2027 Watchlist RB Check-In

This offseason, we're taking a look at some of the players sitting just outside our rankings. Our watchlist check-in series looks at those players who often just need an opportunity. These rising juniors have been injured, stuck behind others on the depth chart, or just don't quite have enough varsity film to be ranked. But they're close, and many will enter the rankings this year.    Baker has great pad level, allowing him to maintain balance throughout contact. He doesn't have a ton of film, but in what we've seen, he shows good vision and patience. He might lack elite size and top-end speed, but he has the quickness to get to the corner and the size and strength to break tackles.     A High Point Christian transfer, Johnson has an excellent size-speed combination. If he can put it all together on the field, he's going to be a quick riser in the rankings. His vision and burst are impressive and if he gets an opportunity, he's going to have a strong junior year.     Adams is a powerful, bowling ball of a runner who plays both ways. When we do our second film pass through of the fall, he's likely to enter our rankings. We like his ability to get to the edge and run through tackles at the second level. He should have a bigger role as a junior and if he can maintain his consistency with more carries, he's going to be a name to know.     Simpson has been productive on JV and is poised for a move up to the varsity level in 2025. If he can maintain his productivity at that level, he'll certainly move into the rankings. He's a powerful runner, especially around the end zone, and he's tough to bring down.     Anderson is slippery in the open field and that makes him a perfect fit in Northside's Wing-T adjacent offense. He has great vision and the ability to make himself skinny in the hole, allowing him to stay at top speed when getting to the second level. Expect his production to tick up with a heavier workload.     Wright's size causes some to overlook him, but he's an extremely talented running back with high-level receiving upside. Wright caught 20 passes for 252 yards last season and wasn't simply a checkdown option out of the backfield, but a true receiving threat. He's gaining more weight and we expect him to enter his junior season at a size that allows him to be a potential workhorse for Cary.

This offseason, we're taking a look at some of the players sitting just outside our rankings. Our watchlist check-in series looks at those players who often just need an opportunity. These rising juniors have been injured, stuck behind others on the depth chart, or just don't quite have enough varsity film to be ranked. But they're close, and many will enter the rankings this year.