PRZ Iowa | C/O 2022 Rankings | December Update

Some newcomers emerged and some existing ranked players saw their stock rise through outstanding and substantial play this fall. Take a look below to see where they landed in the 2022 position rankings update and find out what makes them so good at their craft. These Running Backs had big Senior campaigns that should lead to plenty of opportunity at the next level. There is an abundance of talent and potential to be found on this list. Newcomers RB3 [player_tooltip player_id="243141" first="Bryant" last="Williams"], 5’9 175, Burlington, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12473918/Bryant-Williams">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BBryantWilliams">Twitter</a> Williams put together one of the most impressive seasons on the ground for the Grayhounds; the stat line is jaw dropping and the ability he put on film will certainly get the attention of a lot of college coaches out there, especially after Iowa offered a PWO. Williams carried 219 times for 2,226 yards and 28 touchdowns. To rush for over 200 yards per game at the varsity level puts Williams in rare company and he seemingly came out of nowhere this year. His monster Senior campaign lands him at number 3 in the Running Back rankings. Williams is a deadly combination of power and speed. He has tremendous contact balance and agility near the line of scrimmage. He also has legitimate 4.4 speed that shows up on the field. Williams needed nothing more than a small crease all year long. RB10 [player_tooltip player_id="243142" first="Darren" last="Richardson"], 6’0 200, City High, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11347919/Darren-Richardson">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/24_DRichardson">Twitter</a> Richardson emerged this year as City High’s lead back after splitting carries in a committee approach a year ago and he did not disappoint. He took control with a big performance in week 4 against Ames and there was no looking back. Richardson quickly became recognized as one of the state’s top power backs and he ran hard for 1,012 yards and 16 touchdowns. He proved to have more than one dimension and was a valuable target on passing downs and an excellent lead blocker. Richardson’s knack for pounding the rock earns him a spot at number 10 in the Running Back rankings. He took as snaps as the Fullback in City High’s I-Formation, but has more than enough ability to line up as a single back. Richardson took dive after dive for big, angry, violent runs this fall. RB12 [player_tooltip player_id="243143" first="Dion" last="Hutch"], 5’9 175, Valley, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11412723/Dion-Hutch">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/dionhutch08">Twitter</a> Hutch, part of arguably Iowa’s best one-two punch out of the backfield, had a very successful fall rushing for 803 yards and 11 touchdowns on 123 carries. His elusiveness, quick feet, cuts, and vision that he proved to have against some of the best competition the state had to offer lands him at number 12 in the Running Back rankings. Hutch made several big, explosive plays this year that showed so much of his ability in one snap. He took a toss against Roosevelt, reversed field when he saw there was nothing there, got north-south as soon as everyone in pursuit was out leveraged, and ran through the contact of four defenders to reach the end zone. His speed through breaks and changes of direction always stands out and is a clear sign of someone who can get it done at the next level. RB 14 [player_tooltip player_id="243149" first="Jacob" last="Brecht"], 5’11 185, Benton, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11347265/Jacob-Brecht">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Brecht21Jacob">Twitter</a> The different things that Brecht could do at full speed like cutting, throwing stiff arms, stopping and starting, and more make him so dangerous. There was one play where he hit a fake hurdle near the sideline that froze a defender and he cut back into the middle of the field for a score. Those moves get him into the rankings at number 14 in the class of 2022. Brecht carried 205 times for 1,397 yards and 14 touchdowns this season; he was also the Bobcats’ leading tackler. The athleticism that he flaunted made it very clear that he could play a number of positions at the next level. There aren’t many players that look as smooth or could make it look as easy as Brecht. It’s like the game just slows down for him and he is able to channel some extra patience to make decisions a step ahead with the ball. RB16 [player_tooltip player_id="243150" first="Drew" last="Benson"], 5’10 190, Sioux City West, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13962185/Drew-Benson">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/_drewbenson_">Twitter</a> Benson was able to put together a very impressive season out of the backfield for the Wolverines in just seven games due to forfeit. He ran for 1,176 yards and 11 touchdowns on 161 carries and did so on a winless team that only managed to score 72 points on the season. He even added 281 receiving yards and a touchdown to wrap up the year second in all purpose yards in all of 5A. The body of work Benson was able to achieve is that much more impressive when you take that into consideration. Benson has the ability to accelerate to top speed in a flash. He is also a magician in close quarters. He scored a 21 yard touchdown that looked like it was going nowhere because three defenders were in the backfield when he got the handoff; he made them all miss and flew into the end zone. Stockrisers RB1 [player_tooltip player_id="23967" first="Colin" last="Kadolph"], 5’11 190, Ankeny, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11103176/Colin-Kadolph">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/KadolphColin">Twitter</a> Kadolph overtakes the top spot in the class of 2022 Running Back rankings after a stellar senior season that saw the Minnesota State commit lead 5a in rushing yards, all purpose yards, and touchdowns, set virtually every Ankeny rushing and scoring record, and help lead his team back to the state finals. He finished with 1,801 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground on 260 carries. Ankeny runs Power as well as anyone and Kadolph’s abilities were a perfect fit for operating behind that blocking scheme. His patience to allow the pull to get through, his vision to cut into a gap that the blocking created, his nimble and shifty movements to make second level defenders miss as he got beyond the line of scrimmage, and his straight line speed to outrun every was nothing short of remarkable. RB7 [player_tooltip player_id="148786" first="Mason" last="Applegate"], 6’0 200, Iowa City West, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/5400925/Mason-Applegate">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/mason_applegate">Twitter</a> Applegate isn’t new to Prep Redzone rankings; he had an outstanding Junior season as a Defensive End. He is new to the Running Back column, though, and really saw his stock rise when he started taking handoffs. He comes in at number 7 in his new category after earning all-state honors and rushing for 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns on just 108 carries; His 10.2 yards per carry led all of 5A. Only 6 athletes in the top 15 in that category had at least 100 carries, only 5 broke the 1,000 yard mark, and only 6 scored double digit touchdowns. That is very telling of just how successful he was this year, especially for it being his first at the position. Applegate has the physical skill set to be a great Running Back at the next level. It is scary to think about how great he can be if he gets a chance to develop. RB 8 [player_tooltip player_id="98692" first="Marcus" last="Beatty"], 5’10 195, Independence, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11554388/Marcus-Beatty">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MarcusLBeatty1">Twitter</a> Beatty moves up to the number 8 spot in the very deep and densely talented Running Back rankings after an enormous season that saw him lead the entire state, classes A-5A, in rushing yards. He went off for 2,334 yards and 25 touchdowns on 332 carries in 11 games. Beatty showed all of Iowa what it means to be your team’s bell cow and someone that can be relied on to deliver snap after snap. Beatty brought an unparalleled level of toughness, durability, and skill to the field. He was an expert at taking everything that his blocking created for him to maximize each and every carry. Whenever he could turn it into something more he did. The way Beatty could get an edge on off-tackle runs and work laterally across defenders as he got downhill on inside runs was special. Not many can do both. RB18 [player_tooltip player_id="245552" first="Jonathon" last="Presswood"], 5’10 215, Fort Dodge, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11410774/Jonathon-Presswood">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/jonnyboi101103">Twitter</a> Presswood stepped in as the lead man this fall and really impressed with an imposing combination of size and speed. The big back rumbled for 1,196 yards and 10 touchdowns; he showed off some ability while racking up those stats that helped him move up to number 18 in a very gifted class of Running Backs. Fort Dodge was imposing with Presswood in the backfield, especially in their three back sets. Having to defeat pulls and lead blocks and still have to worry about getting Presswood to the ground was a daunting task for their opponents. Presswood barreled right through some of the better defensive players in 4A; he was going to win his battle, especially with a head of steam. If yards gained after contact were a tracked high school stat Presswood would be at the top of that board. RB27 [player_tooltip player_id="147972" first="Gavin" last="Maguire"], 5’9 185, Logan-Magnolia, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11666999/Gavin-Maguire">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinMaguire19">Twitter</a> Maguire was undoubtedly one of the best triple option Fullbacks in Iowa this fall rushing for 1,589 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was a whole lot more than just three yards and a cloud of dust; he was an every down threat who made the whole playbook dangerous. Maguire moves up to number 27. Any team running a variation of the Wing T is successful when their Fullback outpaces carries by a large margin. Maguire accounted for 48% of the rushes this fall in a big effort that led the Panthers to the quarterfinals. Maguire is tough as nails, especially for his size, and fulfilled his job description with exactness. He delivered the blow, never took it, and was extremely difficult to get to the ground. He extended a lot of plays for big gains with great body control and nimble footwork most Fullbacks don’t have.