Prep Redzone Spring Combine: Top RB Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Saturday was our annual PRZ Spring Combine, and I'm pleased to report that it did not disappoint! The runningback crop was one of the best that I've ever seen, and there were 14 dogs that I needed to showcase. Meet Part 1 of the top RB performers!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='641223' first='Zach' last='Welch'] 5'11" 200 lbs Anoka 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If I could describe <strong>Welch</strong> in one word it would be "athlete". For those who aren't familiar with his game, <strong>Welch</strong> is a 1x All-Metro ATH, a 2x All-District ATH, a 1x Team MVP, and a 2x Team MVP. I've known about his explosiveness on the defensive side of the ball for quite some time, but when he got the rock in his hands on Saturday he was dominant. <strong>Welch</strong> won the camp RB MVP award as well. He immediately passes the eye test and has the physical ability to play either position on either side of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='207810' first='Sean' last='Washington'] 5'9" 195 lbs Benilde-St. Margaret's 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Washington's</strong> stock has risen immensely in the past few weeks, and it's about time that someone gives him his flowers. As a sophomore, he was a 1,400+ yard rusher for a team that made the state tournament. Physically he isn't finished developing, but he already shows promising signs of being a complete ball carrier. <strong>Washington</strong> explodes quickly through the line of scrimmage and has shown the ability to make quick cuts in tight spaces. He's definitely an athlete to watch heading into his junior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='551370' first='Jase' last='Carlson'] 5'7" 170 lbs Rogers 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The presumed RB2 for the run-dominant Rogers Royals, <strong>Carlson</strong> proved to be a more-than-capable competitor throughout the event on Saturday. He was surprisingly well-defined and showed off some impressive short bursts of speed right after he crossed the line of scrimmage. <strong>Carlson</strong> was able to see time in a crowded Royals backfield as a sophomore, so I expect to see his hype continue to build as his number of carries grows. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='551390' first='Mason' last='Helfmann'] 5'9" 190 lbs St. Louis Park 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Helfmann</strong> is under the radar no longer, the sophomore who racked up over 800 rushing yards and 10 TDs last fall looked dang impressive on Saturday. Both on tape and in person his vision shines as one of his best attributes. <strong>Helfmann</strong> is able to consistently find holes the second they appear at the line of scrimmage. His ball security was also impressive, <strong>Helfmann </strong>adheres to the mantra of "high and tight" and that's further proven by his 0 fumbles during his sophomore year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacob Tilly 5'10" 185 lbs St. Francis 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A state track entrant as a sophomore, Jacob <strong>Tilly</strong> passes the eye test immediately. I was always told "Fast feet eat", and if that's the case, <strong>Tilly's</strong> eating well. His footwork was among the quickest there and he reliably created a ton of separation while running routes against the linebackers. His explosiveness is off the charts, and I happen to know that he's a more than capable kick returner and DB as well. Coaches would be wise to keep an eye out for <strong>Tilly</strong> this upcoming fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='348727' first='Layne' last='Johnson'] 5'11" 205 lbs Farmington 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The projected RB1 for the Farmington Tigers in 2024 is <strong>Johnson</strong>, a returning 300-yard rusher with 4 TDs on the ground. It's pretty easy to describe <strong>Johnson's</strong> play style, he's a power back through and through. While we weren't able to see players with pads on hitting with everything they had, we were able to see Johnson manhandle LBs in pass-pro drills, and if you look at his tape there is a litany of film of him running downhill at 100 mph before collisioning a defender. <strong>Johnson's</strong> high-impact play style is a fun one, and he's back to watch for during his senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1104940' first='Carson' last='Heimer'] 6'1" 180 lbs Byron 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Truthfully, <strong>Heimer</strong> is more of an athlete than a singular positional player. He made my All-Region Team as a WR AND as a DB, but he chose to list himself as an RB for this camp. If you watch his tape you'll see that he's legitimately capable of playing any skill position on offense. His open-field speed continues to impress me and <strong>Heimer's</strong> sense of balance is among the best in his class. I have no idea how Byron keeps producing stud athletes year after year, but <strong>Heimer</strong> appears to be a problem for a while. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->