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Class of 2026: Top Returning 1A RB’s

Class of 2026: Top Returning 1A RB’s
CJ Marable
CJ Marable January 29, 2024 @ 12:29 PM
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In this article:

Braden Gilliland
Braden Gilliland RB | 2026
AL
Jaquez Wilkes
Jaquez Wilkes 6'4" | 220 lbs | EDGE | 2026
AL
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 football season promises to be an exciting one, with numerous talented rushers returning to the field. In this scouting report, we will take a look at some of the top 1A returning RB's who are expected to make a significant impact in the upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1349523' first='Jaquez' last='Wilkes']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"220","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Wadley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A smooth, loose athlete with very good speed, he is a weapon in space. Rare straight-line speed. Blur in the open field and a matchup nightmare because of his versatility and unique skills set. Natural playmaker. Goes from zero to 60 in a blink, with the sudden acceleration and lateral agility to produce running inside. Wilkes is a natural playmaker, at his best with the ball in his hands. Wilkes does a nice job with recognition as a pass protector and gives good effort.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"A'ron Lee","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"165","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Ragland ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"An excellent blocker on the outside, Lee also adds value in the running game. Lee aggressively finishes runs and consistently falls forward in a crowd. His low pad level and a bit of wiggle keep him from absorbing big hits. Quick feet with good vision to pick through defenses. Scott has solid hands and body control. His vision is outstanding, and he has an innate understanding of when to go and when to sit back and wait for blocks to develop. He thrives as a one-cut back","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":" Cortavion Lynch","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"129","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Wadley","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Possesses agile feet with the patience, balance and vision to sidestep and elude defenders – nice job following his blocks and working well in tight areas. Physical at the point of attack and keeps his feet moving. He aggressively finishes runs and consistently falls forward in a crowd. His low pad level and a bit of wiggle keep him from absorbing big hits. He has the ability to be a quality receiver out the backfield with soft hands, Lynch shows a good feel for catching. He brings a nice blend of power and passing game skills. Lynch has a compact build and a naturally low center of gravity, and he runs with excellent balance through traffic, allowing him to squeeze through for yardage.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1895265' first='Braden' last='Gilliland']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"207","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Appalachian High School ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Gilliland is a very smooth runner whose overall set of athletic tools is impressive, with very good burst and speed; has the ability to hit home runs when he finds a lane, and can seemingly outrace defenders to the corner on outside rushes at will. Has good vision to recognize cutback lanes, but is generally a no-nonsense runner who executes the play as drawn up.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Kaden Cotton","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"154","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Billingsley High School ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Cotton has a lot of potential. He's a patient runner who shows solid vision and does a good job of shuffling to find lanes. Has the agility to make defenders miss one-on-one at the second level. Overall flexibility is good. Flashes the ability to shake off defenders or move the pile once he gets going.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b7ee760d80f"} /-->

The 2023 football season promises to be an exciting one, with numerous talented rushers returning to the field. In this scouting report, we will take a look at some of the top 1A returning RB's who are expected to make a significant impact in the upcoming season.

<span class="pn-tooltip pn-player-link">
        <span class="name-pointer">Class of 2026: Top Returning 1A RB’s</span>
        <span class="info-box not-prose" style="background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(193,25,32, 0.95) 0%,rgba(193,25,32, 1) 100%)">
            <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/class-of-2026-top-returning-1a-rbs/" class="link-wrap">
                                    <span class="player-img"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/11/Prospects-to-watch-.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Class of 2026: Top Returning 1A RB’s"></span>
                
                <span class="player-details">
                    <span class="first-name">Class</span>
                    <span class="last-name">of 2026: Top Returning 1A RB’s</span>
                    <span class="measurables">
                                            </span>
                                    </span>
                <span class="player-rank">
                                                        </span>
                                    <span class="state-abbr"></span>
                            </a>

                    </span>
    </span>

Jaquez Wilkes Jaquez Wilkes 6'4" | 220 lbs | EDGE Wadley | 2026 State AL

HEIGHT 6'4"
WEIGHT 220
POS RB
CLASS 2026

Jaquez Wilkes Jaquez Wilkes 6'4" | 220 lbs | EDGE Wadley | 2026 State AL

School: Wadley
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
A'ron Lee

A'ron Lee

HEIGHT 5'8"
WEIGHT 165
POS RB
CLASS 2026

A'ron Lee

School: Ragland
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
 Cortavion Lynch

Cortavion Lynch

HEIGHT 5'7"
WEIGHT 129
POS RB
CLASS

Cortavion Lynch

School: Wadley
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
<span class="pn-tooltip pn-player-link">
        <span class="name-pointer">Class of 2026: Top Returning 1A RB’s</span>
        <span class="info-box not-prose" style="background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(193,25,32, 0.95) 0%,rgba(193,25,32, 1) 100%)">
            <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/class-of-2026-top-returning-1a-rbs/" class="link-wrap">
                                    <span class="player-img"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/11/Prospects-to-watch-.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Class of 2026: Top Returning 1A RB’s"></span>
                
                <span class="player-details">
                    <span class="first-name">Class</span>
                    <span class="last-name">of 2026: Top Returning 1A RB’s</span>
                    <span class="measurables">
                                            </span>
                                    </span>
                <span class="player-rank">
                                                        </span>
                                    <span class="state-abbr"></span>
                            </a>

                    </span>
    </span>

Braden Gilliland Braden Gilliland RB Appalachian | 2026 State AL

HEIGHT 6'1"
WEIGHT 207
POS RB
CLASS 2026

Braden Gilliland Braden Gilliland RB Appalachian | 2026 State AL

School: Appalachian High School
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Kaden Cotton

Kaden Cotton

HEIGHT 5'7"
WEIGHT 154
POS RB
CLASS 2026

Kaden Cotton

School: Billingsley High School
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
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