The Top Class of 2022 running backs in New Jersey

Prep Redzone will release an updated list of the top Class of 2022 New Jersey High School football players during the month of May. In the meantime, we will spend the next several weeks doing research on prospects. Prep Redzone New Jersey is always open to hear from coaches. If you know of a Class of 2022 running back that should be considered for this list, email us at easternparecruits@gmail.com. <strong>No. 7 [player_tooltip player_id="136734" first="Zachary" last="Palmer-Smith"]/6-0/205/Delran (previously not ranked)</strong> Palmer-Smith made the most out of the four games he played in during the 2020 season. He carried the football 87 times for 828 yards (9.5 ypc) and four touchdowns. Palmer-Smith is a big back and doesn’t have that breakaway speed. However, he produced big numbers on the field when it counted. <strong>No. 6 [player_tooltip player_id="136733" first="Adam" last="Klenk"]/6-2/215/Seneca (previously not ranked)</strong> Klenk had a good season despite his team’s struggles. He carried the football 142 times for 853 yards (6.0) and three touchdowns during the 2020 season. He also caught 14 passes for 183 yards and one touchdown. <strong>No. 5 [player_tooltip player_id="136732" first="Hunter" last="Van Zant"]/5-11/175/Boonton (previously not ranked)</strong> Van Zant had the most productive season out of any New Jersey running back in 2020. He carried the football 147 times for 1,750 yards (11.9 ypc) and 21 touchdowns in seven games last season. He’s a bit on the smallish side but tough enough to run from the fullback position. <strong>No. 4 [player_tooltip player_id="136731" first="Sam" last="Slade"]/5-10/185/St. Peter’s Prep (previously not ranked)</strong> Slade has offers from Columbia, UMass, and Navy. He carried the football 59 times for 474 yards and three touchdowns in six games last season. Slade also caught four passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. <strong>No. 3 [player_tooltip player_id="27989" first="Ryan" last="Butler"]/5-11/205/Bergen Catholic (previously No. 4)</strong> Butler committed to Princeton on Mar. 7. Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, UMass, Old Dominion, Penn, and Yale were the other schools that offered Butler. He ran 129 times for 865 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 19 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns last season. <strong>No. 2 [player_tooltip player_id="27978" first="LeQuint" last="Allen"]/6-0/190/Millville (previously No. 1)</strong> Allen committed to Syracuse on Mar. 5, 2021. He also had offers from Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Temple, Virginia, West Virginia, and William &amp; Mary. Allen showed a little of his ability to both run and catch the football last season. He carried the football 107 times for 471 yards and touchdowns and caught 15 passes for 136 yards and one touchdown last season. <strong>No. 1 [player_tooltip player_id="27984" first="Kanye" last="Udoh"]/6-0/200/St. Augustine (previously No. 2)</strong> Udoh has offers from Boston College, Buffalo, UConn, Maryland, UMass, Nebraska, Rutgers, Syracuse, and Temple. Udoh carried the football 129 times for 649 yards and six touchdowns last season. Prep Redzone New Jersey will expand this list when the updated rankings come out in September.