2026 Stock Watch: Running Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we enter the 2024 high school football offseason, we have been releasing our rankings updates in the state of Kentucky. This past month has been dedicated to the class of 2026 and there has been a lot of movement as well as impressive new additions being added. Over the past couple weeks, I have focused on the top five players at each position so now I wanted to focus on some key players at each position that landed outside the top five that I believe people should be paying close attention to. With that being said, I have a “Stock Watch” series highlighting each position in the 2026 class. After already covering the quarterbacks, here are some 2026 running backs to keep an eye on!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283974"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='283974' first='Keagan' last='Maher'] is a running back that has been on my radar for a while now and climbed up our rankings with a strong sophomore season. Maher finished this past season with 185 carries for 1,204 yards and 18 touchdowns in 15 games. Keagan has explosive speed which he uses to burst through the running lane and run away from the defense on long runs. He has also shown the elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field. Maher also played a key role in the passing game this past season, catching 28 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns. Keagan doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player for college coaches to keep an eye on over the next two seasons.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1176974"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1176974' first='Davaree' last='Gude'] is a player that jumped onto my radar with an impressive sophomore season. Gude finished the year with 154 carries for 1,094 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games. He is a strong runner, showing the contact balance to break tackles without losing stride. Gude has also shown impressive vision, showing the ability to find cut back lanes and change direction quickly to hit them. Davaree also finished the season with 12 receptions for 162 yards. Gude doesn't currently hold any offers but should be a player to keep an eye on going into his junior year.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["971533"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='971533' first='Chayce' last='Burton'] is a player that has been on my radar for a while now and continued to impress this past season. Burton had a strong sophomore year, running the ball 109 times for 717 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games. Chayce is a physical runner, showing the contact balance, along with an impressive stiff arm, to break tackles in the open field with ease. He also has the burst of speed to run away from the defense on long runs. Burton also finished this past season with 11 receptions for 82 yards. Chayce doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to keep an eye on as his role in the Male offense continues to grow.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["283971"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='283971' first='Jeffrey' last='Vazzana'] is another running back that has been on my radar for a while that continued to stand out this past season. He finished his sophomore season with 95 carries for 613 yards and 11 touchdowns in 14 games. Vazzana has impressive speed, showing the ability to burst through the running lane and right by defenders on long runs. He has also shown that he has the contact balance to break tackles without losing stride. Jeffrey also played a role in the passing game this past season, catching 25 passes for 284 yards and six touchdowns. Vazzana doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to pay close attention to over the next couple seasons.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["971535"],"_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":"My final running back in my 2026 “Stock Watch” is [player_tooltip player_id='971535' first='BJ' last='Evans']. Evans played in mainly a complimentary role for LCA last season but was productive when on the field, finishing the season with 29 carries for 258 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games. He is a physical, downhill runner that has shown the ability to lower his shoulder and run straight through defenders without breaking stride. Evans has also shown the speed to break away on the occasional long run. BJ recently picked up his first offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he recently transferred to Tates Creek where he will likely play a bigger role in their offense.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65dfd2225088f"} /-->