Scouting The Class: #TN2025 Running Backs

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">This year's crop of backs looks to be deeper and more talented compared to the #TN2024 group with several guys sitting at the top of the board destined for the Power ranks and some others with abilities to possibly get there in time. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/prospect-database/?player_name=&amp;high_school_name=&amp;class%5B%5D=2025&amp;position%5B%5D=RB&amp;commitment=">#TN2025 Running Back Database</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>East TN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Becoming that top back from the East Tennessee region is up for grabs headed into camp season but it's certainly a battle among three guys who all have Mr. Football potential for the 2024 season. Maryville senior back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='361227' first='Price' last='Davis'] </strong>brings a nice combination of athleticism, size and speed to the table that translates well to the college game. He is a big breakout candidate for me over the coming months as someone that could see his recruitment take off.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Powell multi year starter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='937072' first='Connor' last='Wheeler'] </strong>is a workhorse that stepped into the lead role last year and performed very well. He is a prime candidate to see his numbers spike this Fall and place himself among the top contenders for Mr. Football in the 5A ranks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='976043' first='E.J.' last='Carter'] </strong>out of Notre Dame saw his stock rise after a strong junior year where he placed himself on the recruiting radar by landing an offer from Eastern Ky.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moving over to Crosby from Gatlinburg-Pittman, senior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219342' first='Tegan' last='Avera'] </strong>returns as the one of the top producing rushers in the state and by taking his talents to the 1A ranks, this East Tennessee ball carrier could run his way into becoming Mr. Football.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":823297,"width":"357px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/tavera.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-823297" style="width:357px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two under the radar backs to keep an eye on during the off-season months and this Fall are Jefferson Co. rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='848834' first='Skylar' last='Thomas'] </strong>and Bearden ball carrier <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137819' first='Torian' last='Riggins']. </strong>Thomas is a guy to definitely watch as his film shows Top 20 in-state running back upside and someone that could peak the interest of many across the college landscape.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riggins started his off-season in a big way by earning MVP honors at the PRZTN Winter Showcase in January as a guy who showed good balance and burst along with the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He will have to share carries with a talented underclassmen but Riggins should receive enough carries to gain interest from collegiate coaches.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mid TN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The meat of the #TN2025 running back class resides right here in the Middle Tennessee area where we have multiple Power level prospects as well as some under the radar talents that could breakout into big names over the next several months.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fighting for the top spot not just in this region but the entire state are <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='497421' first='Isaiah' last='Groves'] </strong>from East Robertson and Oakland senior back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219387' first='Daune' last='Morris']. </strong>Both of these guys are Power level talents, holding several big offers with both bringing different skill sets to the playing field. Groves is a big guy who runs well that I see having his best football days ahead of him while Morris is a natural athlete that has some college coaches looking at him to play receiver.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much of the same can be said for Brentwood Academy back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219449' first='Tamari' last='Hill']</strong>. Depending on who you talk to, Hill is being recruited to play slot receiver in college but for me, I still like this guy in the backfield where his speed and shifty running can shine the brightest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you want ball carriers with a nice combination of power and speed, these next three prospects might be some of the best in the state at just that. MBA senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='258658' first='Brooklen' last='Davis'] </strong>and Lipscomb Academy teammates, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='841287' first='Micah' last='Burton'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301396' first='Andrew' last='Patterson, Jr'] </strong>all bring size, speed and power to the playing field as well as the upside to develop into a #1 back within the college game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":781519,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/04/brdavis.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-781519" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis has already started to see his stock take off by landing recent offers from Lindenwood and MTSU and I expect many others to follow suit over the coming weeks as his film continues to float around the scouting circle. Burton and Patterson, Jr are both downhill, attacking runners that have yet to see the offers come through but they are too talented to sit dormant much longer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just beyond the top group of backs here in the Middle Tennessee region, we have a trio of backs that I see as potential D1/FCS level guys that just need to be seen in person over camp season to see their recruitments go into an upward trajectory.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelbyville Central rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='500380' first='Rai'keyrean' last='Chandler'] </strong>recently added an offer from <strong>MTSU </strong>that placed him on the radar as a player to watch over the coming months. Mt. Juliet ball carrier <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219347' first='Jonmikael' last='Crudup'] </strong>is a well balanced guy with size and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield that I feel will appeal to college coaches once he hits the camp scene this summer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cookeville two-way talent <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1201020' first='Thomas' last='Johnson'] </strong>is a guy to look into that I foresee blowing up into a Top 15 in-state back as we get into the Fall football season. Strong with a nice burst, Johnson has a nice combo of size and speed that plays well on the next level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top returning rushers in the entire state is Columbia Academy senior to be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1002753' first='Montae' last='Baldwin']</strong>. The Bulldogs star back broke out in a major way last year, placing himself as a Mr. Football semi finalist and a prime candidate to get back on that stage again this Fall. Mt. Pleasant running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611895' first='Jakyri' last='McClure'] </strong>is an interesting talent that plays on a low level of HS ball here in Tennessee but has good size and deceptive speed that could appeal to collegiate coaches.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three under the radar backs that could work themselves into FCS caliber guys by the time signing day comes back around are <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1146331' first='Grant' last='Gardner'] </strong>from Blackman, Hunters Lane ball carrier <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='466231' first='Isaiah' last='McGill'] </strong>and Brentwood stud back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='814799' first='Gavyn' last='Nelson']</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gardner is a sneaky good athlete that is looking for a bigger role with the Blaze and they are in need of a starting guy, so it could be a good fit for the two parties. McGill does just about everything for his Warriors team, who has enough speed to turn some heads this summer in college camps. Nelson is a versatile back that can run along with catching the ball well out of the backfield. His numbers I expect to double up this year as the Bruins could transition into a run based team this Fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1201280,"width":"333px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/ismcgill.jpg?w=767" alt="" class="wp-image-1201280" style="width:333px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West TN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Possibly the top running back prospect in the state resides out west with Germantown two-way talent <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219401' first='Jamarion' last='Morrow']</strong>. Holding offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas and others, the Red Devils senior prospect has the ability to excel on either side of the ball but his work on offense has me and others liking his upside the best at running back.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bartlett running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1002741' first='Geron' last='Johnson'] </strong>is a guy to follow over the next few months as I could see him exploding on the recruiting scene into a Power level guy. He already holds offers from Arkansas St., Marshall and North Alabama with interest coming from several others.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the returning producing rushers in the state for the 2024 season is Haywood back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='466233' first='Camarion' last='Miller']</strong>. Athletic with tremendous speed, Miller is a bit undersized but makes up for it with his big play abilities. Much of the same can be said for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='616519' first='Rhyan' last='Brown'] </strong>out of Melrose and Arlington rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='900800' first='Jhabari' last='Ellis']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown is a well balanced back that brings power and speed to the playing field while Ellis is a multi talented guy that could develop at slot receiver, however I like his big play abilities fitting best over at running back.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just behind that top group of backs sits some small school guys who have the talent to make it to the college game but will need big summer camp seasons and a strong Fall football year to reach their goals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Covington back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1110699' first='Skylan' last='Smith'] </strong>is a highly productive guy and multi year starter that could play his way into Mr. Football contention this year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1200996' first='Jacob' last='Saunders'] </strong>out of Hardin Co. is a sneaky good talent that many don't know about right now but I like how he runs along with the strong hands he shows on film.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joining Miller at Haywood, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1102345' first='Kemonte' last='Williams'] </strong>provides a nice change of pace from Miller with his powerful running style and nose for finding open lanes. He is another candidate for Mr. Football by season's end due to the Tomcats desire to run the ball. West Carroll senior back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='466232' first='Jayden' last='Milton'] </strong>is another highly productive West Tennessee back that runs hard, providing strength and deceptive speed that could impress some college coaches this summer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two big, powerful backs to follow over the coming year are Camden Central senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='815325' first='Gage' last='Lee'] </strong>and Chester Co. ball carrier <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1201004' first='Peyton' last='Barham']</strong>. Both these guys stand about 6 '0 with physically well built bodies that can take their games to another level with increased agility and speed during these off-season months.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/prospect-database/">#TN2025 Prospect Database</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1201289,"width":"367px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/cammiller.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1201289" style="width:367px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->