Breaking Down The 2025 Rankings: Unique Group of Running Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The crop of running backs in our updated Class of 2025 rankings is a special group. As the 2024 season kicks off tonight, there are many in this class that are primed and ready for a special year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You have backs with great speed and elusiveness, while others have a unique blend of power and strength to be able to power through contact. Here's a complete rundown of the running backs:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"2451","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c670f1e1b1b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BREAKING DOWN THE TOP FIVE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012627' first='Landon' last='Stone']</strong> | Clover</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you want a back that is a bruiser and is tough to bring down, Stone is your guy. After rushing for 2107 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2023, he looks to continue his momentum heading into his senior season. He runs hard in between the tackles and can get those three or four yards at a time that you're looking for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272722' first='Zion' last='Gilbert'] </strong>| South Florence</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The leading rusher for the Bruins returns for his senior season after rushing for 1,535 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023. The burst of speed that he runs with when he gets out into the open field is really, really fun to watch. Once he gets to the second level, it's more than likely six points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012565' first='LaDainnian' last='Martin'] </strong>| JL Mann</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin will be with a new team in 2024, transferring over from Greer after rushing for nearly 1,000 yards a season ago. He committed to Georgia State back on August 11. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, make people miss all while displaying world class speed in the open field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272702' first='Jevon' last='Edwards'] </strong>| South Aiken</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edwards has had a record-setting career for the Thoroughbreds, setting school records for yards and touchdowns in three seasons. When you turn on his film, his ability to cut and change direction while maintaining a great level of speed is fun to watch. He makes great north and south progress going downfield with his runs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605525' first='Marquise' last='Henderson'] </strong>| Belton Honea Path</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Henderson is the overall No. 1 player in the 2025 rankings, and with good reason. The Clemson commit runs hard through the hole and if you blink, you'll miss him because nine times out of 10, he's in the endzone. He is fun to watch with his speed and vision and his ability to run through arm tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16187319/64db927623475b07a449088d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c670f1e1ca2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TEN RISING STARS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272707' first='Caleb' last='Ford'] </strong>| Cardinal Newman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If last Friday's jamboree performance is any indication, Ford could have a huge year. He ran for 404 yards on 34 carries for 3 touchdowns last week. He has a unique blend of power and vision to be able to find the open run lanes and get north and south as quickly as possible.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360186' first='Landon' last='Robinson']</strong> | Walhalla</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Robinson is quick and can move well from sideline to sideline. He's another back with great power and vision to be able to break away from arm tackles and get up field for 10 to 15 yards on a carry, if he doesn't get into the endzone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254140' first='Kylar' last='Zimmerman']</strong> | Greenville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zimmerman is fun to watch on film as he can stiff arm defenders, catch passes out of the backfield and just run with complete control and authority. He ran for 839 yards on 139 carries in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='347760' first='Tavorace' last='Williams']</strong> | Woodmont</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams can get you those tough five to ten yards at a time. He has good power in the hole and he's patient enough to let his blocks develop before he explodes out. He ran for 1,064 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359200' first='Carter' last='McCollum'] </strong>| Pickens</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCollum has been a bright spot for the Blue Flame during the preseason, as he ran for 117 yards and two touchdowns against Woodmont in last Friday's scrimmage. He ran for 1,396 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023 and can kick it up a notch once he's in the open field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013112' first='Nehemiah' last='Floyd']</strong> | Mauldin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Floyd can run right in the hole and help keep the offense on schedule with short gains. He can also bounce it to the outside. He'll have an opportunity to carry the load and become the one of the workhorses for the Mavs in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149046' first='Chris' last='Livingston'] </strong>| Carolina Forest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Livingston is a physical, bruising back who can run in between the tackles and get the tough yards. We wrote about him a few weeks ago as one of the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/top-ball-carriers-along-the-coast/">Top Running Backs to Watch on the Coast</a> in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253901' first='Kerwin' last='Squire'] </strong>| Stratford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you want a back that can catch the ball out of the backfield, Squire is your guy. He knows how to get up field quickly after making the catch. When you combine that with his ability to muscle his way through the line and get tough yardage, he's a tough back to slow down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605529' first='BJ' last='Montgomery'] </strong>| Gray Collegiate</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montgomery is fun to watch when he gets into the open field. If he can find one open hole, it's a house call. His speed and ability to elude defenders is what makes him special. And if that's not enough, he can make plays in the special teams game as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254038' first='Devarius' last='Ponds'] </strong>| McBee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ponds can absolutely turn on the jets when he gets out into the open field. Once he finds a hole, it could be a house call. He's a difference maker on special teams as well as he took a kick back to the house in 2023, and we have a feeling that could continue heading into 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16162176/654907ceb53ecb099c809343' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c670f1e1cd0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FIVE DARK HORSE CANDIDATES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254206' first='Javen' last='Chhim']</strong> | Boiling Springs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The thing that comes to mind when watching Chhim on film is his ability to run downhill and get yards in bunches in a hurry. If he continues to improve and stay healthy, he will be a consistent threat for opposing defenses in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253994' first='Reese' last='Price']</strong> | Wren</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Price has great vision to be able to find the running lanes to run through and then explode. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield and create in the passing game as well. He finished 2023 with 1,282 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns while recording 20 receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157761' first='Mason' last='Picket-Hicks']<strong> </strong>| South Pointe</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hicks has the ability to turn and take an outside run and get up field quickly. We noticed at one point on his film where he used his upper body strength to power through defenders last year. He has an offer from Memphis currently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples'] </strong>| Sumter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peeples will be one of the leaders on offense for the Gamecocks in 2024 – he has a great burst of speed once he gets into the open field. He ran for 1,523 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253974' first='Kayshaun' last='Schumpert']</strong> | Whitmire</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schumpert fits what the Wolverines want to do offensively well, in their double wing option offense. He can run people over on a jet sweep and get up field quickly, and he's quick enough to elude defenders. He finished the year with 1,083 yards on 162 yards and 13 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18012668/65658304bd6a5f11fcadca8a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c670f1e1cf2"} /-->