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In the world of high school sports, the level of talent available for different team positions ebbs and flows annually. Filling a particular role with a quality player can be challenging in some seasons. Other years might produce a full crop of candidates.
Finding driven and athletic players is rarely an issue for sports teams at Carroll, especially within the Dragon football program. Identifying stellar standouts for key positions is a common occurrence. Some years even offer impressive depth and promising backups to fill out roles for years to come.
Then there’s the Dragons’ running back room this season, one in which Carroll’s cup of talent runneth over. Fielding a Division I-caliber rusher for an arguably pass-first program such as Carroll is enough to get most Dragon fans excited. However, Carroll’s backfield this fall features two Division I commits in senior Riley Wormley and junior Davis Penn. Last season, the duo produced 2,478 yards and 49 touchdowns despite an early UIL decision that limited the former’s availability.
“We’ve never had a running back situation like we currently have with such a one-two punch,” says Riley Dodge, Carroll head football coach and former Dragons standout quarterback, referring to Wormley and Penn — who have verbally committed to USC and Baylor, respectively. “I know because I’m a historian of this place.
“What gives us uniqueness offensively is having a Division I running back on the sideline, and one going. And then when we need to give him a break, here comes a pair of fresh legs.”
That level of talent in the ground game is not only a first for the Dragons — it’s practically unheard of in high school football. A team in Guntersville, Alaska, features two Division I backs this season as well, but neither commit is going to a school in a Power 5 Conference like Carroll’s talented duo.
A running tandem with such a bright future at the next level of the sport harkens memories of other backfield teammates that each went on to greatness, such as Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas at Oklahoma State, Eric Dickerson and Craig James at SMU and Reggie Bush and Lendale White of USC.
The level of success Wormley and Penn enjoy after high school has yet to be seen, but the threat the duo pose this season should cause plenty of concern among opposing defenses.
“I think we’re arguably the best running back duo in the country,” says Penn, who rushed for 1,577 yards and 30 touchdowns in 15 games as a sophomore last season. “When [Wormley] first came in, I knew I’d have to step up my game. And now we just match each other and work off each other’s energy.”
Neither running back thought they’d be in the position that they found themselves at the start of the 2023 season. Wormley, a transfer from Colleyville Heritage, expected to begin playing for Carroll at the start of his junior year. But a UIL hearing ruled him ineligible for varsity competition, citing lack of evidence he transferred for reasons other than athletic involvement at Carroll.
Wormley’s inability to play at the start of last season elevated Penn to a starting role on varsity as a sophomore, leading to a team-best rushing performance. However, the UIL later reversed its earlier decision against Wormley, making him eligible for varsity competition midway through the fall schedule.
Once cleared to play, Wormley racked up 901 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 10.6 yards per carry in 11 games.
“Growing up, I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder, just kind of playing as hard as I can, just running the ball as hard as I can,” Wormley says. “Unfortunately, I haven’t really had a full season since about my freshman year, so I’m really coming this year just to get my full season in and be able to show people who I really am.”
During his sophomore season at Colleyville Heritage, his last at the school before transferring, Wormley again was only able to compete for about half the season. Despite that, he led the Panthers varsity in rushing with 490 yards and seven scores through five games.
Wormley’s transfer to Carroll, due to Colleyville’s handling of some academic accommodations he requested, followed the 2023 graduation of Owen Allen, Carroll’s all-time leading rusher with 7,600 yards. But as Wormley’s chance to start on the Dragons’ varsity was delayed, it proved to be a blessing in disguise for Penn, who might not have had the chance to compete as a varsity starter so early in his high school career.
“We knew what Davis’ talent was, but he was a puppy. He was a sophomore, though he had an amazing freshman year,” Dodge says. “[Penn] just hit the ground running. He’s just such a smart football player, he really understands what we’re doing offensively in our run scheme and in our protection. He’s just very mature for his age.
“[Wormley] finally got cleared and got eligible,” he says. “Since he’d been sitting out so long, he tried so hard, every time he touched the ball, to go [score]. I think once — probably not until like Week 10 until we entered the playoffs — he began to really understand and began slowing down and understanding our scheme, and in return, it helped him out.”
The experience helped both athletes to grow by leaps and bounds. A full spring and offseason training with the varsity makes them that much more ready and dangerous heading into the 2024 season. Joined by the Dragons’ new starting quarterback in junior Angelo Renda — who saw playing time last season as a backup to former quarterback and 2024 graduate Graham Knowles — the new signal caller knows what to expect when working with the talented backfield.
“You get the ball in their hands, and they can do great things,” says Renda, who passed for seven touchdowns and ran for five of his own in 2023. “[They can score] a lot of touchdowns. They can catch, they can block, they can run, they can do it all. They’re like a Swiss Army knife, and that’s what we call them.
“One [running back] goes out, another one comes in. So the defenses are going to have to be adjusting. But meanwhile, we’re still going to be able to throw the ball.”
While the backs’ ability to find open holes and accelerate to make plays in the ground game makes them dangerous, their ability to snag passes out in the flat and on short routes can’t be overlooked. Both caught passes for over 100 yards last season, averaging better than a first down on each reception (Wormley, 13.7-yard average; Penn, 12.6-yard average).
The duo also realizes the extra attention they’ll receive from defenses will create opportunities for the Dragons’ stellar passing attack to shine all the more. Play action and quick slants should throw off opponents who are anticipating a run from either weapon.
“I feel like it’ll open a lot of doors and a lot of windows,” Wormley says. “They can’t really protect the run and the pass at the same time. You’ve got to really choose your poison, so I feel really confident about what we have coming this year.”
The potential for additional run plays means that the offensive line could keep extra busy. The backfield duo has expressed confidence in the line — a younger unit this season — to get the job done and provide paths to run through. Senior offensive lineman and captain Trent Wilson intends to make sure his fellow linemen are ready, and that Carroll rushers have the best chance to succeed.
“We can run a lot of counter schemes, a lot of power schemes. I love to pull, so I kind of lead the way on that,” Wilson says. “But we’re going to open up some holes. It’s going to be fun for the running backs.”
The backfield teammates have had fun working together and letting their styles mesh as they prepare to become a big focus of opposing defenses on a weekly basis this fall. Although the two have a similar build and have similar speed (Wormley recorded a 4.55 in the 40, Penn notched a 4.66), their personality on the field is slightly different.
“Riley’s got a little bit of spunk, a little bit of energy. You know he’s always going to pack a punch,” says Penn, who describes himself as more laid back in his approach. “We’re both really supportive. I’d say we’re the most supportive position group on the team.”
Dodge says the two running backs are great athletes, but they are also great examples of what it means to be a team player.
“Both of these guys, they’re just so unselfish,” he says. “They’re good buddies… and they’re two of the hardest workers in our building, so that goes a long way.”