Top-5 Returning 4A/3A Running Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5) Nate Arce - Dayton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Absolutely the best vision in 3A. Deliberate when running the ball, he rarely hits full speed until absolutely in the clear. Given a lead blocker or pulling guard/tackle, as is a regular occurrence in Dayton's Wing-T, Arce rarely misses a cut and on virtually every touch maximizes the yardage possible, regularly breaking multiple tackles and running over similar sized or larger defenders. 3A player of the year candidate no doubt, possibly even front runner if Dayton goes on a run.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4) David Griffith - Philomath</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Great lateral movement and exceptional vision for a small school athlete, regularly will cut across the field and across the grain of the defense for large chunks of yardage. If the top end speed were higher, he'd be a gem. On a Philomath team that is making a transition back to the 4A level, Griffith could put up some monster numbers this fall. Fascinating athlete to keep an eye on.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3) [player_tooltip player_id='376149' first='Waylon' last='Riedel'] - Estacada</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You have to be something of a badass to wear a cowboy collar in modern day football, and Riedel definitely fits the bill. Easily one of the hardest hitting running backs in Oregon High School football–regardless of classification–he embodies everything a triple-option system running back should be. Won't put up an impressive 40 time, but line him up in an Oklahoma drill against just about anyone in the state and you'll see his value.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2) [player_tooltip player_id='376150' first='Trevor' last='Anderson'] - Mazama</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Runs behind his pads, leads with his shoulders, seems as though he's on the verge of falling down at any given moment when working in traffic as he anticipates–at times seeming to seek out–contact. Not the fastest, not the biggest, not the strongest, but just the right amount of each coupled with a clearly evident internal motor that creates a player with few discernible weak points. In all likelihood a first or second-team all-state guy when the dust settles. Though not overly flashy, one of the more entertaining runners of the football the small school ranks have to offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) [player_tooltip player_id='206770' first='Payton' last='Lambert'] - Pendleton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you're looking for 4A POTY candidates, it's hard to argue against Lambert being the frontrunner. The most well-rounded player in small school football skills wise, most likely the fastest open-field runner in 4A or below, one of the more aggressive runners in the state at large, and overall one of the most versatile athletes the state has to offer. Will be fascinating to see what he looks like in the first couple weeks of the season (Pendleton opens @Caldera, vs Redmond, and vs Lewiston of Idaho), and to see if college interest starts to pick up promptly thereafter. Explosivity and entertainment value wise, it's hard to beat Lambert.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->