Evaluating Maryland’s Top 2026 Running Back Prospects: Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PRZ Maryland's Ed O'Brien breaks down some prospects that made the cut for the updated Class of 2026 prospect rankings. This article will focus on some running backs that earned a spot in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["692278"],"_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-67c1131082874"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='692278' first='Tymond' last='Foxx'] is a compact and physical running back who thrives as a downhill runner. At 5-foot-7, 205 pounds, he is a powerful ball carrier who is difficult to bring down, consistently finishing his runs with authority and punishing defenders who attempt to tackle him. Foxx's ability to stay upright after initial contact and fight through tackles makes him a tough assignment for opposing defenses. He wastes no time at the line of scrimmage, hitting the hole quickly and making decisive cuts. While Foxx doesn't rely heavily on lateral movement, he has enough wiggle to make defenders miss in space when needed. His agility allows him to navigate tight gaps efficiently, and he has the speed to break off explosive runs of 15-plus yards. While his quickness and burst are evident, he can continually improve upon his top-end speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1224900"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1632203,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-67c1131082911"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1224900' first='Kameron' last='Parker'] is a dynamic and versatile playmaker who brings explosiveness to multiple facets of the game. At 5-foot-6, 160 pounds, he possesses elite quickness and agility, allowing him to create separation in both press and off-man coverage easily. Parker's route-running skills stood out at a recent camp I attended, demonstrating his ability to transition smoothly from running back to receiver at the next level. Parker's high school highlights showcase his electrifying ability as a ball carrier, receiver, and return specialist, making him a threat whenever he touches the ball. Once in the open field, he accelerates past defenders effortlessly, showing impressive burst and long speed. He also has the ability to make defenders miss with his elusiveness, adding another layer to his playmaking ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Parker's size presents a challenge when projecting him as a traditional running back at the next level, making a complete transition to receiver most likely necessary. While he has already shown the ability to excel in that role, continued refinement in route precision, catching in traffic, and overall physicality against bigger defenders will be necessary for his development. If he continues to develop as a receiver while maintaining his explosiveness, he can potentially be a dangerous offensive weapon at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1611629"],"_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-67c1131082981"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jaxson Simms brings a strong, physical running style to the field, excelling as a one-cut back who gets upfield efficiently. At 6-foot, 180 pounds, he has the strength to break through leg and arm tackles while maintaining excellent contact balance, making him difficult to bring down. Simms consistently fights for extra yards and finishes runs with authority. He shows patience as a ball carrier and does a good job of anticipating openings before they fully develop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Simms is a solid strider, his explosiveness could improve to help him accelerate through holes and separate from defenders consistently. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1611635"],"_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-67c11310829f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">David Nnabuko's strengths revolve around his explosiveness, efficiency as a north-south runner, and ability to generate big plays. Despite his 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame, he runs with power into contact and can run through tackle attempts. He maintains momentum well when making cuts, allowing him to stay on his path without slowing down. His long-speed is a major asset, as he can take runs the distance once he finds open space. Nnabuko's highlights, though limited in length, are filled with explosive plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think Nnabuko can continue improving his lateral agility and elusiveness. The highlights show him mostly going north-south, so I would include additional highlights that highlight those skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1611680"],"_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-67c1131082a76"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Junior Rodriguez's strengths lie in his explosiveness, decisiveness, and ability to generate big plays. He is a true north-south runner who wastes little time hitting the hole and reaching top speed, making him highly effective between the tackles. Rodriguez's straight-line speed allows him to break away from defenders, leading to many chunk plays. He has shown flashes of physicality when running the football and can change direction when necessary. Rodriguez also can catch the ball out of the backfield, adding a versatile element to his game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I'd like to see more plays on his highlights that showcase his elusiveness, as most of them show him running past defenders rather than making them miss (which isn't bad). While he can be physical at times, Rodriguez will need to add more weight to his frame to improve his ability to absorb contact and consistently break tackles at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other articles to read</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-souther-maryland-skills-players-to-know-part-1/">Southern Maryland&nbsp; 2025 Season Players to Know - Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/meet-some-of-the-iacs-offensive-stars-in-the-2026-class-pt-1/">Meet some of the IAC's offensive stars in the 2026 Class – Pt . 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-1/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-2/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar - Pt. 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-3/"><strong>Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 3</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-western-maryland-skill-players-to-know-part-1/">2025 Season: Western Maryland Skill Players to Know – Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-1/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-2/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-3/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations - Part 3</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-next-wave-scouting-md-dcs-2026-class-film-review-pt-1/">The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-next-wave-scouting-md-dcs-2026-class-film-review-pt-2/">The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/scouting-the-ranked-2026-maryland-prospects-running-backs/">Scouting the ranked 2026 Maryland prospects: Running Backs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/the-new-editions-evaluating-wrs-in-the-md-2026-rankings/">The New Editions: Evaluating WR's in the MD 2026 Rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/the-new-editions-new-edge-defenders-in-the-md-2026-rankings/"><strong>The New Editions: New edge defenders in the MD 2026 rankings</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-the-newcomers-to-the-md-2026-rankings-quarterbacks/">Evaluating Quarterbacks in the updated Maryland 2026 rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-tight-ends-in-the-updated-maryland-2026-rankings/">Evaluating Tight Ends in the updated Maryland 2026 rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-prospects-from-the-first-state-3a-standouts-pt-1/"><strong>Evaluating prospects from The First State: 3A standouts – Pt. 1</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-prospects-from-the-first-state-2a-standouts-pt-1/"><strong>Evaluating prospects from The First State: 2A standouts – Pt. 1</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-prospects-from-the-first-state-1a-standouts-pt-1/"><strong>Evaluating prospects from The First State: 1A standouts – Pt. 1</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/dmv-off-season-live-evalations-part-1/"><strong>DMV off-season live evalations: Part 1</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/dmv-off-season-live-evalations-part-2/">DMV off-season live evaluations: Part 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->