North Dakota State Championships: Top Running Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='725780' first='Hank' last='Bodine'], RB/ATH, Velva-Anamoose-Drake-Garrison 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/hank_bodine">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":810985,"width":"312px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/Hank-Bodine-crop-351x230-1683079810.jpg?w=350" alt="" class="wp-image-810985" style="width:312px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hank was one of a couple of running backs that racked up all what I call "blue-collar" yards, which are all yard thru contact and might not flash from the crowd's perspective but show their value in a drive. The 6'0 217 pounder lead the Aggies in yards and certainly those blue collar yards I mentioned as he showed off his great vision and patience that came along with it. You also have to mention his linebacker play, in which he was the Aggies top tackler and surely lived up to the live eval of showing the pop I like from the linebacker position as far as contact goes. Hank holds two offers from NAIA and Division III and I am surprised he hasn't gotten more attention in the Dakotas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='356869' first='Kylan' last='Swenson'], RB, Kindred 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/kylan_swenson">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stat Line:</strong> 19 rushes, 113 rushing yards, one touchdown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kylan was the bellcow to this Kindred rushing attack and lead all rushers in the 11A state championship game with 113 rushing yards. One of the tougher prospect's to get a pre-scout on due to lack of tape so you can assure I was watching Kylan a bunch to validate his skillsets. He was impressive with his change of direction in my eyes and especially drew sound second level vision and felt that his burst was at it's full throttle at that point. There are surely some Saturday opportunities open for this young man based on my live eval I caught at the FargoDome.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1226996' first='Gunner' last='Thielges'], RB/ATH, LaMoure-Litchville-Marion 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/Gunnerthielges4">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1563194,"width":"331px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/IMG_1450-rotated-crop-481x316-1732215874.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1563194" style="width:331px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stat Line:</strong> 18 rushes, 326 all purpose yards (74 rush, 177 receiving, 75 return) three touchdowns</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gunner was a 2026 running back prospect that I had as an X-factor in the 9-man state final but was one that I liked how he had to improvise to utilize his talents. I was highly impressed with Gunner in the receiving game for the Loboes as I thought this young man showed off excellent hands, which I had graded at UND, but I thought he has rose his stock in that skillset since camp season. His escapability with yards out of contact was shown too on those intermediate and deep routes as you could gauge the pure athleticism Gunner even when he gets some higher traffic in those areas as the bulk of his touchdowns came from his nearly 10 receptions he logged. Also, you have to add in that he brought back a kickoff for a 75-yard touchdown. Of course we know that Gunner is one of our top RBs in the 2026 class, but I just enjoyed getting more out of his skillsets on Friday than just what he does in the ground game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Carter Engebretson, RB, New Rockford-Sheyenne-Maddock 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/CarterEnge34042">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1563192,"width":"353px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/11/Carter_686553-crop-339x223-1732215780.jpg?w=338" alt="" class="wp-image-1563192" style="width:353px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stat Line:</strong> 12 rushes, 180 rushing yards, three touchdowns</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Genetically, they do not make many running backs like what we saw out of Carter Engebertson in the 9-man state championship last Friday in the FargoDome. The 6'1 230 pounder (not a typo) I would describe as a bull at the rodeo that you can't contain after he throws someone off them, which in my football lense also showed off a running back that moves extremely well for his size and gets downhill in a hurry. Carter also appeared to be more elusive than you might expect for that size we mentioned. On defense, showed he showed off great pursuit angles in the reps I watched which made me believe this kid could be a hidden gem at linebacker at the next level. Couldn't find a lot of tape on Carter, but man the live-eval surely showed off how under the radar this kid is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='533105' first='Ty' last='Geray'], RB, West Fargo Horace 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/ty_geray">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1555940,"width":"367px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/62-Ty-Geray-crop-3585x2354-1731361262.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1555940" style="width:367px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stat Line:</strong> 18 rushes, 75 rushing yards, one touchdown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In what was a game powered by defense, in the end it was [player_tooltip player_id='533105' first='Ty' last='Geray'] that came out as the leading rusher in the 11AA state championship in Fargo. Ty had to fight like heck for yards all day, but in the 1st quarter, he showed off the burst in the open field and I liked the suddenness Ty had getting out of high contact on his 49-yard rushing touchdown which showed more than just straight-line speed. The 5'11 165 pounder has great balance and vision along the outer edge of the sidelines but again, watching unique skillsets needing to pop out in crucial moments were key for Ty and the Hawks in their first ever state championship game as a program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1407829' first='Kye' last='Schlichting'], RB/ATH, West Fargo Sheyenne 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/KyeSchlichting">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stat Line:</strong> 16 rushes, 95 rushing yards, two touchdowns</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kye is a 2026 prospect out of West Fargo Sheyenne I have been pounding the table on for the last handful of months after what I saw at camp in Grand Forks, and we saw full circle as to why during the 11AAA state Championship game. The 6'3 190 pounder for the Mustangs, showed off the extremely long strides with his speed which might I add surely passed the eye-test in the live eval. Kye also has great change of direction for his size and it was evidently seen before he released his full burst in the open field which I felt was one of the fastest from my SES (Size, Explosiveness, Speed) analytic that I started tracking in May 2022. He surely looks like he could be a great FCS target amongst the Dakotas schools as the speed too is verified on the track as Kye ran a 11.0 100 meter dash last May.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->