2029 Watchlist Breakdown: RB’s to Know

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">It's never too early to start tracking the next wave of talent, and the 2029 class is already showing promising flashes in the backfield. This group of young running backs brings a mix of speed, physicality, and natural feel as they begin to make their mark and emerge as names to know moving forward.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2069988"],"_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-69e6ea4c943a7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Oliver played both sides of the ball for Verrado's freshmen team at RB and DB. At RB, he's a patient runner that has a good mix of elusiveness and power. Shows he can weave through traffic at the first and second level making decisive cuts while using blockers to his advantage. Does a good job lowering his shoulder to initiate contact and fall forward. On defense, he's aggressive and showed good tackling ability in run support and after the catch. In coverage, he tracks the ball smoothly and can disrupt receivers at the catch point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1586673"],"_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-69e6ea4c94417"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pereda flashed throughout the 2025 season racking up 1,270 scrimmage yards for the freshmen team. He's a quick/sudden ball carrier with good short area burst and lateral agility. Presses the LOS early and has a good mix of both speed and power to be effective taking both inside and perimeter carries. Runs hard with good pad level and contact balance to break tackles. Like his footwork and creativity to extend gains and make defenders miss in tight spaces and the open field. Complete skillset with his ability to block and catch the ball out of the backfield or in the slot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/eduardo_pereda_/status/1985053600507380140","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/eduardo_pereda_/status/1985053600507380140 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1941396"],"_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-69e6ea4c94467"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Olivera is a speedy back that is tough to contain and forces defenses to be gap sound early in the play. Demonstrates good acceleration through the hole and the vision to identify lanes making fluid lateral cuts while maintaining speed. Once in space, his breakaway speed stands out. He's able to outrun pursuit angles and separate from defenders with a sustained second gear. Big play threat that can flip field position in a hurry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2067445"],"_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-69e6ea4c944ac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mallory is one to watch entering his sophomore season. He's got a strong frame at 5'10” 195 lbs. and uses it to his advantage to slip tacklers and run through contact. Good all around game speed, he's able to mix up tempo to get defenders off balance and burst out of his cuts. Tough to bring down, he runs with a strong center of gravity and good body control to absorb contact while maintaining leg drive to break free when you think he's wrapped up. Like his natural ball carrier instincts and ability to create lanes reading defensive flow. Can consistently move the chains and keep the offense on schedule handling a large workload. Will be an impact player at the varsity level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26584969/6998ead3e4264f25f6985d0a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e6ea4c94635"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1908775"],"_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-69e6ea4c94688"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tarkington is a hard downhill run with a physical, north/south style. Good frame to bring natural power to the POA and finish through contact. Builds momentum as he works up the field and opens up his stride in space to demonstrate his speed. Good timing and execution of moves, cuts, and stiff arms allow him to avoid tacklers at all three levels. Would like to see him improve on pad level, tends to get a bit too upright at times but has a lot of raw potential and a strong foundational skillset to build on as he develops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2173915"],"_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-69e6ea4c946e9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A lot to like about McBurney's early potential. He's a dangerous ball carrier built around his game speed showing great quick twitch ability and short area explosiveness. Flashes excellent lateral agility and change of direction, allowing him to make sharp cuts around defenders without gearing down. Like his start/stop speed and sudden footwork to force defenders off balance and be elusive in tight spaces. Great spatial awareness and instinctual with his movement, he's able to read defensive flow and make quick adjustments on the fly to avoid tacklers and locate cut back lanes. Plays fast and shows a sustained second gear to outrun defenders and cap off long runs in the endzone. A natural playmaker that will be a name to know as he progresses through his career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Jmcburney10/status/1987188792261013841","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/Jmcburney10/status/1987188792261013841 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->