2025 Rankings Update: Running Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2023 high school football season quickly approaching, it is time for some rankings updates! For the state of Kentucky, the updated Top 150 rankings for the talented 2025 class have been posted. With that being said, I will be taking the next couple weeks to breakdown these updated rankings by position. After already covering the quarterbacks, I will now turn my attention to our top running backs in the state of Kentucky in the class of 2025.</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":"Over the past couple seasons, [player_tooltip player_id='373042' first='Cortez' last='Stone'] has continued to prove that he is the best running back in the state of Kentucky. Storm had and outstanding sophomore season, running the ball 261 times for 2,191 yards and 26 touchdowns. Cortez has an impressive amount of burst out of his stance through the running lane. He is able to use his speed to shoot through the running lane and run away from the defense on his way to the end zone.  Stone has also shown the ability to make defenders miss in the open field when they're able to catch up to him. He has also proven to be a threat in the passing game, catching 10 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown last season. Stone currently holds offers from Ball State, Miami (OH), Louisville, Cincinnati, Purdue, Western Kentucky, and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Power 5 caliber running back prospect.","_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 high on our radar for a while now. After a strong two seasons at Danville, he will be transferring to Boyle County to join the Rebels' high-powered offense. In his last season at Danville, Brown ran the ball 188 times for 1,971 yards and 28 touchdowns. Brown has very impressive vision, showing the patience to let his blockers set up and create a running lane then hit the lane with a sense of urgency when it opens. Once he gets to the second level, Brown has the speed to simply run away from the defense. He has also proven to have special teams value, returning one kickoff for a touchdown last season. Brown currently holds offers from West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way as he is an FBS caliber running back that could play as high as the Power 5 level.","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='373826' first='Peyton' last='Smith'] is another incoming junior running back that has been high on our radar for a while now. He is coming off a strong sophomore season in which he carried the ball 107 times for 1,242 yards and 17 touchdowns in just seven games. Smith has an impressive combination of speed and strength as a ball carrier. He has the speed to run away from the defense but also has the strength/contact balance to run straight through defenders without breaking stride. Smith also has great vision in the open field which he uses to find cut back lanes. He has also shown the ability to pose as a threat in the passing game, catching two passes for touchdowns last season. Peyton currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I caliber running back prospect.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["735729"],"_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='735729' first='Pharo' last='Watts'] is a player that will be getting his opportunity to truly shine for a talented Frederick Douglass team this season. As a sophomore, Watts finished the season with 21 carries for 213 yards and three touchdowns while sitting behind multiple seniors in a crowded backfield. Watts is a physical, downhill runner that hits the running lane with a sense of urgency. Once he hits the open field, Watts has the speed to run away from the defense and the strength/contact balance to run straight through defenders without breaking stride. Pharo currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Miami (OH), and I expect more Division I offers to come his way as his role in the Broncos' offense continues to grow.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["735730"],"_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":"To wrap up our top five running backs in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='735730' first='Zack' last='McCoart'] from Johnson Central. McCoart is coming off a strong sophomore season in which he carried the ball 189 times for 1,721 yards and 26 touchdowns. Zack is a physical, downhill runner that bursts through the running lane with a sense of urgency and has the strength and contact balance to run straight through defenders without breaking stride. Once he hits the second level, McCoart has also shown that he has the speed to run away from the defense to break away on long runs. McCoart also finished this past season as his team's leading receiver, catching five passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns. He has also proven to have special teams value, returning one punt for a touchdown this past season. While Zack doesn't currently hold any offers, I expect some to come his way soon as he 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-64c034a25db85"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 150):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='373823' first='Kalen' last='Washington'] (George Rogers Clark)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='331763' first='Deion' last='Winstead'] (Owensboro)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='873790' first='Giaonni' last='Hunter'] (Shelby County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='735731' first='Braxton' last='Jennings'] (Ashland Blazer)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='735732' first='Chase' last='Flaherty'] (Beechwood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='373804' first='Christian' last='Moore'] (Franklin County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='373051' first='CT' last='Branstetter'] (Metcalfe County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='735734' first='Blake' last='Caudill'] (Pikeville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='373047' first='Ali' last='Hamdiyah'] (Scott County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15. [player_tooltip player_id='873789' first='Xavion' last='Ware'] (Western)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16. [player_tooltip player_id='873788' first='Jacobi' last='Jones'] (Waggener)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17. [player_tooltip player_id='735728' first='David' last='Anderson'] (Dixie Heights)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18. [player_tooltip player_id='373080' first='William' last='Elliott Jr.'] (Ballard)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->