High School Sports

Playing running back at John Tyler brings about its own set of challenges. Arguably the greatest player in Texas football history at any level, Earl Campbell, played his high school ball in the JT backfield after all.

The last two backs did their best to uphold the tradition, with Kendall Hunter breaking Campbell's all-time school rushing record before signing with Oklahoma State, and Romonte Hampton running his way to a scholarship with Stephen F. Austin. Both gained more than 1,000 yards in the process.

Ky'Ordric Black, a junior, takes his place as the featured back in JT's spread attack. Black, a solid-built 5-8, 185-pounder, showed flashes of brilliance last season. Touching the ball only 39 times, Black rolled up 396 yards of offense and four touchdowns.

He nearly helped JT get in the playoffs after a two-touchdown effort in the season finale against North Mesquite with a 25-yard scoring run and 29-yard TD reception. Black's style differs from the slashing Hunter and downhill-running Hampton. Black racks up the YAC (yards after contact) as well as any JT back in recent memory, extending plays seemingly dead.