Kentucky Sleepers to Watch for: Running Backs
Last time, we talked about the sleeper defensive backs to be found in the state of Kentucky. For the rest of the series, we will now move to the offensive side of the ball. We will start with the running…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingLast time, we talked about the sleeper defensive backs to be found in the state of Kentucky. For the rest of the series, we will now move to the offensive side of the ball. We will start with the running back position which is known to be one of the more impactful positions on a football team. Besides the quarterback being the captain of the offense and guiding the flow, the running back looks to maintain the process of gaining yards and scoring for the offense by running the football. Elite running backs can completely take over the game for an offense without the need for passing. Today, I will be listing some key sleeper running backs that have little to no offers to play at the next level.
Austin Trent
Austin Trent
Austin Trent had a fantastic junior year season for Fleming County High School, running for 1,748 rushing yards & 19 rushing touchdowns in 12 games played (8.3 yards per rush). Trent feeds off his strength with the football as he makes multiple defenders miss tackles on every carry. Furthermore, what is unique about this is that the physicality propels Austin to accelerate quicker and break out onto the open field. A player who can break out quickly after lots of contacts has such a superior quality for running the football. Austin also specializes in reading the field as he is receiving the ball from his QB and exploiting the weak points in the defense. As of now, there have been no public announcements of any offers/interests from collegiate schools regarding Trent. Austin has 1 more year of high school ball left and I believe he will have his best season and will finally get noticed.
Jordan Bradley
Jordan Bradley
Jordan Bradley is a new name I have not heard much about in Kentucky’s football environment. The 2024 grad possesses a strong build that enables him to break multiple tackles with little difficulty. What is noticeable about Jordan is that he has some extremely quick lateral movements that make him a very crafty running back. If Bradley sees an open running gap last second, he is quick enough to shift his positioning and accelerate to full speed before getting stopped by a defender. The most underrated trait about Bradley is that he is one of the better off ball running backs I have seen in his class. Due to his superior strength, Jordan can block off multiple defenders to create room for his other teammates to move the football. As of now, there are no offers announced by Bradley and it would be shocking if he has not even gotten sent a camp invite. This kid has great physical attributes and running mechanics and should get seen immediately.
Ellis Huguely
Ellis Huguely
Ellis is a remarkably quick runner who is excellent at juking defenders with his quick lateral movements. The Scott County High School running back specializes when he is given room to run as he can utilize his terrific footwork to blow by opposing tackles to gain lots of yards. What I like about Ellis is his ability to improvise on plays to gain more yards after contact. For example, Ellis can stand patiently and wait for his incoming blocker to make a hit so he can use the quick running gap to break out toward the endzone. Do not let his size fool you. Although he may be 5’8 & 165lbs, his strength & running power are compared to a 6’0 200lb+ runner. Ellis is a great receiver as well as he can run impressive routes and use his good lateral quickness to get more yards for his offense. With the talent Ellis has, it is a little hard to believe as to why he has not gotten recruited yet. With a year left of high school ball, I believe this will change for the young man.
Tyleeq Williams
Tyleeq Williams
Tyleeq had a superb season for the Bardstown High School football team, running for 1,882 rushing yards, 25 rushing touchdowns, 475 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns, and 3 kick return touchdowns. Tyleeq is one of the shiftiest running backs in the state as his fast feet & quick lateral movements make it nearly impossible for defenders to stay in front of him. Williams is amazing at reading the field and his peripheral vision of incoming defenders is top tier which enables him to make quick cuts to find open lanes to run. This would make sense why Tyleeq also found lots of success as the team’s primary kick returner. His skills at running freely on the field remind me of Devin Hester returning punts, the vision and pure skill they both possess to get past multiple defenders in front of them are superior to all. For many college recruiters, they may be afraid of looking at Tyleeq due to being slightly undersized, but his pure skill and strength on the field should more than make up for that. Williams is a criminally underrated running back in the state of Kentucky and he deserves recognition for being a freakish athlete on the gridiron.
Past Analysis: It is difficult for opposing defenders to tackle Jayden since he is so quick off his feet, he is only able to be taken down in a blink of an eye. The junior is able to make stellar sharp cuts on the open field and can also catch the ball well off routes. With his speed and outstanding agility, it makes it nearly impossible for the defense to stop him from either getting open or finding a running lane for him to fill. Expect another spectacular season for the upcoming senior this fall 2022 season.
End of Season:
Jayden Newsome finished the 2022 season running 182 carries for 1,637 rushing yards & 29 rushing touchdowns in 13 games played (9 yards per carry). It is safe to say my prediction was correct for Jayden. What makes Jayden so special is his dual-threat on the offense as he is just as deadly receiving the football as he is on a rushing attempt. The area that Jayden specializes in is his sharp jukes past incoming defenders when running the football. His textbook footwork and being quick off his feet help him make incredible crafty moves to blow by multiple defenders. As of January, there have been no public offers announced by Jayden but I hope he is able to still find a way onto a college team in the future.