2026 Rankings Update: Running Backs Breakdown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have officially released a new set of rankings for the class of 2026 in Arkansas. In this article, we will showcase the 2026 running backs with analysis. Over the next month, I will break down these rankings by position in each class, including other segments. For the running backs, I will provide you with evaluations of some of the top prospects and the players flying under the radar:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"2408","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"2456","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6760e23046dab"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1336821"],"_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-6760e23048774"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1336821' first='Jackson' last='Ward'] is ranked eighth on our board at the position. He demonstrates patience and a powerful north-south running style, enhanced by good post-snap vision. This impressive vision enables him to quickly identify running lanes and evade defenders. Ward possesses a strong multi-cut ability and good burst through tackles, allowing him to break away from first-level defenders. He showcases good leg drive, balance, and lower body power to break tackles and gain additional yardage. Additionally, he has solid lateral agility and quickness to make defenders miss or find cut-back lanes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Offer List: Arkansas State &amp; Hendrix</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note – 3.4 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">X:<a href="https://x.com/JacksonWard2026"> https://x.com/JacksonWard2026</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["442007"],"_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-6760e230487d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='442007' first='Kaleb' last='Johnson'] ranks at number nine for his position. He showcases good athletic ability with fluid movement in the backfield. Johnson has a quick first step and good burst, allowing him to exploit openings effectively. He demonstrates good lateral agility and balance, making him a versatile multi-cut back who can break outside quickly. Additionally, he exhibits good speed, footwork, and patience, along with good vision through the tackles. Johnson also succeeds as a receiving back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note – 3.7 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">X:<a href="https://x.com/Kaleb_Johnson_5"> https://x.com/Kaleb_Johnson_5</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1283877"],"_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-6760e23048815"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1283877' first='Enoch' last='Assan'] has emerged as one of the most impressive players in the class. He possesses a quick first step and good post-snap vision, which allows him to effectively read the defensive front and quickly identify running lanes. He demonstrates very good lateral agility and change of direction, enabling him to maneuver around early penetration. When he plants his back foot, he explodes through the hole, showcasing good acceleration. With his ability to make multiple cuts, he maintains good contact balance and leg drive, allowing him to break tackles and evade defenders at the second level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Offer List: Vermilion</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note – 4.0 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">X:<a href="https://x.com/EnochAssan7"> https://x.com/EnochAssan7</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1339312"],"_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-6760e23048854"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1339312' first='TJ' last='Brown'] ranks at number 16 on the board. He is a dominant and emerging running back from Arkansas. Brown is a north-south runner with a solid blend of power, speed, and athleticism. He demonstrates good post-snap vision to identify running lanes and shows patience in following his blockers. His multi-cut ability, along with good change of direction, lateral agility, burst, and the vision to find openings on either the backside or play side, sets him apart. Additionally, he can evade early penetration and breaks tackles effectively due to his good contact balance, leg drive, and active feet, allowing him to gain yards after contact at both the first and second levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Offer List: Navy &amp; Vermilion</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note – 3.8 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">X:<a href="https://x.com/TjBrown2026"> https://x.com/TjBrown2026</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1565413"],"_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-6760e23048890"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1565413' first='James' last='Pratt'] flew onto the scene as a dynamic running back who poses challenges for defenses from the backfield. He exhibits solid post-snap vision, footwork, and the burst necessary to exploit gaps in the defense. Pratt, with a low center of gravity and good contact balance, he can effectively break tackles at any level of the field. Moreover, he has the potential to be a significant threat in the receiving game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note – 4.1 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">X:<a href="https://x.com/JamesPratt2026"> https://x.com/JamesPratt2026</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>OTHER TOP 100 RUNNING BACKS:</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1 - [player_tooltip player_id='1155131' first='TJ' last='Hodges'] (Marked Tree)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2 - [player_tooltip player_id='1152116' first='Owen' last='McLaughlin'] (Southside)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3 - [player_tooltip player_id='401206' first='Nikel' last='Lewis'] (Hamburg)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4 - [player_tooltip player_id='1194202' first='Korri' last='Graham'] (DeWitt)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5 - [player_tooltip player_id='227421' first='Chris' last='Ficklin'] (Bentonville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6 - [player_tooltip player_id='1316501' first='Kevin' last='Young Jr.'] (Forrest City)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7 - [player_tooltip player_id='1192186' first='Tavien' last='Clegg'] (Malvern)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10 - [player_tooltip player_id='401187' first='Cooper' last='Powell'] (Cabot)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11 - [player_tooltip player_id='1142032' first='Rico' last='Ward'] (Marion)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13 - [player_tooltip player_id='771990' first='Hunter' last='Warren'] (Booneville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14 - [player_tooltip player_id='955836' first='Griffin' last='Mason'] (Shiloh Christian)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 - [player_tooltip player_id='806080' first='Brady' last='O. Penister'] (Junction City)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->