2027 Under the Radar: Running Backs

The Class of 2027 is filled with rising talent, and at the running back position, there's no shortage of young ball carriers ready to make a name for themselves. While some backs have already started to turn heads, others are quietly building momentum and preparing for a breakout junior season. In this edition of our “Under the Radar” series, we highlight a group of 2027 running backs who may not be getting the spotlight just yet, but have the ability to become key playmakers in the coming seasons.    Ballew made a nice impact at the varsity level during his sophomore season and will look to improve his role going into next season. He served as more of a change of pace back for Mountainside as he is a true speedster. I am excited to see how Mountainside uses him over the next two years, as he has the potential to be a game-changer offensively.     If you are a fan of old-school football and hard-nosed running backs (think Jerome Bettis), you should watch Hodson's film. At 235 pounds, it is almost unheard of for a kid that size to play running back at the high school level. He is bigger than a lot of high school linemen. He is not slow either; he is as athletic as many teams' running backs in the state. The only difference is that he is 60 pounds heavier and will easily run defenders over. I am excited to see how Hodson develops.     Ireland also made an impact at the varsity level, taking home All-Conference First Team at the running back position. That is pretty special for a sophomore. Ireland will benefit significantly from basic offseason training, as he needs to get bigger and stronger; his pads looked quite large on him. Filling out his body while keeping the same athleticism and elusiveness that made him so valuable this year will help Ireland take his game to a new level next season.     I predict Classen to break out on the offensive side of the ball in a big way. He made an impact at the varsity level, but on the other side of the ball, at the linebacker position. He is very talented as a linebacker, but when he gets to be a running back, he will dominate other 4A competition. He has a nice compact frame with impressive speed and burst for a power back. Classen has all the tools to excel on the offensive side of the ball.     Fiallos was a pleasant surprise for me when I turned on his film. Fiallos made the transfer this past season from 5A Putnam to 4A Milwaukie, and he looked great during his sophomore campaign. What stood out to me most was his speed and burst through to the second level; it was a real problem for the opposing defenses. He has some nice wiggle and elusiveness to his game and has added some muscle to his frame that helps him finish runs with physicality. If this sort of development continues, do not be surprised when Fiallos gets some big-time offers in one to two years' time.

The Class of 2027 is filled with rising talent, and at the running back position, there's no shortage of young ball carriers ready to make a name for themselves. While some backs have already started to turn heads, others are quietly building momentum and preparing for a breakout junior season. In this edition of our “Under the Radar” series, we highlight a group of 2027 running backs who may not be getting the spotlight just yet, but have the ability to become key playmakers in the coming seasons.