faith Lutheran’s 6 Matthew Mason (16) during the second half of a high school football game at Faith Lutheran High School on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Palo Verde running back Bryant Johnson (20) scores a touchdown during the first half of a high school football game against Faith Lutheran at Faith Lutheran High School on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Foothill running back Eugene Altobella III (3) runs the ball during a game against Las Vegas at Foothill High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, in Henderson. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Foothill running back Eugene Altobella III (3) tries to free himself from Las Vegas defensive players as he runs the ball during a game at Foothill High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, in Henderson. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Foothill running back Eugene Altobella III (3) celebrates a touchdown during a game against Las Vegas at Foothill High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, in Henderson. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Somerset-Losee running back Kieran Daniel (left) runs a drill with a teammate during practice at Somerset Academy’s Losee campus on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, in North Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Having a passing-dominant offense has taken priority for football teams, but having a dynamic running back can still make a difference.

There are several of those in Southern Nevada.

Here’s a look at the Review-Journal’s top five returning high school football running backs:

Kamareion Bell, Arbor View

When the Aggies suffered a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Thaddeus Thatcher, Bell gave his team a boost.

Bell rushed for 705 yards and three touchdowns last season. He averaged more than 88 rushing yards per game and had three games of 100 yards or more.

Cale Breslin, Faith Lutheran

Breslin is arguably the top running back in the state. He came through last season to help Faith Lutheran reach the Class 5A Division II state title game.

The first-team All-Southern Nevada running back rushed for 1,226 yards and 10 touchdowns. He averaged 102.2 yards per game and had six games of at least 100 yards.

Breslin, listed at 5 feet, 11 inches, and 190 pounds, is a three-star 2025 recruit who committed to Brigham Young in May.

Bryant Johnson, Palo Verde

Johnson is in store for a breakout season as a focal point of the Panthers’ offense.

He rushed for 883 yards and 10 touchdowns in his junior season last year. The 5-10, 185-pounder averaged 98.1 yards per game and had five games of at least 100 yards.

Johnson helped the Panthers reach the 5A Division III Southern League title game last season, and they will move up to 5A Division II this season.

Eugene Altobella III, Foothill

Foothill threw the ball a lot last season, but it still leaned on Altobella and the running game.

Altobella rushed for 506 yards and four touchdowns as a junior. He also had 17 receptions at wide receiver for the Falcons, who move up to 5A Division I this season.

Kieran Daniel, Somerset-Losee

Daniel was heavily featured as a sophomore last season in the Lions’ triple-option offense, rushing for 1,226 yards and 16 touchdowns on 141 carries.

Daniel averaged 94.3 rushing yards per game and had seven games of at least 100 yards.

The 6-1, 180-pounder added 469 receiving yards to help the Lions reach the 4A Desert League title game.

Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.