PRZ Clayton Combine Rewind: RB Notes & Evaluations

After starting with an <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-clayton-combine-all-camp-team-offense/">All-Combine Team</a>, I'm breaking down every player in attendance at out PRZ North Carolina Combine at Clayton High School on Sunday. This isn't a fluff piece where we simply say generic nice things about the players. Instead, I'm really breaking down what I liked and what I still want to see from the players.   I started with the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-clayton-combine-rewind-quarterback-breakdown/">quarterbacks</a>, so now I'm moving onto the running backs, a solid group with plenty of upside. This group, in particular, really surprised me in a good way. I was more excited to see the other position groups when I first saw the pre-registration list, but several guys stepped up their game to deliver awesome camp performances.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">PRZ Clayton RB Evaluations</h2>   Our group of running backs wasn't the biggest group in attendance, but every player flashed at one point or another and everyone got better. Pad level and burst were at the top of the coaches' agendas as South Garner assistant Jonathan Bell emphasized getting low and skinny throughout the day.   I don't have official times and measurements from testing yet, so any numbers are from my own observations. If you have your times, make sure to let me know on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>) so I can have those for my own records.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Natural Runners</h3>   2027 Page RB [player_tooltip player_id='1171138' first='Jabari' last='Johnson'] impressed me with how natural he looked with the ball in his hands. He wasn't overly flashy: no highlight-reel jukes or routes, but he was solid all day. I loved his pad level and balance as he always seemed to be in control.   Similarly, South Rowan 2028 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1264500' first='Jayden' last='Arthur'] really looked strong as a pure running back. He does a little bit of everything for South Rowan, lining up in the slot, backfield, and even out wide, often getting the ball after going in motion. So it was nice to see his ability as a pure runner. His first step and burst were excellent and he looked really solid in ways you can't really see often on film.   Mount Airy RB [player_tooltip player_id='1531332' first='Taeshon' last='Martin'] made my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-clayton-combine-all-camp-team-offense/https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-clayton-combine-all-camp-team-offense/">All-Camp First Team</a> and showed me he could be on a similar trajectory to the guy he used to back up, current Virginia Tech Hokie Tyler Mason. Martin, like Mason, exploded as a junior with over 2,300 yards, but hasn't yet received the recruiting attention. Mason had a few early offers, but no one really turned up the heat until his senior season. Martin's hard running style was evident Sunday and he was solid in athletic testing as well. Perhaps most importantly, he was nearly unstoppable as a receiver, something we've rarely seen from him in Mount Airy's run-heavy system.   In the past, [player_tooltip player_id='1210498' first='Gabriel' last='Angel Suarez'] out of Jack Britt has had a tendency to look a bit stiff and upright as a runner. I didn't see much of that Sunday, something that shows me his development. He's developing as a pass-catcher, but made a few nice catches, including a cool stretching catch on a flat route after a clean win in one-on-ones.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Surprising Leaders</h3>   Pinecrest's [player_tooltip player_id='1663571' first='Chris' last='Najm'] and Havelock's [player_tooltip player_id='1665917' first='Jayden' last='Howard'] went head-to-head for me for first-team honors and I hate that I had to pick between the two. Howard should be a focal point of Havelock's offense this year after backing up a 1000-yard rusher last season and I saw more burst from him than I expected.   Najm dominated in the non-conference, but his numbers dropped in conference play, something I think will change this season. He was both fast (4.65 40) and quick (blazing 4.25 short shuttle). I liked his footwork, he had few wasted steps as both a runner and route-runner, maximizing the distance he could create with defenders. I left thoroughly impressed with both Howard and Najm and can't wait to dive back into the film and watch them this season.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Young Backs Impress</h3>   I really liked New Bern 2028 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1654211' first='Bryson' last='Petersen'], a guy I knew little about before Sunday. He secured the ball well and ran a decent 40 for his age (4.75). He already has good size and should fill out his frame in the coming years to get to around 200 pounds. He was most effective on special teams as a freshman, but looks poised for a strong sophomore season. He ran with a more compact running style than he showed on film, something I loved to see.   Green Level RB [player_tooltip player_id='1272624' first='Luke' last='Pagan'] put up great numbers as a freshman and it's easy to see why. He's a smooth operator and loves completely natural as a back, both as a runner in drills and as a receiver in one-on-ones. Pagan doesn't look like a 2028 prospect as he's already bigger and stronger than a lot of older players. That showed up both on film and on Sunday.   2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='534079' first='Rahlai' last='Anderson'] is an intriguing prospect. He didn't find a lot of open field as a sophomore, but he looked plenty athletic Sunday, with excellent burst and good change-of-direction. I'm interested to see his 3-cone and shuttle times as I didn't get those, but think that's where he could shine, given his particular athletic profile.

After starting with an All-Combine Team, I'm breaking down every player in attendance at out PRZ North Carolina Combine at Clayton High School on Sunday. This isn't a fluff piece where we simply say generic nice things about the players. Instead, I'm really breaking down what I liked and what I still want to see from the players.