Who was Pennsylvania’s top 2026 running backs in 2023?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After looking at the top sophomore passers last week, this week we look at the state's top sophomore running backs based off their stats <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/">according to MaxPreps</a>. </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='1158407' first='Aiden' last='Bliss']","_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":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Port Allegany","_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":"While no sophomore running back ran for over 2,000 yarsd tihs season, Bliss came the closest with 1,638 yards across 196 carries in 2023. He also found the endzone 24 times which led all 2026 running backs with reported statistics. Bliss has good size for a running back and shows good vision and quality athleticism. He's a tough runner and uses his size well in that aspect, making him tough to bring down.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;u003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15124444/655c352b4bb2390b90aab857u0022u003eHUDLu003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["941126"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eThe Twin Valley standout rushed for just under 1,600 yards this season and was a big play machine, averaging 10.9 yards per carry. He totaled 14 touchdowns on the season as well. Here's what our own [player_tooltip player_id='1539423' first='Pat' last='Weider'] had to say about Engle last year. u0022As a freshman I don't know if you can find a player who made a bigger impact than Engle,u0022 Weider said. u0022Engle also ran the ball at running back and caught some passes out of the backfield. In both of these areas he showed good burst and that he caught the ball well. Engle is an impressive athlete.u0022u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14891310/655ec59c4bb2390b90acffb4u0022u003eu003cbu003eHUDLu003c/bu003eu003c/au003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["940379"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eThe Schuylkill Haven running back had 177 rushing attempts this season for 1,371 yards and 12 touchdowns. Carestia has very good size at 5-foot-10 and 200-pounds, he may be a lienbacker at the next level but as a running back he's quite impressive. He moves well for his size and shows impressive agility as well as the ability to make sharp cuts in order to hit open holes. Good speed with the ability to pull away as well. We've seen Schuylkill County running backs in similar molds to Carestia go on to have success at the next level and he could very well be the next in line.u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15129301/655ad4f5176d350b6cdcbd29u0022u003eu003cbu003eHUDLu003c/bu003eu003c/au003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;","_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":"Johhny Garcia","_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":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Solanco","_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eThe Solanco running back had 227 carries this season after just 18 as a freshman. On those 227 carries, he recorded 1,371 yards and 12 touchdowns. Garcia is on the smaller side at 5-foot-9 but shows good athleticism and elusiveness in his game. Will be interested how he continues to develop as a running back but I believe he should be able to find a place to play the next level.u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17429513/653e753d066bae06c4358714u0022u003eu003cbu003eHUDLu003c/bu003eu003c/au003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;","_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":"Jordan Lawrence","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Meadville","_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":"Lawrence this esason avreaged 8.0 yards per carry, totaling 1,336 yards across 159 carries. He also had 10 touchdowns on this season. We could not find HUDL highlights for Lawrence.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["941148"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eThe Cambridge Springs tailback totaled over 1,300 yards on 170 carries this season while also finding the endzone 19 times. The 5-foot-11, three-sport athlete averaged 7.7 yards per carry this season. He has an 11 minuteu003c/spanu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14795764/656d226190f96e04b4362222u0022u003e u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eHUDLu003c/spanu003eu003c/au003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e tape available that shows off his quality running skillset including good vision and smooth agility and hips. Definitely a prospect worth watching over the next two years.u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["684892"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eBurnett had a huge sophomore season for Gettysburg with 241 carries for 1,279 yards and six touchdowns. He had eight games of 100+ yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. He also had 17 receptions for 142 yards and a pair of touchdowns.u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eBurnett has good size at 5-foot-10 and 180-pounds and has the athleticism and speed to go with it. He's reported a 4.5 forty-yard dash and on film that number does seem quite accurate. Good agility with smooth hips and has a solid second gear. Doesn't have elite breakaway speed but will win his fair share of foot races. Really excited about how he develops going forward.u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17661007/65334ed764ea1d0930e4560bu0022u003eu003cbu003eHUDLu003c/bu003eu003c/au003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Cj Rissmiller","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"York Suburban","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eRissmiller was the bell-cow running back of York Suburban's offense this past season with 204 carries for 1,137 yards and 14 touchdowns. Rissmiller is a very good athlete who shows the ability to lineup at multiple positions for York Suburban and play at a quality level. Not only is he a strong running back but he also shows upside as a receiver and safety.u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/17618515/CJ-Rissmiller/aboutu0022u003eu003cbu003eHUDLu003c/bu003eu003c/au003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"Juelz Johnson","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_8_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eAfter seeing a small role as a freshman, Johnson had a much bigger role in 2024 for Farrell with 152 carries. On those 152 carries, he totaled 1,042 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had 15 receptions for 121 yards.u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eUnfortunately, Johnson has not posted his full sophomore offensive highlights but you can find his highlights,u003c/spanu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/20321347/juelz-juju-johnson/highlightsu0022u003e u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003ehereu003c/spanu003eu003c/au003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e. He did, however, post highlights from his first two games and Johnson was impressive on film. He's a very good athlete who shows good explosiveness, very good vision and agility. He is a home run hitter in the backfield and is a threat to rip off big runs on a regular basis.u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"Malakai Zucal","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"Cameron County","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_9_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eAfter a very good freshman season for Cameron County, Zucai had an even better sophomore season with 164 carries for 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns. He increased his yards per carry from 6.0 to 6.3 while averaging just under 100 yards per game.u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eZucal was a fun watch on film. He has good vision and is able to identify holes well. Has a nice burst to his game as well and shows quality agility.u003c/spanu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2MevVSu0022u003eu003cbu003eHUDLu003c/bu003eu003c/au003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65aee5284ea76"} /-->