Break Out Candidates of the 2024 Class: RB

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is unique for a high school football team to <em>not</em> lean on the running game. Though passing has become a must in football at all levels, I still think the RB position still reigns supreme! In the second installment of the <em>Break Out Candidates Series</em>, we discuss running backs!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Taji Atkins","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Westfield","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Westfield airs the ball out, u003cemu003ea lotu003c/emu003e. And they had the QB and receivers to do so. Even with a QB in PJ Hatter who threw for 55 TDs, Atkins still managed to top 1,000 yards and be a vital piece in that offense! Atkins is perfect for a zone running offense. He has a nice size and does not waste steps before hitting a hole. He has great feel and anticipation for a hole opening up. His vision is exceptional! Atkins has really solid acceleration and can out run most defensives to the endzone. Where he excels is in the passing game! He is an adequate blocker, but is a u003cemu003ethreatu003c/emu003e as a receiver. A mismatch for most LBs in space, Atkins sets up defenders really well. With Westfields losing Hatter, and its two leading receivers, Atkins will be used a lot for that offense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["148284"],"_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":"Wiley has a great mixture of size and speed, enthesis on the u003cemu003espeed...and well...the size part as wellu003c/emu003e. His open field burst is insane! He has this ability to stride and give defenses hope, then turn on the gas and leave them in the dirt. He's great in space, but has the strength to drop his shoulders and gain additional yardage. He looks like he should be a power back. It should be illegal for a back his size to move that well. Stafford was not spectacular in the passing game, and leaned on the running game a lot. I expect that to be the case this upcoming season as well. Wiley will be a house hold name this time next year!","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Bryce Burgess","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Pearland Dawson","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Burgess is easily the smallest on the group. If I'm being honest, he will probably move to slot receiver at the next level. If/when that time comes, Burgess is a feisty RB! He is as quick as a hiccup. Occasionally, Burgess will drop his shoulder and fight for extra years. He was a workhorse for Dawson last season. That will probably continue next season! If you are not in your rush lanes in a timely manner, Burgess will make you regret it. Once he's in the open field, it's rarely u003cemu003enotu003c/emu003e a touchdown. You guys know I am a big believer in u003cemu003e'heart over height'u003c/emu003e,  and Burgess has a lot of that! I believe he will be even more productive in his senior season!","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["429000"],"_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":"u003cemu003eThis Young Man Is Physicalu003c/emu003e! He fights for every yard! Passing the football was nonexistent for the Tompkins Katy Football team, and Blocker and company made the most of their carries. He has a great ability to make defenders miss in space. I like his contact balance. Good, not great size, he can set defenders up and break the opposite way before they could realize it! Blocker had solid speed, but probably won't outrun corners and safeties to the endzone on long runs. He also sets up his blocking well, allowing them to get a hat on a hat and he does the rest. He may not be a blazer, but he accelerates with the best of them. Blocker is in primed position to skyrocket up ranking lists!","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63eb000446864"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->