Prep Redzone WI Showcase: Best of the RBs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the deeper position groups of the Prep Redzone WI Showcase was the running back group. This was also one of the more explosive groups of athletes. This group excelled with their change of direction, explosiveness, and three down versatility. It was a group that had standouts from every graduation class, 2023- 2026. The group also had some under the radar kids that need the spotlight shined on them. That is what we are going to do today. I am going to shine the spotlight on the athletes that earned it most. We start with a recap of the position MVP.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["304429"],"_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":"Javon had a great day in Oak Creek at the PRZ WI Showcase. He stood out in every portion of the day. The 5'8u0022 167 lbs RB went 4.69 in the 40 yard dash and jumped 9'1u0022 in the broad jump. We got to watch him translate those numbers to his play on the field. He made the drills look easy, and the senior proved to be a weapon out of the backfield in 1 on 1s vs LBs.rnrnTo fully dive into the performance of our RB MVP check out our MVP recap u003ca href=u0022https://prepredzone.com/2022/12/gamechangers-mvps-of-the-prep-redzone-wi-showcase/u0022u003eHEREu003c/au003e. Murry holds a few offers from the next level. Don't miss out on the senior while he is still uncommitted.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638fc39a20c5c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["531401"],"_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":"Every time I scout at one of these Showcases there is always a player or two who grab my attention when I wasn't necessarily looking for them. It isn't just once or twice. It is over and over, and it forces me to remember the athlete long after the Showcase ends. The player who did that this time around was junior RB [player_tooltip player_id='531401' first='Logan' last='Hanson']. The first way that Logan grabbed my attention was with his frame, and build. Hanson's official numbers are 5'9 1/4u0022 193 lbs. Imagine a ball of muscle, and you will have a mental image close to the frame of Logan. He was definitely one of the more impressive athletes when it came to the eye test.rnrnThe junior also tested really well in his short area explosiveness and change of direction. Logan had one of the best, if not the best, shuttle time of 4.25 seconds. You don't put up elite numbers like that without excellent body control, change of direction, and burst. The one on one battles gave me the final proof of those traits. Hanson was at his best in short areas. He flew out of his cuts, and was able to create separation from the defender. Keep an eye on the junior next fall. He scored 25 times in 2022.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638fc39a20d33"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["245986"],"_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":"Another well put together athlete was underclassman [player_tooltip player_id='245986' first='Josiah' last='Johnson'] out of Milwaukee Academy of Science. The sophomore weighed in at 5'11u0022 202 lbs. The sophomore also  packs impressive athleticism into that frame. He posted a 4.71 40 yard dash, back to back 4.41 times in the shuttle drill, and jumped 9'5u0022. The RB was one of the best testers when you compare size to results. Most importantly, the numbers were verified  by what he did on the field in live action.rnrnIn one on one battles, Josiah caught my eye on every rep with his initial burst out of his stance. The broad jump numbers support what I saw. Josiah gets out of his stance, gets to top speed, and puts the pressure on the defender as he closes the gap. He also looked like an experience route runner. He used head fakes, didn't tip off where he was cutting, and had reliable hands to make difficult catches. He also showed off a little bit of body control to make plays on the sideline of the playing area. During player rankings updates I will be switching him to RB. I look forward to seeing where he ranks among his peers at that position.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638fc39a20dc7"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["533194"],"_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":"The junior RB was another recruit that made a name for themselves at the Prep Redzone WI Showcase. He shined in every portion of the day. That included the testing portion where Ralph was our top performer of the position group. You can see his numbers at the bottom of this article. Numbers that have to get the next level excited about his potential. When it comes to 5'9u0022 175 lbs RB, you need to see explosiveness, acceleration, and long speed because these kids need to make their impact out in space. Ralph proved to have those traits.rnrnThe junior is also very well put together. He is a muscular prospect that will be able to run through arm tackle attempts of DBs. The drill portion of the day was the first time I got to see the testing numbers put into action. Pegues showed off his acceleration out of jump cuts and change of directions. It all came to a climax in the on eon one drills where the junior proved to be the mismatch you hope for in the passing game. An athlete that LBs can't run with when he lines up in the backfield. I look forward to his senior season. Keep an eye on this under the radar prospect.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638fc39a20e54"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["533154"],"_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":"One of the very first standouts of the day was freshman RB [player_tooltip player_id='533154' first='Anthony' last='Liggins']. The young playmaker needs time to grow and fill out his 5'5u0022 150 lbs frame, but boy is his potential exciting. Liggins verified his explosive abilities by jumping 9'5u0022 in the broad jump, and his smooth, easy change of direction and body control through the L Drill is what initially had me following him through the drills. This was a great setting for Liggins to show off his current strengths.rnrnAny time you can get Anthony out in space with the ball, or let him line up out in space and be a mismatch for defenders you are setting your team up well. Anthony also was able to eat up cushion when he lined up in the backfield on Saturday, and then burn past defenders to win deep. Liggins came out ready to compete and earned himself a rep in the Best vs Best to end Session I of the Showcase.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638fc39a20ed8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["467574"],"_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":"These events are set up best for the explosive, change of pace backs that can be mismatch nightmares. Where an athlete can really stand out is by having that same success while being bigger than a lot of the guys around him. That is what 5'10u0022 190 lbs junior RB Owen Carlson did. At that size, Owen posted an impressive 4.63 40 yard dash and broad jumped well over 9'. Carlson looked the part of a between the tackles type of ball carrier. An athlete who can run with a lot of power when attacking north-south, and has the long speed to be able to turn those seams of daylight into big gains.rnrnOwen isn't used a ton in the passing game at Kewaunee, but we saw that same type of play in the one on ones. When he relied more on speed to create separation than pure route running it was successful. Owen is set to have a large role on the Kewaunee offense next fall. Look for him to put up big numbers, and handle a large workload.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638fc39a20f5d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["200065"],"_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":"We end the Top RB Performers with a Prep Redzone WI Showcase veteran. I love when we get the same athletes back for multiple events. It allows you to see the growth that they have had over the past months. The first thing I noticed was his frame. This was the sharpest, and most muscular that the junior has looked. The 5'6' 172 lbs Winneconne RB will have a chance to have a big year in his final year of HS ball. The biggest takeaway of the event when it comes to Ethan is that he is becoming the mismatch nightmare you hoped he would become.rnrnWe got to watch it in the one on one battles to end Session I. Mathe could cut or make the break in his route and burst out of it and up to top speed in an instant. He didn't tip off his routes either, which left LBs relying on just their ability to react and then keep up with him through the route. His routes were very sharp overall. Mathe also showed off the soft hands to make catches away from his body. It was another great showing for the junior. Look for him to be one of the best change of pace/third down backs in the Class of 2024 here in WI.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638fc39a21013"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Top Testing Performance</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='533194' first='Ralph' last='Pegues'], Wausau East HS</td></tr><tr><td>5'9 1/4" 175</td></tr><tr><td>4.47 sec. 40 Yard Dash</td></tr><tr><td>9'8" Broad Jump</td></tr><tr><td>7.31 sec. L Drill</td></tr><tr><td>4.50 sec. 5-10-5 Drill</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table -->