Top Junior Running Backs in the Puget Sound

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 running back, much like the 2023 class, is loaded with talent that can make an impact in many different ways all over the field. This group features a variety of different skill sets. Still, they can all take over the game at a moment's notice, something that college scouts and evaluators are certainly starting to take note of. With several offers already on the table for some of these players and some on the horizon for others, there has never been a better time to look at precisely what they bring to their teams. Halfway through their junior season, who are the backs primed to take over the region in the coming years? Let's find out!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63543983a02d5","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["115335"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='115335' first='Jason' last='Brown'] is listed by 247 as the #2 running back in the country, and it is easy to see why when you watch him play. He has elite speed and is a threat to take it the distance every time he touches the ball. He's not just a speed back though, as he can also lower his shoulder and fight through contact when he needs to. Exceptional contact balance makes him extremely hard to bring down even when defenders get an angle on him and get low. Brown already has eighteen Power Five offers to his name, and that number should only continue to grow as more people around the country see his film. He is having an electric junior season to follow up his underclassmen efforts, and there is a good reason most of the country hopes that he'll be playing for them in the fall of 2024.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["158324"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Latin-Henley is in his first season at Eastside Catholic and looks just as electric as we were used to seeing him at Washington High School. Despite being a bigger-bodied running back, the thing that is most impressive about his game is his elusiveness. Between his shiftiness with the ball in his hands and his acceleration ability when he hits the hole, it is pretty rare for opposing defenders to get a hand on him. However, when they do, Latin-Henley shows off his impressive contact balance and power that come with his bigger frame. Make no mistake, Latin-Henley is absolutely one of the most talented backs in the state, and his performance thus far this season has shown why. With multiple Power Five offers already locked in, he is in a great position to make a name for himself throughout the country on the recruiting trail.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["158331"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='158331' first='Joshua' last='Collie'] is another back with a strong build that allows him to run through defenders and impose his will on the ground. While he may not quite have the top end speed of other guys, he has more than enough to be a game changer at the running back position for Spanaway Lake. What really separates him, however, is that it will always take multiple guys to bring him down, as he is a superbly physical runner that leaves a mark when guys try to stop him in the hole. Another player who has already received multiple offers from FBS schools, Collie is in a position as a junior to continue to impress and make a name for himself amongst college scouts.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["158393"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Bonshe is a do-it-all threat for Glacier Peak, acting as the primary running back but also returning kicks for the Grizzlies. He has exceptional u0022make you missu0022 ability in space, as the first guy who gets to him will usually be juked out of their cleats once they get there. He has exceptional speed and vision that allows him to find holes and hit them hard, turning small gains into big plays with his awesome acceleration. That's not to say he's just a speed back, however, as he can also become a tough runner when the play dictates it and run defenders over. So far in his junior season, Bonshe has carried the ball 58 times for 358 yards and three touchdowns, averaging over six yards per rush. His big play ability will certainly start to grab the attention of coaches at the next level around the country.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Zaveon Jones","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Mountlake Terrace","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Jones is currently the state leader in rushing yards with 988 in six games, and he is doing that on only 145 carries. He has been a force to be reckoned with thus far in his junior season, scoring fourteen touchdowns on the ground to lead the Hawks' offense. At 6'2u0022 and 225 pounds, he possesses size that no defender wants to see coming at them downhill. Jones has certainly had one of the most impressive seasons among 2024 running backs we've seen this fall, and there is no reason to believe that slows down as we get to the later weeks of the season.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Jaycion Cain","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Steilacoom","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Cain currently has the second most rushing yards amongst junior running backs in the state, and he has been a true big play machine for the Sentinels. With 897 yards on only 108 carries in 2022, Cain is averaging an astounding 8.3 yards per rush, absurd numbers for the young running back that is making his mark in every game. He has surpassed one hundred yards rushing in five of the Steilacoom's seven games and is averaging 128.1 yards per game. All of that coupled with his thirteen touchdowns on the season has established him as a true sparkplug out of the backfield. He is an exceptionally shifty player that is hard to get a hand on in space, and once you miss him, look out; he could take it all the way.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["115333"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Phillips has truly taken over as a lead back in his junior season, carrying the ball 112 times in the first seven games of the season after only 78 carries last year. He has made the most of those opportunities as well, logging the fourth most rushing yards among juniors in the state, with 818 on an exceptional 7.3 yards per carry. Add onto that and impressive seven touchdowns on the ground, and he has been the engine that has kept the Wildcats' offense running thus far in 2022. Phillips is another bigger back at 5'10u0022 185 pounds, and you can see how he has made his impact all over the field as both a rusher and a receiver. He is definitely a guy that colleges will need to keep an eye on as they start to look ahead to the class of 2024.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /-->