Sac-Joaquin Section’s Top 5 Returning Rushing Leaders

If someone were to put together an all-time Sac-Joaquin Section team, the squad would have plenty of depth at running back. Grant High alum and current Las Vegas Raider Devonte Booker, along with former Lincoln High and USC standout Justin Davis are just a couple names that come to mind as players who excelled in the area before shining on bigger stages. This upcoming season should be no different as the section’s rushing leader in 2019, Kimoni Stanley, returns for his senior year as well as a handful of other impressive backs. Below is a look at the section’s top five returning rushing leaders and a snapshot of what makes each of them successful. <strong>Kimoni Stanley - Sierra - Class of 2021</strong> <em><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/kimoni-stanley/RhalcVqnEeiAxvL2rdhhtw/football/stats.htm#year=19-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2019 Stats</a>: 2,024 rushing yards, 9.9 yards per carry, 33 rushing TDs</em> After watching about two minutes of <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/9957778/Kimoni-Stanley/videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stanley’s highlight tape</a>, it’s easy to see how he lead the section in rushing yards. He has good long speed to hit the home run with a good second gear, making him a threat to score from just about anywhere on the field. Beyond speed, the Timberwolf has good vision to find rushing lanes and read blocks in the open field, combined with good balance and play strength to run over linebackers and defensive backs. If he can add a little more quickness and elusiveness in a confined area to avoid contact, he should have no problem topping the rushing charts once again. Stanley currently has <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Kimoni-Stanley-46079894/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">no division one</a> offers. <strong>Ethan Menezes - Vista del Lago - Class of 2021</strong> <em><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/ethan-menezes/RuSDbWR0EeeT-Oz0u-e-FA/football/stats.htm#year=19-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2019 Stats</a>: 1,859 rushing yards, 7.9 yards per carry, 17 rushing TDs</em> Menezes is another running back who can flat out fly. He has good vision to find the hole on zone runs combined good acceleration and burst to break off long runs. That vision also shows up when he reaches the second and third levels of the defense to work off blocks and find lanes down the field. The Vista del Lago product is also a receiving threat out of the backfield with good speed to be a deep threat, combined with good hands and ability to read coverage to sit in the holes against zone coverage. He does run a little high and could add some weight to run with more force, which will take his game to the next level. Menezes will certainly be a fun player to watch this season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="25322" first="Jabari" last="Phillips"] - Golden Valley - Class of 2022</strong> <em><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/jabari-phillips/9WEvHb1JEemAzfp8ouYFiw/football/stats.htm#year=19-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2019 Stats</a>: 1,601 rushing yards, 7.9 yards per carry, 21 rushing TDs</em> As a member of the 2022 class, Phillips breaks the mold of the two backs listed ahead of him in two ways. First by his age, and second by his running style. The Cougar is a power back who runs with good pad level, keeps his feet moving through contact, and has good play strength to run over linebackers and defensive backs. Also, he refuses to go down on first contact and consistently falls forward while going to the ground. Beyond Philips’ brute force, he has good agility to cut up the field on outside runs and good overall athletic ability to make defenders miss. If the soon-to-be junior can add more explosion when hitting the hole, he’ll have no problem drawing interests from college coaches this season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="25270" first="Jonah" last="Coleman"] - Lincoln - Class of 2022</strong> <em><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/jonah-coleman/YfSBkqiWEeiAxKkkK9HIDg/football/stats.htm#year=19-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2019 Stats</a>: 1,587 rushing yards, 11.1 yards per carry, 30 rushing TDs</em> It’s probably because they’re both Lincoln High School products, but Coleman reminds me a lot of the aforementioned Justin Davis. Both guys are "do it all" backs who can win multiple ways. Coleman has very good vision and play speed to find an opening and hit it hard with a very good burst. Then, good luck trying to catch him in the open field because he has very good elusiveness and can fly. The Trojan can also runs with good pad level, has very good play strength and balance to run over linebackers and defensive backs. The biggest knock on him is if he’s going to be an effective receiver from the slot at the next level, he’ll need to become a sharper route runner and soften up his hands, but that may not be necessary with how well he runs the ball. Coleman currently holds <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Jonah-Coleman-46094707/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">four FBS offers</a>: Arizona St, Oregon St, Fresno St, and San Jose St; and should have no problem collecting even more by the time he’s a senior. <strong>Enam Davis-Eva - Stone Ridge Christian - Class of 2021</strong> <em><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/enam-davis--eva/fW2boZSBEeiAyNdjx8XCRA/football/stats.htm#year=19-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2019 Stats</a>: 1,497 rushing yards, 8.1 yards per carry, 18 rushing TDs</em> Davis-Eva is best as an outside runner who has good vision to find cut back lanes, combined with solid change of direction skills to quickly transition from east/west to north/south. He also has good speed to break long runs and keeps his feet moving through contact to run through defenders’ arm tackles. If the Knight can add some strength and improve his agility to get in and out of cuts quickly, he should have no problem dominating at the Division VII level of the section.