RBC SOPHOMORE GABE KEMP HAS PASSED NFL 1ST-ROUND PICK AS THE CASEYS’ ALL-TIME LEADING RUSHER

Gabe Kemp is only a sophomore and has already put his name up there with one of the great running backs in Shore Conference history.

He has become Red Bank Catholic’s all-time leading rusher in only his second season, adding to his record total by rolling up 135 yards last week in a 37-34 loss to the state’s No. 1 team, St. Peter’s Prep.

Kemp has 3,387 career yards rushing in less than two full seasons for the Caseys, which puts him ahead of the legendary Donald Brown, who had 3,119 yards in his two varsity seasons for RBC. Brown still has the single-season school record of 2,032 yards set during his senior season in 2004.

Kemp has openly talked about chasing New Jersey’s all-time rushing record, which was set by former Rutgers running back Joe Martinek during his career at Hopatcong. He had 7,589 yards during his career from 2003-06. With a strong state playoff run, Kemp could be roughly halfway there.

Kemp was a first-team All-Shore selection by Shore Sports Insider as a freshman after running for a freshman record 1,847 yards along with 17 touchdowns. As a sophomore, he leads the Shore Conference with 1,540 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns.

After Brown became RBC’s all-time leading rusher, he went on to lead the FBS in rushing with 1,822 yards as a junior at the University of Connecticut in 2008. He remains the Huskies’ all-time leading rusher with 3,800 yards.

The Atlantic Highlands native was then selected in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 27 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He went on to play five seasons for the Colts and two seasons for the Chargers.