The Class of 2028’s Deepest Position: Running Back, Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Be sure to follow me on Twitter at</em>&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">@BrendanScoutsNJ</a>&nbsp;<em>for the latest prospect-specific coverage both during the season and off-season.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>For my complete, comprehensive coverage for the class of 2028 rankings, scroll down the bottom of this article to read more!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Enjoy our newest rankings release by using promo code “mankarious30” for 30% off your first subscription to Prep Redzone New Jersey</em></strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Out of every graduating class there is one position group that shines the brightest and stands out amongst the rest. In our initial rankings from the class of 2028, running back happens to be that position group. See which backs I felt ought to be on your radar for this coming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Need-to-Know Running Backs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1013479"],"_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-67911f565fd9e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A talented runner who was used in the varsity rotation last fall at St. Thomas Aquinas is <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/casi-thomas/">Ca'si</a> Thomas. Thomas' running style is one that I would immediately say is violent and you can notice it within the first few steps. Even as a freshman we see that he has the speed to outrun an entire defense. A disciplined runner beyond his years, Thomas knows to run inside-out as he tries to work through the edges and gets his legs up enough to break the subpar tackles. Areas of his game I wish to see Thomas feature on his next film update are him in pass protection and used as a receiver. Additionally, I urge him to lower his pad level as he works through the early layers of the opposing defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1141072"],"_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-67911f565fdf8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the best public school rivalries in the state might get an injection due to the play of Wayne Hills' [player_tooltip player_id='1141072' first='Ethan' last='Zacharski']. As Wayne Hills has to compete with Wayne Valley, Passiac County Tech, and the non-public programs in north jersey for talent, Zacharski is a young, promising back that might just swing the tide back in Wayne Hills favor. On film we see that he runs with a forward lean that allows him to fall forward, make more evasive, break tackles, and protect the ball - speaking of which, Zacharski is conscientious to switch the ball to his outside arm when he gets to the perimeter. On tape we see that he is creative when trying to make people miss, featuring cuts that are both sudden and sharp. These cuts are especially accented when he is moving laterally. Few bits of feedback that I have are for him to follow his track and do not bounce the ball so early. This may work at the freshman level, but it will not on varsity. His film would benefit from trimming it down from 8 minutes as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["965087"],"_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-67911f565fe44"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gone with a bang is [player_tooltip player_id='967081' first='Kenny' last='Smith'] and in his his heir apparent [player_tooltip player_id='965087' first='Hakim' last='Theresa Jr.'] Theresa did get a taste of varsity last year, but showed that he has a clear and distinct second-speed that he hits that allows him to outrun an entire defense. In the little bit of film he does have, Theresa is awfully impressive. Aside from his speed being showcased, he is used as much between the tackles as he is along the perimeter. Like a human joystick, Theresa weaves and makes cuts in and out of trouble to free up his killer speed. Although he has not yet shown to make people miss in space, he has a strong sense of how to make a nifty cut to badly throw off a pursuers angle. The weight room will help him not get taken down by average tackles and it would be to his benefit to showcase his skillset as a pass-catching and in pass protection.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2028 Rankings Release</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-114-101">Ranking Notes, Player #114-101</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-100-91">Ranking Notes, Player #100-91</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-90-89">Ranking Notes, Player #90-81</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-80-71">Ranking Notes, Player #80-71</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-70-61">Ranking Notes, Player #70-6</a>1<br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-60-51/">Ranking Notes, Player #60-51</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-50-41">Ranking Notes, Player #50-41</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-40-31/">Ranking Notes, Player #40-31</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-30-21">Ranking Notes, Player #30-21</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-20-11">Ranking Notes, Player #20-11</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-10-6">Ranking Notes, Player #10-6</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-5-1">Ranking Notes, Player #5-1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/watchlist-wonders-prospects-i-demand-film-on-2028-rankings-i">Watchlist Prospects of Note, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/watchlist-wonders-prospects-i-demand-film-on-2028-rankings-ii">Watchlist Prospects of Note, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-i">My Favorite Films, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-ii">My Favorite Films, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-iii">My Favorite Films, Part III</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-iv">My Favorite Films, Part IV</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-iv">My Favorite Films, Part V</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-vi">My Favorite Films, Part VI</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-vii">My Favorite Films, Part VII</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-viii">My Favorite Films, Part VIII</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-ix">My Favorite Films, Part IX</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-class-of-2028s-deepest-position-running-back-part-i">The Deepest Position Group: Running Backs, Part I</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->