Who's Next Exposure Camp: Scouting The Top Running Backs

Prep Redzone had a Who's Next camp in the Midstate this past weekend, where 100 of the most talented 2030/2031 prospects in the Southeast showcased their abilities. There's plenty of standouts to talk about, but I'll be focusing on the running backs in this article.   After carefully scouting that position group, I've come up with my top rushers from Saturday. All four come from either Tennessee or Kentucky, split two and two. Each one is talented with high upside at 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-11-2026-2-32-42-PM.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2171264" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Lipscomb Academy RB [player_tooltip player_id='1307084' first='Ace' last='Eschenburg'] at a Prep Redzone camp. Taken by Conner Smith.</figcaption></figure>   2030 [player_tooltip player_id='1307084' first='Ace' last='Eschenburg'] – Lipscomb Academy (Tenn.)   [player_tooltip player_id='1307084' first='Ace' last='Eschenburg'] is one of the top 2030 players in Tennessee, with an intriguing, unique skill set that will translate well to Trent Dilfer's system at Lipscomb Academy. He has the impressive blend of power, size, speed and fluidity that makes a tailback dangerous.   The 5-foot-8, 178-pound rusher is built extremely well, with the raw strength to run through defenders and the speed to get the edge and outrun defensive backs. However, my favorite part of Eschenburg's game is his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. Obviously, his job is to tote the rock, but having that skill is a luxury to an offense that throws it frequently.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CSmithMedia/status/2043153161410531364?s=20 </div></figure>   He's just entering high school, but I see this talented young buck making an immediate impact in 2026. Eschenburg has all the tools to contribute early and then become a top player in his class.   <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-13-2026-9-15-29-PM-1-crop-874x574-1776133393.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2171273" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Owensboro RB Gavin Walker at a Prep Redzone camp. Taken by Drew Toennies.</figcaption></figure>   2030 Gavin Walker – Owensboro High School (Ky.)   Gavin Walker was the best tailback at the Who's Next camp, and there was a significant drop-off after him. No disrespect to any of the other players at this position, the group was very good, but the rising freshman at Owensboro High School is just different. As an eighth grader, he ran 141 times for 2,327 yards (16.5 YPC) and 36 touchdowns, while being named an Under Armour All-American.   His name drew buzz heading into Saturday, and he did not disappoint. The 5-foot-9, 182-pound running back was one of the best testers and the top player in individual drills. His performance earned him RB MVP, and he was the clear-cut top dog. Walker possesses great size for his age, impressive athleticism, good footwork, excellent burst and a relentless motor.   He's another guy who will be an immediate player for his school and the top in-state running back in the 2030 class. The rising freshman has to polish up a few things, but he has the potential to be a blue-chip recruit.   <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-11-2026-2-31-46-PM-crop-4570x3001-1776133457.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2171277" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Kirkwood RB [player_tooltip player_id='1589021' first='Kevin' last='Caldwell Jr.'] at a Prep Redzone camp. Taken by Conner Smith.</figcaption></figure>   2030 [player_tooltip player_id='1589021' first='Kevin' last='Caldwell Jr.'] – Kirkwood High School (Tenn.)   [player_tooltip player_id='1589021' first='Kevin' last='Caldwell Jr.'] wasn't on my radar heading into this event, but he quickly impressed everyone. The rising freshman was elite for his age and position for testing, then killed it during individual drills. In a camp littered with several high-value running backs, he was among the best.   He's a compact guy, standing 5-foot-6 and weighing 155 pounds, but is well-built and has great physical tools. The first thing that caught my eye was his 40-yard dash time of 4.77, which was No. 2 among the entire camp.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CSmithMedia/status/2043125335877705731?s=20 </div></figure>   He posted other good numbers before dominating positional drills. Caldwell Jr. showcased his excellent footwork, impressive elusiveness, power as a runner and even some receiving upside out of the backfield.   The 2030 prospect must polish up some things and continue growing to maximize his potential, but this young man has a bright future. Keep an eye on this talented tailback from Kirkwood High School.   <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-13-2026-9-15-29-PM-crop-873x574-1776133592.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2171281" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Montgomery County RB Ty'sean Ray at a Prep Redzone camp. Photo by Drew Toennies.</figcaption></figure>   2030 Ty'sean Ray – Montgomery County High School (Ky.)   Ty'sean Ray is an intriguing young running back with a lot of potential as he moves to high school. He was one of the best players on Saturday, showcasing his unique skill set. The 2030 prospect is well-built, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 187 pounds, with an athletic frame that allows him to move relatively well for his size. Ray has a lot of muscle built into his frame, which he uses well in games.   While he's more of a bruiser, the rising freshman offers good athleticism, speed and elusiveness, making him a complete player. He has a good amount of wiggle, making him a problem between and outside of the tackles. Ray must polish up certain areas and further develop, but he has all of the necessary tools to become an FBS prospect.

Prep Redzone had a Who's Next camp in the Midstate this past weekend, where 100 of the most talented 2030/2031 prospects in the Southeast showcased their abilities. There's plenty of standouts to talk about, but I'll be focusing on the running backs in this article.