2023 Rankings Breakdown: Top 10 Ranked Running Backs

As we continue to look at our revamped 2023 rankings, we look at our top 10 running backs. Pennsylvania’s crop of running backs in 2023 is a deep one with all 10 below currently projected as FCS backs or better, all in our opinion have the upside to play FBS football as well . <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27732" first="Marquese" last="Williams"] | 5’11,  195 | Bishop McDevitt</strong> Unshockingly, the Bishop McDevitt tailback is still our top running back in the class of 2023. Williams is everything you look for in a Power Five running back prospect, he has great size, athleticism, burst, vision, and elusviness. His vision is top-notch as he is able to identify developing holes before using his burst and athleticism to hit the holes with speed and power. Once he gets to the second level, he’s as dangerous as anyone to potentially take it to the house. Williams is down to seven schools in Iowa, Louisville, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas A&amp;M, and Virginia Tech. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="359738" first="London" last="Montgomery"] | 5’11, 190 | Scranton Prep</strong> Montgomery is one of our biggest risers inside the top-50 as he went from the mid-40s all the way up into the top-15. You wont’ find many running backs who the the production he had last year for Scranton Prep and his highlight tape backs up the production. Montgomery is an upright runner who has great speed and great athleticism. Once he gets into the open field, good luck catching him. Montgomery appears to be down to Boston College, Penn State, and Virginia Tech. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="87079" first="Jahiem" last="White"] | 5’9, 190 | William Penn (York)</strong> A scrappy, smaller back, White has a chance to be a terrific weapon for West Virginia in the future. While I’m not sure White has the size to be a traditional three-down running back at the next level, I believe he can become a great big play threat out of the backfield for the Mountaineers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="249232" first="Mahkai" last="Hopkins"] | 6’2, 235 | Harrisburg</strong> Our biggest running back in the top-10 is Harrisburg’s [player_tooltip player_id="249232" first="Mahkai" last="Hopkins"]. He’s your traditional bruiser style running back, he will use his powerful upper and lower body strength to barrel through would-be tacklers. Don’t be fooled however, Hopkins even at 6-foot-2 and 235-pounds has some nice speed to his game as well. He won’t outrun everyone but he has the ability to hit another gear when hitting holes and bursting into the open field. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="140027" first="Cyncir" last="Bowers"] | 5’10, 190 | Bishop McDevitt</strong> Bishop McDevitt has arguably the best backfield in the state and [player_tooltip player_id="140027" first="Cyncir" last="Bowers"] is a big reason for that. Bowers has nice size and is one of the more athletic running backs in our rankings, he’s also someone who we may regret not ranking higher. When he is on the field, Bowers shows off top-notch speed as well as fluid hips, making him quite elusive. He also loves to show off his athleticism by hurdling opposing defenders. Bowers has five Division I offers including Bowling Green and Old Dominion. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91786" first="Davion" last="Hill"] | 6’1, 175 | Loyalsock Township</strong> Hill has been productive all three years so far at Loyalsock and we expect no different result this upcoming season. Hill has quality speed but is quite sneakily agile for someone of his size. He shows great vision and fluid hips that allow him to make quick cuts while mainting his speed.While Hill is a great football player, basketball may be his calling as he recently has flourished on the hardwood and has picked up an offer from Maryland. His older brother Alize Johnson, played college basketball at Missouri State before spending the last four years in the NBA including this season with the New Orleans Pelicans. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91796" first="Jamaal" last="Brown"] | 5’11, 210 | Upper St. Clair</strong> The Upper St. Clair running back is well built at 5-foot-11 and 210-pounds. As a runner he has good speed (recently recorded a 4.5 forty yard dash) and shows off his lower body strength by being able to routinely shed would-be tacklers. He’s overall an impressive runner with some considerable upside. We’ll be watching him closely this upcoming season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91810" first="Ty" last="Brown-Stauffer"] | 5’10, 205 | Danville</strong> The Danville running back has recently seen his stock rise quite a bit on the recruiting trail and it’s easy to see why when you look at his tape. At 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, Brown-Stauffer has a combination of good size and quality athleticism. He won’t be able to outrun people consistently at the next level but he has all the makings of someone who could be a strong medium to short yardage running back with the potential to pick up large chunks in the process. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178625" first="Mitch" last="Ragni"] | 6’0, 230 | West Chester East</strong> While he’s certainly in the mold of a bruiser style running back, Ragni does have the speed, athleticism, and burst you look for in an FCS or higher level running back. With 40-yard dash times in the 4.6 range, he has enough speed to break into the second levels, from there, his great lower body strength allows him to shed some tacklers. He’s an above average blocker as well which only elevates his value to a program at the next level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="249236" first="Ohifame" last="Ijeboi"] | 6’0, 190 | William Penn Charter</strong> To round our top running backs we have William Penn Charter’s [player_tooltip player_id="249236" first="Ohifame" last="Ijeboi"], Ijeboi is a high quality prospect that I believe could still rise quite a bit more up our rankings. He shows considerably good speed both in open space and tight quarters, his vision is strong, and he uses his 6-foot-0 frame well to his advantage. He shows upside in all facets of the game including in the passing game and on special teams.