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Tuesday, November 09, 2004 - Page updated at 10:21 P.M.
High School Sports By Sandy Ringer
Catch 'em while you can. This class of high-school running backs is as classy as it gets in this state. Jonathan Stewart of Timberline, J.R. Hasty of Bellevue and Leon Jackson of Pasco have put Washington at the top of many national recruiting lists with what might be the best crop of senior backs in state history. "You'd better pay attention, because classes like this just don't come around very often," said Allen Wallace, publisher of SuperPrep magazine and national recruiting editor for Scout.com. "There's some amazing talent in Washington." Each has his own game. Stewart is the strongest, Jackson the fastest and Hasty has had the most team success. Take your pick, but catch 'em while you can.
Hasty is a four-star back who has climbed to No. 16 on the list by Rivals.com after starting the season at No. 21. His numbers this season are staggering — 1,841 yards, 36 touchdowns and 13.5 yards per carry in only nine games. The 5-11, 200-pound son of former NFL defensive back James Hasty has numerous Pac-10 offers. The speedy Jackson, a two-time state 100-meter champion who has made an oral commitment to play football at Nebraska, is listed as a four-star "athlete" rather than running back and rated an impressive fourth in the nation in that category. The fastest and tallest of the three at 6-2, 205 pounds, Jackson has 1,135 yards on just 84 carries (13.5 yards per carry) and 13 TDs despite missing almost three full games because of an ejection and an injury. "To have three elite kids like this is just a freak occurrence," said Jeremy Crabtree, national recruiting editor for Rivals.com. Especially freaky considering all three are running backs. Washington has had its share of marquee running backs over the years, but usually not more than one or two in the same graduating class. "In the past, you had guys who stood out like Paul Arnold or Corey Dillon, or to go even back further a Joe Steele or Mike Vindivich," said Chris Fetters, Northwest recruiting editor for Scout.com. "But this is the deepest pool of (running back) talent, top to bottom, that we've had in some time." There are several other prospective Division I running backs in the state and a slew of 1,000-yard rushers, but Stewart, Hasty and Jackson have clearly risen to the top. How does each compare with the greatest backs in state history? Timberline coach Kevin Young thinks that Stewart's numbers don't lie. "I think he's the best," Young said. "It's hard to compare everyone, but this kid has all the tools — speed, size, strength and balance. When you consider everything he's done, I find it hard to believe there's anyone more talented than him." The Seattle Times ranks Stewart No. 5 all-time and Hasty 10th (see related chart). But Jackson, who didn't make The Times' all-time list, could have the most potential in college because of his speed, said Scout.com's Fetters. All three led their teams into the state playoffs and the curtain will close on their remarkable prep football careers within weeks. Class 3A Bellevue and 4A Pasco are defending state champions, unbeaten and ranked No. 1. Timberline, eliminated by Bellevue in the quarterfinals last year, was No. 2 in 3A until losing to White River 11 days ago, when Stewart sat out much of the game with a sore ankle. Soon, Stewart and Hasty could be showcased on the same field for the second season in a row. If Bellevue and Timberline both win this weekend, they'll meet again in the quarterfinals of the 3A state playoffs the following week. Pasco (9-0) hosts University of Spokane in a preliminary playoff game tonight at 6 in what could be the beginning of a trek back to the championship weekend Dec. 3-4 at the Tacoma Dome. Hasty's Bellevue team hosts a first-round playoff Saturday at 7 p.m., and Stewart's Timberline hosts a first-round game Saturday, with times to be determined. Catch 'em while you can. Where Stewart, Hasty and Jackson are concerned, winning is the bottom line. State championships mean far more than staggering statistics. None of them gets caught up in all of the recruiting hype. "I just want to do whatever I can to help my team," said Hasty, whose Bellevue team is taking aim on an unprecedented fourth straight state title. "I just want us to come out on top." Stewart and Jackson echoed that sentiment. None admits feeling added pressure because of all the growing media attention. "I just go out and do what I've got to do," Stewart said. "I just try to be myself and not dwell on it." All three know they are marked men each time they take the field, but don't feel as if they have to carry their teams. Pasco, in fact, has another 1,000-yard rusher in Tony Coburn, who has a team-high 20 touchdowns. Bellevue has a bevy of offensive weapons in its Wing-T offense. Timberline is probably more reliant on Stewart, but has had others step up when he is on the sideline. Stewart, Hasty and Jackson are familiar with each other, but don't track each other's success. Jackson met Stewart at the Pasco Invitational track meet two years ago, and was impressed by his speed and size. "I was like, 'Wow!' " he said. Hasty and Stewart both attended Junior Day at the University of Oregon last year, but didn't get a chance to talk. There is clearly a mutual respect between the three and, naturally, some competitiveness. Hasty and Jackson don't begrudge Stewart his No. 1 rating, but don't sell themselves short. "When you're a big kid like he is and you can run over people, you're pretty good," Jackson said, adding that he sometimes feels a bit overlooked playing in Eastern Washington. "He's in Seattle (area), I'm in Pasco. But I'm not going to take anything away from him." Hasty admits there was some motivation coming into the season when he was ranked considerably lower than Stewart. "It just made me want to get that much better so I could be as good as anyone else in the nation," he said. In this outstanding class of running backs, these three clearly have risen above the rest. So catch 'em while you can. Sandy Ringer: 206-718-1512 or sringer@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company
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