Speed (and Explosiveness) Kills: 6 Burners to Get on Your Radar

With college offenses stressing the importance of stretching the field vertically, here are some speedsters on both sides of the ball to help or limit that impact:    10.9 100m | 22.4 200m (self-reported)   Extremely quick feet, Adriel Richardson breaks down faster than the speed of light – well not actually but it could feel that way when watching his tape. Richardson does a great job pushing to move and mirroring at the LOS and Has the speed to carry any WR down the field. Technical. He also has good awareness and consistently shows his ability to get his head around and make a play on the ball. Richardson excels in reading through to the backfield and triggering to make plays in the run game. Playing against some bigger 5A WRs, he is pesky and feisty which often negates the advantage of bigger bodied guys. This can be shown in his physicality and hand fighting throughout the route. With Richardson, White, and fellow DB Cam Bell, Eaglecrest might have the most speed out of any backend in Colorado with all 3 DBs running near 11.0s 100m times. Good luck throwing over the top of this Raptor defense.     10.71 (SO) 100m | 22.57 200m   WOW! The word that left my mouth every few seconds while watch DK's film. [player_tooltip player_id='814079' first='DaKari' last='Releford'] Jr has tremendous burst and feet. At 5'8 170, DK is extremely strong for his stature being a part of the 1,000 LB club (Bench + Squat + Deadlift) which isn't an easy feat in its own right but he also is doing this at 170 pounds! For the math fans out there, that's almost 6x his bodyweight. This shows up on film especially in the open field where it's difficult for defenders to bring him down showcasing a strong stiff arm and tremendous contact balance. My favorite trait of DK's is his patience behind the LOS and ability to allow muddy situations to clear and burst through a crease to the 2nd level and beyond. Well coached RBs know “Slow to, Fast Through” and DK has implemented that into his game. I'll let the tape speak for itself, but let me tell you it screams “EXPLOSIVENESS.” With 10.7 100m track speed, DK is one of the top (and most exciting) underclassmen in the state of Colorado.     7.15 60m | 11.05 100m (MileSplit.com)   Blink and he's gone, [player_tooltip player_id='1708906' first='Cy' last='White'] is speed! Cy has super quick feet, really showing them off when coming out of his breaks.  Downfield, he shows fluid hips being able to adjust at full speed while running with WRs.  He shows confidence playing press man, zone, and off-man.  In off-man, he does a great job surfing and being patient, calmly ping-ponging his eyes from the QB and WR. I love the patience his plays with, really waiting for the WR the show their hand and has the feet to break to the break point.  Cy consistently plays the ball in the air and attempts to punch through the WRs hands also with consistency.  The JR does a great job with his catch technique especially against bigger WRs, in which he stays underneath their chin throughout the route where his quicker feet shine usually resulting in clamps. When he does end up in trail, he does a great job at beating WRs to the spot and contesting at the catch point. Cy is also a big threat on ST coverages, as a tremendous gunner and a #9 on KO as the trim the fat player.     10.98 100m | 22.47 200m | 49.47 400m (Runcruit.com / Fieldlevel.com)   One week after his live evaluation I couldn't not include Fields in this article. Ernest's original stardom came from running track and cross country for Denver West HS. While Runcruit.com reports his track meet PR is 10.98, his assistant coaches claim he's run in the 10.8s! If you haven't yet, check out my last evaluation of Fields <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/stars-shine-in-the-city-denver-west-vs-highland-ot-thriller/">here</a>.   Fields could be impactful on either side of the ball at the next level.  On defense I'd project him at corner with his fluid hips, speed, and a quick trigger.   While on offense I think his speed and stature projects in the slot.     While I wasn't able to find any concrete times on Zak, his play speed and the tempo he plays at is better than any numbers can show. [player_tooltip player_id='1430680' first='Zak' last='Crisler'] is the most dynamic WR on this always tough Palmer Ridge team. Crisler runs hard, and combined with his quick feet, he does a great job at making the first man miss - often needing multiple defenders to bring him down. His effortless gait allows him to cover ground in a hurry. Downfield, he shows great ball tracking ability and is unafraid to attack the ball in the air while being surrounded by bigger guys. In the underneath, Crisler thrives on WR Screens where his speed, agility, and toughness make him a big play threat every time he touches the ball. He also does a great job sinking his hips when changing direction and has a nose for finding the soft spots in zones - consistently coming back to the ball. His release is also polished, not wasting any steps or momentum allowing him to get into his routes quicker and with efficiency showing he cares about the little details - one of the premier traits in slots (and all positions) at the next level and beyond.     11.09 100m | 22.23 200m (MileSplit.com)   Sanders is well built for 5'11 165.  At safety he triggers so quickly with great anticipation (or film study), often breaking on WRs before the QB has pulled the pin.  In the run game he is sideline to sideline flying in from depth with fearlessness when wrapping up ball carriers.  On offense is where his speed really shows out.  Opponents know what's coming and they can't stop it.  He runs with great knee drive getting outside the edge of the defense with ease.  One thing I love about his game is his ability to utilize blocks downfield and in open space - almost like he's back behind the LOS and his OL - Wynn does a great job reading his developing blocks to fully take advantage of them to re-accelerate and head 15+ more yards to the endzone.  He runs (and hits defensively) with great pad level in which some taller speedsters can tend to run high at tailback.  He reminds me of a RB I worked with while at the University of Albany, 2023 CAA ROY and FR All-American Griffin Woodell, but shows even more physicality.  While he's yet to make an appearance this season, I still had to shout him out as when he does make his return for the Devils they are going to be even more dangerous on both sides of the ball for this 8-0 squad!  Can't wait to see him back on the field dominating soon.

With college offenses stressing the importance of stretching the field vertically, here are some speedsters on both sides of the ball to help or limit that impact: