Kentucky Sleepers to Watch: Running Backs
In this article:
Now that the 2022 campaign has come to a close and we’re in the midst of the offseason, it’s time to take a look at some of the top rising stars out of the Bluegrass State that are being primed…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingNow that the 2022 campaign has come to a close and we’re in the midst of the offseason, it’s time to take a look at some of the top rising stars out of the Bluegrass State that are being primed to return to the fold for the 2023 season. Today, we will continue to look at the best offensive talents in the state of Kentucky. After analyzing the top quarterback talent and the best wide receiver sleepers in the area, it’s time to move on to running backs. Here is my list of the top running back sleepers in the Bowling Green area to keep an eye on next season.
Dane Parsley
Dane Parsley
Dane Parsley, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound ATH out of Warren East High School, was one of the biggest playmakers, if not the biggest playmaker on Warren East High School’s roster this past season, putting up 3,442 yards of offense and 57 touchdowns. Parsley has been a contributor on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball since his freshman year of high school football as he competes at both quarterback and strong safety. In his freshman stint with the Raiders in 2021, Parsley was the team’s leading passer, rusher and scorer over the course of 11 games. In the air, Parsley picked up 51 pass completions out of 113 attempts for 655 yards and five touchdowns. On the ground, Parsley collected 92 rush attempts for 752 yards and 10 touchdowns. In his first season playing as strong safety, Parsley recorded 16 tackles with 15 solo stops and one assisted takedown. As a sophomore this past season, Parsley was even more explosive as he once again led the Raiders in passing, rushing and scoring. Parsley additionally closed out the 2022 campaign as the 36th best rusher in the state of Kentucky. In 13 contests, Parsley recorded 148 rush attempts for 1,562 yards and 27 touchdowns. At the helm of Warren East’s offense, Parsley completed 124 passes out of 203 attempts for 1,880 yards and 30 touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, Parsley recorded five tackles. Parsley and his teammates at Warren East High School helped lead the Raiders to a 12-1 overall record and a first place finish in 4A District 2 with a 4-0 mark. What makes Parsley such an effective rusher is his field awareness, his speed and his ability to catch onto defensive flaws that opens up the field for big running plays. Parsley will be one of several intriguing players out of the Bowling Green area to watch in the 2023 season.
Javen Huddleston Javen Huddleston 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Bowling Green | 2024 State KY , a 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back out of Bowling Green High School, was one of the most efficient and reliable offensive weapons for the Purples during his junior stint last year, finishing the season as the team’s top rusher. During his sophomore campaign with the Purples, Huddleston contributed on the defensive side of the ball, recording 26 tackles, including 16 solo takedowns and 10 assisted stops. Over the course of 13 contests this past season, Huddleston became acquainted to the offensive side of the ball, becoming a huge difference maker for the Purples all season long. Huddleston picked up 144 rush attempts for 1,184 yards and 16 touchdowns. In addition to his success on the ground, Huddleston hauled in 27 pass receptions for 339 yards and four touchdowns. Huddleston and his teammates helped lead Bowling Green High School to a 12-3 overall record and a first place finish in 5A District 2 with a 3-0 mark. The Purples additionally made an appearance at Kroger Field in Lexington for the Class 5A championship game against Frederick Douglass High School. Huddleston’s size, speed and ability to consistently break tackles are what make him so efficient as a running back. He will certainly be an offensive talent to keep an eye on next season.
Jimmy Sales Jimmy Sales 5'11" | 160 lbs | RB South Warren | 2024 State KY , a 5-foot-11, 160-pound ATH out of South Warren High School, was one of the more crucial pieces to the Spartans’ offense last season as he finished his junior campaign as the leading rusher and second-best scorer on the team. Sales, who contributes to both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, has been playing as a running back and defensive back the last two seasons. In his freshman stint with the Spartans in 2020, Sales was the third-best rusher on the team, picking up 18 rush attempts for 112 yards and two touchdowns in three contests. In his sophomore year of high school football, Sales began to contribute on both sides of the ball. As a running back in 2021, Sales competed in nine games and recorded 36 rush attempts for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Sales additionally added two receptions for 24 yards as a sophomore. In his first season playing defense, Sales recorded two tackles in nine games. This past season, Sales played in 11 contests and led all rushers on South Warren’s roster, recording 159 rush attempts for 905 yards and seven touchdowns. Sales additionally hauled in 14 pass receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown. On the other side of the ball, Sales picked up two tackles on the season, assisting on two stops. Sales and his teammates helped lead South Warren High School to a 6-6 overall record and a third place finish in 5A District 2 with a 1-2 record. Sales is such an efficient rusher because of his size, speed and ability to zoom past even the best defenses in the Bluegrass State. He should be interesting to watch next year.
Highlights
TelTel Long TelTel Long 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Greewood | 2024 State KY , a 5-foot-11, 170-pound ATH out of Greenwood High School, was one of the top running backs in the Bowling Green area last year as he closed out his junior stint with the Gators as the team’s leading rusher for the second straight season. In addition to his contributions on the ground, Long competes for Greenwood’s defense as a free safety and has been playing for both sides of the ball since his sophomore year of high school football. In his first season with the Gators as a freshman, Long competed in eight contests, picking up 19 rush attempts for 103 yards. He additionally hauled in three pass receptions for 29 yards. In his sophomore season in 2021, Long led all rushers on Greenwood’s roster and was the second-best scorer on the team. In 11 games, Long collected 111 rush attempts for 745 yards and six touchdowns. Long also contributed in the air, recording 10 receptions for 104 yards and one score. On the other side, Long recorded 20 tackles, including nine solo stops and 11 assisted takedowns. He also hauled in two interceptions, which were returned for a total of 35 yards. As a junior last season, Long was the Gators’ leading rusher, leading receiver and the third-best scorer on the team. Long competed in 12 contests, recording 122 rush attempts for 869 yards and four touchdowns. He also hauled in 26 pass receptions for 391 yards and four touchdowns. On defense, Long recorded 36 tackles, including 27 solo takedowns, nine assisted stops and one tackle for loss. Long and his teammates helped lead Greenwood High School to a 9-3 overall record and a second place finish in 5A District 2 with a 2-1 mark. Long is a gamechanger on both sides of the ball due to his size and speed. He can take a quick handoff, find openings and muscle his way past entire defenses. Long also has excellent field awareness on defense and has proven he can pick off opposing offenses. He will definitely be a player to watch next season.
Devontre Patterson Devontre Patterson 6'1" | 205 lbs | ATH Warren Central | 2024 State KY
Devontre Patterson Devontre Patterson 6'1" | 205 lbs | ATH Warren Central | 2024 State KY
Devontre Patterson Devontre Patterson 6'1" | 205 lbs | ATH Warren Central | 2024 State KY , a 6-foot-1, 205-pound running back out of Warren Central High School, should be another interesting running back out of the Bowling Green area to watch in the 2023 campaign as he and his brother, former running back Deanglo Patterson, have been a key component to the Dragons’ offense the last few years. While his older brother began contributing on the offensive end in his freshman stint, Patterson didn’t begin to make an impact for Warren Central’s offense until his sophomore campaign with the Dragons. In his first season on the field, Patterson competed in five contests, picking up three rush attempts for six yards. In his junior campaign with the Dragons, Patterson finished the season as the team’s fourth-best rusher, fourth-best receiver and sixth-best scorer over the course of 11 contests. Patterson collected 39 rush attempts for 172 yards and two touchdowns. The rising senior also contributed to the Dragons’ offense in the air, hauling in six receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown. Patterson and his teammates at Warren Central High School closed out the 2022 season with a 5-6 overall record and a third place finish in 4A District 2 with a 2-2 record. Patterson’s size and speed make him nearly unstoppable on the offensive end as he can both break tackles and muscle through defenders to get himself into the endzone. Patterson will definitely be an intriguing talent to watch in the 2023 campaign.