2026 RB New Additions

We're in the midst of our August rankings update, an update focused <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/august-rankings-update-behind-the-scenes-of-the-2026-class/">less on player movement and more on player additions</a>. We added over 125 players to the rankings, and plenty of them were at the skill positions.   Here, I'm breaking down several of the new running backs, as we added 17 to the rankings. Which ones could make the biggest splash this year and how did they make our rankings? Find out our thoughts in this August edition of 2026 RB new additions.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Newly-Ranked 2026 RBs</h2>    A leaner 160-pound runner, Pinkerton isn't just a running back. With over 3,600 career rushing yards, obviously that's where he thrives best, but he can also flex out to the slot or catch passes out of the backfield. He's a guy who always fights for the next yard, sometimes to his detriment, as he has struggled with fumbles in the past, but the effort and talent are evident and we really like him as a college prospect.     McBryde was probably just a whiff on our part, as the St. Pauls running back has nearly 3,000 rushing yards and we still didn't have him ranked until recently. That being said, once I got into his film, I came away impressed. He has good speed to burn and the ability to break arm tackles and hit the hole with some acceleration and power.     White had a huge, 1,300-yard season last year and it's even more impressive when you realize he had less than 100 total yards in his first four games combined. No one ended the year hotter, as he ran for 200 yards in each of his final three games with six total touchdowns against three strong defenses. He's a guy I'd like to see in person and someone I think could continue to rise in the rankings.     Don't let Akande's size fool you, his thick lower body and powerful leg drive make him tough to bring down. He squats three times his body weight. He really played well down the stretch, even in negative game scripts, as he ran for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns in his final three games for South Central.     When I previewed the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mvp-eastern-plains-2a-3a/">Eastern Plains 2A/3A conference</a>, I wasn't expecting McDowell to be one of the guys I was most impressed with in the entire league, but as I dove into the film, I was really impressed by the scat back's ability to pick up tough yards, despite his size. He's a guy who could have a breakout season with more opportunities as an every day running back.     Bauman has an archetype that I have really come to like over the years. He's a shorter, compact runner in a pass-heavy offense, meaning he can pick up chunks of yardage at a time while staying fresh and contributing as a key pass-blocker. I've been told he's gotten bigger, stronger, and faster this offseason and he could be a guy who pushes 1,000 yards as a runner.     Willow Spring lost some key playmakers last season, so it'll be up to Glast to be the veteran in the running backs room. He has a good combination of size and initial burst and he can hit the hole with some momentum, even if there's not much there. I think Glast could have a great senior year, especially in short-yardage situations.    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other 2026 RB New Additions</h3>   [player_tooltip player_id='1704839' first='EJ' last='Ruffin'], Ayden-Grifton   [player_tooltip player_id='1704830' first='Dejuan' last='Cobb'], Greene Central   [player_tooltip player_id='1707495' first='Cannen' last='Rottweiler'], East Forsyth   [player_tooltip player_id='1707809' first='Micah' last='Olu'], Wake Forest   [player_tooltip player_id='1751583' first='Amarion' last='Richmond'], Williams   [player_tooltip player_id='1707863' first='CJ' last='Blevins'], Western Guilford   [player_tooltip player_id='1752108' first='Sincere' last='Columbus'], Northside-Pinetown   [player_tooltip player_id='1727998' first='Benjamin' last='Everett'], Apex Friendship   [player_tooltip player_id='1728226' first='Jackson' last='Cancel'], Christ School   Continue to follow our 2026 rankings content this week on Prep Redzone. Want to send this to someone who doesn't subscribe? Support our work and give them promo code Helms30, good for 30% off their first billing cycle.

We're in the midst of our August rankings update, an update focused less on player movement and more on player additions. We added over 125 players to the rankings, and plenty of them were at the skill positions.