Mid-Season Standouts: Running Backs

Below is a stable of running backs who are Maryland's leading rushers, touchdown leaders, and big playmakers. The stats shared are stats up to week 6 of this season. [player_tooltip player_id="90612" first="Kelvin" last="Mendez"] |2022|Harford Tech 1138 yards 16 TD’s Very well rounded down hill back at 5’9 195lbs, and runs 4.43 40 yard dash. Kelvin can do it all out of the back field. He can break off big gains between the tackles, run defenders over and keep the chains moving, runs through arm tackles, can catch out of the backfield, and is a very strong ball carrier. The combination of speed ,pure strength, and power is what makes Mendez so dangerous. His playing style is physical, he is the type of back that can create big plays with his vision and wear down a defense with his physicality. [embed]https://twitter.com/KMendez33/status/1445088930135748623?s=20[/embed]   Andre Smith |2022|Lackey 1133 yards, 15 TD’s Smith is a hard hat between the tackles type of back. He doesn't have a very flashy playstyle, he wont wow you with blazing speed or an arsenal of jukes, he runs north and south and gets the tough yards. You shouldn't doubt his ability to break off the long runs, he has 5+ long touchdown runs over 30 yards. At 5'10 190lbs Smith plays bigger than his stature, he falls forward on all of his runs, demonstrating the strength in his running style. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16636743/6164c64c5eec2c06fcb6572a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smiths HUDL</a>   <img class="size-medium wp-image-204071 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/Dunbar-3-224x300.jpg" alt="" width="224" height="300" />[player_tooltip player_id="90676" first="Devin" last="Roche"] |2023|Dunbar 1124 yards, 18 TD’s Roche is a big play waiting to happen. He can make plays anywhere on the field, at running back, quarterback, slot receiver and special teams. He for sure may be the most dangerous player in Baltimore City. He has breakaway speed running a 4.45 40 and the agility to complement it. At 5'9 177lbs he doesn't run with a scat back style, he initiates contact when the odds are in his favor. [embed]https://twitter.com/dev3k2/status/1444676658473099264?s=20[/embed]   Wilson Smothers Jr |2023|Queen Anne’s 1104 yards, 15TDs Smothers is the close to being a complete back at 5'10 200lbs and pass blocking ability. Good between the tackles but has the speed to pull away from defenders ,the power to run through arm tackles and over would be tacklers. Smothers is clearly running all over defenses with 1000+ yards, I'd keep my eye on his second half of the season to see if he shows any valuable skills like catching and making defenders miss in space. If so we could be looking at one of the top backs in the class of 2023. [embed]https://twitter.com/wilsonsmothers/status/1446990871153500160?s=20[/embed]   Victor Listori |2022|Chesapeake AA 1000+ yards, 12 TD’s Listori is an electrifying swiss army knife for the Chesapeake Cougars. He plays both sides of the ball and is force on special teams. Very elusive in open space and has the speed to take it the distance. Hard hitter on defense and has a knack for blocking field goals. He brings elusiveness, power, and speed when he lines up in the back field , very entertaining player to watch. At 5'11 190lbs with his skill set he should be on a lot more radars. Test numbers: Bench 330 | 225 reps: 17 | 4.63 40 | 4.02 and 4.07 Shuttle | 38” Vertical | 10’ broad jump | RB/OLB| 3.6 GPA | [embed]https://twitter.com/VListorti/status/1449486119368855552?s=20[/embed]   <img class="size-medium wp-image-204073 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/Dunbar-25-226x300.jpg" alt="" width="226" height="300" />Tristen Kenan |2023|Dunbar 700+ yards , 12 TD’s Kenan is a gifted athlete that any team would value to have on their team. Big play ability and runs with determination. Kenan's blocking stands out on film, he blocks just as hard as he runs. He would easily be the key guy on any Baltimore city team, but the 1-2 punch between he and Roche is lethal in the Dunbar backfield. In person he looks bigger than 5'11 185lbs, he passes the eye test for sure. I had the chance to evaluate Kenan at the CN1 Offense-Defense 7on7 Tournament at Towson University and after his physic , his acceleration, range on defense, and athleticism stood out over the rest. He splits touches with Roche so numbers may seem a little slim compared to others on the list, but the kid is the real deal. [embed]https://twitter.com/25for6ix_/status/1444669176950530048?s=20[/embed]   [player_tooltip player_id="208297" first="Troy" last="Dukes"] |2022|Kenwood 975 yards, 13 TD’s Very hard runner, he consistently runs through defenses like a hot knife through butter whether they get a hand on him or not. You don't see him get tackled one on one often. 6'0 running back out of a small school, he could be a good grab for a program. [embed]https://twitter.com/troy2slimey/status/1444032834608549891?s=20[/embed]   [player_tooltip player_id="208256" first="Chris" last="Butler"] |2022|Milford 600+ yards, 10 TDS in 5 games Butler is another firecracker type of player. He's a 2 time Offense-Defense All-American playing in the all american game in Tennessee and then in New York. He may have a smaller stature right now but he plays big. Big play waiting to happen, he's very fast, quick and twitchy. He doesn't shy away from contact and even delivers the blow in between the tackles, showing his aggressiveness and physicality. In the right system he will excel with just his athleticism. With a redshirt year or a good summer in the weight room he'll be on someone's collegiate roster after this season. If you're looking for a spark in your offense Butler is your guy. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11272188/Chris-Butler" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Butlers HUDL</a>   Nyron Campbell-Adams |2023|Friendly Adams is an absolute steal, he's 5'10 175lbs, and ran a 4.46 40 as a sophomore. Nyron's athleticism explodes off the screen, as he consistently converts fake punts for first downs or touchdowns. The play that really jumps off the screen for this kid is a fake punt where he hurdles a defender on the sideline and takes it in for a touchdown. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16960341/617216c82ab1560a7c88d09a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nyron's HUDL</a> [embed]https://twitter.com/Exclusiveron_/status/1416917603210174464?s=20[/embed] [embed]https://twitter.com/Exclusiveron_/status/1416917350830559232?s=20[/embed]