How a Johnston County football running back’s ‘greater purpose’ drives success
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kaleb Ferrell channels family care and volunteer work into football leadership.
- He leads Cleveland with consistent production, 755 yards and 15 touchdowns.
- Coaches expect FBS/FCS recruitment; camps and measurables will shape offers.
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A self-conscious grin crossed the face of Cleveland High’s Kaleb Ferrell. The junior running back, seated in a golf cart alongside the Rams’ practice field, was explaining his preseason preparation.
“I wanted to be a complete back this year,” said the Rams’ leading rusher and scorer with 15 touchdowns in nine games. “I wanted to be on the field for third down.”
Then came that grin with a pause.
“This will sound funny,” he said, “but I like to help people, and that helps me with my pass blocking. I’m not trying to improve just to help me look good on film for recruiting. I’m blocking to keep my quarterback safe and help my team.”
It sounds funny only if you consider a typical teenager. Ferrell doesn’t have a typical high school kid’s backstory.
He’s been raised by two grandparents, Fred and Shirley Henderson. Also living in their home is Kaleb’s 38-year-old aunt, Princess Ferrell, who has cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that affects movement and posture.
“My why — my purpose — is bigger than me,” Ferrell said. “I remember that when I’m doing things for my grandparents and my aunt. There are a lot of things my aunt can’t do, and I help her around the house. She’s not able to go to my games, so I spend time with her watching games. I want to help keep her mentally active.
“It makes me realize no matter what I’m going through, I’m grateful and I have a purpose.”
Ferrell’s resolve includes joining teammates to volunteer their time at a Clayton food bank and homeless shelter.
Ferrell’s focus on the field
But at the top of Ferrell’s “help” list this week is preparing Cleveland to bounce back for the playoffs. The Rams’ 61-game regular-season winning streak was snapped two weeks ago when they lost to crosstown-rival Clayton in the regular-season finale. Cleveland (9-1) and Clayton (8-2) finished tied for the Greater Neuse River Conference title with 5-1 league marks.
The Rams, thanks to their No. 2 seed in N.C. High School Athletic Association 7A Division playoffs, had a first-round bye. Cleveland faces No. 18 seed South Garner (5-6) in the second round at 7:30 p.m. Friday on the Rams’ field. South Garner advanced to the second round with a 62-14 victory last week at No. 15 seed Winterville South Central. Cleveland and South Garner met at midseason in league play, with the Rams winning 42-28. The Rams are entering the playoffs coming off a loss for the first time since the 2018 season, but Ferrell says the program’s culture provides the same positive momentum as past years.
“This is not an opportunity to prove people who don’t believe in us wrong. It’s an opportunity to prove to everybody who does believe in us right. When you make that your focus, you’ll be more satisfied with your result. We’re playing with a passion for each other rather than an edge to get at others.”
If that sounds like something the coaches tell the players, that’s an intangible value Ferrell provides. His helps other players absorb the message.
“He’s one of our better vocal leaders,” Riley said. “I think our players care about each other, and KB can vocalize that.”
Ferrell, who missed one game earlier this season with an injury, leads the team with 136 carries for 755 yards. The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder averages 5.6 yards per carry and 83.9 per game with a long run of 87. As a sophomore, he rushed 163 times for 992 yards to average 6.1 and 70.9. His eight touchdowns were second to quarterback Jackson Byrd, who is now a freshman at East Tennessee State. Ferrell doesn’t yet have a recruiting profile with a star rating, but Riley said it will come once he attends offseason camps. Riley expects Ferrell to be recruited by Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision schools.
“He’s got the height and weight,” Riley said. “It will come down to measurables like his 40 time, but he’s a proven on the field he’s a great football player.”
The right fit
He’s also the right fit for the program Riley has built in his 12 years as the Johnston County school’s head coach. Ferrell grew up enraptured with the Rams. “I want to be a top back and somebody in general who put Cleveland and Clayton on the map,” Ferrell said. “I want to be another dude from here who lets kids know they can be the next big thing from Cleveland and Clayton.”
Cleveland’s brightest enduring star is, of course, Omarion Hampton, the two-time All-American running back at North Carolina (2023 and 2024) and Los Angeles Chargers rookie who was a first-round pick in the NFL’s 2025 draft.
The wunderkind played four varsity seasons, 2018-2021, with career totals of 5,369 yards rushing and 88 touchdowns. Hampton’s time included conference titles contributing to the eventual 61-game regular-season winning streak as well as a state runner-up finish in the 2020 season’s 3AA playoffs.
Imagine being an impressionable kid watching Hampton dominate. Ferrell was that kid, his fourth grade through seventh grade years. And if that wasn’t enough inspiration, Hampton, who returns to Cleveland’s campus, befriended Ferrell during Ferrell’s high school seasons. They’ve worked out together.
“He’s a humble guy who doesn’t forget where he came from,” Ferrell said. “He has a strong work ethic. He says to me, ‘Don’t forget what got you here and keep working hard as your foundation.’ He has this phrase: ‘Every day try to do better than your best.’”
The words inspire the Rams’ latest running back star, who begins his day helping others.
This story was originally published November 13, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
