On the Cusp: 2027 11–15 RB Prospects Battling for the Top 10

<p></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Lucca Smit is a decisive, north–south running back whose game is built on vision, efficiency, and burst. He runs with a purpose, consistently identifying lanes and getting downhill quickly, which allows him to maximize yardage between the tackles. In the open field, Smit's ball-carrying instincts stand out, as he sets up defenders and takes advantage of space to turn routine carries into chunk plays.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">What elevates his profile is his short-area explosiveness. Smit hits the hole with urgency, shows the ability to make a single cut and accelerate through traffic. His junior campaign reflected that effectiveness, as he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. With his combination of vision, burst, and downhill mentality, Smit has established himself as a reliable and productive back with upside as he continues to develop.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Lucca_Smit/status/1990557387573305852 </div></figure>   <p></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">What immediately stands out about [player_tooltip player_id='1165855' first='Anthony' last='Frank'] is his vision and ability to change direction on the fly. He decisively planting his foot and exploding in any direction. That combination of tempo and decisiveness makes him especially effective on zone concepts, where he consistently finds creases that aren't initially obvious.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Frank's lateral agility and balance make him difficult to square up in the open field, as defenders often find themselves grasping at air once he commits to a cut. His natural feel for reading leverage and reacting in real time gives him the tools to be a consistent chain-mover and a tough assignment for defenses tasked with rallying to the football.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/AnthonyFrank44/status/1857082103273320768 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1630716' first='Darius' last='Knight'] is a compact, powerful running back prospect at 5'9 who consistently runs bigger than his frame. His explosiveness on contact stands out, as he delivers the blow at the point of attack and finishes runs with physicality. Knight's low center of gravity and balance allow him to bounce off defenders and keep his legs churning through traffic.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">At Dunbar, Knight has already been trusted in the wildcat package, highlighting the coaching staff's desire to get the ball in his hands in space and let his toughness take over. As his role continues to expand, expect Knight to see an increased workload and make his presence felt in the 2026 season as a runner who wears down defenses and punishes tacklers.</p>    <p><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/23978463/Darius-Knight/about">[player_tooltip player_id='1630716' first='Darius' last='Knight'] - Hudl</a></p>   <p></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Tank Rivers is a well-rounded running back whose skill set flashes on film. He has the speed to separate from defenders and create long runs, turning small creases into explosive plays. In the passing game, Rivers adds another layer of value, showing natural hands out of the backfield and the versatility to line up in the slot and create mismatches against linebackers.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Rivers also finishes runs through arm tackles and forces multiple defenders to rally to bring him down. The combination of speed, receiving ability, and physicality makes him a true all-purpose back who can impact the game in a variety of ways and stay on the field in any situation.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/aarontankrivers/status/1985047562785612038 </div></figure>   <p></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">James is an elusive running back whose footwork immediately jumps off the film. He shows creativity with the ball in his hands, highlighted by the ability to chain moves together, most notably flashing a spin move multiple times on a single run to keep defenders off balance. </p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Beyond the flash, James pairs that elusiveness with impressive burst. He gets downhill quickly, identifies running lanes with confidence, and explodes through the second level to generate chunk plays. Even in a shortened season limited to just three games due to injury, James made a strong impact, eclipsing 300 rushing yards and accounting for three total touchdowns. The production in limited action underscores his efficiency and big-play potential when healthy.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/dylanCJames_/status/1998815041034781135 </div></figure>