2023 Final Position Rankings: Running Back

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">With a majority of the class of 2023 already committing or signing to college programs, I have released my final rankings for the class. As these rankings have been finalized, I have decided to break them down by position. With that being said, I will kick things off on the offensive side of the ball. After already covering the quarterback position, here are my final 2023 running back rankings for the state of Kentucky. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["145762"],"_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='145762' first='TJ' last='Horton'] started off the season as my second ranked running back in the class but during his senior year, he impressed me enough to take over the top spot. Horton played a big role in the Broncos' 5A State Championship run, carrying the ball 109 times for 774 yards and 14 touchdowns (played limited snaps due to blowout wins). TJ is a complete package as a ball carrier. He has great vision, finding the running lane and bursting through it in a hurry as soon as it opens. Once he hits the open field, Horton has the speed to run away from the defense and elusiveness to make defenders miss. He also has the strength to run straight through defenders without breaking stride. TJ is committed to Ball State where I see him developing into a productive player at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["385945"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='385945' first='Kaden' last='Moorman'] is a player that has been high on my radar for a while now that continued to impress this season. Moorman had a strong senior year, finishing with 94 carries for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games. He is a hard-nosed runner that gets downhill in a hurry and has the strenght/contact balance to break tackles without losing stride. Moorman also has the breakaway speed to run away from the defense once he hits the open field. He also proved to be reliable in the passing game, catching 15 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns while also throwing one touchdown himself. Kaden is currently uncommitted but has drawn interest from several college programs, recently receiving an offer from Findlay University, and I see him becoming a very reliable running back wherever he ends up playing at the next level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["331690"],"_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='331690' first='Daniel' last='Swinney'] is another running back that has been high on my radar for a while now that continued to impress this past season. Swinney played a key role in Male's run to the 6A State Championship Game, carrying the ball 195 times for 1,1218 yards and ten touchdowns. He is a big, physical running back that has the strength and contact balance to break tackles without losing stride. On many occasions, it takes a swarm of defenders to bring him down as Swinney constantly keeps his legs churning to fight for extra yards. He also has the speed to run away from the defense once he gets around the edge or hits the open field. Swinney currently holds offers from Central Michigan and Eastern Kentucky but has yet to announce his commitment.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["385943"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='385943' first='Blake' last='Birchfield'] continued to be one of the most productive running backs in the state with a very successful senior season. Birchfield played a huge role in Pikeville's 1A State Championship run, finishing the year with 222 carries for 2,031 yards and 35 touchdowns. He has tremendous vision as a ball carrier, finding the running lane and getting downhill in a hurry. Once he hits the open field, Birchfield has the speed to run away from the defense and elusiveness to make defenders miss. He also has very good contact balance, showing the ability to break tackles without losing stride. Birchfield also showed the ability to pose as a threat in the passing game, finishing his senior season with seven receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Blake is committed to the University of Pikeville where I see him becoming a key piece of their offense.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["385946"],"_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":"Rounding out my final 2023 top five running backs is [player_tooltip player_id='385946' first='Tanner' last='Wright'] from Southwestern. Wright had a tremendous senior year, finishing with 192 carries for 1,681 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has very impressive vision, showing the patience to let his blocks set up and bursting through the running lane as soon as it opens. Once he gets to the second level, Wright shows very good contact balance, bouncing off defenders without breaking stride. He also has shown the ability to make cuts in the open field to make defenders miss. Wright also has impressive breakaway speed which he uses to run away from the defense once he hits the open field. Tanner also caught seven passes for 79 yards and a touchdown this season. Wright hasn't reported any official offers but he has received interest from multiple college programs and definitely has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63dd867be7c2b"} /--> <!-- wp:heading {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <h2 class="has-medium-font-size">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 200):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">6. [player_tooltip player_id='385933' first='Kenyata' last='Carbon'] (Owensboro)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">7. [player_tooltip player_id='385938' first='Harris' last='Phelps'] (Paintsville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">8. [player_tooltip player_id='522929' first='Quintel' last='Thomas'] (Louisville Eastern)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">9. [player_tooltip player_id='287572' first='TJ' last='Greenwell'] (Bardstown)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">10. [player_tooltip player_id='385941' first='Bryson' last='Parm'] (Daviess County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">11. [player_tooltip player_id='289365' first='Ryan' last='Rayno'] (Logan County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">12. [player_tooltip player_id='438913' first='Keiran' last='Stockton'] (Glasgow)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">13. [player_tooltip player_id='145769' first='Jayden' last='Newsome'] (Shelby Valley)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">14. [player_tooltip player_id='426250' first='Curtez' last='Hill'] (Newport)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">15. [player_tooltip player_id='331688' first='Kye' last='Boyd'] (North Hardin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">16. [player_tooltip player_id='385937' first='Jeremiah' last='Mundy'] (Bryan Station)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">17. [player_tooltip player_id='386200' first='Mason' last='Gauthier'] (Bullitt East)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">18. [player_tooltip player_id='493868' first='Reese' last='Music'] (Betsy Lane)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">19. [player_tooltip player_id='387785' first='Quinton' last='Hollis'] (Warren East)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">20. [player_tooltip player_id='385944' first='Bennie' last='Hill'] (Scott)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">21. [player_tooltip player_id='485039' first='Ethan' last='Jarvis'] (Prestonsburg)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">22. [player_tooltip player_id='385939' first='Josh' last='Moody'] (Bourbon County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px">23. [player_tooltip player_id='598865' first='Kaiden' last='Zulager'] (Lloyd Memorial)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->