2023 Rankings: Running Backs Lighting Up Their Offenses (Part 1)

The age of spread offenses has changed how we view running backs. But the teams who have identified strong ball carriers and use them effectively will always be the same. Third-and-short, game on the line, these five backs have already earned the trust of their coaches and teammates and can be relied upon to pick up that crucial yard. This is Part 1 of our look at the best Class of 2023 running backs South Carolina has to offer. [player_tooltip player_id="91159" first="Ian" last="Stroman"] School: Wagener-Salley Analysis: One half of the War Eagles’ misdirection running game (more on that in a moment), Stroman is the wing option sprinting off the tackle into the middle of the pack. In doing so, he utilizing his small frame (5-foot-9, 150 pounds) to his advantage. [player_tooltip player_id="91153" first="Cam" last="Davis"] School: Wagener-Salley Analysis: Davis is basically a do-it-yourself guide to the Wildcat formation at Wagener-Salley, which often elects to take advantage of an extra blocker and just let him do the heavy lifting. He put up 866 yards and eight touchdowns, almost exclusively out of that package. [player_tooltip player_id="91152" first="Thomas" last="Williams"] School: Powdersville Analysis: The 5-foot-11 tailback is a perfect fit for an offense that tends to do everything possible to get it balls carriers outside the tackles. Williams, though, has no problem breaking it back inside and making the most of his touches. He’s a big reason the Patriots scored 40 points per game. [player_tooltip player_id="91151" first="Jaylen" last="Foster"] School: Emerald Analysis: Foster averaged better than 150 yards per game in 2020 while scoring 11 touchdowns. And while a lot of the production came in what Emerald would describe as a down year, he’ll have a ton of chances to improve his totals for two more seasons. [player_tooltip player_id="91147" first="Nehemiah" last="Brooks"] (Pictured above) School: Ridge Spring-Monetta Analysis: We’re not sure we’ve seen a more productive safety valve who also happens to be pushing 230 pounds. Brooks is a powerful runner, yes, but his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield makes him explosive for a Trojans offense that is gelling a bunch of young players.