2023 Rankings – RB Breakdown
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As the month of June comes to an end this week, we wrap up all of our prospect rankings with an update of the 2023 class. All of the updates began with a new Top 50 in the 2025 Rankings and the 2024 class followed and you can check out that 2024 Top 75 Right Here! Finally, we look at the upcoming senior class as we turn our attention to the 2023 class, which has become incredibly deep. Our latest update features the Top 175 prospects in the 2023 class. You can check out that complete Top 175 Right Here!
In this post, we continue our positional breakdowns with a look at the running back position. This is another position that we have liked for a while now as the class is deep with talent and this is just a breakdown of the top ten running backs in the class but there are 14 in the Top 100. And several more just outside of the Top 100 that could move up in the next update.
Erik McCarty
Erik
McCarty
6'2" | 175 lbs | DB
McAlester | 2023
State
OK
– McAlester
(Ranked #6 Overall – #1 RB)
The reigning Prep Redzone Oklahoma Player Of The Year was the obvious pick for the top spot among running backs as McAlester star Erik McCarty Erik McCarty 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB McAlester | 2023 State OK returns for his senior season. The last time we saw McCarty on the field, he and the Buffaloes came up just short to Collinsville in the 5A state title game. A game that was one of the best that we saw all season. McCarty also starts on defense as a defensive back and he’s committed to OU and will probably play defense at the next level. But if he was just a running back this fall, I don’t think it’s crazy to say that he could flirt with 3,000 rushing yards on the season. He put up massive numbers last year and should do it once again this fall. The question becomes whether or not he can go back to back as the Player Of The Year.
Mike Taffe
Mike
Taffe
6'0" | 190 lbs | RB
Bishop McGuinness | 2023
State
OK
– Bishop McGuinness
(Ranked #16 Overall – #2 RB)
Bishop McGuinness is going to be one of the top teams in 5A once again this fall and a big reason is the QB-RB duo that they have, which is one of the best in the state. Leading the way in the backfield will be senior running back Mike Taffe Mike Taffe 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Bishop McGuinness | 2023 State OK , who is going to be a three-year starter for the Irish after starting his freshman season at Millwood. Taffe is an explosive back waiting to blow up in a big way. His recruitment has begun to take off this offseason and we’re not surprised. We’ve had Taffe as a top twenty prospect really since the 2023 rankings began a few years ago. He’s that explosive and electric with the football in his hands. He has the ability to run in between the tackles and grind out carry after carry. Or if he gets into the open field, good luck stopping him.
Jaiden Carroll
Jaiden
Carroll
5'10" | 180 lbs | RB
Jenks | 2023
State
OK
– Jenks
(Ranked #17 Overall – #3 RB)
Right behind Taffe is Jenks running back Jaiden Carroll Jaiden Carroll 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Jenks | 2023 State OK . The Jenks back has been a standout since his freshman season at Booker T Washington. After making the move to Jenks last year, he became their feature back and ended up helping lead them to a state championship last year. In that championship victory over Union, Carroll was the best player on the field in our opinion. He carried the rock and shouldered the load as Jenks just pounded their rival, on their way to a second straight state championship. We think that he Carroll will once again be one of the best running backs in the state. The only question we have around him is will he play running back in college? Carroll has been working hard this offseason and will be playing some defensive back this fall, potentially opening the door to that position at the next level.
Emmanuel Crawford
Emmanuel
Crawford
5'10" | 170 lbs | RB
Grove | 2023
State
OK
– Grove
(Ranked #19 Overall – #4 RB)
Last season, Grove running back Emmanuel Crawford Emmanuel Crawford 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Grove | 2023 State OK was one of the best players in the state as he put up video game numbers every single week. That came as no surprise to us as we’ve been fans of Crawford’s game since his freshman season. In fact, we were waiting for a season like that from Crawford where he simply took over games and became a one-man wrecking crew. Grove moves up to Class 5A this fall and the competition is going to get tougher but Crawford is ready for it. Throughout the offseason, Crawford has added 15-20 pounds onto his frame, while keeping that speed and quickness. That was the biggest problem with Crawford as a prospect and he’s actively making it a non-issue moving forward for his recruitment.
DJ McKinney
DJ
McKinney
6'0" | RB
Union | 2023
State
OK
– Union
(Ranked #30 Overall – #5 RB)
After having a breakout season last fall for Booker T Washington, running back DJ McKinney DJ McKinney 6'0" | RB Union | 2023 State OK is now at Union and the Redhawks will once again have one of the best running backs in the class. We’re looking forward to seeing how Union utilizes McKinney this fall. Because he is obviously a big threat in the running game but he’s also a threat to make plays out of the backfield as a receiver. Union will have more of a balanced offense this fall and McKinney is going to be able to have an impact in both phases of the offense. McKinney will also benefit from having one of the better offensive line units blocking for him this fall. Earlier this week, we announced our preseason rankings and Union is atop the 6A-1 ranks. McKinney and this Union offense is a big reason why.
Rickey Hunt Jr
Rickey
Hunt Jr
6'0" | 175 lbs | RB
Millwood | 2023
State
OK
– Millwood
(Ranked #41 Overall – #6 RB)
Another running back that has been on the radar since his freshman season is Millwood star Rickey Hunt Jr Rickey Hunt Jr 6'0" | 175 lbs | RB Millwood | 2023 State OK . This running back prospect has played so many positions for the Falcons over the last three seasons that we’ve lost count on the real number. But Hunt is absolutely at his best when he has the ball in his hands and he’s running down hill and attacking defenses. Hunt and the Falcons had to deal with some growing pains last fall as they played a lot of young players. That, combined with a brutal district schedule led to the Falcons missing the playoffs for the first time in a while. We eight starters back on both sides of the ball and led by Hunt, we expect Millwood to come back in a big way this fall and once again be one of the top teams in Class 2A.
Eric Virgil
Eric
Virgil
5'10" | 175 lbs | RB
Hilldale | 2023
State
OK
– Hilldale
(Ranked #50 Overall – #7 RB)
The seventh running back to crack the Top 50 is Hilldale back Eric Virgil Eric Virgil 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Hilldale | 2023 State OK . After his breakout season as a sophomore, Virgil backed that up with another stellar season last fall. We expect Virgil to be one of the top running backs in Class 4A and the Hornets to threaten for not only the district championship, but contend for the state championship in November and December. Virgil is a powerful runner that has decisive speed in the open field. He is so strong at the point of contact that rarely is one tackler going to be able to bring him down. We’re looking forward to seeing how Virgil and the Hornets look this fall because they looked strong during team camps in the spring. Virgil has been a touchdown machine and we don’t see that slowing down this season.
Malek Murphy
Malek
Murphy
6'0" | RB
Chickasha | 2023
State
OK
– Chickasha
(Ranked #55 Overall – #8 RB)
Every time we’ve seen Chickasha running back Malek Murphy Malek Murphy 6'0" | RB Chickasha | 2023 State OK in person, he reminds us why we have him as a top ten running back in the state. Granted, we haven’t seen Murphy in person, in a game setting. It’s strictly been in team camps during spring drills over the last few offseasons. However, every time we see him, he impresses and is always one of the top running backs at the events. We stand by that opinion that he’s a top ten back and his recruitment should be taking off this fall. Murphy and Chickasha have a new coach in Eric Gipson, who comes over from Lawton Eisenhower, who had one of the better 2022 running backs in the state. So he’s no stranger to feeding the running back. We expect Murphy to be a big producer this fall.
Emery Neeley
Emery
Neeley
5'11" | RB
Owasso | 2023
State
OK
– Owasso
(Ranked #68 Overall – #9 RB)
We’ll go ahead and put Owasso running back Emery Neeley Emery Neeley 5'11" | RB Owasso | 2023 State OK at the top of the list of potential breakout stars for 6A-1 football this fall. After splitting carries with two other running backs and dealing with injuries at various times over the last two seasons, it’s not Neeley’s time to be the featured back in this Owasso offense. The Rams also have an outstanding offensive line blocking for Neeley up front so we think he’s primed to be one of the best backs in 6A-1. Every time we’ve seen him perform in person, we’ve been convinced of that after seeing his combination of size and speed. As long as he stays healthy, he should put up big numbers this fall and his recruitment should follow right along. Don’t be surprised if Neeley jumps up the rankings in the next update.
DeSean Mays
DeSean
Mays
6'0" | 160 lbs | RB
Vian | 2023
State
OK
– Vian
(Ranked #71 Overall – #10 RB)
There are a few programs in the state that just seem to always have running backs. A few of those programs are on this breakdown and Vian is yet another program that seem to produce running backs every single year. Despite being a 2A program and southeastern Oklahoma, the Wolverines always have playmakers at that position and DeSean Mays DeSean Mays 6'0" | 160 lbs | RB Vian | 2023 State OK is the latest example of just that. Last year, Mays showed that he could be a breakout star in Oklahoma’s running back class and he earned his spot as a top ten back in this class. With another year under his belt and Vian looking to make a run this fall, we expect Mays to be one of the top producing running backs in Class 2A this fall. The Wolverines are going to be contenders and Mays toting the rock is a big reason why.