Eleven 2025 Running Backs You Will Soon Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's Wednesday, and today we're looking at some very talented sophomore running backs from around New Jersey. These guys are a bit unheralded right now, but I believe they'll be on coaches' radars very soon. They were extremely productive at the varsity level, with multiple one-thousand-yard rushers featured in his article. The best is still yet to come with these guys and I will most certainly be following their young careers from afar. With that being said, here's who you need to know!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='478441' first='Kenny' last='Smith'], 5'9" 165, Hammonton</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Impressive balance through heavy contact.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wheels are constantly churning.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Runs downhill with good forward body lean.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='344220' first='Tylik' last='Hill'], 5'9" 175, Pope John XXIII</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Over 1,200 all-purpose yards this fall.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Shows a solid combination of speed and wiggle.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Can accelerate at the drop of a hat.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type runner who can go from elusive to physical at any moment.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jeremiah Cook, 5'8" 180, Belleville</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Extremely creative when things break down behind the line.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A burly lower-half causes tacklers to bounce off him.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Displayed outstanding balance.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Finished the season with eleven total touchdowns.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1557920' first='Kevin' last='Andrews'], 5'8" 160, Brick Memorial</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Jump cuts look effortless with easy acceleration out of them.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A fluid runner inside the box or outside in space.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Has a nasty spin move in his repertoire.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='218562' first='Mekhi' last='Simmons'], 5'10" 165, Bishop Eustace Prep</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A patient runner with excellent vision.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Highly productive on off-tackle runs.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Easily decelerates to hit open cutback lanes.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='939692' first='Terrell' last='Mitchell'], 5'8" 180, Somerville</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Uses his size to his advantage to get lost behind the line of scrimmage.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A game-breaking returner who can take one 90 yards to the house at any moment.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Such a natural route runner who can make plays out of the backfield or working from the slot. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Has the speed, change of direction, balance, and vision of a division one ball player.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='995367' first='Jalen' last='Cline'], 5'8" 170, St. Peters Prep</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Once he gets a full head of steam, good luck catching him.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Effortlessly makes second and third-level defenders miss in 1 on 1 tackle situations. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Runs behind his shoulder pads with an anger to him.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Colin Palumbo, 5'8" 155, Matawan Regional</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Has a physical running style, something not common for a back his size.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Does his best work inside the tackles.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Vision and burst work in unison.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Has a knack for finding the endzone, as he finished 2022 with 16 total touchdowns.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='341839' first='Mark' last='Boyd'], 5'9" 160, Union City</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hips are loose for painless change of direction.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>An explosive runner that will make you pay if you don't bring him down on the first tackle attempt.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Averaged over 9 yards a carry in 2022.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>His running style is so natural and free.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Nyekir Eato, 5'10" 170, Edison</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Makes arm tacklers look silly.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Is an aggressive runner that picks up most of his yards after first contact.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A tough, gritty back that is willing to put his body on the line.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1022234' first='Roddy' last='Morinho'], 6' 175, Lyndhurst</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A north and south runner that allows his blocks to pave the way for him.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Consistently finishes runs falling forward. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Is a proven safety value out of the backfield in the passing game.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->