BANCROFT — North Gem’s Craig Yost was recently named as one of Idahosports.com’s top-10 running backs for the 2024 season.

Yost, a junior, doesn’t remember a time when he didn’t love the game of football.

He began playing football since the age of 6.

“It’s kind of just what us Yosts are good at,” he said with a chuckle.

In kindergarten, he began playing flag football. And in the third and fourth grades, he went to Grace and started his first years of tackle football.

Jody Reeves was his coach and nicknamed him, “Taz.”

“Coach Reeves called me Taz because even if the play was over, I would still go jump in the pile,” Yost said.

North Gem finally got its own football team once Yost got to middle school. He started at fullback, but was switch over to center his freshman year. But the Cowboys’ coaching staff moved him back to fullback the following year. And Yost has stayed there ever since.

Yost shared that he was pretty shocked upon hearing the news of his name being among the top-10 running backs in the state, regardless of classification.

“Being from a 1A school, that’s pretty crazy,” he said.

Last season, Yost rushed for over 1,100 yards and had 15 touchdowns. But he does much more than run the ball. He also plays middle linebacker and had a total of 115 tackles a year ago.

He’s coming off a season where he received all-conference honors as a linebacker, running back and punter.

Yost’s smaller stature at 5-feet 7-inches and 170 pounds is misleading. He has a solid build and awesome agility that he’s uses against his opponents on the field.

He works hard lifting weights and consistently improving his cardio endurance to train for football season.

Yost’s mom, Camille, is North Gem High School’s athletic director and shares,

“I’m grateful for the positive influence Craig is on the younger students. This acknowledgement (as one of IdahoSports.com’s Top 10 running backs) shows North Gem is producing top notch athletes,” said North Gem Athletic Director Camille Yost, who just so happens to also be his mom. “As his mom, I couldn’t be more proud. He does the little things that make the difference.”

Yost is looking forward to the upcoming football season and is hopeful for another winning year.

However, he is humble, knowing he wouldn’t be where he is as a football player without his team and coaches.

“I wouldn’t be what I am without the coaches and teammates who do their jobs,” Craig said. “We all put in the work.”