2025 Rankings Release: Running Back

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we are headed into the 2023 high school football season, it is time to release some new class rankings. After updating the 2023 and 2024 rankings, we have now released our initial rankings for the class of 2025. Over the next couple weeks, I will be breaking these rankings down by position. After already covering the quarterbacks, I will now turn my attention to the top running backs in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["373042"],"_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='373042' first='Cortez' last='Stone'] solidified himself this past season as not only the top running back in his class but also one of the best overall players. He had an outstanding sophomore year, carrying the ball 261 times for 2,191 yards and 26 touchdowns. The first thing that stands out with Stone is his blazing speed. He bursts through the running lane and keeps going right past the defense on his way for long runs. Stone is also very elusive in the open field, showing the ability to make defenders miss. He also has shown the ability to make catches out the backfield, finishing this past season with ten receptions for 177 yards and a touchdown. Stone currently holds offers from Miami (OH), Purdue, Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky, and Louisville, and I expect that offers list to continue to grow for him as he is a Power 5 caliber running back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["502745"],"_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='502745' first='Demauriah' last='Brown'] is a running back that has been on our radar for a while now and continued to impress this past season. Brown had an outstanding sophomore year, finishing with 188 carries for 1,971 yards and 28 touchdowns. He has impressive vision out of the backfield, showing the patience to let the running lane open and then hitting it with a sense of urgency once it opens. Once he hits the open field, Brown has shown the speed to run away from the defense and elusiveness to make defenders miss. He also has proven to be a dangerous threat as a returner on special teams, returning one kickoff for a touchdown this past season. Demauriah currently holds one offer from Eastern Kentucky but I expect more to come his way soon as he is a Division I caliber running back.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["373826"],"_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":"Another running back that had an impressive sophomore season is Taylor County's [player_tooltip player_id='373826' first='Peyton' last='Smith']. This past season, Smith ran the ball 107 times for 1,242 yards and 17 touchdowns in just seven games. Smith has impressive vision both when finding the running lane and finding cut back lanes in the open field. Once he hits the open field, he has the speed to run away from the defense but also has the strength/contact balance to break tackles without losing stride. Smith also has shown the ability to make catches out of the backfield, finishing this past season with four receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Peyton currently holds one offer from Eastern Kentucky but I expect more to come his way soon as he is a Division I caliber prospect.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["735730"],"_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='735730' first='Zack' last='McCoart'] is a running back that jumped onto our radar this past season. He had a very strong sophomore year, running the ball 189 times for 1,721 yards and 26 touchdowns. Mccoart is a physical downhill runner that bursts through the running lane with a full head of steam and shows the ability to run straight through defenders without breaking stride. He also has shown that he has the speed to run away from the defense once he hits the open field. Mccoart also finished this past season as his team's leading receiver, catching five passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns. While he doesn't currently hold any offers, I expect some to come his way soon as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["373823"],"_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 our top five running backs in the class of 2025 is [player_tooltip player_id='373823' first='Kalen' last='Washington'] from George Rogers Clark. Washington had a strong sophomore season, finishing with 117 carries for 1,001 yards and 16 touchdowns. He is a physical runner with the ability to burst through the running lane and lower his shoulder to run straight through defenders. Washington also has shown the ability to make cuts in the open field to make defenders miss and he also has the speed to run away from the defense. He also finished the season with 15 receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown, along with one kickoff return for a touchdown. Kalen doesn't currently hold any offers but has received some college interest 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-64247497d3509"} /--> <!-- wp:heading {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <h2 class="has-medium-font-size">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 150):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='331763' first='Deion' last='Winstead'] (Owensboro)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='735729' first='Pharo' last='Watts'] (Frederick Douglass)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='735731' first='Braxton' last='Jennings'] (Ashland Blazer)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='735732' first='Chase' last='Flaherty'] (Beechwood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='373051' first='CT' last='Branstetter'] (Metcalfe County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='735734' first='Blake' last='Caudill'] (Pikeville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='735728' first='David' last='Anderson'] (Dixie Heights)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='373047' first='Ali' last='Hamdiyah'] (Scott County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. William Elliott Jr. (Ballard)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->