January Stock-Risers: 2028 RBs

Welcome to Rankings Week! We released our updated <a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/rankings/2028-rankings/">2028 class rankings</a> on Monday, and we have a ton of content on deck. As always, I started the week by going <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/behind-the-scenes-of-the-2028-rankings-update-january/">behind the scenes</a> of the update, and we're in the process of evaluating every single player who rose in the rankings. Here are our 2028 running back stock-risers.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 Running Back Stock-Risers</h2>    Jones is another player who entered the rankings for the first time in October and then took his game to another level in the back half of the season, particularly during Hunt's run to the 5A State Title game. In fact, when I wrote about him for the first time in October, I mentioned he could crack the 1,000-yard mark. He ran for over 1,850 yards. Since then, we've featured the compact, patient running back numerous times and have him as one of the top returning backs in the state next season.     Willis put up over 2,000 rushing yards last season, thanks to excellent athletic ability and impressive vision. He's able to find little openings to turn five-yard runs into 15-yard runs, and when he's in the open field, he's incredibly difficult to bring down. He doesn't run over a ton of people, but he's difficult to square up, meaning tackles that should be routine turn into arm tackles and silly-looking lunges. A <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/2028-rb-new-additions/">new addition in October</a>, Willis is steadily climbing our rankings.     We may eventually move O'Keefe to receiver in our system (He actually had more catches, 54, than rushes, 36, last season), but we love the idea of him in the backfield. He's a guy Terry Sanford uses to create mismatches, and simply put, they want the ball in his hands. He excelled as a punt and kick returner, slot receiver (primarily on screens and pop passes), and occasional second running back. It's simple: manufacture touches, because when he gets the ball, good things happen.     You don't typically think of running backs when you take a look at Newton-Conover, but Pope's talent changed the entire complexion of the offense in 2025. With over 1,168 yards, Pope eclipsed the rushing totals of every non-quarterback combined in 2024, and his 11 touchdowns matched what the entire team put up on the ground the year before. A jitterbug of a runner, Pope has homerun speed and the vision to find openings even if a play isn't perfectly blocked.     Troy was a <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/behind-the-scenes-of-the-2028-rankings-midseason-update/">major rankings riser in October</a>, moving up 75 places in the rankings. He ticked up again after a strong finish to the season for Northwest Cabarrus. We love his size and the strength he showed as a sophomore. He's elusive in the open field and has plenty of speed to turn 20-yard runs into 60-yard runs.     Like a couple of other guys, Morrison has been highly ranked for several ranking cycles, and he's taken some end-of-year momentum into the offseason. A huge back for his age, Morrison burst onto the scene this season as the starter for 8A Champion Hough. He didn't have a ton of volume—just over eight carries a game—but averaged seven yards per tote and came up key in some huge situations against top defenses.    There's plenty to come from Matt Morrow, Joshua Graham, and me on the 2028 rankings over the next week. Stay locked in with Prep Redzone for more insights, evaluations, and rankings updates. Want to share Prep Redzone with a friend? Promo code Helms30 will get them 30% off their first billing cycle for any subscription.

Welcome to Rankings Week! We released our updated 2028 class rankings on Monday, and we have a ton of content on deck. As always, I started the week by going behind the scenes of the update, and we're in the process of evaluating every single player who rose in the rankings. Here are our 2028 running back stock-risers.