Virginia 2027 Top 100 Breakdown: Running Backs – Pt. 1

Ed OBrien January 12, 2026 @ 06:46 PM

The Class of 2027 prospect rankings in Virginia were updated late last month. In my next two articles, I will look at the top 10 running backs that earned their way into the Top 100.   This is Part 1.   No. 27 [player_tooltip player_id='1669686' first='Armand' last='Stevens'] | [player_tooltip player_id='2067811' first='St.' last='John Paul the Great Catholic'] | 5-11 | 195 During the 2025 season, Stevens carried the football 165 times for 1,307 yards and 19 total touchdowns. All of that, while lining up at the quarterback position, where he threw for 501 yards. It's quite clear that he's a running back who is lined up at quarterback. It's also clear that he's the top offensive weapon on his team. Despite not lining up from a traditional running back position, he showcases a lot of traits that confirm his P4-level talent. I'm impressed with his acceleration speed once he commits. He's got some wiggle to his game and can make people miss in space. Being as though he's lined up at quarterback, he does a great job of identifying running lanes in a hurry. He's a tough runner who can beat you inside or outside. I expect to see him showcasing his receiving skills during the offseason.   No. 31 [player_tooltip player_id='447440' first='Ty'jae' last='Curtis'] | Oscar Smith | 5-8 | 180 Curtis is a north-south runner who explodes through the hole. He makes decisive cuts and doesn't do any dancing at the line of scrimmage. For his size, he runs with solid power and can break tackles. I do think he can work on getting his pads a little lower; sometimes, he runs a little too upright. However, he maintains forward momentum and finishes through contact. I'd like to see him continue to work on his long speed. Curtis is more than   No. 32 [player_tooltip player_id='1683727' first='Aveon' last='Cobb'] | St. James Academy | 5-8 | 165 Cobb accounted for over 1,000 yards of total offense and 13 total touchdowns last season. The first few plays in his highlights show his ability to be patient, identify the cutback lane, explode through the hole, avoid tacklers at the second and third levels, and run for 50-plus yards. You have to try to contain him before he gets past the line of scrimmage. He's explosive, has that second gear, and can easily make people miss in space. Cobb can force linebackers to commit before cutting. He is on the smaller side but is a natural at running the football. Cobb transitions north-south and east-west with no hesitation and no loss of speed. Definitely one of the most explosive players in the state.   No. 61 [player_tooltip player_id='402761' first='Darren' last='Williams'] | St. James Academy | 5-7 | 200 I'll preface this with the fact that there was only a three-game highlight available for Williams, and it's back from mid-September of last year. He's a runner who allows blocks to fully develop before committing. North-South best describes his running style. He stays balanced through traffic and runs through arm tackles consistently. Williams does run behind his pads at the point of contact. Would like to see him work on his acceleration. You do get a small glimpse of his ability to catch passes out of the backfield in his highlights.   No. 63 [player_tooltip player_id='1312193' first='Fred' last='Dolan'] | Benedictine | 5-11| 180 Dolan accounted for 1,051 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns last season. There's a lot to like about Dolan, especially his speed. His game speed translates on film. I'm impressed with how he pulls away once space is created. Once he turns the corner, unless you have a great angle, you're not catching him. Dolan also gets it done in between the tackles as well, consistently exploding through any open gaps in the line. I also like the way he changes up tempo to set up blocks. There are a few plays that show him demonstrating patience and bursts within the same run. It's clear to see why he averaged over 10 yards per touch when running the football.

The Class of 2027 prospect rankings in Virginia were updated late last month. In my next two articles, I will look at the top 10 running backs that earned their way into the Top 100.