Northwest Indiana Backfield Warriors: Part 1

We spent this past weekend looking at some of the top quarterbacks in Northwest Indiana. Now, the focus shifts to the workhorses whose mission it is to take the pressure off of them: the running backs. With such a loaded group in the backfield, we will be taking the next few days to look at some of the best that the upper left corner of the Hoosier state has to offer. Terrell Craft, 6’1, 202 pounds, 2023, Portage https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/terrell-craft-/UMV-FZbiEeqAzqREozo6lw/videos.htm?videoid=b05b61d5-7b54-4377-86a5-7451dd19a5c9 Terrell Craft is a burly running back who sets the pace for the Portage offense. Craft is a physical runner who is able to bounce off of tackles. He can absorb contact and regain his balance, keeping the play alive. Craft is great at falling forward for extra yardage. Last season, Craft managed to pick up 549 yards on 145 carries with four touchdowns. He caught eight passes for nearly 100 receiving yards with an additional touchdown. [player_tooltip player_id="185521" first="Camajay" last="Terrell"], 5’8, 155 pounds, 2023, Gary West Side https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/camajay-terrell/FsOtVm3EEeiAyNdjx8XCRA/default.htm [player_tooltip player_id="185521" first="Camajay" last="Terrell"] is a shifty runner who brings constant big play potential for the West Side offense. Terrell has a great vision. He can find the openings and, crucially, the cut-back lanes. Once he finds it, he can put his foot in the ground and hit the hole hard. Terrell is capable of making moves to leave defenders tackling air. When tacklers do get to him, Terrell can fight through the first contact and keep picking up yardage. Last season, Terrell was named the Player of the Game on five occasions. His stats- along with his film- suggest exactly why he was recognized that often. As a junior, Terrell accumulated 1,628 rushing yards with an average of 9.6 yards per carry. He posted 19 rushing touchdowns and accounted for 100 or more rushing yards in eight games, in 2021. Donald Robinson, 6’0, 189 pounds, 2023, Gary West Side https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/donald-robinson/rxCE723CEeiAyNdjx8XCRA/videos.htm Donald Robinson completes a dynamic backfield tandem. Robinson compliments Terrell by being a bruising runner. Robinson is great in short yardage and goal-to-go situations. He can push the pile and get the team what it needs. Robinson can also line up as a quarterback in the wildcat offense. He runs well out of that spot, going downhill and picking up the yardage that is required. Robinson also lines up on the other side of the ball at middle linebacker. From that spot, he plays fast and with aggression. He gets great penetration and comes up with the disruptive plays that the defense needs. A season ago, Robinson ran for 352 rushing yards and a trio of touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 33 tackles with ten tackles-for-loss, one sack and one forced fumble. Ahkeem Harrington, 5’7, 152 pounds, 2023, Hammond https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/ahkeem-harrington/-35OTcv5EemAzfp8ouYFiw/videos.htm Akheem Harrington is a speedy prospect who finds ways to help the team win. Harrington is the type of player who will find ways to get on the field. The reason I say this is because of what he contributes on special teams. He is very effective when covering kickoffs and punts. He gives outstanding hustle to get down the field and make the play. Harrington is an effective kickoff returner, as well. He is outstanding at finding the lane and bouncing outside. Harrington’s 2021 season was limited to just two games. But in those two contests he gave fans plenty of reason to be optimistic for what lies ahead in the fall. He registered 119 rushing yards and one touchdown. Jose Alvarez, 5’5, 161 pounds, 2023, River Forest https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/jose-alvarez/Qd58TpnYEemA0ZFtwg1OMQ/videos.htm Jose Alvarez is a quick running back who can make sudden moves to find enough space to create a big play. Alvarez is a shifty runner, making quick direction changes that leave defenders guessing as to where he will go next. Alvarez runs with a low center of gravity, aiding him tremendously as he reroutes on his way to picking up chunk yardage. His impact carries over to the defensive side of the ball. At middle linebacker, Alvarez can get good penetration. Last season, Alvarez compiled 694 rushing yards with eight rushing touchdowns. For the year, he averaged nine yards per carry. At linebacker, Alvarez totaled 49 tackles with six tackles-for-loss. He added one sack, half-a-dozen quarterback hurries and a pair of passes defensed. [player_tooltip player_id="325817" first="Kyle" last="Haessly"], 5’11, 185 pounds, 2023, Hanover Central https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/kyle-haessly/9dFn4dyxEemAzfp8ouYFiw/videos.htm [player_tooltip player_id="325817" first="Kyle" last="Haessly"] plays the type of physical football that teams need from their running back in key moments in the game. Haessly has the ability to bounce off of tackles and push the pile forward, winning the fight for the game’s ’hidden yardage’. Haessly can pile up yards after contact, in large part, because of his ability to keep his legs driving. Those aforementioned traits can wear down and frustrate a defense quickly. In 2021, Haessly ran for 1,380 yards on 211 carries. He tallied an impressive 29 rushing touchdowns during his junior year. Haessly also finds ways to help the team defensively. This is shown by the fact that he recorded 30 total tackles with 14.5 tackles-for-loss. He also had four-and-a-half sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery.