Eastern Pennsylvania RBs Whose Stock Rose this Season

A few weeks ago, I started my look back at the 2020 season and players in eastern Pennsylvania that rose their stock this fall by looking at quarterbacks. You can read that article, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/11/eastern-pennsylvania-qbs-whose-rose-their-stock-this-season/">here</a>. Today, we look at the running back position, one of the deepest positions in the state with plenty of talent that will succeed at all levels of college football. <strong>JR [player_tooltip player_id="27560" first="Samuel" last="Brown"] - La Salle College: </strong>One of the top running backs in the state regardless of class, Brown played in just five games in 2020 but still put up impressive numbers and highlights. Brown in his five games rushed for 460-yards on 82 carries including a 162-yard performance to start the season against Manheim Township, he finished the season with eight touchdowns in his five games. A running back on the bigger side at 6-foot-2 and 190-pounds, Brown has a great combination of size and speed, being able to beat defenders by running through them or by going around him, a nightmare to try and tackle, he’s a special talent. A Power Five recruit, Brown is releasing a top list of schools at the end of the month. <strong>JR [player_tooltip player_id="27651" first="Gavin" last="Garcia"] - Southern Columbia: </strong>Garcia took over as Southern Columbia’s starting running back in 2020, a vacancy left by his older brother Gage Garcia, who is now at the University of Michigan. In his first year as a starter, Garcia showed that he’s just as good as his brother, and maybe even better. In 11 games, Garcia ran for 1,921-yards and 30 touchdowns on 113 carries, an incredible 17 yards per carry. He also added on 168 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns on eight receptions. Garcia has already received numerous Division I scholarship offers and has various Group of 5 and Power Five programs recruiting him. A do it all back, Garcia is one of the most exciting players in the state and will be entering next season as one of the state’s top players regardless of class. <strong>SR [player_tooltip player_id="27414" first="Matt" last="Frauen"] Jr - Notre Dame Green Pond: </strong>Another small-school running back, Frauen has rushed for over 1,300 yards and 21 touchdowns this season on 155 carries, an average of 8.5 carries per year. He also had 291 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 11 receptions. A versatile running back, Frauen Jr projects well to a Division II or Division III running back where he has received most of his interest from so far in his recruitment. <strong>SO [player_tooltip player_id="27741" first="James" last="Bermudez"] - Bishop McDevitt </strong>With [player_tooltip player_id="27732" first="Marquese" last="Williams"] banged up this season, Bermudez took over as Bishop McDevitt’s top guy and took advantage of the opportunity. Over the course of the Lancers’ six games this season, Bermudez picked up 449-yards and four touchdowns on 75 carries including a 156-yard performance against Conwell-Egan and a 111-yard performance against Camp Hill in the 2A quarterfinals. While Williams is a highly talented back, Bermudez is pretty talented himself and together create possibly the best backfield in the entire state heading into 2021. <strong>JR [player_tooltip player_id="69212" first="Jadyn" last="Jones"] - Wilson </strong>Jones had a quality season for Wilson this season, rushing for 519-yards and six touchdowns over the course of 75 carries. His best game of the season came against Manheim Township, a performance that saw him post 237-yards and two touchdowns over 29 carries. He also ended the season on a high note with 120-yards and a touchdown on 12 carries against Manheim Central. Jones is a tough runner who has quality speed as well with a strong ability to find and hit holes, a physical player on both sides of the ball, Jones is able to beat the opposition both with physicality and speed/elusiveness. A very well built running back at 5-foot-11 and 210-pounds. <strong>JR [player_tooltip player_id="27558" first="Nicholas" last="Singleton"] - Governor Mifflin - </strong>Singleton is without a doubt not only just one of the best players in the state but is one of the best players in the country. He had a ridiculous season, rushing for over 1,300-yards and 22 touchdowns while averaging 12.3 yards per carry. He’s a complete back and a truly special player that could be a star at the Power Five level. There’s not much else we can say about him that people don’t already know. <strong>SO Connor Goehring - Schuykill Haven: </strong>Goehring had a breakout season for the Hurricanes rushing for 1,016-yards on 106 carries over the course of nine games. After a strong freshman season that saw him average almost 15 yards per carry, Goehring became the starter for Schuylkill Haven and took the opportunity by the horns. In his name games played, he finished with over 100 yards in five of them and had 11 touchdowns on the season. He’ll be a name to watch over the next few years as a player who could be a potential high Division II or FCS level running back. At 6-foot-1 and 185-pounds, he’s well built for a sophomore and has the skillset to be a special back. <strong>JR [player_tooltip player_id="27594" first="Khalani" last="Eaton"] - North Penn: </strong>A big and physical running back at 5-foot-11 and 210-pounds, Eaton had a great season for North Penn this season rushing for the 1,035-yards and 14 touchdowns on the season for the Knights. Eaton has good speed but really uses his size as the major component to his rushing success, being difficult to bring down by one person.  In terms of potential, I believe Eaton is a player who could play at the FCS or FBS level depending on his testing numbers. As to always remember, these are just a few of the players who stood out this season to me and not all of them, others will be mentioned in other articles going forward. If you’re a high school football coach in Pennsylvania, player, or parent, please be sure to send me your name, film/highlights, and stats to me on Twitter @DylanCCSports. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;