Young Running Backs Impress in Athletic Testing

During the Prep Redzone Tennessee Winter Showcase, every prospect in attendance was able to go through athletic testing and get official testing times that can be attached to their profile as a prospect.   Several underclass running back recruits impressed with their explosive ability even before branching out into positional workouts and one-on-one competitions.   With the 40-yard dash time being recorded by a laser and not having access to either video nor the 10-yard split, this article will place the primary focus on the drills designed to display raw explosiveness, suddenness and change of direction ability.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Donelson Christian Academy 2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='2084118' first='Khamani' last='Gardner']</h2>   Broad: 9 ft 3 in Three Cone: 7.09 seconds Shuttle: 4.81 seconds   [player_tooltip player_id='2084118' first='Khamani' last='Gardner'] had a 1,000+ yard rushing season this year at DCA, a program that has long held strong rushing attacks. He also was productive as a pass catcher and that suddenness working as a receiver showed up during some one-on-one reps in the event.   The raw explosiveness was blatantly obvious during the athletic testing period, ranking seventh among all prospects in the broad jump and third in the three cone drill.   He has the ability and production to be counted on to lead the Wildcats in a big way next season.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Riverdale 2028 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1868595' first='Jacob' last='Vaughn']</h2>   Broad: 8 ft 10 in Three Cone: 7.41 seconds Shuttle: 4.30 seconds   [player_tooltip player_id='1868595' first='Jacob' last='Vaughn'] is a dynamic weapon and finally earned the opportunity to display those abilities as a sophomore at Riverdale High School this season as both a rusher and receiver, accounting for over 1,300 yards for the Warriors.   His "worst" athletic test was the three cone, in which he ranked 14th among the event. He ranked first in the shuttle, third in the 40-yard dash (laser) and 12th in the broad jump.   He should take an even bigger step forward next year in his second season starting at the high school level and has home-run ability from any location on the gridiron, which was reflected during the Prep Redzone showcase.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Forrest 2028 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1589943' first='Quincy' last='Mitchell']</h2>   Broad: 9 ft 4 in Three Cone: 7.56 seconds Shuttle: 4.53 seconds   As a smaller running back prospect, it was essential for [player_tooltip player_id='1589943' first='Quincy' last='Mitchell'] to test out exceptionally well, and he did just that during the showcase, ranking fourth in the broad jump, seventh in the shuttle, 12th in the 40-yard dash and 22nd in the three-cone.   He was one of the most productive running backs in the entire state regardless of level this past season and the raw explosiveness scores from the showcase suggests there is even more in the tank for the rising junior.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Knoxville Catholic 2029 RB Kruise Buntyn Jr</h2>   Broad: 7 ft 11 in Three Cone: 7.00 seconds Shuttle: 4.85 seconds   Kruise Buntyn Jr is a strong, sturdy young tailback prospect that thrives between the tackles and with his natural one-cut ability, so he was a young prospect that the explosive numbers would have been very interesting to see either way.   Fortunately, he showed up and looked explosiveness from the very start until the very end, which should scare opponents in the top level of competition inside the private school classification after one of the most productive freshman seasons in the state of Tennessee.   His three-cone time was the best in the entire event regardless of the position for the prospect, helping show why his natural cutting ability has already proven to be very effective.

During the Prep Redzone Tennessee Winter Showcase, every prospect in attendance was able to go through athletic testing and get official testing times that can be attached to their profile as a prospect.