Running Backs Ripping Up June Camp Season

The Sunflower state is loaded with standout running backs in all classifications and there is growing attention from scouts and coaches. Many converged on the state as a hotbed for hybrid tight ends and explosive wideouts in recent years and by the time they left it included a long list of backs to follow.   The standards were set last fall when [player_tooltip player_id='780500' first='Carter' last='Hajek'], Nemaha Central '26, led the state in rushing yards with 2,382 yards on a jaw-dropping 324 carries. On his heels was [player_tooltip player_id='780341' first='Parker' last='Schwarz'], Prairie View, '26, who also cracked the 2K barrier with 2,305 yards and led the state at 14.2 yards per carry and also led with an impressive 210 yards per game. The two also combined for 76 TD's on the season. In the PRZ rankings the highest ranked RB is [player_tooltip player_id='426515' first='Brayden' last='Pappas'], Eisenhower, '26, at #13, who has been crushing his off-season workouts. Note: (Hajek is listed as an ATH at #10, as is Schwarz at #16).   High-flying backs indeed.   With many of the state's top running backs coming back this fall, it should be a hotly-contested season as there are many elevating their game in the off-season to challenge the front-running class of 2026.   In this report we are taking a quick look at five guys who have have been hitting it hard after showing signs that they were ready to take center stage this fall. The first two are a couple of baller backs from '26, followed by two rising stars from '27 and a guy from '28 who is getting ready to burst on the scene this fall.   So, without further adieu, let's check these guys out:   [player_tooltip player_id='1611906' first='Preston' last='Merlau']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/preston-merlau/"></a> , 6'0, 195, RB/LB, Hoisington, '26. He is coming off a strong junior season as a hard-crashing defensive end who pummeled teams off the edge. On offense he is a versatile running back who is going to get a chance to show his potential this fall when he starts both ways. He is just returning from an excellent camp performance at Nebraska where he was able to run with the defensive ends as well as the running backs. A powerful edge rusher, he uses his athleticism and strong hands to hit lineman in the teeth and get to the quarterback in a hurry. On offense he showed glimpses of the future last fall as a slashing runner with good instincts and the burst needed to stretch the game horizontally. He has been to a number of camps and has been training hard in the off-season to be prepared to go both ways. This guy is a sleeper who is getting ready to get some serious attention this fall with a breakout season.   Beaux Gould, 6'3, 215, RB/LB, Maize South, '26. Speaking of sleepers, he is coming off a solid junior season playing multiple positions, on both sides of the ball, and showed that he has a high-ceiling game. On offense he lined up as a wideout and as a running back and on defense plays outside linebacker and comes off the edge. With his prototype size and speed he is starting to get significant attention from all over the country. This off-season he has been busy, performing well at the FBU camp in KC and local combines. He has also had interest from Ivy League schools, including Yale, Brown, Fordham and Cornell. A state champion powerlifter, he had the top deadlift in the state for his class and was also a standout in track running the sprints. He has grown in the off-season and gotten even faster, taking his flying 10-yard dash down from 1.01 in April to a blazing .94 recently and has been consistently in the 4.5's in the 40. Get this guy on your watchlist as he won't be a sleeper for long.   [player_tooltip player_id='1697097' first='Anthony' last='Shields'], 5'9, 155, RB/CB, Salina South, '27. He is another one flying under the radar right now but is getting ready to change that narrative this fall. Coming off a good sophomore season getting acclimated to the varsity game, he showed potential as a speedy, all-purpose back who can play in the slot, on the wing or anywhere in the backfield. He is also a cornerback on defense where he uses his speed and instincts to close on the ball quickly. As a running back he has great spatial awareness and vision and makes decisive cuts before exploding between the tackles. Going wide, he has the wheels to burn up the edge by out-running defensive backs on the perimeter. His off-season has been productive as he is taller and has put on 10 pounds since last year. He and his teammates are just getting back from a successful team camp at Fort Hays and he has continued to put the finishing touches on his off-season work. Get out and give this guy a look, he is going to light it up this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1593083' first='Gus' last='Ketteler']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/gus-ketteler/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/gus-ketteler/"></a> , 6'0, 175, RB/DB, Shawnee Mission East, '27. He is another rising star two-way baller who I have had on my watchlist since last fall. As a running back he is versatile, lining up on the wing or as a single setback. He has great read and react skills, lateral quickness working through traffic and the speed to hit the corner. He definitely has the DNA, as his dad played hoops for UCF, and his granddad, the legendary Ike Brady, was a standout hoopster on some of SC's best teams, when he and I went to Southwestern at the same time many moons ago. He also continues to grow playing and learning in former NFL linebacker and now football/track head coach, Mark Simoneau's program. He recently wrapped up a strong track season in the sprints and set numerous PR's in the process. The spring/summer has been busy as he recently competed at the Rivals camp in Dallas and the KC Varsity Combine. He is heading to the Manning Academy in Louisiana this week and will be traveling east for Ivy League visits with Columbia, Yale, Cornell and Brown. This guy is getting ready to make some serious noise this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='205592' first='Cameron' last='Akins']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cameron-akins/"></a> , 6'0, 180, RB/DB, Wichita East, '28. He is one who popped up on my radar as a freshman and since that time I have been checking out his progress, which has quickly ramped up with a sizzling off-season. He is a baller in the making who is athletic, fast and has next-level instincts on both sides of the ball. As a running back he has the size and speed to hammer the ball inside and blow through arm-tackles or take the pitch running wide and scorch the perimeter. On defense he can play as a smothering, lock-down cornerback or line up wherever needed in the secondary. He is also explosive on special teams and will line up deep on kickoffs this fall for the Blue Aces. He recently finished the camp circuit and has continued to run track this summer after being named an AAU Jr. Olympic All American earlier, and will compete in the Jr. Olympics next month. This guy is going to be a highlight-film in action this fall.   In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlists and follow their progress this fall. And, as always, if you run across any teams or players flying under the radar give me a shout via DM on X.    And, as usual…   Keep grindin'

The Sunflower state is loaded with standout running backs in all classifications and there is growing attention from scouts and coaches. Many converged on the state as a hotbed for hybrid tight ends and explosive wideouts in recent years and by the time they left it included a long list of backs to follow.