Class of 2021: Top Uncommitted RBs

Welcome back for our second installment where we are highlighting the best seniors still on the market and weighing their options for playing at the second level. Today we are going to look at the running back position. Just like yesterday, we will take a look at what their film tells us about each player and and in any extra valuable bits of information about the players. Let’s get these kids the attention that they deserve! There is a lot of talent still out there, so let’s dive in! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="30747" first="Kabaris" last="Vasser"], 6’2" 220 lbs- James Madison Memorial</strong> Vasser is a man among boys on the football field and he carries his immense frame smoothly and with ease. His ability to absorb body shot and tackle attempts and continue to drive down the field without being thrown off balance is outrageous. If you don’t gang tackle him then you aren’t going to bring him down. Even when he finally is tackled he always falls forward. His ruggedness jumps off the film too. It’s clear that teams know he is the workhorse but he still is able to get the job done and more. The surprise is that he has the speed to play at the highest levels of college football. He isn’t just a short yardage athlete. He can find daylight and then take off for big plays. Overall, Kabaris is a playmaker at the position. Whether he is running through tackle attempts or finding a seam to burst through, you can bet that Vasser is going to make it happen. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="30772" first="Colin" last="Trautt"], 6’1" 195 lbs- Northwestern</strong> Trautt is more of an Athlete than RB and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him play in the defensive backfield at the next level. Let’s take a look at him as an RB today. Trautt has the frame to shape himself into whatever a team is looking for in a high workload running back. When you turn on the film you will see that Colin is a big play waiting to happen. He has the play speed to turn every touch into a big gain if he can find a crease. The film shows a lot of big plays because of his good vision to find those creases at a consistent basis. His instincts for the position shine throughout his film. Trautt surprised me with the contact balance he plays with. Usually when I scout a player that relies more on speed and vision they are tackled a little easier when you get contact on them. Not in this case. Trautt absorbs the shots and keeps on running. He has an intriguing blend of speed and power making him a hot target. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="30812" first="Zach" last="Wallace"], 5’11" 195 lbs- Burlington</strong> I have been a big fan of Wallace over the past few months. Week after week he produced at a very high level. He has a very sturdy build for the position and is made to be able to handle the rugged aspects of the position. He can handle the consistent hits and he will not go down on the first hit. Then there is another side of his game. His speed and ability to make plays in space. The speed is more than enough to make an impact for the D2 level, which he has interest/offers from. Wallace has also proven to be able to get into space and catch the ball. Once he gets out into space if you don’t have him corralled or break up the pass he will hurt you. Zach is another two way player on this list, but I do believe his best spot at the next level is RB. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="94716" first="Maurice" last="Rockette"], 5’10" 185 lbs- Wauwatosa East</strong> This kid’s film is electric! Maurice is a legitimate threat to take it to the house on every touch. He is a playmaker to the max. He takes plays that look like normal 4 yard gains and then uses his play speed and agility to turn them into huge gains or long TD runs. He has special traits to work with. Based off his size, I feel Maurice could dominate if he was the lightning side of a thunder and lightning duo where he could partner with a bigger back. Rockette has also proven that he can be a serious threat as a receiver out of the backfield. He is a natural hands catcher and an effective route runner. He is built for the change of pace role and he could even handle a good sized weekly workload at the next level. From what I can tell, Maurice is going to be a steal for a college program. He currently holds one offer from the D3 powerhouse, UW- Whitewater. It will be interesting to see if more follow. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="94739" first="Albert" last="Romero"], 6’3" 215 lbs- Onalaska</strong> Above, I mentioned Rockette would be a great lightning role in a thunder and lightning duo. Romero would be excellent in the thunder role. The big back can handle a big workload and pick up the hard to earn yards between the tackles. He is a north-south runner that doesn’t waste time dancing in the backfield or trying to juke defenders. If a defender comes up to make the tackle Romero is more than willing to lower his shoulder and go right over the defender. Don’t let that fool you though. He has enough play speed to pick up the big chunk plays. You won’t find many players more rugged and build for his potential role that Romero is either. He is raw too. He is just scratching the surface on his potential. There is a lot for a college team to work with that’s for sure! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="30915" first="Dylan" last="Dohr"], 6’0" 170 lbs- Hilbert</strong> Dylan is a long and lean prospect that has the potential to fill out really nicely. Dohr is a longer strider so he has that deceptive speed in his game where he ends up running faster than it looks as he was able to outrun a lot of the defenders he has faced. I’m a big fan of his vision and his ability to set up blocks too. Dylan does a great job of being patient in the backfield and allows his blocks to set up. As soon as they do he sees the lane quickly and gets through it before the defense can get off their blocks or meet him in the alley. The subtle jukes and movements in his carries don’t wow you, but they lead to him giving himself quite a bit more separation from defenders than you think and it allows him to create big plays. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="30863" first="Ja’Shawn" last="Austin"], 5’11" 170 lbs- Nicolet</strong> Ja’Shawn is a very talented change of pace back. His burst and play speed allow him to cut through defenses quickly and untouched. The ability to make people miss is a big time positive for him as well. Austin knows how to finish his runs too. The play making ability shown in his film make it clear to me that Ja’Shawn should be a well pursued third down and change of pace back. He dominates in space thanks to his instincts and play making ability. He isn’t brought down easily either. For his size, it is very impressive how hard he fights to pick up extra yards after contact. His feet don’t quit and he plays until he is down for good. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="30985" first="Nick" last="Baudhuin"], 5’11" 190 lbs- Southern Door</strong> Baudhuin is a physical running back prospect. He plays bigger than his listed size, and as he continues to fill out he is going to shape into an impact player at the next level. Nick has proved to be a well rounded talent in the backfield too. He can run hard between the tackles, he can get to the outside, and he can catch the ball out of the backfield. His best trait is definitely his powerful play style though. That’s his bread and butter. When he can get in a groove and impose his will on defenders at the point of contact he usually comes out the winner. Nick holds one offer from Wisconsin Lutheran College at this time, so there is an opportunity to come and pick up an under the radar player here! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="30876" first="Graham" last="Stier"], 5’8" 175 lbs- Verona Area</strong> Graham has game breaking speed to offer a team at the next level. He has the ability to break contain on every snap and fly down the sideline for the score. His burst allows him to hit any crease that he sees and take it to the house. Whether between the tackles or outside, it doesn’t matter. If he can hit it at full speed it’s done. He is the receiving threat that you love to see in a player like him. Because he isn’t the biggest he will have to fit into that chagne of pace role and third down role. The more you can do in those areas the better, and Graham can do a lot of those things. Speed, burst, play making ability, ability to make people miss, and being a receiving threat are all there. I don’t see any offers on his twitter page, so come get your steal! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="94752" first="Eden" last="Jacobson"], 6’1" 185 lbs- Spencer/ Columbus Catholic</strong> Eden is another player on this list that could be classified in the Athlete category. For every impressive run in his film he has an impressive downfield reception. Today, we will look at him as a running back. I think that could be a nice position for him. When he gets the ball in his hands he runs like an RB. He has a physicality to it and his ability to carry the ball through traffic and find the small openings to burst through is fun to watch from Eden. He has the innate ability to make defenders miss in those tight quarters too.Those receiving skills could be very useful at the RB position as well. He is able to run routes that create a lot of separation and he is a natural pass catcher. He doesn't panic when the ball is in the air. Whatever he ends up being at the next level, Jacobson is going to give his team a play making option.