Prospect Tour Top Performers: RBs and DBs
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The Prep Redzone Prospect Tour made its stop in Colorado a week ago, but the top-performing players are still fresh on the mind. The majority of the players in attendance were Colorado athletes, but a few made the trip from…
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Continue ReadingThe Prep Redzone Prospect Tour made its stop in Colorado a week ago, but the top-performing players are still fresh on the mind.
The majority of the players in attendance were Colorado athletes, but a few made the trip from different states.
Position MVPs were named at the end of the event. Columbine’s James Basinger James Basinger 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Columbine | 2025 State CO (2025) won the MVP award for the running backs, while Corey Jordan (2024) earned the award for the defensive backs. There was only one MVP per group, but that does not mean there was a shortage of talented athletes at the event.
This article will list ten top-performing running backs and defensive backs while taking a close look at six of those players.
Nathaniel Robinson Nathaniel Robinson 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Palmer Ridge | 2023 State CO | Palmer Ridge | 2023 RB
40-yard dash – 4.7s | Shuttle – 4.4s | L-Drill – 7.35s | Broad Jump – 9’
Robinson is an absolute stud who had an outstanding performance at the event. He is a player with good size and an overload of athleticism. He started to show his explosive acceleration and breakaway speed during the combine, but he really turned heads once he began snatching ankles with his elusive cuts during one-on-ones. Robinson is a prime example of a prospect with the potential of being a top-tier scat back.
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— Nathaniel "Gator" Robinson (@NateRobinson28) April 17, 2022
Brycen Mhlanga Brycen Mhlanga 5'11" | 205 lbs | RB Littleton | 2023 State CO | Littleton | 2023 RB
40-yard dash – 4.85s | Shuttle – 4.43s | L-Drill – 7.81s | Broad Jump – 8’5”
Mhlanga is a highly talented athlete whose stock value has been rapidly increasing. He has a solid frame with great size, strength, and explosive power. During the position-specific and competition drills, Mhlanga showed his ability to beat his opponents to the outside with his speed and shifty cuts. Mhlanga is a three-down option with the size of a power back and the athleticism of a scatback, making him a prime recruiting prospect with a lot of upsides.
Chevelle Early Chevelle Early RB Denver South | 2024 State CO | Denver South | 2024 RB
40-yard dash – 4.78s | Shuttle – 4.34s | L-Drill – 7.57s | Broad Jump – 8’8”
Early started to stand out during the combine portion of the showcase, and he continued to impress throughout the day. His running style has a one-cut power back feel, which goes with his solid frame and size. He has explosive acceleration, good speed, and the ability to get north with significant power. Early is a radar pop-up with a ton of potential as a prospect.
Bryson Dirks Bryson Dirks 5'11" | 160 lbs | ATH Holyoke | 2024 State CO | Holyoke | 2024 CB
40-yard dash – 4.78s | Shuttle – 4.29s | L-Drill – 7.38s | Broad Jump – 8’9”
Dirks had an impressive showing during the combine, tying for the second-fastest shuttle time among all the athletes in attendance. He showed good technique as a corner, especially when playing in phase. His explosiveness made it difficult for receivers to create space out of their breaks, while his physical playing style helped him play the ball in the air and break up passes. Dirks is an athlete on a path towards a very bright future, making him an under-the-radar type of player worth watching.
Chris Rice Chris Rice 6'3" | 195 lbs | ATH Palmer Ridge | 2023 State CO | Palmer Ridge | 2023 ATH
40-yard dash – 4.62s | Shuttle – 4.56s | L-Drill – 7.56s | Broad Jump – 8’10”
Rice is an extremely talented athlete with phenomenal skills. He has the skills and versatility to play safety and corner, but his safety attributes are what stood out at the event. His disciplined eyes, fluid hips, and smooth backpedals and weaves are the foundation of his elite skills as a safety. Rice is considered one of the state’s top prospects, a sentiment that was reinforced during the showcase.
Elvio Agagah | Northglenn | 2024 SS
40-yard dash – 5s | Shuttle – 4.49s | L-Drill – 7.44s | Broad Jump – 8’2”
Agagah is an emerging player with a lot of raw talent. He is a physical player with good size and strength, giving him the potential of being versatile enough to plug in as an outside linebacker. He has solid coverage techniques, especially when playing press-man. His heavy jams are pretty effective at the line, which is excellent for throwing off timing. Agagah is another radar pop-up with a solid foundation of skills, giving him sleeper potential as a prospect.
Other standout players to know
Avant Wright | Mesa Ridge | 2024 DB
40-yard dash – 4.43s | Shuttle – 4.41s | L-Drill – 7.56s | Broad Jump – 8’11”
Cannon Burcar | Columbine | 2023 DB
40-yard dash – 4.69s | Shuttle – 4.39s | L-Drill – 7.22s | Broad Jump – 8’7”
Carson Payer | Conifer | 2025 RB
40-yard dash – 4.89s | Shuttle – 4.53s | L-Drill – 7.37s | Broad Jump – 8’9”
Joseph Castillas | Norwood | 2024 RB
40-yard dash – 5.18s | Shuttle – 5.47s | L-Drill – 8.1s | Broad Jump – 7’5”