Stock Up: 2023 Running Backs

As we continue our Stock Up series, we move over to the running backs that impressed us this season. Keep in mind that in this series, we’re not just talking about guys that raised their recruiting profiles, but also have shown us that they deserve to move up our rankings. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="44989" first="Jre" last="Jackson"], 5’8 175- Sanford</strong> We were high on Jackson before the season. Then he put up numbers that, for lack of a better term, were just stupidly good. He ran for at least 125 yards and a touchdown in every game, including two 225-plus yard games and a game in which he ran for over 160 yards on just nine touches. Jackson runs with excellent patience and good pad level and has the speed to get to the outside and then separate on long runs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="44998" first="Zion" last="Myers"], 5’10 200- Sanderson</strong> Myers was on our radar before the season, but he’s moving up thanks to a strong sophomore campaign. Myers bulked up before the season and it really shows in his tape as he’s always falling forward and dragging defenders. Over the course of a game he can really wear down opposing defenses. He’s a capable receiver and while he’s not really going to "wow" anyone with breakaway speed, he’s difficult to bring down in the open field, especially in one-on-one situations. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="121181" first="Jayden" last="Shotwell"], 5’9 185- Seventy First</strong> Another talented running back from the Fayetteville area, Shotwell put on a show this season. Shotwell’s acceleration through the hole is impressive as he gets to his top speed in a hurry, often forcing defenders to take bad angles. Seventy First does a great job of rotating their talented running backs, but Shotwell still averaged over 100 yards a game and nearly eight yards a carry. <strong>Kemarion Baldwin, 5’9 215- St. Pauls</strong> To be completely honest, we didn’t catch wind of Baldwin until very recently, but he looks like the real deal. A bigger back, he has a lot of athleticism and good speed. He breaks a good amount of tackles and displays excellent patience in waiting for holes to open up. He’s a guy we’re looking forward to watching over the next few year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="121427" first="Que’Sean" last="Brown"], 5’8 150- Walkertown</strong> Brown does it all for Walkertown, from catching passes to making big runs to returning kickoffs. He will need to add some weight in the next few years, but he possesses game-breaking speed and excellent vision, allowing him to find open spaces. I’m impressed with the balance he displays regularly and his ability to bounce off tacklers, even at his current size.