2026 Rankings Release: Running Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2023 high school football season being officially underway, it is the time of the year where initial rankings for the current season are being finalized. After releasing our initial 2024 and 2025 rankings updates for this season, we have now turned our attention to a class debut in our rankings. The 2026 class is loaded with several talented players but some stood out above the rest to make our initial Top 100. With those rankings being officially posted, I will now be breaking them down by position. After covering the quarterback position, I will now turn my attention to our top running backs in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401923"],"_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='401923' first='Markezz' last='Hightower'] is a player that stood out to me last season and established himself as the top running back in his class. As a freshman, Hightower ran the ball 167 times for 975 yards and seven touchdowns. He is a very hard runner showing the strength and contact balance to run straight through defenders without breaking stride. Once he hits the open field, Markezz has also shown that he has the speed to break away from the defense for long runs. He has also shown the ability to make catches out of the backfield, catching one touchdown pass last season. Hightower doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect him to become a highly sought after running back as he continues to develop.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["873792"],"_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":"Another running back that caught my attention as a freshman is [player_tooltip player_id='873792' first='Laysen' last='Anderson']. In his first season of high school football, Anderson carried the ball 96 times for 1,088 yards and ten interceptions. Anderson's size can be very deceiving as he is a very hard runner. He has great contact balance which he uses to bounce off tacklers in the open field without breaking stride. Anderson also has great vision, showing the ability to find cut back lanes in the open field and make moves to make defenders miss. Once he hits the open field, Anderson also has the speed to run away from the defense. Laysen doesn't currently hold any offers but he will definitely be a player to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["273452"],"_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='273452' first='Ace' last='Caudill'] is the next in line in a long tradition of talented running backs in the Belfry program. Caudill saw some success as a freshman, carrying the ball 69 times for 607 yards and three touchdowns.  The first thing that stands out with Caudill is his speed. He lines up as a wing back in the Belfry Wing-T  offense where he uses his speed to take handoffs in stride and get around the edge in a hurry. Once he hits the open field, Caudill has shown the elusiveness to make defenders miss. He has also shown the ability to pose as a threat in the passing game as a deep threat. Caudill is the Pirates' leading rusher through their first two games this season, carrying the ball 15 times for 237 yards and two touchdowns. While Caudill doesn't currently hold any offers, I expect college coaches to keep their eyes on him as his role in the Belfry offense continues to grow.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["971534"],"_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='971534' first='Gerian' last='Traynor'] is a running back that recently jumped onto my radar. Last season, Traynor played in a more limited role in a talented Manual backfield but still found some success, carrying the ball 28 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns. In his first two games as a sophomore, Traynor has stepped up in a big way as he is currently his team's leading rusher with 32 carries for 155 yards and three touchdowns. Traynor has blazing speed which he uses to burst through the running lane and run right by defenders to break away for long runs. He also has impressive vision, showing the ability to find cut back lanes quickly in the open field. Traynor also plays a role on special teams as a kickoff returner. Gerian doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player to keep an eye on as his role in the Manual offense continues to grow.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["773227"],"_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 round out our top five running backs in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='773227' first='Jayden' last='Gibson'] from Breathitt County. Jayden is coming off a strong freshman year in which he finished as the team's leading rusher with 127 carries for 770 yards and eight touchdowns. Gibson is a physical, downhill runner with the ability to break tackles without losing stride. Once he hits the open field, Gibson has shown the ability to use his speed and elusiveness to break away for long runs. Gibson is off to a great start to his sophomore year as he has carried the ball 30 times for 124 yards and three touchdowns through the first two games of the season. Jayden doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect college coaches to have their eyes on his if he continues to impress over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64ef8961554c1"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 100):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='283970' first='JayQuan' last='Crawford'] (Franklin County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='283974' first='Keagan' last='Maher'] (Cooper)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='401703' first='DJ' last='Wilson'] (Paducah Tilghman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='971536' first='Brayden' last='Baxter'] (Monroe County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='401691' first='Cameron' last='Bulle'] (Glasgow)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='971535' first='BJ' last='Evans'] (Lexington Christian Academy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='283971' first='Jeffrey' last='Vazzana'] (Christian Academy of Louisville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='971533' first='Chayce' last='Burton'] (Male)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->