PRZ Iowa | 2024 Rankings Update | RB Top 10

The way some of the top backs in Iowa’s class of 2024 have already dominated the varsity field or, at the very least, have shown signs they are ready to take over next season has been impressive. Learn about what makes the top 10 Running Backs in the class of 2024 special. Their unique skill sets and abilities should make them some of the most talked about players in years to come. RB1 [player_tooltip player_id="156487" first="Titus" last="Cram"], 6’1" / 190, Bondurant-Farrar, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14590093/618c4fac0dc0230b84df2e6a">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Titus_Cram6">Twitter</a> Cram, the number 1 ranked Running Back in the class of 2024, went off for 1,461 yards and 26 touchdowns on 193 carries; he added 232 yards and 2 more scores in the passing game. Cram has tremendous patience and vision behind the line of scrimmage and top notch contact balance and physicality immediately beyond it. What impresses most right now about the way Cram runs the ball are all of the subtle, explosive moves he makes as he’s fighting for daylight. He does a great job of feeling where defenders are and, with a ton of twitch, hits cuts and changes of direction that make defenders slip off. Cram is truly an elite athlete. RB2 [player_tooltip player_id="156461" first="Cam" last="Buffington"], 6’3" / 200, Winfield-Mt Union, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11757541/619bd9447bddaf05502b85c5">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CamBuffington">Twitter</a> Buffington, an Iowa commit and the number 2 Running Back, took on an expanded role as the Wolves’ Quarterback and really shined. He totaled 2,185 yards and 35 touchdowns, cracking 1,000 yards as both a rusher and passer. What he accomplished speaks to the elite ability the Hawkeyes staff saw when they offered him as a Freshman. As a ball carrier Buffington is so functionally strong and has such great body control. The way he can power right through tacklers and appears to be totally unphased is impressive. What is certain, whether he plays offense or defense at the next level, is that he is a powerhouse downhill. RB3 [player_tooltip player_id="247944" first="Cason" last="Stevenson"], 5’10" / 175, Nevada, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14862169/618d5eb990ef0e04f8dc17ca">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CStevensonF4L">Twitter</a> Stevenson, an all-state selection this year as a Sophomore, comes in at number 3 in the rankings after going off as one of two Nevada Cubs to rush for over 1,000 yards; he pounded the rock for 1,138 and 14 house calls. The Cubs do an excellent job utilizing pullers and Stevenson is so talented at finding the rushing lanes his lead blockers create. The way he trails and then puts his foot into the ground and bursts ahead is very impressive. If daylight does not immediately present itself, Stevenson shows maturity in allowing blockers to get downfield, cuts or bounces behind them, and puts tacklers in a bind all over again. RB4 [player_tooltip player_id="156577" first="Dayton" last="Harrell"], 5’9" / 165, Sioux City North, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13545596/61780275578d4b09b4d95aeb">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/daytonharrell28">Twitter</a> Harrell is one of the fastest football players you will find on a football field in Iowa. The number 4 ranked Back in the class of 2024 rushed for 527 yards and 7 touchdowns on 88 runs and figures to claim a larger share of carries moving forward as the Stars’ only returning ball carrier. Harrell is so nimble after the handoff; the way he can effortlessly change direction to make tacklers miss is impressive. Where Harrell really excels, though, is when he can hit the line of scrimmage right away and accelerate uninterruptedly on a downhill path. If the gap he flies through doesn’t have a defender in it right away, Harrell could be gone. RB5 [player_tooltip player_id="156484" first="Brevin" last="Doll"], 5’11" / 180, ADM, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14289376/61630dd504284d0294c0f846">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BrevinDoll">Twitter</a> Doll, a football and track all-state selection, is an absolute burner; he reaches top speed in a hurry and if he isn’t contacted near the line of scrimmage he is as good as gone. His 8.5 yards per carry on the season is strong evidence of that. There are several plays on his highlights where blocking was well-executed, Doll found his lane, shifted gears, and there was no one near him by the time he crossed the goal line. The way he can separate from the pack is scary; defenders can’t match his speed, they just have to hope to be able to take perfect angles and keep him in front of them. He spins and bounces off contact quite well, too. RB6 [player_tooltip player_id="247946" first="Tyge" last="Lyon"], 5’9" / 165, Pleasant Valley, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14897700/618e6ff390ef0e04f8dc87a1">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LyonTyge">Twitter</a> Triple option football teams typically put their best ball carrier at Fullback, so seeing Lyon there as a Sophomore speaks volumes. Then seeing how well he performed, carrying 90 times for 637 yards and 5 touchdowns, cemented him among the best in his class. Lyon joins the rankings at number 6 as a hard-nosed, angry rusher. The way his Offensive Line got consistent push allowed him to build a head of steam through inside gaps and overwhelm defensive fronts. The way Lyon can lower his shoulder through tacklers not only put them on their backs, but often froze them as they braced for contact, letting him cut and stay clean. RB7 [player_tooltip player_id="247945" first="Lance" last="Coon"], 5’8" / 170, Humboldt, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14921261/61a13efa9680fb0ac0ab2ea4">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LanceRyanCoon1">Twitter</a> When the Wildcats weren’t airing it out this fall, Coon provided a strong change of pace when carrying the football. He showed plenty of ability and should assume a vital role in his offense moving forward. Coon is the number 7 Running Back in the class of 2024. What you love to see out of Coon, especially for a young Back, is how well he pass blocks. As a ball carrier he has a strong lower body, doesn’t go down on first contact, slips right through arm tackles, and always falls forward for extra yards once a defense finally gets him to the ground. Coon is deceptively fast; he can certainly get an edge and turn it up on stretch plays. RB8 [player_tooltip player_id="247950" first="Ty" last="Cozad"], 5’10" / 185, Muscatine, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/14761871/6174d8d9386df7012c838076">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ty_cozad">Twitter</a> Cozad earned all-conference and all-district honors following his Sophomore campaign and the Muskies appear to have a promising player to build around the next couple of years. Muscatine struggled to score points and move the ball consistently, but Cozad, the number 8 Running Back in the class of 2024, turned in plenty of evidence that suggests he can be his offense’s workhorse and produce at a high level. On one play, a screen into the boundary, blocking didn’t quite set up, so he beat everyone to the other side of the field, turned up the sideline, stiff-armed an opponent into the ground and carried a pile of four defenders for extra yards. RB9 [player_tooltip player_id="247948" first="Angelo" last="Jackson"], 6’0" / 160, Assumption, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14961746/6184308602b1490bf023789a">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AngeloJackson0">Twitter</a> Jackson was incredibly productive his Sophomore year rushing for 524 yards and 8 touchdowns on just 50 carries. It is exciting to think what that stat line could look like at the end of next year after a full off-season and, likely, another 100 to 150 touches. Jackson comes in at number 9 in the Running Back rankings. What impresses so much about Jackson right now, and what leads to a lot of his big gains, is how he can adjust speed, seamlessly accelerating to blaze by defenders and hitting the brakes to make them miss. The way he breaks plays open and extends plays that look like they don’t have a chance to hit makes him special. RB10 [player_tooltip player_id="247942" first="Nile" last="Eddy"], 5’10” / 180, Waukee, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/14627166/6176b6845eec5708e84cf07f">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nile_eddy">Twitter</a> Waukee has a talented one coming up at Running Back who, over the course of the season, became the team’s Bell Cow. Eddy, the number 10 ranked Back in his class, rushed for 687 yards and 2 scores as a Sophomore. The way the Warriors were able to run the ball impressed considering their struggles to find consistency in the passing game. Teams could load the box against them, but their backs, especially Eddy, still produced. Eddy gets downhill between the tackles in a hurry; he puts his foot in the ground and turns it up at just the right time on stretch plays. He is quick, elusive, and hard to pursue in the open field.