Scouting The Top Running Backs in Division II-AAA

A lot of prospects across Tennessee have emerged and etched their names as stars in their respective classifications. With the transfer portal calmed down, for now, I'm scouting the top players at each position in each class.   Next in this series, I'll discuss Division II-AAA running backs. Here's a scouting report of my top rushers in DII-AAA.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/Photo-Apr-03-2026-6-14-58-PM-crop-800x526-1775258213.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2165024" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Baylor RB David Gabriel Georges in the state championship. Taken by Chattanooga Times Free Press.</figcaption></figure>   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1210671' first='David' last='Gabriel-Georges'] – Baylor School   David Gabriel Georges is the clear-cut top running back in Tennessee. In 2025, the five-star won MaxPreps National Player of the Year after rushing for 1,756 yards and 27 touchdowns, while guiding his team to a state championship.   He's a special player, with elite traits across the board and some of the best skills you'll find in a high school player. The 2027 prospect stands 6-foot and weighs 205 pounds, but the Canadian-born tailback is well-built and possesses incredible physical tools.   Gabriel Georges is highly elusive and quick, but is also a bruiser who can run through anybody. The rising senior is a top-tier competitor who plays with an extremely high motor and is the complete package. He's arguably the No. 1 running back in America, and for good reason.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Photo-Oct-07-2025-4-03-25-PM-crop-1079x709-1759871911.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1939293" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Ensworth RB EJ Gibson. Taken by Wittmer Jones, sh0tbywitt.</figcaption></figure>   2027 EJ Gibson – Ensworth School   Ensworth's EJ Gibson is coming off a tremendous 2025 season in which he rushed for 1,614 yards and 20 touchdowns, earning All-Midstate honors and being a Mr. Football candidate. He's an impressive player who possesses all the physical tools and polished skills to be a good player at the next level, but still has another year of high school ball.   He has solid size for the position, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 200 pounds in a lean but thick frame. Gibson is built like a bowling ball and runs like one, too. He's physical between and outside of the tackles, but don't sleep on his speed. The rising senior is quick and agile, allowing him to be that complete player who can be used on every down.   There are a lot of quality tailbacks in Tennessee, but the 2027 prospect is one of the best that you will find. Gibson will be their top offensive player again next season, where he has a chance to capture the Division II-AAA Mr. Football award.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/2-Larry-Sanders-II-rotated-e1736534050602-crop-1724x1132-1768686806.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2107764" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Brentwood Academy RB [player_tooltip player_id='723428' first='Larry' last='Sanders II'] at a Prep Redzone camp.</figcaption></figure>   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='723428' first='Larry' last='Sanders II'] – Brentwood Academy   Brentwood Academy's [player_tooltip player_id='723428' first='Larry' last='Sanders II'] is a player who doesn't get talked about nearly enough. As a junior, he ran 238 times for 1,833 yards and 31 touchdowns, including a 215-yard performance in the state championship game.   He's undersized as a 5-foot-8, 180-pound running back. However, he's proven to be one of the most productive players in Tennessee, despite his lack of size. Sanders has great athleticism, impressive toughness as a runner, good speed and the power to run through people.   There aren't many players like the rising senior, as he offers everything that you want in a back. He has the speed to outrun defenders, the size to hold up over a long season, the physicality to dominate opposing teams and the motor/toughness to gain extra yardage.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/61-Kruise-Buntyn-Jr-crop-584x384-1775259822.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2165034" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Knox Catholic RB Kruise Buntyn Jr at a Prep Redzone camp.</figcaption></figure>   2029 [player_tooltip player_id='1305180' first='Kruise' last='Buntyn Jr.'] – Knoxville Catholic   [player_tooltip player_id='1305180' first='Kruise' last='Buntyn Jr.'] had an impressive freshman season, especially at the start, when he had the running back room to himself due to an injury to the starter. In total, he accounted for over 600 all-purpose yards and five scores while being efficient. With [player_tooltip player_id='1084814' first='Matthew' last='Rogers'] transferring out, Buntyn Jr. has the backfield to himself as RB1.   He's a compact player, standing 5-foot-6 and weighing 177 pounds in a thick, athletic frame that allows him to do it all. The rising sophomore is quick and has nice burst that helps him hit the hole with authority, but also possesses the physicality to run through defenders.   The tailback was already an agile player, but has improved on that this offseason, which will take his game to the next level.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/Photo-Apr-03-2026-6-52-04-PM-crop-1320x867-1775260495.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2165039" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: McCallie RB [player_tooltip player_id='2112022' first='Xavier' last='Fillion'] during a game. Photo from his Instagram.</figcaption></figure>   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2112022' first='Xavier' last='Fillion'] – McCallie School   McCallie's [player_tooltip player_id='2112022' first='Xavier' last='Fillion'] is one of the underrated running tailbacks in Tennessee. The rising senior was productive in his first season with the Blue Tornado, rushing for 799 yards (6.6 YPC) and eight touchdowns in 11 games. He also offers receiving ability out of the backfield, totaling 220 yards through the air this past season.   Fillion is a compact tailback, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 197 pounds, but has a well-built frame with plenty of athleticism. There are several qualities to like about the rising senior, but my favorite is his toughness. He's relentless, constantly fighting for extra yardage and possessing the ability to make something out of nothing.   While he has those traits, Fillion is a rather quick back with the burst to hit the hole and outrun defenders. Now, he doesn't have track speed, but the 2027 prospect has enough of it to be useful in a multitude of ways.   In a way, he reminds me of former Michigan Wolverines standout Blake Corum, with his compact build, high motor and ability to do it all for his team.

A lot of prospects across Tennessee have emerged and etched their names as stars in their respective classifications. With the transfer portal calmed down, for now, I'm scouting the top players at each position in each class.