Freshmen Report: 2027 RBs Shining on Varsity

The 2027 running back class in Georgia is chalked full of future FBS and P5 talent. Over the next several years, more and more of these prospects will make a name for themselves on the recruiting trail. There are a good bit who are wasting no time doing so. Here are 5 freshmen RBs handling the big stage at a high level.   [player_tooltip player_id='378415' first='Darius' last='White'] - Decatur   Before playing a high school snap, White made a name for himself on the camp scene and entered his high school career with plenty of D1 buzz. White is listed on HUDL at 5'9 185 and possesses a noticeably stout and defined frame, especially in his lower body. As a result, he generates plenty of energy from the ground, allowing him to power through would-be tacklers and push the pile when needed to tack on extra yards at the end of his run. White bounces plenty of runs to the outside, flashing solid horizontal escapability from the pocket and quickly hitting his stride to get around the edge. In the open field, he has the explosiveness to run away from defenders and the shiftiness and vision to pinpoint cut-back lanes if needed. Once he gets going downfield, he is a danger to break off huge runs as DBs have a tough time bringing him down. Defenders typically have to force him out of bounds to end his runs. As of right now, White is more of a scat-back who does a great job of pinpointing space and quickly filling it. However, he has the upside to continue developing his presence between the tackles, largely thanks to his toughness as a runner and his vision. White projects long-term as an elusive back who can handle a workload. He checks early FBS boxes.   <a href="https://x.com/Darius_white00/status/1705244218606645304?s=20">https://x.com/Darius_white00/status/1705244218606645304?s=20</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='419329' first='Quinterrius' last='Gipson'] - Kell   Gipson immediately introduced himself to the varsity scene with an impressive showing in the Corky Kell Classic. Fast forward a few weeks, and he has continued to impress and produce. With recent offers under his belt from Auburn and UCF, he has solidified himself as one of the premier RB prospects in the state for the 2027 class. To say Gipson isn't built like your typical freshman RB would be an understatement. He comes in at 5'11 200 and looks the part of a bruiser coming out of the backfield. He has stout legs and broad shoulders, allowing him to sheer his way through tacklers and maintain spectacular contact balance as he climbs the defense. Gipson isn't a speedy back, but he showcases excellent footwork, generating power on his cuts to quickly jump across the face of tacklers. When bouncing to the outside, he has a sudden change of direction in his lower body to quickly shift his angle without sacrificing much speed to the edge. He recovers nicely as well, shifting from east/west to north/south quickly and efficiently. He also has the burst of explosiveness to quickly exploit openings in the defense, both around the line of scrimmage and in the secondary. Where Gipson really sticks out is with his elusiveness. He plays with excellent patience as he waits for his blocks to develop. He doesn't play himself out of plays. Instead, he keeps his eyes up and steadily pushes himself through the box until he eventually finds room to run. Gipson is well-developed for his age and is still just a youngster. At this current pace, expect him to be a mainstay on the recruiting scene for P5 schools over the next four years.   <a href="https://x.com/MoonieGipson/status/1710012757351727242?s=20">https://x.com/MoonieGipson/status/1710012757351727242?s=20</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='489529' first='Deron' last='Foster'] - Valdosta   Foster is generating plenty of buzz early in his career out of south Georgia and has the upside to be one of the more dynamic RB prospects in Georgia. He is a bit different than some of the other prospects on this list, as he comes in on the smaller side at around 5'9 170. Regardless, he still possesses the ability to threaten the defense east/west and north/south, just in a different way. Foster has long strides and is slippery enough to slip right by defenders on numerous different run concepts. When he stretches to the outside, he has the speed to out-angle defenses and the decision-making to reposition himself and get vertical quickly. Once he gets going upfield, whether that being between the tackles or on the outside, he quickly explodes through holes with no hesitation. He showcases really good footwork and is a tough task to get a hold of in the open field thanks to his bend and flexibility, but you won't catch him unnecessarily dancing in the open field. In a crowd, he can create space for himself to tack on extra yards, and while he isn't a super physical back, he doesn't shy away from contact. Foster shows some pass-catching upside as well, as he is the general archetype for a pass catcher out of the backfield thanks to what he can do in the open field. The basis of his intrigue is that he is both an impressive prospect physically and is scheme versatile. For that reason, he projects as a sure-fire FBS prospect, and likely P5.   <a href="https://x.com/DFoster2027/status/1712482005802455099?s=20">https://x.com/DFoster2027/status/1712482005802455099?s=20</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='416465' first='Brayden' last='Stoker'] - Gordon Lee   Labeling Stoker as just an RB prospect at this level of his career wouldn't do his game justice. He is a true offensive playmaker who can line up all over the field and impact the game both as a receiver, a runner, and a blocker. At this stage of development, Stoker is a physical specimen, listed at 6'2 200. Having seen him in person, he is well-defined and moves very well for his frame, and he is bigger now than he was several months ago. Stoker is an explosive play waiting to happen, running with outstanding burst and acceleration. You can tell that he is still growing into his length when he runs, but he does a good job of staying low to the ground and playing off a solid enough base to shift around. He runs exceptionally hard to the edge, just outworking defenders to the outside. Once he breaks into the secondary, he moves like a gazelle in the open field, generating plenty of power and push with his strides as he gradually separates from defenders. When you factor in his size and his experience on defense, you have yourself an RB prospect who can handle a workload and impose his will physically. Not to mention the fact that he showcases natural hands and route-running ability as a receiver. Stoker is a truly impressive prospect who is on track to have an impressive career. He is someone worthy of a mention when talking about 2027 RBs.   <a href="https://x.com/braydenstoker1/status/1709333219668115482?s=20">https://x.com/braydenstoker1/status/1709333219668115482?s=20</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='474084' first='Brayden' last='Tyson'] - Brookwood   Tyson generated some recruiting buzz before he even stepped foot in a high school hallway. Now, he has some production to back up the hype and is perhaps on his way to becoming a blue-chip RB prospect in the 2027 class. Physically, [player_tooltip player_id='474084' first='Brayden' last='Tyson'] jumps off the page as an obvious P5 RB prospect. He is listed at 6'0 215 with muscle and mass in his legs that is noticeable on tape. His thick lower body makes him difficult for defenders to get their hands around him. Not only that, but he also maintains outstanding contact balance and is capable of running directly through would-be tacklers when needed. His elusiveness is in a league of its own when it comes to young RBs, his eyes are always locked downfield as he carefully surveys for running lanes. He shows excellent patience around the mesh point, allowing his blocks to develop and then quickly making a decision with no hesitation. He also does a good job of IDing cutback lanes around the line of scrimmage when present. He isn't afraid to redirect a play when necessary. Tyson isn't a super agile runner, but he has the ability to create his own yards and slip through crowds thanks to a smooth start and stop in his footwork. His smart decision-making also translates when he hits the open field, confidently locating the most optimal running lane. Tyson is a workhorse RB with an advanced feel for the position. He projects as a no-brainer P5 prospect.   <a href="https://x.com/BraydenTyson24/status/1707040748724461843?s=20">https://x.com/BraydenTyson24/status/1707040748724461843?s=20</a>

The 2027 running back class in Georgia is chalked full of future FBS and P5 talent. Over the next several years, more and more of these prospects will make a name for themselves on the recruiting trail. There are a good bit who are wasting no time doing so. Here are 5 freshmen RBs handling the big stage at a high level.