Under the Radar- 2021 Running Backs

Inevitably, in the social media age of recruiting, there will be some players that seemingly slip through the cracks -- guys that have the talent and the production, but haven’t yet seen their recruitment take off. There are a number of running backs that fit that mold in the 2021 class. Here, we’ll give a few of our favorites. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="28568" first="Paul" last="Neel"], 5’10 185, Charlotte Catholic</strong> Neel is another superstar in Charlotte Catholic’s long lineage. Neel’s top-end speed is elite and he has the perfect combination of vision and cutting ability to thrive in the Wing T offense. Neel’s recruitment hasn’t taken off, which is a shame, because he’s one of the best backs in the state. There’s no question he should be getting more attention. <strong>William Lovick, 5’7 185, New Bern</strong> Lovick has some of the best production in the state, rushing for over 2000 yards and 19 touchdowns a year ago and piling up nearly 80 tackles on the defensive side of the ball. Competition level isn’t an issue as Lovick plays for 4A New Bern. Lovick isn’t the tallest back, but his lower body is powerful and he runs through arm tackles. We expect schools to come calling soon. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="28621" first="Isaac" last="King"], 5’10 175, Union Academy</strong> King is an explosive, big-play runner who averaged nearly 13 yards a carry last season, racking up 2100 total yards in just 10 games. King is a patient runner, but when he needs to get up to full speed, he does so in a hurry. A lot of tacklers take poor angles against King because he’s so quick to the corner. <strong>Jalen Fairley, 5’8 170, Southeast Guilford</strong> Fairley is an absolute burner who recently posted a 4.38 hand-timed 40. He’s not just a track guy though and his speed translates to the field. Fairley is a one-cut runner who finds a crease and gets upfield quickly. He’s a contributor as a receiver and should be a nice pickup for a Division 2 or FCS school.