’27 Rankings Update | New RB Names to Watch

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: OscarGalindo30 in the coupon code area.   The Iowa 2027 rankings have been released, with a major overhaul that added over 150 new names to our rankings and watchlist. To cover the rankings update, I wanted to review some of the notable new names that stood out during the evaluation process. The next group I'm looking at is a fast-rising RB group that could turn some heads this offseason.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />    Solid ranking debut for SEP's [player_tooltip player_id='1617589' first='Stanley' last='Cooper'], who checks in as RB2 in the latest update. Cooper put up big numbers during his junior campaign as he rushed for 1,311 yards and 17 touchdowns on 155 carries. What stood out the most to me about Stanley's game was his combination of size and explosiveness. Stanley is a bigger back at 6'0" and 225 with a powerful base that allows him to truck through defenders and even keep piles moving with his non-stop leg drive. He's not just a power back, though, as Stanley has also shown a solid burst of speed when he finds a crease with the ability to separate from defenses once he clears the second level. Good patience in letting blocks set up with the vision to guide him to open lanes.      Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2004458' first='Blake' last='Dorenkamp'] had quite the breakout season after becoming the feature back on the Valley offense. Blake led the Tigers in rushing with 191 carries for 997 yards and 12 touchdowns, with an additional 22 catches and 206 receiving yards through the air. Blake has a strong, athletic frame that allows him to absorb contact while remaining shifty enough to cut back into open lanes. Blake does a great job running with a low, sturdy base and good pad level, making him even harder to bring down. Dorenkamp also stood out with some of his downhill runs, as he fired through his gap with an explosive burst of speed. Blake could also be used as a receiving back who can beat slower LBs in coverage or as a target with space and blockers in front of him.      Kennedy's [player_tooltip player_id='1394059' first='Damarian' last='Orr'] was a prospect we tabbed during the preseason as a player to watch, and he definitely flashed next-level talent. Despite a down year for the Cougars, Orr still rushed 113 times for 624 yards and three touchdowns. Part of what stood out in Damarian's game was his surprising shifty play, with several great runs in which he worked his way out of close calls or set up defenders in the open field. He is very quick on his feet and can operate in tight quarters and execute sharp jump cuts to bounce runs to the outside. He follows his blocks very well, with great vision and anticipation of where lanes will open. Another aspect of Orr's game that stood out was his willingness to get his hands dirty as a blocker in pass protection. As the backs mentioned, Damarian is not an easy tackle, as he will stick a hand out or drop his pads to fight through contact.          Despite an up-and-down season for the Humboldt Wildcats, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1616430' first='Cash' last='McIntire'] still demonstrated a skill set that projects well to the next level. McIntire was the Wildcats' leading rusher as he toted the ball 138 times for 822 yards and nine touchdowns. Cash is a versatile runner who can smoothly flow through traffic on some runs or decide to run through several tackle attempts en route to a big gain. He has great vision out of the backfield and patiently allows his blocks to set up in front of him. McIntire also recorded 10 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown and flashed his versatility a bit with a few plays lined up at receiver, showing he can be used in several ways on offense. Tough runner who consistently finishes his runs with a forward lean.      The Saints will graduate a key part of their 4A championship squad in RB Hoffman, but they appear to have his successor, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1937346' first='Dustin' last='Cook'], ready to take over. As a junior, Dustin received limited touches, but he maximized his 39 carries by averaging 9.5 ypc for a total of 370 yards and two touchdowns. I only had a small sample size of film on Dustin, but I was impressed with his toughness as a runner. He has a strong, compact frame at 5'10" and 190 pounds, which helps him stay upright through contact and continue chugging along for more yards. I look forward to seeing more of Dustin in 2026.    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Make sure to follow @PRZ_OscarG for more news on Nebraska and Iowa HS recruiting.

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