2025 Rankings Update 3.0: Running Backs

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2025","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"2408","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"2494","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662974100b133"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get deeper into the 2024 off-season, another season of high school football is quickly approaching. With that being said, it is time for another round of rankings updates. The third update of our rankings for the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky has been officially posted! Over the next week or so, I will be doing positional breakdowns at each position. After already covering the quarterbacks, here are our top running backs in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["373042"],"_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='373042' first='Cortez' last='Stone'] has continued to establish himself as the top running back in his class in the state of Kentucky. He had another strong season as a junior, carrying the ball 278 times for 1,871 yards and 23 touchdowns in 13 games. Stone has explosive speed which he uses to burst through the running lane with a sense of urgency and run away from the defense on long runs. He has also shown impressive vision in the open field, showing the ability to find cut back lanes to make defenders miss. Stone also played a key role in the passing game this past season, catching 12 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. Cortez currently holds offers from Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee State, Austin Peay, Purdue, Cincinnati, Miami (OH), Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky, and Louisville, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Power 4 caliber prospect.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["373823"],"_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='373823' first='Kalen' last='Washington'] is a player that has climbed up our rankings following a strong junior year. Washington finished the season with 165 carries for 1,311 yards and 16 touchdowns in 13 games. He is an elusive ball carrier, showing the strength/contact balance to run straight through defenders along with the quickness to make cuts to make defenders miss. Washington has also shown the speed to run away from the defense once he hits the open field. Kalen also played a role in the passing game this past season, catching seven passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. Washington currently holds offers from Gardner Webb, Eastern Michigan, UT Martin, Miami (OH), Ohio, and Akron, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I caliber running back prospect.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["735731"],"_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='735731' first='Braxton' last='Jennings'] is another running back that had a strong junior year. He finished this past season with 104 carries for 807 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 games. Jennings is electric in the open field, showing the speed and elusiveness to break away on long runs at any given moment. He is also a major threat in the passing game, finishing his junior year with 22 receptions for 536 yards and five touchdowns. Jennings also returned one kickoff for a touchdown a played a key role on defense, finishing the year with 51 tackles, two tackles for loss, and three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Braxton currently holds offers from Marshall, Buffalo, Bowling Green State, Massachusetts, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Division I caliber prospect.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["373826"],"_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='373826' first='Peyton' last='Smith'] is a running back that has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to impress this past season. He finished his junior year with 165 carries for 1,538 yards and 21 touchdowns in 12 games. Smith is a strong runner, showing the contact balance to break tackles with ease without losing stride. He has also shown the speed to get to the outside in a hurry and turn up the field then run away from the defense. Smith also finished this past season with 10 receptions for 93 yards and returned one kickoff for a touchdown. Peyton currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the Division I level and recently transferred to a powerhouse program in Frederick Douglass where he should have a lot of eyes on him.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["873790"],"_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":"To wrap up our top five running backs in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='873790' first='Giaonni' last='Hunter']. Hunter had another very impressive season as a junior, running the ball 225 times for 1,742 yards and 17 touchdowns in 10 games. The main thing that stands out to me with Giaonni is his explosiveness. He is a downhill runner that bursts through the running lane with a sense of urgency and hits a second gear once he hits the second level to run away from the defense. Hunter has also shown the elusiveness to make defenders miss when they're able to catch up to him. Giaonni also caught one touchdown pass this past season and made an impact on defense, finishing the year with 43 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. While Giaonni doesn't currently hold any offers, I wouldn't be surprised to see one come his way soon as he has received some college interest and definitely has the talent to succeed at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662974100c168"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Players Included in Top 200:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='735729' first='Pharo' last='Watts'] (Frederick Douglass)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='735730' first='Zack' last='McCoart'] (Johnson Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='1149593' first='Cameron' last='Rogers'] (Morgan County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='1252793' first='Bryant' last='Mathis'] (Madison Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='735732' first='Chase' last='Flaherty'] (Beechwood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='373083' first='Xavier' last='Burks'] (Fairdale)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='1149643' first='Durrell' last='Turner'] (Simon Kenton)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='373804' first='Christian' last='Moore'] (Franklin County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='735728' first='David' last='Anderson'] (Dixie Heights)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15. [player_tooltip player_id='1149612' first='Dwaylon' last='Dean'] (West Carter)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16. [player_tooltip player_id='1008393' first='Andrew' last='McCutcheon'] (Betsy Layne)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17. [player_tooltip player_id='373072' first='Leo' last='Washington'] (Fairdale)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18. [player_tooltip player_id='1008390' first='Jacob' last='Rose'] (Prestonsburg)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19. [player_tooltip player_id='943541' first='Malachi' last='Simmons'] (Garrard County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20. [player_tooltip player_id='373047' first='Ali' last='Hamdiyah'] (Scott County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21. [player_tooltip player_id='1252825' first='Leland' last='Edwards'] (Lexington Christian Academy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>22. [player_tooltip player_id='373051' first='CT' last='Branstetter'] (Metcalfe County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->