Three years ago, we conducted a poll of who is the greatest Texas high school running back ever. The poll was specifically for their high school career. The winner surprised some people, especially the youngsters who had not heard the name before; Ken Hall
Ken Hall, aka “The Sugar Land Express, “is considered by many to be the greatest high school football player ever. There was a movie about him, The Sugar Land Express, based on him being the greatest ever. Hall has the resume to back up such claims.
High School Career
Ken Hall was born on December 13, 1935, in Madisonville, Texas. He played high school football for the Sugar Land High School Gators from 1950 to 1953.
National Records
Hall rushed for 11,232 yards in high school, and that is with just 569 as a freshman. He followed that up with 3,160 yards in 1951, then 3,458 in 1952, and 4,045 as a senior. He held the record for most rushing yards in a high school football career until Derrick Henry broke it in 2012.
The Sugarland Express still holds the national record for most points per game with 32.9 points per game. He also had 38 100-yard games, which was tied for the national record until last year.
Texas Records
70 years after his playing days, Hall still has his name all across the Texas high school football record books. Ken Hall is still the all-time leading rusher in Texas high school football history. Second is Johnathan Gray at 10,889, with Traylon Shead being the only other player over 10,000 yards at 10,298. (and Hall racked up his totals playing in fewer games)
Hall also still holds the record for most rushing yards in a season, being the only running back in Texas high school football history to run for over 4,000 yards in a season. Hall did this in 1953 when he ran for 4,045 yards. Trey Williams is second with 3,890 in 2011. Interestingly, 3rd and 4th also happened in 2011, with Johnathan Gray rushing for 3,888 and Joseph Sadler rushing for 3,887.
Best Game
In one game, against Houston Lutheran High School, in 1953, Hall rushed for 520 yards. He did this in only 11 carries! The 520 yards stood as a state record for 24 years. In that game, he also returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown returned a kickoff for 64 yards, and returned an interception for 21 yards. Oh, and, he was also the Punter that game.
Post High School Career
Hall signed to go play for Texas A&M. However, he left the team before they went to Junction, Texas for the training camp under coach Bear Bryant. Hall got married, and never played college ball.
He would appear in the Canadian Football League and in the NFL for a few teams for brief periods, but the few years of inactivity post-high school limited any possible success for Hall. However, he did make several big players, especially on kick-offs, to help the Houston Oilers win an AFL Championship.
We are all left to wonder how his career would have gone had he played college ball. It is likely he would have won a Heisman Trophy, and been a top NFL player in the late 50s and early 60s.
Hall had a successful career outside of football as a Sales Manager and currently lives in Fredericksburg, Texas. He is 86 years old.
Check out his running ability in this video:
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Article by: KP Kelly
