Prep Redzone WI Combine: Best of the RBs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The running back group was an intriguing watch. It was loaded with talent, hidden gems, and undervalued prospects that more schools need to know about. The combine itself was a great scenario for the group to show off their entire skill set. We got testing numbers, receiving reps, pass blocking reps, and watching them carry the ball vs LBs in tight quarters. The group was led by several standout juniors that college coaches need to know about. That includes MVP [player_tooltip player_id='262117' first='Bradley' last='Check'] out of La Crosse Logan HS. You can dive into his performance in the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/04/prep-redzone-wi-combine-mvps/">MVP article</a>. For the other top RB performances, continue on!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["262061"],"_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":"Carson came into the day and proved that he was a prospect that college programs need to have on their boards. If he is already on your boards then it is time to give him a bump up. The junior measured in at a muscled up 5'10u0022 200 lbs. Carson is an athlete who puts in the time and dedication in the weight room that is needed to develop into a special athlete on the field. The combine gave us a glimpse of that. Fletcher dominated the testing with a 4.53 40, 4.31 shuttle, 9'11u0022 broad jump, and a 7.25 L Drill. Not only is the power there to rip through tackle attempts, but also to change direction explosively as the testing shows.rnrnOn the field Carson continued to stand out. He showed off reliable hands and came out of route breaks with the powerful burst needed to separate from LBs, and that came up huge for him in 1 on 1s. The powerful athlete also proved to be extremely reliable in pass protection. He met LBs square, used leverage and a strong anchor to stuff the initial attack, and then was able to easily mirror their counter moves. On the ground Carson showed how smooth he was able to juke and jump cut laterally as well. It was an all around dominant showing from one of the best RBs in Wisconsin.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662824e7bd96e"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CarsonF_33/status/1782153387947049359","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CarsonF_33/status/1782153387947049359 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1251528"],"_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":"Sophomore RB [player_tooltip player_id='1251528' first='Johnny' last='Mathews'] was a new prospect to my radar coming into the day, and he didn't hesitate to make a name for himself. The 5'9u0022 160 lbs running back made a statement with his combine performance. The Stevens Point RB finished with a 4.65 40, 4.63 shuttle, 9'8u0022 broad jump, and a 7.59 L Drill. Johnny was just getting started with that performance. He would go on to eventually earn one of the spots in the Best vs Best battles to end the day.rnrnWhat led to the Best vs Best rep was the talent he showed as a ball carrier and as a receiver. Johnny is a shifty athlete who can quickly cover ground laterally to create separation and then he has the burst to build on that space and pull away in the open field. Johnny is blessed with balance to be able to make those jukes and instantly get back to attacking upfield. Mathews fits that role of a change of pace back and third down option that you can pair with a big back to make a dynamic one-two punch. I'm excited to see his role in Stevens Point as a junior.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662824e7bd9e3"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/johnnymathewsjr/status/1782184165955301585","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/johnnymathewsjr/status/1782184165955301585 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402810"],"_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":"Elijah is an intriguing sophomore RB. He stood out from the crowd with his bigger frame for the position at 6'2u0022 190 lbs. Don't let the big frame fool you. Elijah was a smooth athlete on the field. Jackson finished with an 8'11u0022 broad, 4.85 40, and 7.33 L Drill.rnrnAll solid numbers, but once we got to drills Elijah played faster than he tested. His long strides covered ground quickly when he was out in space running routes. The sophomore caught the ball well in drills. It was great to see him display the short area agility that also shows up on his varsity tape as he runs between the tackles. Elijah carved out a key role on varsity in 2023. I'm excited to see how these next two years unfold as he develops further. He is definitely an underclassman to watch.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662824e7bda40"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["773270"],"_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":"I was looking forward to watching Garrett in person. He doesn't have a lot of film to go through, but what he has shown is a potential big play threat on the ground and through the air while also having a frame that can handle a larger workload. On Sunday Garrett came out and got me even more excited for his role this fall. He weighed in at a sturdy 5'11u0022 195 lbs. Then he ran 4.58 in the 40, 4.5 in the shuttle, and 4.28 in the L Drill.rnrnThose explosive change of direction times were visible on the field during drills and against LBs. Garrett made powerful jump cuts to avoid LBs in tight quarters. His strong lower body also allowed him to accelerate rapidly. All his movements were complemented with power. Plus he proved to be a natural hands catcher. With his hands, size, and blend of power/acceleration we could see a big year from the junior. Don't overlook the Waterford product.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662824e7bda94"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1228041"],"_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":"One of the best testers, and biggest surprises in the group, was Racine Horlick's [player_tooltip player_id='1228041' first='Jaydan' last='Ponder']. The 5'9u0022 190 lbs sophomore had a strong combine showing. He ripped off a 4.75 40, and broad jumped 9'4u0022 u0026amp; 9'5u0022. The compact RB prospect repeatedly flashed his powerful lower body that he has built up in the weight room.rnrnWhile running against LBs Jaydan made cuts quickly, and was able to cover big chunks of ground to open up space to beat the closing angle of LBs. He was able to get up to speed quickly after his cuts and jukes. That matches the one cut running style we see on tape. I'm excited for the Fletcher-Ponder dual to be on the field together this fall. They are going to wear down defenses.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662824e7bdae2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["700218"],"_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":"Alex was another prospect who quickly grabbed my attention. With Alex it was right from the start as he now stands at 5'10u0022 191 lbs. Much bigger than we most recently had him, and with the growth comes plenty of athleticism for the sophomore. Alex ran a 4.72 40, 4.35 shuttle, 9' broad jump, and an elite 7.19 L Drill.rnrnThat L Drill time goes a long way in describing what we saw the rest of the day. Alex is has excellent balance and body control to be able to change direction without having to lose much of his top end speed. In drills and one vs ones that came up huge as he was able to run routes that opened up separation for his QB to target. The sophomore just published his varsity highlights from this year, and it has me pumped for his junior season because we see the athleticism, but what we didn't get to see is the physicality he also has. Don't be surprised to see Alex breakout this year. He made a name for himself on Sunday. Check out the new highlights below.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662824e7bdb36"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17915302/6627d625402da10930363943' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662824e7bdbd2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1251518"],"_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":"Ethan is a northern WI RB to watch this fall. We could see a big jump from him in production. Of the six athletes who had 20+ carries for Marinette in 2023 only three of them return this fall. So the workload is there for Ethan to compete for. I'm expecting to see him earn more after the 5'9u0022 177 lbs RB was able to put together a solid day at the combine. I was able to watch him during the rushing drills against LBs. I liked what he was able to do in the tight quarters with burst and lateral agility when he got the LB to over commit. I'm looking forward to his senior season this fall.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662824e7bdc27"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1251531"],"_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":"The 5'9u0022 171 lbs freshman RB caught my eyes throughout the RB drills and when they got to face off with the LB group in space. Joshua played fast on every rep. His lateral movement and ability to shake LBs flashed over and over as a runner and as a receiver. He forced LBs to overcommit and then easily cut back then accelerate past them. We saw him beat angles with speed. The freshman also did a good job of finding the ball downfield and coming down with it. Give Formolo time to build his frame and continue to work on his overall athleticism. He is a gamer.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662824e7bdc73"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jformolo4/status/1782157653243830430","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jformolo4/status/1782157653243830430 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1251522"],"_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":"Janesville Parker is going to be looking for a lot of new production this fall. Especially in the run game. One potential option is current sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1251522' first='Jadyn' last='Fraiser']. The 5'7u0022 160 lbs sophomore caught the ball easily running routes from the backfield. He demonstrated some wiggle when the group faced off with the LBs as well. I'm excited to see what Jadyn looks like after a summer in the weight room. It would lead to a big jump in his game. He is a name I'll be watching for at Janesville Parker.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662824e7bdcc3"} /-->