2025 Rankings Update 4.0: 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-668c5f80e7e59"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we enter the month of July, the 2024 high school football season is just over a month away! With that being said, it is time for another round of rankings updates. Our fourth rankings update for the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky has been officially posted with tons of movement and several new additions. I will be taking the next week or so to break these rankings down by position. With the quarterbacks already being covered, 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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668c5f80e93ef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='373042' first='Cortez' last='Stone'] has continued to establish himself as one of the top players in the entire state in his class. Stone is coming off a strong junior year in which he carried the ball 278 times for 1,871 yards and 23 touchdowns in 13 games. He has explosive speed, showing the ability to get downhill and hit the running lane in a hurry then simply run away from the defense. Stone has also shown the elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field. He also makes an impact in the passing game, finishing last season with 12 receptions for 199 yards and a touchdown. Stone currently holds multiple Division I/Power 4 offers and I expect more to come his way as he is a high caliber running back prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1323010"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668c5f80e9447"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1323010' first='Mike' last='Curry'] is a running back who jumped onto our radar following a strong junior year. He finished last season with 126 carries for 1,118 yards and 17 touchdowns in just seven games. Curry is a strong runner who has the contact balance to run straight through defenders without losing stride. He also has shown the speed to run away from the defense on long runs once he hits the open field. Mike also caught one touchdown pass as a junior. Curry currently holds seven Division I offers and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to be a very productive back at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["373823"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668c5f80e9488"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='373823' first='Kalen' last='Washington'] is another running back who is coming off an impressive 2023 season. He finished his junior year with 165 carries for 1,311 yards and 16 touchdowns in 13 games. Washington has impressive vision, showing the ability to find the running lane and hit it with a sense of urgency. Once he hits the open field, Washington has the speed and elusiveness to break away on long runs at any given moment. Washington also caught seven passes for 76 yards and a touchdown as a junior. Kalen currently holds offers from Southeast Missouri State, Miami (OH), Ohio, Gardner Webb, UT Martin, Eastern Michigan, and Akron, and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Division I caliber prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["735731"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668c5f80e94c3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='735731' first='Braxton' last='Jennings'] is a player that truly started to make a name for himself as a junior. 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 burst of speed to break away for long runs along with the contact balance and elusiveness to make defenders miss. He also showed the ability to line up at receiver and make plays in the passing game, catching 22 passes for 536 yards and five touchdowns. Jennings also finished last season with one kickoff return for a touchdown and made an impact on defense, finishing with 51 tackles, two tackles for loss, and three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Braxton currently holds nine Division I offers and expect more to come his way as he is a very talented running back prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["373826"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668c5f80e94fc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To wrap up our top five running backs in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='373826' first='Peyton' last='Smith']. Smith recently transferred to Frederick Douglass from Taylor County where he finished his junior year with 165 carries for 1,538 yards and 21 touchdowns in 12 games. Peyton has very impressive speed which he uses to get to the outside then up the field in a hurry to run away from the defense on long runs. Once he hits the open field, he has also shown the elusiveness to make defenders miss with ease. He also finished his junior year with 10 receptions for 93 yards and returned one kickoff for a touchdown. Smith is committed to Eastern Kentucky where I can see him developing into a key piece of their offense once he gets there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Players Included in Top 200:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='873790' first='Giaonni' last='Hunter'] (Shelby County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='735729' first='Pharo' last='Watts'] (Frederick Douglass)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='735730' first='Zack' last='McCoart'] (Johnson Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='1149593' first='Cameron' last='Rogers'] (Morgan County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='735728' first='David' last='Anderson'] (Dixie Heights)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='1252793' first='Bryant' last='Mathis'] (Madison Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='735732' first='Chase' last='Flaherty'] (Beechwood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='373083' first='Xavier' last='Burks'] (Fairdale)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='373804' first='Christian' last='Moore'] (Franklin County)</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></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->