Running Backs Through 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Through two (official) weeks we've had some dominant perfomances, some by very young running backs. Take a look at the best the state has to offer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220066' first='James' last='Hill'] Jr., Woodstown, 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 56 carries, 540 yards and 5 TDs with only two games, James is leading the state in rushing yards per game by a wide margin at 270 yards in both of Woodstown's games this season. At 5'11, 190 pounds he has the size D1 teams want, with good outside speed and excellent initial burst through the line of scrimmage. He's getting a lot of love from Power 5 teams like Notre Dame, Pitt and Rutgers and already has an offer from Temple. James will be looking to continue his success on the ground Friday night versus Depford.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11373914/James-Hill-Jr/highlights">https://www.hudl.com/profile/11373914/James-Hill-Jr/highlights</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='967081' first='Kenny' last='Smith'], Hammonton, 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kenny has put up impressive numbers for the Hammonton rushing attack with 49 carries for 424 yards 6 Touchdowns in 3 games. I love his footwork. He has a nasty dead leg on the cutback, to go with elite burst through the hole and top end speed to take it the distance. Add to that the fact that he is very physical, willing to lower the shoulder for extra yards means defenders don't know what move they're gonna get in the open field. You heard it here first, [player_tooltip player_id='967081' first='Kenny' last='Smith'] will be one of the top running backs in the state as only a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/15930324/Kenny-Smith/about">https://www.hudl.com/profile/15930324/Kenny-Smith/about</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='218562' first='Mekhi' last='Simmons'], Bishop Eustace, 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>46 car, 443, 2 TDs, 2 Gms, 221 ypg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mekhi is a real bright spot for the Crusaders. The Sophomore is mostly a solo feature back with good feet and vision for a young runner. He has good speed to the outside and has complimentary cut back to skills for extra yardage. His best game so far saw Mekhi put up 206 yards and 2 TDs vs Spotswood High school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16314531/Mekhi-Simmons/highlights">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16314531/Mekhi-Simmons/highlights</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stephano Montella, West Morris Catholic, 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stephano plays that hard nosed fullback position in the Wing T, giving him ample opportunity to run the ball and he makes the most of it. He's leading the state in running yards with 66 carries for 617 yards and 6 touchdowns in 3 gms and an impressive 9.35 yards per carry. At 6'0, 215 pounds he's got great size and is an impressive linebacker as well, already amassing 33 total tackles and 4 tackles for loss. Looking forward to his Friday night game vs. Roxbury.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14684788/Stefano-Montella/about">https://www.hudl.com/profile/14684788/Stefano-Montella/about</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='341979' first='Shane' last='Nugent'], Wallkill Valley, 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shane has put up 331 yds on just 34 carries 5 TDs in 2 games, giving him one of the top yards per carry numbers in the state at 13.7. Yards per carry is a stat that I and many college scouts pay attention to. If you've got a lot of ypc, you've got a skill that allows you to gain extra yards and that translates to the next level. Shane is shifty, able to change his angle of attack while at near top speed, messing up the tackling angles for defenders and positioning himself well for cutbacks. I'd don't know how Newtown plans to stop him his Friday, but my guess is that he's gonna keep putting up big numbers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12904391/Shane-Nugent/about">https://www.hudl.com/profile/12904391/Shane-Nugent/about</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->