2024 RB’s Breakdown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This class of running backs in the state of Tennessee caught my attention. I made it my duty to check them out. A lot of these guys are big backs with speed. I can't wait to see the ones I haven't witnessed firsthand, in person. Let's take a quick view at who this class has to offer at running back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='362098' first='Desmond' last='Thomas'] - RB - Riverside HS</em></strong> <strong><em>/ @DesmondThomas25</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First thing you see when watching Thomas is his twitch, lightning quickness with fluid ankles and hips. Bouncy athlete, utilizing a sharp jumpcut in and out of gaps. Scare lateral agility makes him an open-field nightmare for defenders. Fast-twitch muscle fibers that repeatedly fire. Gets into a hole with excellent burst, hits another gear with maximal speed into green grass and then the endzone. Plays above his size, doesn't pitter-patter and will use vision and toughness to drive forward regardless of his stature.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='186297' first='Ashton' last='Jones'] - RB - </em>Oakland HS<em> / @A5htonjones</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is a runner who can move the chains, Jones wastes little time gaining momentum and demonstrates keen vision and patience. He would be best-suited in a zone run scheme at the next level, in order to take advantage of his one-cut and go style. Once he hits the second level, Jones has enough shiftiness to make a defender miss in the open filed when needed and his low center of gravity makes it tough to stop his momentum. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='277792' first='Frank' last='Johnson IV'] - RB - Knoxville Central HS / @theyknowfrank23</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson IV is a physical running back who has no trouble moving piles or lowering his shoulder to crush defenders in the hole. His burst surprises some defensive backs who quickly find themselves trailing Jonson IV. Johnson IV has the strength to play through arm tackles, and his stiff arm is highly effective. For a player his size, he executes subtle and quick open-field cuts surprisingly well. He displays good vision and footwork, which are foundational parts of his game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='239447' first='Kamauri' last='Turner'] - RB - Giles County HS</em></strong> <strong><em>/ @KamauriT</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Turner shows a powerful stiff arm, successfully bounces his runs outside at a high rate for a player his size, and carries a ton of momentum as a runner. Turner almost always finishes plays falling forward. His contact balance and play strength are on the high end of the spectrum for running backs I've scouted in high school. While he is patient behind the line of scrimmage, Turner knows when to get north to south in a hurry. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='433125' first='Nick' last='Moog'] - RB - Anderson County HS</em></strong> <strong><em>/ @mavnwm18</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moog is difficult to tackle, lowering the shoulder to have defenders bounce off of him and fall forward. He possesses the physicality to pick up first downs in short-yardage situations. Moog consistently reads blocking leverage and second-level defenders to find holes. He picks up momentum, not hesitating to get through lanes. In space, he is difficult to bring down for smaller defenders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->