City Rankings: Charlotte Area Running Backs (1-6)

Photo: Photography Royale Inc.

Will Helms October 7, 2020 @ 08:38 AM

Charlotte is loaded with talent at most positions, but maybe none more than at running back. We wrap up our Charlotte running back rankings with the top six backs in the city. 6. [player_tooltip player_id="44973" first="Daylan" last="Smothers"], 6’ 180, Vance- One of the youngest players on out list, Smothers already holds an offer from Virginia Tech. He’s already a big back and has plenty of time to grow. He’s set up to feature heavily in Vance’s talented offense and he could put up some huge numbers in the spring. 5. [player_tooltip player_id="28568" first="Paul" last="Neel"], 5’10 185, Charlotte Catholic- Neel is the top back at a school that consistently produces top-tier running backs. Neel put up nearly 2000 rushing yards last year and over 25 touchdowns. He runs with great pad level and has home run speed with which he can finish runs. His vision is also great and we expect him to make a big impact for a Division 2 team in college. 4. [player_tooltip player_id="28498" first="Chavion" last="Smith"], 5’9 195, Statesville- A thick, powerful back, Smith runs with good pad level. He’s tough to bring down in the open field and wins with a combination and speed and power. He was slowed a bit by injury in 2019, but the Charlotte commit is poised for a big senior season. 3. [player_tooltip player_id="34438" first="Cameron" last="Smith"], 5’10 185, Olympic- We’ve featured Smith before in a few different articles. He’s a guy that has been critically underrated for most of his career, but is one of the most talented backs in the state. He has a rare combination of strength and speed that landed him on our "<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/07/prep-redzone-nc-freaks-club/">Prep Redzone Freaks List</a>" and attracted the attention of Navy, to which he is committed. 2. [player_tooltip player_id="28438" first="Evan" last="Pryor"], 5’10 190, Hough- Pryor is one of the best overall players in the state and an elite running back. His burst allows him to run between the tackles, even with slightly below-average size and he has some of the best breakaway speed in the state. The Ohio State commit is every bit as talented as one might expect and should contribute early for the Buckeyes. 1. [player_tooltip player_id="28433" first="Will" last="Shipley"], 5’10 205, Weddington- It’s no surprise that our top overall player in the state is also the top running back in his city. Shipley’s acceleration and ability to get downfield are some of the best attributes we’ve ever scouted in a running back and it doesn’t hurt that he has NFL speed and power to boot. No doubt, he’s a future superstar for Clemson.