2027 Rankings: Running Backs Set The Pace Statewide
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It’s increasingly becoming more common for freshmen to contribute at the varsity level. What’s still rare, though, is a freshman dominating at a skill position like the RBs featured in the 2027 PRZ Rankings. There are guys who claimed region…
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Continue ReadingIt’s increasingly becoming more common for freshmen to contribute at the varsity level.
What’s still rare, though, is a freshman dominating at a skill position like the RBs featured in the 2027 PRZ Rankings.
There are guys who claimed region titles and helped lead deep playoff runs, guys who started out of necessity and paid off big, and guys who simply couldn’t be kept off the field. They’ll run through you, around you, and by you, and we’ll be hearing about them for years to come.
Here’s a look at the six running backs who earned a ranking in their freshman seasons.
Byrnes’ Tre Segarra Tre Segarra 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Byrnes | 2027 State SC does some things that conjure memories of another talented-beyond-his-years RB that wore No. 21 for Byrnes. He runs with great vision, power, and shocking speed for his size. Segarra rushed for more than 1,100 yards as a freshman, adding 278 receiving and accounting for 15 total touchdowns. On an offense full of weapons, and in a region where defenses are built to stop the run, Segarra turned into the Rebels’ most reliable weapon.
At Gilbert, Trevon Williamson Trevon Williamson 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Gilbert | 2027 State SC helped lead the Indians to an 11-2 record with a monster season on both sides of the ball. As a hard-hitting LB, he notched 54 tackles with seven for loss, a sack, five pass deflections, and a forced fumble. Offense is where he truly broke out, though. He picked up more than 1,400 yards on the ground, added 222 through the air, and scored 25 total times. He’s a patient runner who is physical enough to run through tackles, but his speed means that he doesn’t often have to. Whether he’s in the backfield, in the slot, or you’re trying to block him when he’s on defense, he’s a matchup nightmare.
White Knoll racked up more than 4,500 yards of offense on the season on their way to a region title and a berth in the 5A State Championship game. The Timberwolves did it by being incredibly balanced on offense, with four players rushing for at least 275 yards. Freshman Tiyon Fanning Tiyon Fanning 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB White Knoll | 2027 State SC (pictured) tripled that number, rushing for 826 yards and leading White Knoll in carries, yards per game, and touchdowns (11). He also picked up 223 yards and scored four touchdowns on just 12 catches. There’s not much fancy about Fanning. He’s a bruising run-straight-through-you guy, and he’s very, very good at it.
Usually there’s a list of direct questions about a running back. Does he have good speed? Does he run with power? Is he a threat catching the ball out of the backfield? Can he block well? In the case of Woodruff’s Aiden Gibson Aiden Gibson 6'2" | 190 lbs | RB Woodruff | 2027 State SC , the answer is yes to all of the above. Gibson had a breakout year for the Wolverines, rushing for more than 700 yards, hauling in more than 400 in receiving yards, and scoring 10 total touchdowns. Gibson’s touches were sometimes limited as the young Wolverines played catch-up, but Woodruff returns a ton of experienced talent and will be miles better. With Gibson, that’s a scary proposition.
Spartanburg lost what appeared to be their future at RB to a transfer before the 2023 season, and suffered a spate of injuries during the year. That led the Vikings to freshman Trenton Lynch Trenton Lynch 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Spartanburg | 2027 State SC , and he paid off in a big way. Lynch gained more than 800 yards, averaged more than seven yards per carry, and scored five touchdowns. He’s got explosive speed and runs with great vision, and he always seems to be moving forward.
Cross had a three-headed monster at RB last season, as the three feature backs each rushed for more than 600 yards and piled up more than 2,000 combined on the ground. Second on that list is freshman Mah’ky Green Mah’ky Green 5'8" | 155 lbs | RB Cross | 2027 State SC , who had 694 rushing yards and 10 TDs. He’ll earn carries and yards with the graduation of a senior backfield mate, and should post even bigger numbers. His track star speed served him well as a change-of-pace to the Trojans usual bruising attack, as Green averaged 12 yards per carry and led Cross in rushing yards per game. And he’s poised and patient, often turning broken plays into big gains. Green is a threat to go the distance any time he touches it.