3A Ground Game: Top Returning Rushers to Know

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Deep dive into the 3A ground game and several proven playmakers that are back to the lead the way. With strong production already on film, these returning rushers bring experience, consistency, and big-play ability into the upcoming season. Here's a look at the top 3A ball carriers to know.</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1603444"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c2555b7910e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Montgomery is the 3A division top returning rusher after taking 156 carries for 1,322 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior. 5'9” 150 lbs. he's a shifty ball carrier that is creative and elusive in both tight spaces and the open field. Quick off the snap, he presses the LOS to apply pressure to the defense early in the play. Flashes loose hips and good vision making him difficult to square up and tackle cleanly. Consistent speed through all levels forces defenders into bad angles allowing him to extend gains.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23312425/69445c18fc69977e73a1f48d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c2555b792f6"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Shawn Hinchcliff","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"200","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"ALA-Ironwood","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c2555b793c0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Well-rounded skillset that blends both his speed and strength to be an explosive ball carrier for ALA-Ironwood. Possesses a well-built compact frame at 5'8” 200 lbs. with a strong lower half. Tough to tackle, he's got a low center of gravity and good balance to break contact at all three levels. Quick to get square, he'll plant his foot in the ground and work downhill with speed. Deceptive lateral agility and short area quickness to make explosive cuts and be elusive in space. Finished the 2025 season with 1,227 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 170 carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26504809/696936b90825341c8d63aa39' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c2555b793e9"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1603449"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c2555b79431"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Crick is coming off an outstanding junior year totaling 1,606 scrimmage yards and 26 touchdowns while being named 3A Conference Player of the Year and winning a state title. Used his all around skillset and playmaking ability to be the driving force in the Round Valley offense throughout the season. Shows he can do it all by picking up tough yards between the tackles, use his speed to turn the corner on the perimeter, or catch the ball out of the backfield to be a constant homerun threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1614654"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c2555b79478"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Curley has been a top two-way playmaker in the 3A division since his freshman year. He's a pure football player that shows good ball carrier instincts and vision. Flashes the patience to allow the play and blocks to develop before attacking a running lane speed and power. Hard-nosed, he's a tough runner that can absorb contact while maintaining forward momentum or lower the shoulder to initiate contact and drive through defenders. Like his ability to navigate traffic and avoid tacklers to extend gains. Excellent ball security at the contact point. Finished the 2025 season with 1,145 yards and 7 touchdowns on 182 carries while adding 68 tackles on defense. Expect even bigger production as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/C_curley6/status/1986229228598403496","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/C_curley6/status/1986229228598403496 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1970778"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c2555b794c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Higbee was a work for Crismon as a sophomore taking 196 carries for 1,129 yards and 20 touchdowns. 5'11” 165 lbs. he's got room to add mass to his frame without sacrificing his athleticism or speed. Runs hard downhill with good feel and spatial awareness to read defensive flow. Shows he can hit the cutback lane or accelerate past defenders at the second level. Good leg drive and physical toughness to fight through contact, especially in one on one situations. Skillset could see him transition well to multiple positions as he develops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Coree Edwards","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"192","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Seton Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c2555b79553"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Good looking RB for a sophomore at 5'8” 192 lbs. He's got a solid build and a complete skillset to be a difference maker as a ball carrier, receiver, or returner. Natural and instinctive with the ball in his hands, he's able to weave through the defense using high level vision and anticipation for how blocks will develop. Runs with a natural feel for spacing understanding when to press the line, bounce outside, or cut back. Reacts quickly to defender's movement making decisive adjustments without slowing down. Limits wasted motion showing efficient footwork and the ability to get north-south at the right moment. Racked up 1,374 all purpose yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore and is one to watch going forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CoreeEdwards12/status/1997016806423224718","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CoreeEdwards12/status/1997016806423224718 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->