The Best Traits for our Top 7 RBs

The best players at each position usually have one or two traits that make them stand out. Really, if you want to be a Division 1 prospect, you need to be near-elite in at least one area. Here's the one trait that I beleive makes our top 7 RBs stand out.    Contact Balance. This was SUPER difficult, mostly because Izaiah is so good at so many things. Though, His contact balance is amazing, which is critical for any Divison 1-level running back. Izaiah's tape features countless examples of him bouncing off tackles and running through poor arm tackles. I watch some RBs who are fast or strong, but if you can't keep balance, you'll almost always go down on first contact. Balance is one of those things that's super difficult to teach, but once you have it, it's an insanely good asset. Izaiah is also extremely fast, explosive, and has solid vision. Pure 3-down back who excels between the tackles.     Versatility.   Kory is probably going to be ranked a little higher come the next update. In February, I spoke with someone on a Power 4 recruiting staff who has offered Kory. Long story short, they're extremely high on Kory, and they love his versaility.   I do too.   My pro comp would be Jahmyr Gibbs. Like Gibbs, Kory can run inside, outside, catch passes, you name it. Plus, Kory is an insane weapon in the open field. Give him an inch of space, and he'll take it a mile. So many instances of excellent vision leading to a great cut into open space, then the speed to take it the distance. He's got those kinds of highights running between the tackles, outside the tackles, and in the passing game. My only nitpick would be Kory could be a little smoother with his open-field moves. Still, way, way above average. Should be a phenomenal college football player.     Speed. More specifically, explosiveness.   "Speed Kills" is a saying for a reason.   I remember after Jayden's freshman year, I had a chance to watch him and another D1-offered RB work out side by side at a camp. Jayden was on-par or better in every category.   What's always stood out to me is his speed. Jayden is a pure home run hitter. There are so many examples of Jayden hitting the hole and outrunning the entire opposing defense for a touchdown. Anyone can have good top speed and succeed, but what makes him stand out in my eyes is his explosiveness. Jayden goes 0-40 faster than a Bugatti.     Vision.   Dukes' highlights are filled with moments of excellent vision.   That said, vision oftentimes goes hand in hand with IQ and efficiency. Inside runs, outside runs, open field- Dukes does an incredible job of scanning the field, sensing defenders, and avoiding them. Specifically, he has a few highlights where he stays behind his blocks just long enough before hitting top speed, and others where he slows down just a little to bait a defender into over-pursuing, where he then explodes forward. Great instincts, great IQ, and that's the #1 reason why (in my opinion) that he's a Division 1 prospect.     Elusiveness.   Donovan's tape is very fun to watch, largely because of how dang elusive he is.   His tape kicks off with an amazing 30-yard touchdown, juking past four defenders on the way. The play honestly wasn't very well-blocked, but that did not matter. Other plays are very similar. Defenders in his face lead to a series of well-timed jukes and broken tackles. Donavan is one of the most elusive backs in the state, and definitely one of the most well-represented in terms of jukes. Dude is a jukebox, and that'll serve him well at the next level.     Power.   Tomarion has always had great power. He's a rock-solid power RB who's an all-star in the weight room. There are a few instances on tape where this power shows up. 1:11 on his Junior Season highlight tape stands out as a great example of power running. As Tomarion runs through a tackle, a DB says "nah" and backs away from him at the 5-yard line. The next highlight, Tomarion runs through a few tackles and does a great job keeping his feet moving through a ton of defenders.   Tomarion is the best power RB in this class. I think he still has room to grow when it comes to speed and contact balance, but this is still a D1 prospect. Very high ceiling.     Competitiveness.   Granted, I have a better evaluation of Jakoby than most RBs, and I had the fortunate opportunity to watch Jakoby in the most important game of his life- the D4 State Championship game.   During that game, I was extremely impressed with Jakoby's passion, competitiveness, and leadership. I have a lot of respect for emotional players who harness their emotions to help their team win. It was extremely apparent that Jakoby wanted this game badly. He was a vocal leader for his team, celebrated hard when his team found success, and just stayed very positive. Jakoby brought a ton of energy to that game, which led to a stadnout game with 76 rushing yards and 1TD.

The best players at each position usually have one or two traits that make them stand out. Really, if you want to be a Division 1 prospect, you need to be near-elite in at least one area. Here's the one trait that I beleive makes our top 7 RBs stand out.