North Coast Section Ground Game: Leading Rushers Returning

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Deep dive into the returning rushers that led the North Coast Section in 2025.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1202164"],"_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-69c5f609149bc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ellis leads the pack of returning NCS rushers after racking up 1,495 yards and 25 touchdowns on 176 carries as a junior despite missing 6 games. 5'10” 200 lbs. he's got powerful frame with a strong lower half. Low center of gravity gives him great balance and ability to absorb contact while maintaining leg drive. He shows natural ball carrier instincts and field vision to quickly identify lanes and anticipate how blocks will develop. Runs with patience and temp to allow creases to open before making decisive cuts. Difficult to wrap up in one on one situations, he's a physical runner that can break tackles and pick up yards after contact. Currently holds three D1 offers from Grambling State, Sac State, and Northern Arizona.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Lamar_Ellis1/status/2000275700646081014","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/Lamar_Ellis1/status/2000275700646081014 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1622136"],"_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-69c5f60914a50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Good mix of speed and power for the 5'9” 200 lb. RB out of Middletown. He presses the LOS early in the play to work downhill with speed and attacks lanes with good short area acceleration. Shows he can maneuver through tight spaces and navigate traffic to find space. Tough to square up, he can run through arm tackles and flashes well-timed moves/stiff arms to break free. Sets up his cuts well and has good lateral agility to avoid tacklers both at the first level and in space. Displays good and consistent ball security through contact. Operates in run first offense but has shown good ability as a route runner and receiver at camps. Took 122 carries for 1,351 yards and 17 touchdowns while averaging 11.1 yards per touch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/T_Gal8/status/2026005594822602984","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/T_Gal8/status/2026005594822602984 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /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":"Christopher Thompson","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"175","_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":"Ukiah","_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-69c5f60914b25"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson has put together back to back productive seasons. As a junior, he took 164 carries for 1,138 yards and 22 touchdowns. 5'9” 175 lbs. he's a solid zone scheme ball carrier with good patience, vision, and decisiveness. Show good feel identifying lanes and is quick to plant and get square up the field. Not a big back but is tough and can slip tacklers. Expect similar production from him as a senior.</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":"Tyler Sadler","_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":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"185","_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":"Salesian","_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-69c5f60914bd6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Strong and powerful ball carrier that took 128 carries for 924 yards and 7 touchdowns as a junior. 5'11” 185 lbs. he carries the ball with good pad level and forward lean to finish through contact and always fall forward. Delivers contact instead of absorbing it, he's able to lower his shoulder to push piles and run through tacklers. Shows good hands as a receiver working out of the backfield in the short/intermediate levels. Possesses a wide skillset that could transition well to multiple other positions as he develops and progresses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Tylersadler05/status/1989151155549798815","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/Tylersadler05/status/1989151155549798815 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1197275"],"_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-69c5f60914c29"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McDonald is a gifted athlete with a dynamic skillset to be an impact player in all three phases at multiple positions. Demonstrates great all around game speed. He's quick in the short area, flashes a hard burst, and has the long speed to break away once in space. Flashes good natural instincts with the ball in his hands with the spatial awareness and elusiveness to avoid tacklers using sudden cuts and explosive acceleration. Started the 2025 season as a WR but came on strong late as an RB finishing with 914 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 57 carries to average 16 yards per touch. Holds 4 D1 offers to date and his positional flexibility and athleticism could see him play a variety of positions at that level including RB, WR, and DB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/LamontMcDonald0/status/1996622503389856178","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/LamontMcDonald0/status/1996622503389856178 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->