Pennsylvania 2028 Running Backs Poised For Big 2023 Seasons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the pre-high school level of football, the skill positions tend to develop and stick out before most of the other positions on the field. While the NFL is certainly a more pass-happy league right now, the running back position is still extremely important. Below are five eighth-grade (class of 2028) backs from Pennsylvania with varying skills sets, yet all should become highly productive players this season and beyond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["452655"],"_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":"A western Pennsylvania prospect, Black Jr. has established himself as a premier pre-high school prospect in the Commonwealth. The Pittsburgh native came into this season as a running back with a well-balanced skillset of speed, quickness and body control. However, in his most recent clips, he makes a couple nice plays as a cornerback. Openly admitting it's his first year playing defensive back, a lot of those running back traits have helped hit the ground running (no pun intended) on the defensive side of the ball. Interestingly enough, he's one of a growing number of 2028 prospects that call Pennsylvania home but play for teams out of state. This fall season, Black Jr. is lining up for the Ginn Elite, a powerful program put together by 14-year NFL vet Ted Ginn Jr., out of Cleveland, OH.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["959474"],"_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":"Riddick is a prospect I first got eyes on last spring at a NextGen camp in Delaware. His muscular build and bowling ball running style caught my eye immediately and I was very surprised when he wasn't selected to attend The Show by NextGen this past July. Keeping an eye on him over the last six months, he looks better than ever. Speaking with his father, Riddick is now up to 5-foot-9 and 195 poundsu002du002dtwo inches and 20 pounds since I last got verified information on him. While I can't verify just how much he gained in size without official measurements, he has noticeably increased his speed and lateral agility. He's much faster and smoother going through bag drills and absolutely has more muscle mass, so dropping that shoulder should continue to not be an issue. He's already visited a number of Pennsylvania's top private school programs and will likely be going that route come next year.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["480989"],"_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":"In terms of the prospect with the most natural, well-rounded running back skill in this article, [player_tooltip player_id='480989' first='Jerome' last='Larue Jr.'] would get my vote at this point. At 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds he's an excellent combination of speed, power, agility and pass-catching for a back on the pre-high school level. His game is closely reminiscent of [player_tooltip player_id='452655' first='Chrys' last='Black Jr.'] listed above and is one of the premier backs in Pennsylvania for the 2028 class. This year he is playing for the Central Penn Crusaders of the Capital Football League (CFL), a league that has been information since 1972 centered around Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania. The Central Penn Crusaders has become a powerhouse program in the league, with several standout alumni. Larue Jr. will surely add his name to highly-thought of list of alumni, such as 2023 PRZ Next Camp WR MVP and currently ranked No.10 2027 prospect, [player_tooltip player_id='521111' first='Jontai' last='Quick'] and 2023 PRZ Next Camp QB MVP and currently ranked No.17 2027 prospect, [player_tooltip player_id='419266' first='Sebastian' last='Williams'].","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["959751"],"_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":"Speaking of the Central Penn Crusaders, [player_tooltip player_id='521111' first='Jontai' last='Quick'] and [player_tooltip player_id='419266' first='Sebastian' last='Williams'], what if I told you [player_tooltip player_id='480989' first='Jerome' last='Larue Jr.'] wasn't the only stud running back on the squad this year? The Crusaders also have the freaky speed of [player_tooltip player_id='959751' first='Howard' last='Holton Jr.'] lined up in the backfield as well. Holton Jr. is the son of Bishop McDevitt varsity Running Back coach Howard Holton Sr., where Quick and Williams will both be freshman this year. Holton Jr. plays 7on7 with the talented 2027 prospects and despite being a class younger, doesn't look the least bit out of place. He comes with elite speed and quickness, that makes others look like they're moving in slow motion. If he gets to the edge, there won't be many, if any at all, that will be able to catch him in the CFL. His speed and hands make him a great option on wheel routes and/or in the slot too. The duo of Larue Jr. and Holton Jr. is among the most talented 1-2 punches not only in Pennsylvania, but in the entire country for the class of 2028.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["959776"],"_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":"We've touched on a prospect from Pittsburgh, we've touched on a few from around Harrisburg, but what about Philly? Enter [player_tooltip player_id='959776' first='Kassan' last='Chappelle'] of the North Philly Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are a program with a pedigree of success as well, having won city championships in Pop Warner, AAU and AYF football leagues. Chappelle is an early name-to-know in the Philly pre-high school football scene. The explosive back is ready to take the reigns of the North Philly Blackhawks, replacing 2023 PRZ Next Camp Running Back MVP and 2027 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='671952' first='Ahzir' last='Nelson'] (currently unranked, on the Watch List). Comparing the two prospects, Chappelle is further ahead than Nelson was at this point. I'm not sure when the world will see another Barry Sanders (NFL Hall of Famer) but that's the name I thought of while watching Chappelle's film. His on-field vision is extremely impressive, as is his ability to stop and start. He also runs with a nice, low center of gravity, which allows him to execute jump cuts with the best of them. Very impressive kid.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64e3c958689b0"} /-->