2023: Shifty Running Backs in 5A – Wichita Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is no debate that football is America's favorite sport. The biggest games are the largest spectacles in the country. From these game stand the best of the best that paved the way for the generations to come. The way they played is shows in these younger players as a way to respect their greatness: Chris Johnson, Ladainian Tomlinson, and LeSean McCoy just to name a few. All three of these guys all had one thing in common: The ability to put defenders on the turf with their ankles in shambles. Continuing on our series of the shiftiest backs in the city of Wichita, we move on from the eight 6A schools to the ten 5A schools scattered around the city and its neighboring communities. Here are five backs ready to put linebackers on posters for 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1105455' first='Micah' last='Johnson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Goddard","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Mikah is the epitome of a quick and shifty running back. All through his film you see hard steps and quick cuts that leave defenders on the ground without even touching him. He has great balance being able to step down the sideline while being shoved without going out of bounds. Combined with his speed and ability to create space between him and the players behind him, he is a terror for coordinators. The only missteps found are his inconsistency to break through solid contact and ankle tackles. Being almost 190 pounds, Johnson has the skillset to do so. Although he does do it sometimes, it needs to happen more in order for him to take his game to the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["544696"],"_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":"Mucker is a man who looks like a natural running back. He possesses a deep bag of tricks with great stop cuts, spins, and stiff arms. He has the quick footwork to make stationary defenders look like they have never stepped onto a football field before in their life. He also will split out wide for a streak every now and again and has the talent to pull down a jump ball. I wish I could see him fight over the tops of defenders as it seems that many are able to get him down if they have their feet under them and their head in front. He has many tricks to get around the defense, but they seem good not great. He makes big plays, but rounding his game will allow him to create even more game changers with the ball in his hands.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["281970"],"_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='281970' first='Jesse' last='Hardyway'] is a game changer through and through. Though it is clear that he is more comfortable on the defensive side of the ball, he will not hesitate to shake off corners and linebackers. Hardyway is a patient, lateral runner that will lower his shoulder into edge rushers on pass blocks. He has the speed to break off big runs, but not quite enough to create separation from defensive backs. He likes to find the sideline and utilizes a deadly back juke that leaves linebackers hugging turf pellets. His first cut off the line is always stellar, but loses some juice when he needs anything more in unison. This 4.0 student going into his junior year holds tons of upside, and will look to fly on both sides of the ball for the Pioneers.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"James Hulse","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Newton","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u0022Big things come in small packages.u0022 This saying reigns true again and again. It is seen here in James Hulse. At only 170 pounds, Hulse is still a player that will lay the wood with the ball in his hand, but that is not his game. No he will instead shake you out of your shoes before taking off to the endzone. He runs patiently and burst through the holes that open up. Hulse does seem to struggle with breaking tackles when defenders are able to get their hands out in front of him, but that is only if you are able to touch him. Hulse his looking to bring the Railers over their first round playoff exit in 2022.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["243284"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Omari may not run the same as the other backs on this list, but that is far from an insult. Elias is a do everything back with the stats to prove it. After a 2,500 yard performance last year, Elias has proved that he is one of the best backs in the state. He has great eyes and can see his line develop their blocks. His big legs make him nearly impossible to bring down one-on-one, and his lateral speed is just icing on the cake. Once at high speeds, his elusiveness becomes an afterthought, but he may not see that as an issue since he looks for contact rather than running out of bounds. In the pile, Elias has a great series of moves and stop cuts that give the containment crew headaches. He is looking to break off something big for his senior campaign.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63d063a219e84"} /-->