2028 RB Stock-Risers: Midseason Update

We're onto Week 2 of a huge <a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/rankings/2028-rankings/">2028 Rankings Update</a>. It's the first midseason rankings update we've ever done, and plenty of players moved up or were added to the rankings. Last week, I went <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/behind-the-scenes-of-the-2028-rankings-midseason-update/">behind the scenes on the rankings update</a>. I also broke down the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/2028-qb-report-stock-risers-and-new-additions/">quarterbacks</a>, and since we had a ton of running back movement, I made a separate piece to introduce the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/2028-rb-new-additions/">nine newly-ranked running backs</a>.   In this piece, we're breaking down the five running backs who moved up the most in the rankings. Meet our 2028 RB stock-risers.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 RB Stock-Risers</h2>    Troy is our biggest mover at the running back position this update. He's shown this year that he can beat teams in a variety of ways. He was a consistent workhorse in the non-conference, grinding away at tough yardage and always falling forward. In the conference slate, he's been able to find some explosive runs as teams crowd the box. Often breaking a tackle or two at the line of scrimmage, then using speed to hit the edge. He has a run of 40+ in four-straight games, including a 93-yarder against Carson.     Pagan has been a workhorse this season, doing most of his damage against heavier boxes as defenses sell out to stop the run. Green Level has also spent a lot of its brutal conference slate in a negative game state, limiting Pagan's carries. He flashed as a freshman, and as a sophomore, his pad level and contact balance have paid off in the form of consistent tackle-breaking. He's also become a true receiving threat, something we love to see from young backs.     We bought stock early in McPhatter, a small-school two-way athlete who may be the state's most explosive player. His suddenness and explosive qualities are on display both on the field and with his testing numbers. A smaller back, he can dunk easily, and gets to the line of scrimmage as quickly as any back in the state. Don't be surprised if he puts up eye-popping explosive metrics in camps.     Evans has been even more important to his team's success than his numbers suggest. The Raiders have been a methodical, ball-control offense to supplement an excellent defense, and Evans has picked up over half of the team's yardage, as he's on pace for a 1,500-yard regular season. He's a load to bring down and h'es been able to wear down more than a handful of teams this season, doing a bunch of his damage in the second half against teams with tired legs.     Brinton isn't the biggest back you'll find, but he's explosive and has flashed as a complete back this season. He's been efficient, with nearly 600 yards on just over 100 carries, and he's flashed as a pass-catcher out of the backfield with a few long catch-and-runs. He's still developing, but in a strong running back class, he's a guy to watch over the next few seasons.

We're onto Week 2 of a huge 2028 Rankings Update. It's the first midseason rankings update we've ever done, and plenty of players moved up or were added to the rankings. Last week, I went behind the scenes on the rankings update. I also broke down the quarterbacks, and since we had a ton of running back movement, I made a separate piece to introduce the nine newly-ranked running backs.