Staff photo / R. Michael Semple Five Trumbull County runningbacks from left: Lakeview's Thomas Easton, Mineral Ridge's Ian Erb, Niles' Antuan Gardner, Warren G. Harding's Antonio Smith and Ryan Powell.

While the game of football continues to evolve into a passing-heavy sport, and high school coaches are quickly catching on, the running back position still plays a crucial role in the Mahoning Valley, where being physical is the name of the game.

The cover athletes of this year’s Tribune Chronicle High School football tab are no different and they will all play major roles in their team’s offenses. Some will even use their physical nature on both sides of the ball.

Between new faces in new places and players getting ready for their senior seasons, there’s a ton for fans to keep an eye out for in 2023.

ANTONIO SMITH, SENIOR, WARREN G. HARDING

It’s a new year and a new sideline for Antonio Smith as the rising senior has returned to his home district in Warren. Smith spent the last three seasons at Kennedy, but came back to Harding midway through his junior season.

Now, he’ll suit up in the black and gold in one of the area’s deepest running back rooms.

Each running back in Harding’s backfield offers something different, Smith is the Raiders’ speedster. He and teammate, friend and fellow cover athlete Ryan Powell complement each other’s strengths very well and also share a strong bond off the field.

“That’s my dude,” Smith said. “We’re the duo. He’s the power back, I’m the elusive back. You can’t get away from that because we already had a bond since like middle school and Little League. We’ve already got that good relationship. We hang out with each other like, outside of just practice, play the game with each other, we got to the field and work, swim together, do all that because we’ve bonded a lot and I feel like we got that chemistry. We have that backfield chemistry, the power back and solution back type of thing. I think it’s going to be just fine.”

Smith has been a part of a few winning teams at Kennedy over the past three years and even helped the Eagles reach the Division VII state title game a year ago. Now, in his final season of high school, Smith is looking to bring that winning mentality to his new school and locker room.

“I never want my teammates feeling like we’re going to lose this game or feeling discouraged,” he said.

“I’m trying to put that winning mentality in them, so they come out every day with confidence.”

Even though this is his first year in the Harding locker room, Smith is being looked to as a leader for the team.

It’s been an adjustment, but it’s one that he’s been able to make so far.

“I’m starting to be more vocal,” Smith said. “Last year, I wasn’t really vocal. I was a leader, but I was kind of nonchalant, kind of a private leader. I’m the type of teammate that will pull you to the side — not in front of everybody — and just talk to you. I’m a more nonchalant person, but this year I’m working on being more vocal. Yelling encouragement to the guys more out on the field.”

IAN ERB, SENIOR, MINERAL RIDGE

Ian Erb is a unique case out of this group of running backs, because he might not even play running back this season.

Erb is in the midst of a friendly, but extremely competitive battle for the quarterback role with Mineral Ridge junior Owen Shingledecker. Either way, Erb is known as an athlete who can carry the football after recording 1,379 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.

Mineral Ridge head coach Brian Shaner said whether he wins the quarterback position or not, he’s a special running back.

“Ian is special, he’s one of the best backs in the area at any level, he’s dynamic and he has the ability to break it at any moment,” Shaner said.

If he is the team’s quarterback this season, Erb has big shoes to fill, taking over for Triston Valley.

“Triston was a great quarterback, I think it’s going to be hard to fill in for him, but he gave us great leadership and made the right plays,” Erb said. “Really, it’s about just not making mistakes and just doing the right thing.”

Erb will see plenty of playing time regardless of where he winds up starting the season.

Now entering his final season as a Ram, it’s hard to not take it all in.

“It’s surreal, honestly,” Erb said. “Growing up, all you want to do is play high school football for the team you played for when you were little. Growing up, it’s all I really wanted to do. You want to win and you want to show up for your town.”

What games is Erb most excited for? Well when the goal is to try and win all of them, each game matters.

“We want to beat McDonald because of that rivalry and Springfield and Lowellville we want to get back for sure,” Erb said. “Every game is important. Every game matters. Every game means something to us, especially if you want to win all 10.”

ANTUAN GARDNER, SENIOR, NILES

Antuan Gardner has had a rough road to recovery, but his months of waiting are coming to an end.

As a sophomore, Gardner rushed for 1,514 yards (168.2 yards per game) and had a team-high 18 total touchdowns. Poised to follow that season up again in 2022, Gardner only played in three games before suffering an injury and missing the remainder of the season.

Almost an entire year away from full-speed football has Gardner antsy, but his wait is just about over.

“Man just sitting on the sideline, not being able to play my favorite thing, it was just oh my goodness, I just couldn’t wait for this year to come,” Gardner said.

Despite that, he knew there was no point in rushing back. Nothing good could come from forcing his way back to the field.

Gardner knew focusing on his recovery and coming back in 2023 at 100 percent was the best way to go.

“Obviously you said you can’t rush things,” he said. “It was a slow process coming back into it. Easy for me I just you know, granted blocked out the noise

With Gardner missing seven games, the Red Dragons went 2-8.

Sitting on the bench and being unable to help was a terrible feeling, but Gardner is looking to help lead his team to glory this season.

As for college? That’s in his sights, but Gardner is focused on getting wins for his team right now.

“I’m really just focused on the season right now trying to help my team win, but when that time comes, I know I’m going to grind my butt off and keep going,” he said.

THOMAS EASTON, JUNIOR, LAKEVIEW

Also on Kennedy’s roster last season, Thomas Easton opted to return to his home district of Lakeview for his junior year. Easton saw his role gradually increase as last season progressed, and that will continue this year with the Bulldogs as a full-time starter.

While that’s going to be a bit of an adjustment, Easton is ready to do whatever he can to help the team.

“It’s going to be a lot because I’m used to playing both sides of the ball full-time but I’m going to have to step up and condition and make myself better because the team needs me,” Easton said. “I’m here to play and I’m just going to help my team.”

Obviously there’s an excitement with Easton’s homecoming. Not only is Lakeview getting a solid football player, but the guys on the roster that grew up with him get to reunite.

“It means a lot being back. Growing up I went to Lakeview from first to sixth grade. I love being back with my friends that I’ve known since I was little,” Easton said. “I always was friends with these guys and now I’m back and playing with my brothers from the beginning, just playing with my guys, it feels great.”

Like Smith, Easton comes from a winning Kennedy culture.

The rising junior is trying to instill that in a Lakeview team that is looking to recover from a rough stretch. There are true signs of promise for the Bulldogs after an improved 2022 campaign, and adding Easton can only help.

It all comes down to confidence.

“Stepping in, I just treat it the same way as I would at Kennedy,” he said.

“We have to have confidence in ourselves and just get everyone to buy in, and everyone bought in. We all want to win.”

RYAN POWELL, SENIOR, WARREN G. HARDING

Harding is no stranger to having high-level running backs on its roster, and the thunder and lightning pairing of Smith and Powell is certainly going to make some noise.

Powell has anchored the top back spot for the Raiders the last two seasons and now has a partner to share carries with.

Powell serves as the power to Smith’s speed, a combo the Raiders are excited about to say the least.

Despite the tough schedule ahead, the rising senior has confidence in his group that they’ll be strong this season. They have an elite chemistry that they feel can help win close games. They’re not worried about getting too high or too low, they’re just focused on the next play.

“Basically, if something goes bad, we keep our heads up because we know there’s always the next play,” Powell said.

Being a running back at Harding, there’s always an added pressure to live up to your predecessors. Maurice Clarett, Daniel “Boom” Herron and LeShun Daniels Jr. all set a high standard for the Raiders in the past, and Powell looks to etch his name amongst those.

“(You need to) go to practice every day, be more persistent, be more consistent, pay attention to the details and do everything right,” he said.