New Jersey 2028 Watchlist Vol.1 – Running Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first installment of the&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/2028-new-jersey-watchlist-vol-1-is-live/">New Jersey 2028 Watchlist is LIVE!</a></strong>&nbsp;Volume 1 of this list features nearly 150 prospects, has been released.&nbsp;<strong>It is not a complete list and is being updated weekly, behind the scenes</strong>.&nbsp;There will be multiple official updates leading up to mid-August, when this 2028 class starts being considered high school prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/new-jersey-2028-watchlist-vol-1-defensive-backs/">Defensive Backs</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/new-jersey-2028-watchlist-vol-1-wide-receivers-tight-ends/">Wide Receivers/Tight Ends</a> |</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the rock-toters that made the initial list, in alphabetical order.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1141023"],"_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":"- Played for Monroeu003cbru003eu003cbru003e- Helped lead team to league championship gameu003cbru003eu003cbru003eOne of the most complete backs in New Jersey for the 2028 class at this point. Very good size and strength for a pre-high school back. Hits the hole hard and is a chore for the opposing defense to bring down. More of a North/South runner, but has excellent lateral movement as well. Only takes a few strides to get to full speed. Has interest from multiple private high schools.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["972168"],"_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":"- Played for Silk Cityu003cbru003eu003cbru003e- Also played linebacker on defenseu003cbru003eu003cbru003eBishop lists himself at 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds but I'm not sure if he's that big. Runs with very good balance and understands how to shift weight when making cuts. Gets up into the hole and into the second level quickly. Has advanced vision and good patients, which allows the bigs to get out in front. More of a slashing/gashing type of running back. Curious to see what he looks like with consistent weight training.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["432231"],"_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":"- Did not play this seasonu003cbru003eu003cbru003e- Has attended two Prep Redzone Next campsu003cbru003eu003cbru003eDairsow did not play football this season, as the reclassed athlete decided to just train and get ready for high school football. He has transformed his body like crazy over the last few years and is absolutely shredded. I haven't seen him play live in a year, but he'll be at the PRZ Next camp in a few weeks. He's easily a top three running back in the state for this classu002du002dand after I get a chance to see as much as I can this spring, there's a good chance he's sitting at the top of the list.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1145682"],"_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":"- Played for Vinelandu003cbru003eu003cbru003e- Was a late addition to Watchlist after seeing film on social mediau003cbru003eu003cbru003eIf there is a faster 2028 running back than Figueroa in the state, I want to see them. I don't have any times or numbers to go off of, but take my word when I tell you, this kid has elite speed right now. Makes the other 21 players on the field look like they're moving in slow motion. Takes direct snaps, lines up in the slot and plays the position traditionally. Only thing lacking right now is height, but if he gets tall enough...he's a next-level player.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["972510"],"_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":"- Played for Woodburyu003cbru003eu003cbru003e- Also plays basketballu003cbru003eu003cbru003ePart of a championship-winning Woodbury team this year that actually defeated [player_tooltip player_id='1141023' first='Trey' last='Alexander III'] and a very good Monroe team in the finals. There's a lot of Jerome Bettis in the way he plays. He's a thick kid that almost looks like an under-sized lineman at first glance, but then you see the footwork and surprising-speed. He's a load that can run between the tackles or out in space, at this point.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1140580"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"- Played for Ramseyu003cbru003eu003cbru003e- Also plays basketball and lacrosseu003cbru003eu003cbru003eLives in the heart of Bergen County, surrounded by some of the state's most dominant private high schools. He's built low to the ground and runs with obvious power and runs enough with speed to win most foot races. Picture a battering ram running up between the tackles and this Pellicciari. Rarely goes down after first contact and almost always falls forward to finish his runs.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1013562"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"- Played for St. Bartsrnrn- Two-time AYF All-Star National ChampionrnrnOff the field, he's a great kid that always greets with a smile; On the field, Sternlieb is a killer with little remorse. Also a wrestler, Sternleib brings quiet toughness to the field and will not hesitate to throw a wicked stiff arm or dip a shoulder. Also comes with really good quickness at this point. Older brother Caden is a standout 2026 offensive lineman at St. Thomas Aquinas and Cole would be a great addition for the Trojans.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["965087"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"- Played for Rancocas Valleyu003cbru003eu003cbru003e- Ended his youth career with 31 straight victoriesu003cbru003eu003cbru003eA dynamic running back that dazzles with quickness, vision and next-level cutting ability. Does a phenomenal job of finding/creating running lanes by the way he wiggles his way to, and through, the line of scrimmage. Would not hesitate to put him out in the slot for even half a second because he can catch too. Only hang up right now is size, though he has seemingly tacked on a few inches since we last him, in May.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["1013479"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"- Played for Jacksonu003cbru003eu003cbru003e- Won AYF 14U All-Star National Championshipu003cbru003eu003cbru003eAnother one of the more complete running backs in New Jersey for the class of 2028. I know it's high praise, but I see a lot of Emmitt Smith in the way he runs the ball. Thomas is listed at the same heigh as Emmitt was (5-foot-9) and runs with the same mix of speed, balance and power. Thomas only needs a crease and he'll be able to explode through the hole. His balance after contact, is amongst the best I've seen in the state.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a18e563fef1"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Running Backs That Could Slide Onto The Watchlist</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1145702' first='Myles' last='Simmonds']</strong> | Wood-Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='901239' first='Zaire' last='Burgess'] </strong>| Union</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1141065' first='Donavan' last='Campbell'] </strong>| East Orange</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->