The Film Room: TN2027 Running Backs (Part II)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">As we continue to break down running backs from our rising senior class, here we go in-depth with more ball carriers that show abilities destined for the college game. The film room always shows who you are and we think these five ball carriers have the chops to become a PRZTN ranked player and future college performers. </h2>     ‘27 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='723428' first='Larry' last='Sanders II'] - Brentwood Academy    Strengths: Low to the ground with a powerful lower base and a nose for finding open lanes, Sanders heads into the off-season as one of the more underrated running back prospects from our rising senior class that I think can become an impactful player on the next level. The Eagles ball carrier is coming off a breakout junior campaign that saw him run around and through defenders, displaying some of the best vision from his running back position. Finding open space and running lanes is something this Mid-Tennessee product does very well. Sanders isn't the tallest back but he runs fearlessly along with grit and a physicality that allows him to bounce off tacklers and keep moving down field. He sports a powerful lower base with quick feet that gives opposing defenses fits. Tacklers have a tough time grasping onto this guy and if they do, he will look to run through them. Sanders also shows separating speed once he breaks loose. The Eagles running back doesn't just tote the rock well but he can catch it out of the backfield as well while showing flashes of upside with his pass protection.    Needed Development: To be quite honest here, I don't think Sanders needs a whole lot of overall development. It's more so about continuing to improve his craft in every facet. The biggest thing that might hold college staffs back from offering is his overall size. Sanders can't change his height but he can develop his skill set much further and make himself more appealing. Possibly working on his pass protection could be an area where Sanders gets better and turns into a more well rounded back that can sustain on the next level.    College Potential: Judging off his recent offer from Miami Ohio, Sanders is a bonafide D1 guy that I believe can reach Power Four status before his recruiting process is over. He is a well balanced runner with speed and open field elusive movements along with the power to work through would-be tacklers that should be quite appealing to collegiate coaches. There are a lot of traits in place for the Eagles ball carrier to excel on the college stage and do so within a Power Four backfield.    - - - - -    ‘27 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1370886' first='Jaibriel' last='Bowers'] - Bartlett   Strengths: The first thing you notice and like about this Memphis area running back is his overall size. Bowers is a big dude (6'1 200 lbs) that carries his size and weight well as he runs with purpose and good open field speed. The Panthers ball carrier shows an extra gear once he gets going and when he does, Bowers is tough to bring down. Looking over his junior film, you like what you see from a physical stand point, meaning Bowers sports the overall look, a powerful base and strong upper body that helps him break through tackles while sporting a nice stiff arm. His combination of power and speed allows him to become a problem for opposing defenders. Due to his power and size, the Panthers running back can develop into an excellent red zone threat that has a nose for the end zone. I also see upside with this guy as a pass catcher from the backfield as well as someone that could develop nicely with his pass protection, due to his athleticism and physical size. There is a lot of upside with Bowers that has yet to be tapped into, so his best football days could be ahead of him.    Needed Development: While this Memphis area running back has a lot to like about him, Bowers still needs further development in multiple areas. Sometimes, the Panthers back can run a little high, so gaining better agility and balance would help a ton. Bowers can also increase his overall explosion and speed as well. He does run well but another gear may be needed. Crafting his footwork I believe would help his cause too. Becoming more shifty would allow him to miss tacklers and find the open space more often. Developing the overall athletic skill set is where I think Bowers can take his game to new levels.    College Potential: I see potential here for Bowers to make his way into the D1, possibly Power Four level one day. A lot will depend on how he develops himself over these off-season months. The college size is already in place as are several athletic skills but to reach the big stage, Bowers must push himself and take his game to new heights. I am also curious to see how coaches view him. Some might like Bowers as a linebacker but for me, I feel his game is best suited running the ball on offense. I do see Bowers as a Top 100 in-state guy but he could boost his stock higher with an outstanding off-season.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/02/jbowers.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2119281" style="width:277px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    ‘27 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1590259' first='Jamari' last='Goines'] - Knox. West   Strengths: Going into the off-season months, Goines sits under the radar but has the athletic upside and talent to raise his stock and get onto the recruiting radar. His junior film shows an athletic runner with a great initial burst and outstanding speed into the open field. The speed Goines brings to the field is something that plays well on the college stage. This dude can run while showing explosive game play and the ability to hit the home run. Besides his straight line speed, the Rebels ball carrier is shifty in small spaces, which makes him hard to deal with in open space. Defenders have a hard time dealing with Goines due to his lower half agility and quickness. The Rebels rising senior is also a patient runner that allows his blocks to set up then darts in the open field. Besides his ability to run the ball, I see upside in the passing game with Goines. He shows the ability to catch out of the backfield or potentially line up in the slot if needed. His natural athletic abilities could allow Goines to become an all-around offensive weapon on the next level.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/08/jgoines2.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1787687" style="width:253px;height:auto" /></figure>   Needed Development: All the athletic skills are in place but Goines must get bigger and fill out his frame further to make a bigger impact within the college game. Going against the kind of size he will see on the next level, Goines must add more power and weight to his body to withstand the physicality. I actually like the patient running from the Rebels back but getting through the line quicker and into open space would make him more dangerous. Learning how to pass protect as well would boost his stock further while also enhancing his pass catching.    College Potential: The talent coming out of Goines speaks towards the possibility of reaching the D1 level one day but I think his journey will start with an FCS or D2 program. Now that can certainly change over the next several months with further development and added weight. Goines is a natural athlete that brings big play abilities to the playing field and I think his skill set would work well inside an RPO style offense. He is coming off an injury that cut short his junior film but if Goines comes back healthy this Spring and pushes his game to new levels, finding a spot on the FCS, even maybe the D1 playing stage if possible.    - - - - -    ‘27 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1567089' first='Jamarcus' last='Brown'] - Rockvale   Strengths: Compact and strong with a powerful lower base and broad shoulders, Brown is built like a college back with enough speed to become a problem out of the backfield. Transferring this off-season to Rockvale, Brown is looking to build upon a solid junior year that showed his upside for the next level and potential to become a productive back in college. His build and power are the first things you recognize about Brown. If tacklers try to bring him by his upper body, Brown breaks through and continues pushing down field. The Rockets running back shows a nice initial burst and deceptive speed that can be improved upon. Brown displays nice vision. He finds the hole and doesn't hesitate. You also see nice footwork with Brown on film. He has some shiftyness about him that helps when continuing his running path and breaking away from defenders. Brown may also be one of the better pass catching backs coming out of the TN2026 class. He sports strong hands and understands his route concepts coming out of the backfield. I see pass protecting upside with Brown as well.    Needed Development: While the physical tools are in place, Brown must develop his skill set much further to build out a career on the college stage. While the Rockets back has the size wanted, he tends to go down easily, which speaks towards him gaining more balance and power in his lower base. Brown can also work on his speed and overall explosion. Increasing his explosive game play would make him more appealing to collegiate coaches.    College Potential: Brown is a guy that I see long term potential with, especially if he continues to develop in the right ways. If you had to ask me right now where his college journey would begin, I would say the D2/NAIA level but if Brown can increase his athleticism and speed while continuing to work on his lower half, reaching the FCS playing stage is possible. This Mid-Tennessee product is coming off a season ending injury as well, so bouncing back from that and showing off his skill set this off-season will be critical towards gaining college interest.    - - - - -    ‘27 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1668505' first='Vince' last='Bryant'] - Grundy Co.    Strengths: If this Mid-Tennessee prospect played at a bigger high school program, Bryant would be a much more known name. The Yellow Jackets rising senior is an athletic runner that displays excellent burst and speed along with the ability to break away from his defender. Bryant doesn't hesitate to hit the hole when the ball is in his hands and once he breaks into the open field, his speed kicks up and separates from defenders. His outstanding  initial burst and vision helps his cause when getting into open space. This guy isn't just a good athlete but he is well balanced with deceptive strength. Bryant is an explosive ball carrier that runs hard and doesn't shy away from contact. His balance, speed and strength allows him to bounce off would-be tacklers and continue churning down field. He also sports quick, shifty feet and the ability to get in and out his cuts well while eluding the defense. While his Grundy Co. team doesn't throw the ball too much, I see upside with Bryant in the passing game.    Needed Development: The biggest thing for Bryant to work on this off-season is to get in front of important people that will help get him to the college level. The competition Grundy Co. faces doesn't help his cause, so Bryant working alongside other top level talent and in front of the right people, will help his path towards college ball. He does need to continue working in the weight room to get bigger and stronger and fill out his frame further. While Bryant is fast and runs well, increasing his agility and speed further would help coaches look at him harder and boost his overall game.    College Potential: As I scout through the rising senior in-state running backs, Bryant is standing out as an under the radar talent that could work his way into an FCS prospect. I can honestly see some D1 traits within Bryant but he may have to take the long path towards getting there. The Yellow Jackets running back has an excellent combination of athletic movements, speed and deceptive strength that speaks towards him becoming a highly productive back on the collegiate gridiron. His work this off-season and into college camps this summer will go a long way in his recruitment and where he might be headed after his senior year.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/vbryant.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1698752" style="width:257px;height:auto" /></figure>