Spotlight on 7 Running Backs: Expectations for the Season Ahead

We're taking a look at 7 running backs as we head into the season and what to potentially expect from these backs. The season is already here and the time to shine is now!    Boone has quietly had a fantastic career and is coming off of his best year to date. He's a thicker back who runs behind his pads and stays low. His balance is good and he does a good job letting blocks set up in front of him. He doesn't press the line too quickly and doesn't struggle to get small. He's able to break tackles and drag defenders forward with him. He'll grind out the tough-earned yards as well. Putting up over 1100 yards offensively and 50+ solo tackles on defense, it's easy to see the value Boone adds.     Bonds had an incredible year last year and could easily be one of the top backs in the state by the year's end. Putting up just under 1200 yards and 8 TDs as a junior, he's already proven he can be productive. He's a great athlete who chews up chunks of yards at a time. His change of direction is elite, and he has no issue stopping and starting. He's versatile and can come out of the backfield and pick up the blitz. While he doesn't have many reps doing PBU, he's got ideal size and explosion for the next level, so it'll be up to his senior year to lock down his future, but he's got more than enough talent to play on Saturdays.     Over the past 2 seasons, Hutcheson has been a steady piece for the Brownstown Central offense, but this year he should be used quite a bit more. He's an efficient runner who not only gets everything he can but then some. He's not afraid to put his head down and churn out tough yards as well. Over the past 2 seasons, he's averaged over 8 yards per carry on over 100 attempts. His vision is top-notch and he doesn't miss holes. I think he'd be most effective in a zone running scheme, but nonetheless, he's an efficient runner who stays behind his pads.     There are very few players who will be as productive this fall as Valentine. The workhorse back for Whiteland is coming off of a historic season he should build upon. He almost pushed 2000 yards last season strictly on the ground. He then added 20 TDs, but it was the way he did it all last year. Big chunk plays, getting better as the game goes on, and seemingly never running out of energy. He had over 100 yards in every single game and it was never a doubt when they needed a conversion who they went to. Valentine reads his keys, makes a cut, and is very rarely wrong. Some school will get a steal in him and I can't wait to see where he lands.     Last season, Lawyer broke onto the Varsity scene for Corydon Central and should become a focal point for the offense starting this fall. He's a speedy back who does a good job at getting the edge. He doesn't try to do too much with the ball in his hands, yet is still a creative runner. While he's only 5'8" as of right now, he's well-built behind that frame. You can tell he spends quite a bit of time in the weight room, especially with how he runs the ball. He's hard to bring down, his core is strong, and his balance is elite. I like Laywer to not only have a breakout season and become Central's workhorse.     Someone I'm very high on coming into the season is the dynamic back out of Columbus North. I love the way he carries the ball. He's got speed, vision, the agility you want to make guys miss, and the ability to re-accelerate with the best of them. I loved watching him be patient and as things developed in front of him, he'd hit the hole and maximize the run. There are times he tries to bounce it outside for the homerun, but if he trusts his footwork on the regular, those plays will clean right up and he'll force the defense to respect his inside vision more. His versatility out of the backfield, and the fact that Columubus North makes an effort to get him the ball in space also point to good things ahead. 745 rushing yards with 7 TDs on the ground and 23 catches and 229 yards with a pair of TDs through the air is what he compiled as a junior, but for obvious reasons, we expect to see a big jump this fall.     The first time I came across Rucker was at the start of the very beginning of last season when I thought he had the chance to break out. He did and he's set to take on a bigger role this fall. He's been on the field each of the first 3 seasons of his high school career getting a bigger piece of the pie each year. Last season, he not only picked up a career-high in rushing yards with 704 but he also got used in the passing game quite a bit. Whether they flex him out wide or keep him in the backfield, he's got soft hands and doesn't have an issue catching the ball. He had 12 receptions for 153 yards and a pair of TDs last season. The confidence and explosion are there for Rucker, and his time is now.

We're taking a look at 7 running backs as we head into the season and what to potentially expect from these backs. The season is already here and the time to shine is now!