Georgia Future Stars Breakdown: 8th Grade Running Back (2027)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since 2011 the Georgia Future Stars has been an institution in the middle school football space, where many of the best kids from the Peach State have put an exclamation point on their pre-high school careers. Household names such as former Georgia Bulldog and No.63 overall NFL draft pick and current Buffalo Bills Running Back, James Cook, have made this team and event a special one. The evaluators and coaching staff that put together the Georgia Future Stars do a great job of balancing skill sets and showcasing what the future of football will look like. Here's a look at the Running Backs on this year's eighth grade (class of 2027) team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["416392"],"_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":"Easy game plan for Team GA offensive coordinator in the Future Stars game. Make getting the ball into Beard's hands a priority. One of the most complete backs coming out in this national 2027 class. You cannot ignore his athleticism, but when you sit back and look at his 5'8 and almost 170lb frame squat 315 pounds and over 200lbs on both bench and power clean, this kid will end up being mentioned as a freak. He has competed at a very high level and walked away with some type of hardware on all stages from in season play, to 7on7, showcases and camps during his middle school career. I look forward to him putting an exclamation mark behind his name before riding off into the sunset to historical power house Lincoln County H.S. Good luck figuring out where he lines up, then trying to limit his production. Beard has a solid frame that can take it the distance whether he gets the ball inside or outside the tackles. He has great vision with elite contact balance that must run in the family (nephew to Bulldog great Garrison Hearst). With soft hands and a comfort level lining up as an inside or outside receiver, Beard is a unique talent that can fit his skill set into any scheme.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["416590"],"_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":"Parker is a coaches dream for a 1, 2, punch combination. He has the #1 covered and the punch! Your job is to figure out who will be the 2. At a proportioned 5'11 physical running back, still only in middle school, is scary. This top prospect out of Macon County M.S. looks the part with or without pads and unfortunately once he's past the d-line it's a business decision to bring him down. Jakeyveon has quickness and decisive speed which will get defenses in trouble if allowed outside the hashes. Those slabs of meat hanging from his lower body, match his shoulder width, so it's no wonder he welcomes contact and always finds room to fall forward. Body wise he is the most ready for high school and will be racking up offers from all conferences in the coming years. It will be interesting to see him and Jerry [player_tooltip player_id='416392' first='Andrew' last='Beard'] on the field at the same time in this years game before battling for headlines in their home state.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["378415"],"_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='378415' first='Darius' last='White'] has unapologeticly goated himself. During last years game, Arkansas made sure to pull the trigger early to back up this idea of White possibly being the #1 RB in Georgia in his class. Scratch that! The nation? I'm hard pressed not to second that motion. In my evaluation, he is a true running back. Vision, power, balance, and speed comes easy. He is among the fastest in the nation and once you put a football in his arms, you will NOT catch him. There is no cloud of dust with him, because he will leave you in it. That's not even the thing that sticks out to me the most. I love watching him set up blocks and have body control to and through the point of contact of any defender. White is two steps ahead of the competition the way he sees the field, and each move is deliberate. Most backs at this level react. [player_tooltip player_id='378415' first='Darius' last='White'] anticipates and knows when to react. There is a difference. Another overlooked attribute is ball security. Yes sounds simple, but he distorts his body through holes and spins off would be tacklers, while consciously protecting the football. Ball security is job security. His maturity will separate him at the next level by doing the little things consistently right. Lastly, his confidence is infectious because he knows who he is. That is a dangerous trait. You can see this by the way he has patience then accelerates at the drop of a dime. There is no blocking scheme that he won't  use to get into the end zone. Just plug and play this monster. He has the ability to be a threat out of the backfield, but why play games when you can just hand him the ball and watch the show. Get your popcorn ready this kid is HIM!","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["419329"],"_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":"You can't coach size and that's what u0022Moonieu0022 has to offer to go with experience at multiple positions on the field. He is a chain mover! It's a guaranteed first down at minimum if this kid touches the ball twice in a row. [player_tooltip player_id='419329' first='Quinterrius' last='Gipson'] has undeniable power and agility with his ready made high school frame. Please don't sleep on his speed just because his comfort level is to keep his shoulders square while running downhill. I remember the high of watching tacklers bounce off the top of your shoulder pads and I don't blame him. Hey, defenders I hope you're listening! Yes, Gipson can run between the tackles. No, the sideline is not your friend if you let him get outside the numbers. He has my grade school trainee Ezekiel Elliott's hurdle down already, and is in the process of perfecting Derrick Henry's stick arm at this age. I love how he finishes runs and he will high point the ball out the air. That's a deadly combo. I will be definitely keeping an eye on this kid as he continues to develop, and seeing his name remain in the top running backs rankings.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["378432"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='378432' first='Noah' last='Merriweather'] is an X factor with offers from Arkansas St. and Nebraska (head coach just came from the NFL). To say Merriweather is explosive is an understatement. This athlete is a threat to take it the distance every time he touches the rock. He is a modern offensive coordinators favorite toy and a defensive coordinators nightmare. Line him up anywhere on the field and you better have him accounted for. With the wave of RPO (run/pass option) schemes at every level, Merriweather can blow the top off any pursuit angle no matter if you Jet sweep him, motion him into a screen, or just line him up in the pistol or offset him into a zone run attack. At only 5'5 the nickname u0022The Bluru0022 only happens if you see him. This kid knows how to use his size to his advantage by hiding behind blockers or stretching the defense then putting his foot in the ground to use his 4.4 speed to reach pay dirt. I hope he gets an opportunity to hone his return skills because he can flip the field during the game very quickly.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64344a3cc6c7b"} /-->