Underrated Upperclassmen Running Backs to Know for 2026

With the new year beginning, I'll be starting a new series surrounding underrated upperclassmen at every position. The 2027 class is loaded, which means some kids will go under the radar, and I'm here to make sure they get the recognition they deserve.   Kicking off this new series, I'll dive in and discuss five underrated running backs who need some respect. All of the ones I've selected are talented players who have earned starting jobs at their respective schools.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/08/jambrown2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1855124" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Rockvale RB [player_tooltip player_id='1567089' first='Jamarcus' last='Brown'].</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1567089' first='Jamarcus' last='Brown'] – Rockvale High School   [player_tooltip player_id='1567089' first='Jamarcus' last='Brown'] played in just four games last season, but he produced at an elite level. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound tailback ran for 581 yards on 6.5 yards per carry with nine touchdowns.   He has that rare blend of speed, athleticism and power that makes him a dangerous player. Brown can outrun defenders, make them look silly with his footwork or straight-up run through somebody's face.   Brown announced earlier this offseason that he would be transferring to Rockvale, which is a good fit for him. The 2027 prospect will have the backfield to himself in a solid system that will allow him to showcase his abilities.   He's going under the radar, but don't say I didn't tell you about him when he goes off in 2026.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/Photo-Nov-28-2025-11-21-48-PM-crop-974x640-1764395548.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2069425" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Oakland RB Kamani Bass. Taken by Austyn Day, Allday Media.</figcaption></figure>   Kamani Bass – Oakland High School   2027 running back Kamani Bass was one of the underrated stars in Tennessee high school football this past season. Oakland's superstars overshadowed him, but the 5-foot-9 tailback totaled 845 all-purpose yards (third on the team) and three total touchdowns.   Bass is a compact player but has excellent tools, including impressive vision, crisp footwork and blazing speed. He's a very good pure running back, but is also a weapon out of the backfield.   He's overlooked because of his size, but this young man can flat-out play football. Don't let his lack of size fool you, Bass will be one of the most productive players in Tennessee this season.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/cpace.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1671605" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Ravenwood RB [player_tooltip player_id='1103577' first='Caden' last='Pace'] against Blackman.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1103577' first='Caden' last='Pace'] – Ravenwood High School   Ravenwood's [player_tooltip player_id='1103577' first='Caden' last='Pace'] is a player who has been on my radar for three years, as he's produced at the 6A level since he was a freshman. The rising senior had another good season in 2025, totaling 888 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns.   He stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 185 pounds, with excellent speed that topped out at 22.6 mph earlier this year. Pace is well-built and has the power to churn out extra yardage or just run through someone.   The 2027 prospect is a patient runner with good burst, a high motor, excellent vision and a sneaky-good receiving ability.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/2-Larry-Sanders-II-rotated-e1736534050602-crop-1724x1132-1768686806.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2107764" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Brentwood Academy RB [player_tooltip player_id='723428' first='Larry' last='Sanders II'] at a Prep Redzone camp.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='723428' first='Larry' last='Sanders II'] – Brentwood Academy   The Brentwood Academy star running back is another player who doesn't get talked about nearly enough as one of the top players in Tennessee.   As a junior, he ran 238 times for 1,833 yards and 31 touchdowns, including a 215-yard performance in the state championship game.   As a 5-foot-8, 180-pound tailback, he's undersized. However, he's proven that it doesn't affect him, and he can still produce at an elite level against the top competition. Despite his lack of size, Sanders has excellent vision and an extremely high motor, along with elite athleticism.   He's gotten his fair share of postseason awards from Midstate outlets, but more people across Tennessee need to add him to the conversations of top running backs past Baylor's DGG.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/Photo-Jan-17-2026-3-56-49-PM-crop-1320x867-1768687101.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2107770" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Lausanne Collegiate RB [player_tooltip player_id='506678' first='Keon' last='Cooper']. Photo from his Instagram.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='506678' first='Keon' last='Cooper'] – Lausanne Collegiate School   [player_tooltip player_id='506678' first='Keon' last='Cooper'] had a solid junior season, running for 284 yards on 6.2 YPC and eight scores, despite having to share the backfield with four others. His numbers don't wow you, but he has the tools to break out in 2026 and garner a lot of college interest.   He's an absolute tank of a running back, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 230 pounds, but has the right amount of wiggle and athleticism to force defenses to respect his game.   While he is quick, Cooper is a nightmare to tackle due to his size. He gets downhill quickly, and once that happens, he's nearly impossible to bring down. The 2027 prospect has a very high motor and runs extremely hard.   He won't get talked about much this offseason, but I can see this kid having a big senior season with the backfield to himself, which should help him get noticed by college coaches.

With the new year beginning, I'll be starting a new series surrounding underrated upperclassmen at every position. The 2027 class is loaded, which means some kids will go under the radar, and I'm here to make sure they get the recognition they deserve.