Rick O'Brien: Campbell leads army of running backs

We resume our top 10 football rankings with the best running backs in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

This was not an easy chore, as the area is flooded with quick-footed, dangerous and powerful ballcarriers. By season's end, the 1,000-yard rushing list (2,000 for some) will be a lengthy one.

Since compiling this list was so difficult, we've cranked it up to 15. We've also thrown in 20 other standouts that just as easily could have made the cut.

1. Ibraheim Campbell, Chestnut Hill Academy, senior, 6-foot, 195 pounds. The younger brother of Rashad Campbell, a former CHA star now at Cornell, has a terrific mix of strength and speed (4.4 seconds in the 40). The finalists for his services are Boston College, Stanford, Northwestern, and Vanderbilt.

2. Rondell White, West Chester Rustin, senior, 5-10, 180. In five games, he has rushed 75 times for 1,082 yards (14.4 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns. Interest has come from Virginia, West Virginia, Temple and James Madison, among others.

3. Corey Brown, Cardinal O'Hara, senior, 6-1, 195. When healthy, the Ohio State recruit who is also a lock-down cornerback, is as explosive as anyone. For the second time, he has been slowed by a knee injury.

4. Ryan Brumfield, Owen J. Roberts, junior, 5-10, 165. Can any team slow down this speedy Wildcat? A 4,248-yard career rusher, this season he has carried 134 times for 1,224 yards and 20 TDs.

5. Chris Smallwood, Upper Moreland, senior, 5-11, 190. Like Brown, Smallwood, who last year ran for 1,897 yards and 25 scores, has been spending a lot of time in the trainer's room. Syracuse, West Virginia and Temple have been in contact.

6. Sheldon Mayer, Norristown, senior, 5-8, 170. Mayer, hearing from Division I-AA likes of Villanova and New Hampshire, has carried 100 times for 832 yards and 11 TDs.

7. Desmon Peoples, St. Joseph's Prep, sophomore, 5-6, 145. This cat-quick Cheltenham transfer showed his huge potential against Father Judge. Taking over as the No. 1 tailback, he netted 277 yards on 22 carries.

8. Jerry Boyer, Penncrest, senior, 5-10, 205. The rock-solid catalyst of a high-scoring offense has heard from Pittsburgh, Temple, and Division II West Chester.

9. Jamal Abdur-Rahman, La Salle, junior, 5-10, 175. Also a dangerous receiving threat, he is working his way back from a bruised knee that caused him to miss two games.

10. Craig Needhammer, North Penn, junior, 5-7, 170. The spark plug for the area's top-ranked team has rushed 75 times for 695 yards and nine TDs.

11. Tony Latronica, Quakertown, senior, 5-8, 185. Through six games, Latronica, a four-year starter, has carried 81 times for 541 yards and nine scores. He was a 1,350-yard rusher last season.

12. Bryan Dean, Neshaminy, senior, 5-7, 175. This workhorse established himself as the team's go-to back in last season's run to the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA final.

13. Julien Ireland, Abington, junior, 5-10, 175. The slippery tailback has carried 106 times for 598 yards and seven TDs. He netted 138 yards on 22 attempts versus Neshaminy.

14. Dante Devine, Pennsbury, senior, 6-1, 180. Also a quality basketball player, Devine accounted for all of his team's points in a 26-6 win over Council Rock North. He returned the opening kickoff 82 yards for a score.

15. Curt Wortham, Father Judge, senior, 5-6, 155. Refusing to let his size be an obstacle, Wortham is averaging about 5 yards per carry and has scored 10 TDs.

Others worth watching: Derek Brown, Souderton, senior, 5-11, 185; Eugene Byrd, North Catholic, senior, 5-8, 160; Kessan Christopher, Downingtown West, senior, 5-8, 185; Garrett Compton, St. Joseph's Prep, senior, 5-9, 195 (suffered season-ending knee injury in Week 4); Matt Craig, Springfield (Delco), junior, 5-10, 180; Sam Dixon-Dugon, Ridley, junior, 5-10, 180; Akmed Greene, Roxborough, senior, 5-9, 165; Bobby Hill, Malvern Prep, senior, 5-8, 175; Marcellus Irving, Garnet Valley, senior, 5-10, 200; Couve Lafate, West Chester Henderson, senior, 5-8, 170; Joshua Mathis, West Catholic, junior, 5-5, 140; Shawn McCarthy, Jenkintown, senior, 5-6, 145; Taron Mitchell, Academy Park, senior, 5-8, 160; Eric Petransky, Monsignor Bonner, senior, 5-10, 180; Maika Polamalu, Pottsgrove, junior, 6-0, 205; Brian Pommerer, Great Valley, senior, 6-3, 185; Lonnie Richardson, Strath Haven, senior, 5-11, 195; Myron Ross, Wissahickon, senior, 6-1, 205; Woodrow Vorters, Bristol, senior, 5-9, 205; Carl Walrath, Haverford School, junior, 5-11, 180.