Class of 2027 Rankings Update: New Running Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone North Carolina recently updated their Class of 2027 Rankings, and several players were added to the rankings after strong sophomore seasons! This article will focus on selected Running Backs added to this ranking update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1607889"],"_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-679ae37f84302"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Adding Emory into these rankings was a no-brainer decision, mainly because as the season went along and the games got bigger and more important, Emory played his football and the Lions trusted him in big moments on their way to winning a state championship. His improvement this past season was exponential, and the numbers don't tell the full story. Emory runs the ball hard, straight-ahead, and downhill - but he has the speed to break big plays into the open field. He runs bigger than his frame listed at 5'11 and 185 pounds. Emory recently picked up his first collegiate offer from Johnson C. Smith University. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1607756"],"_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-679ae37f84367"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Shawn was the 2nd leading rusher on a team competing in one of the best overall conferences in the state of North Carolina. On the season, Shawn rushed for 431 yards on 51 carries, an impressive 8.5 yards per carry average. When you turn on the tape, the first thing you love about Shawn is his impressive overall speed. Shawn does a good job of identifying the hole and hitting it full speed ahead. As he grows into his body and adds weight, he will be able to effectively run through some tackles at the 2nd and 3rd levels of the defense to give him an even bigger home-run threat ability as a running back. I'm excited to see him over the next two years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1607758"],"_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-679ae37f843ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In speaking to the Sun Valley coaching staff about Josh, they are very excited about his future in their backfield over the next couple of years. Paired with another talented back in [player_tooltip player_id='1169882' first='Zach' last='Cullen'], Josh looked very good on the limited carries he got on the Varsity level this past season. Watching him on film, Josh has a natural flow to his game as a running back. He is patient in setting up his blocks, and then knows when to accelerate through holes and into space. Josh has good size and has the build to add more weight which shouldn't slow him down overall. With a senior graduating, I expect him to get a lot more carries to show what he can do next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1607878"],"_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-679ae37f843ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Being a backup running back to the ultra-talented [player_tooltip player_id='380042' first='Amareon' last='Blue'] means you don't get a ton of carries, but Damien did a really good job in showing his talents in the chances he got. This past season on 77 carries, Damien tallied 564 yards and 4 touchdowns, averaging a nice 7.3 yards per carry. Damien shows a nice sidestep move when pressing the hole, then accelerates well north/south when finding daylight. Damien has a nice build and has quick feet in the open field, showing good agility in space. With more opportunity next season, it will be fun to see what Damien does with it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1607799"],"_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-679ae37f84486"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kamari had a great season and will absolutely move up in our next quarterly rankings update. This past season Kamari had 1081 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns on the season, and that was sharing time with a senior running back who also rushed for 1000 yards! Kamari averaged an impressive 12.3 yards per carry, and even more impressive is the fact Southern Durham is a balanced offensive attack. Kamari picked up his first two offers from Appalachian State and Troy over the past couple of months, and it's safe to say that more recruiting attention will be coming his way. Kamari has excellent speed in the open field, and already shows the strength to run through tackles at the 2nd and third levels of the defense. Good-looking player with a very bright future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other running backs added to our rankings include the following:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1610573' first='Adrian' last='Colon'] - Union Pines</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1608301' first='Jamari' last='Glover'] - Palisades</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1608325' first='Kaleb' last='Ferrell'] - Cleveland </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->