Small School 22’s: Running Backs To Know

The RB position in the 2022 class is stacked, and some of the best talent comes from smaller schools. From 4A down to 2A, there are some big time playmakers that project to have big senior seasons, and draw some much deserved attention. Here are 5 small school RB's to know in the 2022 class: [player_tooltip player_id="42871" first="Zach" last="Hammett"], <em>5’8" 170lbs, River Valley HS</em> Hammett rushed for 911 yards and 14 TD’s on 81 carries his junior campaign, and was a threat in the pass game with 12 receptions for 142 yards and 2 TD’s, and finished with 1,457 all purpose yards with 19 total TD’s. He is a fast, jittery, twitchy and slippery kid with massive big play ability. He has shown the ability to juke his way through a wall of defenders to make big plays all throughout the season. He can cut on a dime and make opponents miss, use his speed to burn past a defense, and even use physicality when he needs to.  Don’t pass on this kid because of his size, as his athleticism and position versatility give him a very high ceiling. A very well-rounded football player. [player_tooltip player_id="42888" first="Mike" last="Castro"], <em>5’10" 185lbs, Seton Catholic Prep</em> Castro is a very talented athlete all around and a well-rounded RB. Only played 3 games his junior year but really proved to showcase his talent in the limited season. He displays a nice initial burst with excellent vision to find and slip through tight spaces. Extremely elusive and shifty and he can make multiple people miss on the same play and turn it into a big play. Good twitch and solid second level speed for frequent big play ability. He can catch the ball from the backfield or line up in the slot and run crisp routes and generate separation. A very exciting player to watch and projects to have a massive senior season. [player_tooltip player_id="100649" first="RJ" last="Keeton"], <em>5’9" 170lbs, Casa Grande Union HS</em> Keeton ran for 851 yards and 11 TD’s his junior season, and was a key factor along with highly touted QB [player_tooltip player_id="42811" first="Angel" last="Flores"] on the Casa Grande explosive offense. He displayed solid vision and showed good physicality at the point of contact. He has a solid change of direction and flashed his ability to get shifty and make opponents miss in open space and is explosive out of cuts. He isn’t a major burner in terms of speed, however, he has a nice burst and possesses enough speed to finish big runs. [player_tooltip player_id="100717" first="Gabriel" last="McKenney"], <em>6’0" 180lbs, Arizona Lutheran Academy</em> Mckenney sizes up with a strong athletic frame with the potential to handle a workhorse load. He shows good vision for developing holes and accelerates well once he sees an opening lane. He reads and cuts off blocks well and displays solid physicality between the tackles always carrying forward momentum. He’s flashed his lateral mobility and change of direction in space as he’s made opponents miss and sprung himself loose into the second level. He did well in a variety of offensive sets. [player_tooltip player_id="100700" first="Kiko" last="Trejo"], <em>5’7" 185lbs, Amphitheater HS</em> Trejo ran for 479 yards and 6 TD’s in just a 4 game season due to COVID complications with Southern Arizona school districts. He displays a nice initial burst and continues to accelerate through tight spaces. HE showcased his balance well as he frequently too some hard initial hits, then bounced off to continue upfield for extra yards. He displays solid lateral agility at the LOS to be able to bounce to the edge if needed. He possesses deceptive speed to finish big runs and holds big play ability.