2026 RB Standouts Through Week 3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get deeper into the month of September, we are already in the fourth week of the high school football regular season in the state of Kentucky. With that in mind, I wanted to highlight some seniors at each position who have stood out so far in their final season. After already covering the quarterbacks, here are some running backs in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky who have stood out so far this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212336"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c48ba4550aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='212336' first='Marlon' last='Harbin'] is a versatile playmaker who is a big reason for St. Xavier's undefeated start. He leads his team in rushing through three games with 26 carries for 227 yards and six touchdowns. Harbin is very elusive, showing the ability to stop on the dime and make smooth cuts with ease to make defenders miss. He has also shown the burst of speed to run away from the defense on long runs. Harbin is also a dangerous threat as a receiver, leading his team with nine receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown. He has also returned one kickoff for a touchdown, and recorded seven tackles and an interception so far this season. Marlon is committed to Louisville where I can see him developing into a very productive player at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1175799"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c48ba45514a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Despite his team's winless start to the season, [player_tooltip player_id='1175799' first='Luke' last='Ballard'] has put together a strong senior year so far. Through three games, Ballard has carried the ball 73 times for 507 yards and five touchdowns. Luke is a physical runner, showing the ability to lower his shoulder and run straight through any defender in his path. Once he hits the open field, Ballard has shown the speed to run away from the defense and elusiveness to make defenders miss. He has also caught two passes for 11 yards this season. Ballard currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky, Kentucky State, Thomas More, and Kentucky Wesleyan, and I expect that list to continue to grow this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1489400"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c48d8a26684"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After a breakout junior year, [player_tooltip player_id='1489400' first='Cavalli' last='Pittman'] has picked up eight where he left off as a senior. Through the first three games, Pittman has carried the ball 89 times for 504 yards and eight touchdowns. Cavalli has a very impressive burst of speed which he uses to hit the running lane in a hurry then run away from the defense on long runs. When defenders are able to catch up to him, he has shown the contact balance and elusiveness to break tackles with ease without losing stride. Cavalli surprisingly hasn't picked up any offers but I wouldn't be surprised to see some come his way soon as he has the talent to be a very productive back at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1176974"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c48d8a2671f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1176974' first='Davaree' last='Gude'] is a player who has been on my radar for a while now and has continued to impress so far this season. In his first three games, Davaree has carried the ball 42 times for 452 yards and nine touchdowns. Gude has impressive vision, showing the ability to find the open running lane when the backfield clogs up then use his speed to hit it with a sense of urgency. Once he hits the second level, he has shown the speed to run away from the defense along with the leg drive and contact balance to break tackles. Gude has also caught eight passes for 59 yards so far this season. Davaree currently holds an offer from Thomas More and I expect to come his way during his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1513937"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c48fb935219"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1513937' first='Kaleb' last='Miller'] is another running back who has been on my radar for a while now and has continued to stand out this season. Miller has played a key role in Bell County's 3-0 start, carrying the ball 47 times for 475 yards and eight touchdowns. Kaleb is a strong runner, showing the ability to keep his legs churning and bounce off defenders while maintaining his balance to pick up extra yards. He has also shown the elusiveness to make defenders miss along with the burst of speed to break away on long runs once he hits the open field. Miller currently holds an offer from Howard Prep Academy and I can see more coming his way soon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283968"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c48fb9352bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='283968' first='Isaiah' last='Jackson'] is another ball carrier who has helped lead his team to a 3-0 start. As a senior, Jackson has carried the ball 47 times for 573 yards and eight touchdowns. He has explosive speed which he uses to burst through the line of scrimmage in a hurry then run away from the defense on long runs once he hits the second level. Jackson has also shown impressive vision in the open field, showing the ability to find cut back lanes then use quick cuts to make defenders miss. He has also caught three passes for 33 yards and a touchdown, returned one kickoff for a touchdown, and accounted for 10 tackles and a tackle for loss through the first three games. Isaiah currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky, Austin Peay State, and Kentucky State, and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Division I caliber prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["876439"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c4906d54096"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The final 2026 running back in the state of Kentucky who has stood out to me so far this season is [player_tooltip player_id='876439' first='Dee' last='Parker']. He is off to a very strong start to his senior year, carrying the ball 73 times for 690 yards and seven touchdowns through the first three games. Parker explodes downhill with a sense of urgency out of his stance and uses his speed to burst through the running lane before defenders even have a chance to try to tackle him. When defenders are able to catch up to him, he has shown the ability to make smooth cuts to make them miss. Parker has also caught three passes for nine yards, and has accounted for 13 tackles and two sacks so far this season. Dee doesn't currently hold any offers but he is definitely a player who college coaches should be keeping a close eye on this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->