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Practices are underway and the first games of the 2024 season are just a week away. We recently completed our Class of 2025 Football Player Rankings, featuring a top 15 at each position, others to watch, and a top 50 overall. We're also working on Conference Previews, which will be wrapped up soon.

Now, it is time to look at some of the top returning statistical leaders from the 2023 season. We'll begin our review with the top passers coming back this year. We'll continue our review with the top rushers coming back this year.

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Top Returning Passers

Collins was the state’s leading rusher last season when he went for 2,503 yards with 40 touchdowns on 239 carries, averaging 10.5 yards per attempt. It was quite the season, coming off a promising sophomore campaign when he went for more than 900 yards. He broke out of the gates in a big way, rushing for 231 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 1 win over Pulaski. He would go on to post a total of seven games of at least 220 rushing yards, with a season-high 306 in a de factor FRCC-South championship game against Menasha.

Maney played at quarterback but was one of the state’s top rushers, carrying the ball 274 times for 2,091 yards with 28 scores on the ground as the Big East Offensive Player of the Year. He did a nice job throwing the ball, completing 62-of-97 passes for 822 yards and seven touchdowns.

Dean is a special player who has a huge impact for Neenah in all phases of the game. On offense, he went for more than 1,774 yards on the ground last year with 25 touchdowns in just 11 games. He also led the team in receiving touchdowns and was second in receptions. He was also a big-time factor in the return game and even did some kicking for the Rockets. Defensively, he’s a bullet in the secondary for head coach Steve Jung, recording 59 tackles and two interceptions last season from his safety spot, giving a commitment to Wisconsin in June, likely to come in as a defensive back.

Humphreys played a key role all season as a First Team All-Conference and WFCA All-Region choice, and had at least 100 yards in each of the first four playoff games as the Tigers finished as the Division 5 runners-up. For the season he went for 1,566 yards and 17 touchdowns on 240 carries while also garnering Second Team all-league laurels as a linebacker. 

Ersland ran for 1,540 yards with 16 touchdowns last year, garnering First team All-Conference recognition. He had four games of at least 200 yards, all coming in a four-game stretch to open conference play. His career-high of 271 yards came in a replacement game win over Clintonville.

Sorted by rushing yards

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.