Who is on the Argus Leader South Dakota high school RB Mount Rushmore?

Argus Leader readers spent the last week putting together their Mount Rushmore of South Dakota high school football running backs, and the results are in. Mount Vernon/Plankinton's Jesse Hastings, Herreid/Selby Area's Brenden Begeman, Sioux Falls Lincoln's Caden Quintanilla and Sioux Falls Washington's Tupak Kpeayeh were the top four vote getters for the Argus Leader South Dakota High School Running Back Mount Rushmore.

Bon Homme's Josh Ranek, Brandon Valley's Levi Veskrna and Vermillion's Jason Leber just missed the cut.

Here's a deep dive on the four selections for the top prep running backs in South Dakota history.

Jesse Hastings (Mount Vernon/Plankinton Class of 2020)

Hastings holds South Dakota's 11-man career rushing touchdowns record with 83 and is third all-time in rushing yards in an 11-man career. He ran for 5,008 yards over four seasons.

Hastings' career rushing mark is first in 11B history. His 30 rushing touchdowns in 2019 is tied for the best in 11B history, and his 26-score 2018 is eighth in class history. The Mount Vernon/Plankinton star had a career-best game of 316 yards in 2018.

Hastings went to North Dakota State out of high school as a walk-on fullback, then transferred to Morningside College after a season. He played in three games in one season at Morningside, running the ball 11 times for 89 yards and a touchdown. Hastings ended his playing career at Briar Cliff University, accruing just two carries over three seasons.

Brenden Begeman (Herreid/Selby Area Class of 2023)

Begeman is one of the most accomplished 9-man football players in South Dakota history, beating Howard's Luke Loudenberg's career rushing record by one yard (6,807 to 6,806).

Begeman's 2022 season was the best by rushing yards in 9-man history, running for 2,997 yards as Herreid/Selby Area made it to the Class 9B state championship game.

He opted to continue his career at South Dakota State, and is entering his redshirt junior season. The Herreid/Selby Area star has 35 rushes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons.

Caden Quintanilla (Sioux Falls Lincoln Class of 2014)

Quintanilla is the only South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year on this Mount Rushmore, having won the award during his senior at Sioux Falls Lincoln. He accumulated 1,893 yards and 29 touchdowns during the 2013 state title-winning season.

Quintanilla ended his career fourth in Class 11AAA history in both career rushing yards (3,693) and touchdowns (57). Those numbers are 19th and ninth in 11-man history, respectively.

He played four seasons at Augustana University, running for 538 yards and three touchdowns on 134 attempts. Quintanilla also added 23 catches for 226 yards and a score as a Viking.

Tupak Kpeayeh (Sioux Falls Washington Class of 2019)

Kpeayeh is the 11-man leader in career rushing yards with 5,796, having accumulated that over four seasons. He's also second all-time in 11-man rushing touchdowns and first in Class 11AAA history in scores.

The three-time state champion ran for 2,048 yards in 2018 and had 28 rushing touchdowns in 2017. He also holds three of the top 10 seasons by rushing yards in Class 11AAA history.

Kpeayeh committed to Morningside College, but never played a game for the Mustangs.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Who is on the Argus Leader South Dakota high school RB Mount Rushmore?