#TN2022: Updated RB Rankings (Fall Edition)

Moving right along with our updated senior rankings, here we look at the running backs and where they stack up as we head into the end of the regular season. Several guys have taken a step up with their games this year and jumped up the rankings while others have regressed and dropped. This is a talented crop of backs in Tennessee this year and plenty are still available! <a href="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/rankings/2022-rankings/">#TN2022 RB Rankings</a> [player_tooltip player_id="150835" first="Craig" last="Cunningham II"] (5'9 185) - Lausanne (Moved to 4th Overall from 8th) - The biggest move up the rankings comes from Cunningham and this move is warranted after a stellar summer camp tour and an outstanding senior season that is still ongoing. The Lynx running back is one of the top rushers in the state this season and has shown why college coaches need to start looking his way .Cunningham is a strong, compact and versatile back with great vision and the ability to hit the home run. He is a well balanced back that can provide a little bit of everything to the backfield and a value to the offense and locker room. [player_tooltip player_id="102082" first="Shawn" last="Gary"] (5'11 185) - South Doyle (Went from 23rd ranked in ATH to 5th in RB's) - Gary has broken out into one of the leading rushers in the state and a talent that could be playing on the Division One level one day. This is a big and talented back that can pick em up and go! Once he gets a head of steam behind him, Gary turns on the speed and is hard to catch. The Cherokees senior is also a physical runner with shifty feet that can get him out of trouble and find positive yards. Academics are the issue right now when it comes to college offers but his path should one day lead him to the next level one day. [player_tooltip player_id="198576" first="Jamarious" last="Brooks"] (5'9 185) - Memp. Central (Went from unranked to 6th Overall) - Nobody has had a bigger breakout senior season than Brooks. The Warriors strong and speedy back went from an unknown to one of the best senior backs in this state. Holding a few offers, including one from UT-Martin, Brooks is a well put together back that provides power, speed and vision to the backfield. When evaluating his film further, Brooks is almost as complete of a back that you will find. The only hindrance is his height but Brooks plays much bigger and has the talent and home run hitting abilities that college coaches should be looking at. [player_tooltip player_id="102128" first="Sean" last="Williams"] (5'10 190) - BGA (Jumped from 16th in ATH's to 7th RB Overall) - Williams has taken advantage of his last year in high school football as this Williamson County back has been a workhorse this year and shown that he has what it takes to make it on the high college level. The Wildcats has produced big numbers this season doing so both on the ground and through the air. Williams is a multi talented back with balance, deceptive athleticism and nice hands. He is also a willing blocker. Williams has received a few offers but nothing big as of yet but hopefully that changes soon. [player_tooltip player_id="102115" first="Keondre" last="Jarmon"] (5'10 185) - Knox. Catholic (Moved up three spots from 15th to 12th) - This East Tennessee running back has been an unheralded prospect for his Fighting Irish team over the past few years but was given the keys full time this year and he has ran with it. A strong, well balanced back with athleticism, Jarmon has taken that next step in his game by developing his speed and an overall core strength to place him on the map as a recruitable college prospect. Just recently, Jarmon added an offer from SEMO and several others are sniffing around, so don't be surprised to see this Knoxville area gain more interest going forward. [player_tooltip player_id="150845" first="B.K." last="Taylor"] (5'9 200) - Haywood (Rose several spots from 19th to 13th) - Taylor remains in the Top 20 and has moved up several spots after stringing together a strong senior campaign and displaying a variety of talents from his running back position. Taylor is a strong, stocky, compact back that plays low to the ground and uses his excellent vision to maneuver his way through the mesh. He will lower the shoulder and drive through the tackler while also having the ability to hit the open field quickly, finding the end zone. This is an underrated talent that should be getting more college looks very soon. [player_tooltip player_id="216910" first="Josh" last="Strickland, jr"] (5'10 200) - Nash. Christian (Moved from unranked to 16th Overall) - Going into the 2021 season, Strickland, Jr was a guy that had a lot of work to do with his body and game overall and boy has he transformed both of those in major ways. The Eagles senior back has slimmed down and gained more speed which has turned into a monster senior year that has placed him in contention for Mr. Football honors. Strickland, Jr is a physical back with good enough speed to break out into the open field. He is also a solid receiver and well built to become a solid pass blocker. Harding Football recently offered but they certainly won't be his last one. [player_tooltip player_id="217555" first="Steele" last="Haynes"] (5'11 185) - USJ (Went from unranked to 17th Overall) - Making the move into the Top 20 backs in the state has been earned this season by Haynes as he has become the bell cow back for his Bruins team this year and has put up some stellar numbers. This Jackson area back has been very productive throughout his career but has really broken out this season as an established back that has college traits. Haynes can run and he can find the end zone quickly while also being an able receiver out of the backfield. The Bruins back is quite versatile and athletic and worthy of college looks. [player_tooltip player_id="220230" first="Troy" last="Martin"] (5'11 185) - Collierville (Moved from unranked to 18th Overall) - Martin has jumped into these rankings and it's well deserved as this West Tennessee back has become the featured back for his undefeated Dragons team this year and performed quite well. Quick and elusive in short areas, Martin is an athletic back with nifty feet and the speed to find the open field quickly. He shows excellent vision, weeding his way through traffic and then has a strong burst to get out into the secondary. Martin does need a little more weight but he presents college coaches a back with athleticism, versatility and upside. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/rankings/2022-rankings/">Full #TN2022 Running Back Class</a> Rankings Notes Some of the guys who dropped in the rankings include …. - [player_tooltip player_id="101990" first="Kendall" last="Jackson"] - Oak Ridge: Dropped from 4th to 10th Overall - [player_tooltip player_id="102048" first="De'Andre" last="Kelly"] - South Pittsburg: Fell from 5th to 11th Overall - [player_tooltip player_id="150832" first="Jayden" last="Robinson"] - Pearl Cohn: Dropped from 6th Overall to 14th - [player_tooltip player_id="102085" first="Tetoe" last="Boyd, Jr"] - Cleveland: Fell from 11th to 15th Overall - [player_tooltip player_id="102117" first="Diivonta" last="Phillips"] - Davidson Acad.: Dropped from 16th Overall to 20th - [player_tooltip player_id="102139" first="J.D." last="Dunn"] - CAK: Fell to 22nd Overall from 12th - [player_tooltip player_id="102122" first="Auvic" last="White"] - Munford: Dropped from 14th to 24th Overall - The Fall edition of the RB rankings saw a big influx of new prospects this time around, including several who have officially established themselves as running backs going forward. Along with those mentioned above in Gary, Brooks, Williams, Haynes and Martin, a few other new names to know about include [player_tooltip player_id="101998" first="Nakelin" last="McAfee"] (19th) from King's Academy, [player_tooltip player_id="209414" first="Connor" last="Delashmitt"] (26th) from Silverdale Academy, [player_tooltip player_id="216904" first="Ranen" last="Blackburn"] (27th) from White House, [player_tooltip player_id="102144" first="Mason" last="Gudger"] (28th) from Greeneville and [player_tooltip player_id="219480" first="Chaye" last="McElroy"] from Giles County. - The top three backs remain the same with [player_tooltip player_id="101973" first="Dallan" last="Hayden"] (CBHS), [player_tooltip player_id="102017" first="Jordan" last="Bryant-James"] (Oakland) and [player_tooltip player_id="102012" first="Alex" last="Broome"] (Lipscomb Acad.) at the top but the rest of the top five and top ten overall has shifted. Coming up right behind Broome to round out the top five now includes Cunningham II and Gary. These two backs have put together stellar senior campaigns and placed themselves among the top in-state running backs for the senior class. Finishing off the top ten in order goes as follows: 6th - Brooks, 7th - Williams, 8th - [player_tooltip player_id="102142" first="Khalik" last="Ganaway"], 9th - [player_tooltip player_id="150833" first="Gabriel" last="Walker"] and 10th - Jackson.