2028 Rankings: Running Back Evaluations

The new 2028 rankings are officially released. And with over 100 new players, and multiple players positions changing, and new additions to the top five at each position. In this article, we take a look at every RB Ranked in the 2028 Class, including their grades and evaluations.   Want to stay updated with the latest news and articles from Prep Redzone NY? Follow me on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/PRZcory">PrzCory</a> so you never miss a beat!   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />    Background: Reese is a defending state Champion each of his first two seasons at CBA-Syracuse. The Syracuse area prospect slots in once again as the top RB in the 2028 Class, and holds three college offers at the D1 Level   Measurables: Reese is a smaller prospect, who benefits from a muscular build. He stands at 5'9" 190-Pounds, and displays a solid frame for a RB. He can continue adding weight and height if possible to fill out his frame.    Evaluation: Footwork is what I see the most with Reese. He has fluid hips, and moves extremity well for a RB prospect. He can change his direction like the best prospects. His ability to stay level and charge down hill is impressive and he always takes multiple players to take him down. He can turn the smallest hole into a big gain, and slows the play down behind the line, allowing him to extend plays and create longer runs. His speed at the second level is excellent and he shows good acceleration and reaching the second level typically means a 20+ yard rush for Reese.     Background: Hedges is a prospect who continues to impress on the football field. He was one of the top Backs in the Catholic League in 2025. He is listed as a St. Anthony's transfer ahead of the 2026 season.    Measurables: Hedges has a versatile build for an athlete. He can play on both sides of the ball. DB and RB are his main positions, and standing at 5'9" 185-Pounds, showcases a solid frame for a RB. He can continue adding more weight and height as he continues through High School.    Evaluation: Hedges is the definition of elusiveness. He can shake off any tackle, and avoid all attempts to take him down. He moves downfield well, and attacks the ground on each carry. He has fluid hips which is seen when he avoids tackles. He has ballet type footwork, and can stay balanced and move effortlessly and quickly. He can let plays develop behind the LOS, and finds the hole on every play. Hedges is a can't miss prospect with continued work in each of his traits.     Background: Bordeaux is a name who was elevated from our watch list following a solid season and an impressive winter showcase with Prep Redzone. He has made the move to Erasmus Hall moving forward, and slots in as the third ranked RB in the 2028 Class.   Measurables: Standing at 5'10" 190-Pounds, Bordeaux displays a solid frame for a RB. He is pure muscle, and looks massive on the field. He can look to continue adding good weight moving forward.   Evaluation: Bordeaux, is a strong back who plays with intense physicality. He looks massive for a playmaker, at the RB position, and despite his size, has exceptional speed for a RB. He played limited snaps behind [player_tooltip player_id='425629' first='Xavier' last='Bala']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/xavier-bala/"></a><a></a> last season, but showcase quick footwork, fluid hip and good changes of direction. He can stop on a dime with ease and avoid tackles. His ability to stay upright and level as he moves down hill is impressive. He can improve his vision moving forward, as all his traits, but he is an excellent back who continues to improve.     Background: Cruz Chavez is another Long Island prospect, who hails from Hauppauge High School. He is a versatile back who can play at the DB spot as well, making him a deadly two-way playmaker for the Long Island squad.   Measurables: Cruz Chavez has more of a lengthy build for a RB. Standing at 6'0" 170-Pounds, he showcases a solid frame for the position. He has good height at 6'0", but he needs to add more weight, in order to reach his ideal frame.    Evaluation: Cruz Chavez is a true two way playmaker and has film on both sides of the field. As a RB, he has excellent footwork, and can fly across the field. He has an excellent IQ, and can easily see through an offense. As an RB, he can put his foot down and make sharp cuts with the football. When he reaches the second level, he is gone and that is hard to contain. He needs to keep working on finding holes on the offensive side of the ball. Cruz Chavez is a solid prospect who continues to impress and improve his game.     Background: Pierre is a name who I think can easily finish as a top three back in the state. He moves from Ramapo to Archbishop Stepinac, and will play behind a talented offensive line. He had an exceptional Sophomore year dominating Section 1, and even taking snaps at QB.    Measurables: Pierre has an exceptional build for a RB, and is a massive prospect for an RB. Standing at 5'11" 210-Pounds, he has the perfect frame for a RB prospect. He definitely isn't done growing yet which is extremely scary knowing how massive he can be.    Evaluation: Pierre is an excellent athlete, and he can even play QB. It is not the best position for him, but he does have a cannon of an arm, and can launch the ball when needed. As a runner, he has exceptional footwork, and is a balanced runner who shows fluid hips. He is an elite playmaker who can stop on a dime and cut in and out of gaps across the LOS. He is a strong runner and showcases exceptional speed for a prospect. His vision is impressive for an athlete and he has untapped potential for a RB prospect.     Background: Stevens suits up for Health Sciences Charter in WNY, and slots in as the 6th ranked RB in the new update of the Prep Redzone NY Rankings. He has been a long standing top ten RB in the state.    Measurables: Stevens measures in at 5'9" 170-Pounds, giving him a solid but slim frame for a RB. He is on the smaller and slimmer side and can add more muscle and weight moving forward.    Evaluation: His vision is easily on display at the start of his film, as he instantly finds holes, and makes quick cuts behind the LOS. This can sometimes leave him in tricky position potentially leading to negative yards. He is a balanced runner, who can stop on a dime and move in and out of cuts. I like his ability to work in space, and he attacks the ground with a good burst, which comes to play past the LOS, and solid speed.     Background: While Brooks technically is not in the CHSFL, his St. Francis squad plays for the Catholic League State Championship. Brooks is a talented back who continues to make noise on a stacked Red Raiders squad.    Measurables: Brooks is on the smaller side for a RB, standing at 5'8", however, he showcases good weight for his frame, and is currently a perfect fit for his current frame. As he grows adding the necessary weight will be important.    Evaluation: Brooks is a true downhill runner with the football in his hands. He has good speed, and has excellent vision behind the line of scrimmage. Draw plays he excels at, as the line and play develop, allowing him to take off quickly and reach top speed easily. He is a balanced runner, who attacks the ground on each rep. I want to see him improve his footwork, and strength as a runner moving forward, as they can both help him become an elite back for the Red Raiders.     Background: Rambalski was part of a state championship appearance squad in Tuckahoe last season, and was mainly used as an athlete given his versatility. With Seniors graduating he should be used as the primary ball carrier.    Measurables: Standing at 5'8" 165-Pounds, Rambalski, showcases a solid frame for the RB position. He is on the slimmer side which is why he has been used as a pass catcher, but he should look to add weight as he continues through High School.    Evaluation: Rambalski is a versatile athlete, which allows him to be used in the pass and rush game behind the LOS. He can also be used as a WR, or a slot target on any offense given his current frame, and displays excellent hands, and sharp route running skills. As a ball carrier, he is a quick playmaker, who takes off with the ball being snapped. He has solid vision but should look to improve to see the field better when rushing through gaps on the line. I like his footwork, and he can get going quickly with a good burst, but slow himself down to make cuts across the field. Rambalski is a solid athlete who can really play either position as of today, and can be a Swiss army knife for a team at the next level.     Background: The Sewanhaka prospect is a name that has consistently shown up in the Prep Redzone Ny 2028 rankings. He is a lesser known prospect who should easily receive his flowers.    Measurables: Standing at 5'5", he is very undersized for the RB position, but as a younger prospect has room to grow. His weight at 145-Pounds is solid for his height, but he should look to add more weight as he continues to grow.   Evaluation: James can run. The Sewanhaka prospect can take off in a hurry, and has excellent body control. I like his vision behind the line, which can be improved. He makes excellent jump cuts, and his balance with footwork is impressive. He has a quick burst which allows him to reach his top speed quickly, and letting him reach the second level is a nightmare scenario for any team. He should work on strength and physicality as a ball carrier, which can add an elite level to his game.     Background: Barkley is a newer name to the PRZNY list, and hails from Kellenberg High School on Long Island. The 2028 prospect can play on both sides of the ball, and shows some versatility at the LB position.    Measurables: Barkley has a solid frame for the position standing at 5'11" 185-Pounds. He has good height at 5'11", but falls on the slimmer side. Regardless of position he plays the most he should minimum look to reach the 195-200-Pound mark.    Evaluation: Barkley is a versatile runner, and runs like a toddle avoiding stepping on a toy that will wake the parents up. He has good footwork, and an excellent burst. He is a balanced runner, and shows excellent fluidity in his hips, while making quick changes throughout the run. He isn a strong runner, who always falls forward, and is an elite force following a pull-guard, or tackle. He can work on improving his vision moving forward, but overall he is a solid back who continues to get better with each rep.     Background: Whitney is a Western New York Prospect who has made noise throughout his whole career in High School. As an upcoming Junior, he should be a player to keep an eye on to impress upstate.    Measurables: Whitney has a solid frame, standing at 5'9", and showcasing decent height for a younger prospect. His weight is solid, and he should look to add more weight and muscle as he continues to grow into his frame.    Evaluation: Whitney has exceptional footwork, and I like his vision behind the LOS, which allows him to find gaps across the line. Behind the LOS, he can plant his feet and become a balanced runner, making quick directional changes, and allowing him to get a quick burst of speed at the start of plays.     Background: The Oyster Bay Prospect is another name who has consistently seen himself mentioned in the 2028 rankings. He can play both sides of the ball and has snaps at LB.   Measurables: Scheidet, has excellent height standing at 5'10", making him a taller RB in the class. His weight at 180-Pounds is on the slimmer side, and can look to fill out to add more muscle to his frame.    Evaluation: The Long Island prospect is a balanced runner, who displays good footwork, and showcases the ability to run through contact. He is excellent in the tossing game behind the line, and while speed isn't his best trait, he can run past defenders when needed. He should work on cuts, and sharp footwork to fine tune is ability to make defenders miss on the field. In space he is an elite threat who can kill with his strength as a ball carrier. I want to see him more in the passing game, as a FB or pass catching RB, as with his strength this could be a big plus for his game, and see him standout amongst other RB's.     Background: Capobianco is one of many 2028 Iona Prep RB's we will see this year. After the dazzling career of Crew Davis, Capobianco will look to replicate his ability for the Gaels.    Measurables: Capobianco can play across the field, and showcases good versatility with his frame. Standing at 6'0" 185-Pounds, he has a solid build for a RB, but should look to add more weight to help fill out his frame.    Evaluation: Capobianco has excellent speed, and he is a good downhill runner. He can move plays to the sideline of the field, and bounce off tackles with good footwork. He is a balanced runner, and can stay on his feet through contact. He should look to improve his burst out of the pocket along with his vision, as sometimes he misses the lanes to run through. He is a strong runner, and needs more than one person to tackle him, which makes him elite behind a stacked Iona Prep Line. Capobianco has some work to do, but he is a solid back to watch in the Catholic League this season.     Background: [player_tooltip player_id='2064106' first='Rashad' last='Amaro Jr']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/rashad-amaro-jr/"></a><a></a> Is a back who has made his presence felt at showcases across the Prep Redzone Circuit this past season. The FDR prospect can also play at the DB position.    Measurables: Standing at 5'8" 160-Pounds, the FDR Running Back, has a solid frame, and despite the slimmer build, can look to add more weight as he grows and progresses through High School to fill out his frame.    Evaluation: Film is a bit limited on the FDR prospect, but after watching him compete at multiple showcases, I have a solid idea of his evaluation. I like his speed, and he is one of the quickest guy on the field. He has a quick burst, and can reach his top speed with ease. He is a balanced runner, and uses leverage to move through holes, allowing him to evade contact. As a Pass Catcher, he is solid, and shows a good understanding of a route tree, and can make catches at the short and intermediate ranges. He can look to improve in all aspects of his game, and his skills as a pass catcher, should be improved in the separation and footwork areas, to allow him to make sharp cuts, and find open catches across the field.     Background: Reeves is one of two RB's stepping into the spotlight for the top team as they lose UNC Commit Crew Davis. Reeves and Banks have big shoes to fill as they look to replicate the production Davis accumulated.    Measurables: Reeves stands at 5'7", showing a growing but smaller height for a RB. His weight at 170-Pounds, is solid but he should look to improve his build as he progresses through High School.    Evaluation: Reeves is a talented back who played a ton of reps in the past two seasons with the Gaels. Reeves has limited film but showed good promise as a receiving back, and has solid hands that can make good catches when needed. He has good footwork and displays solid speed, but I need to see more from the Iona Prep prospect, and this season will be huge for the talented prospect.     Background: Heading to Staten Island we look at another young player potentially stepping into a big role for a competing squad. [player_tooltip player_id='1286265' first='Luca' last='Bruno']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/luca-bruno/"></a><a></a> is a player who can play on both sides of the ball, and showcases good versatility.    Measurables: Bruno has a solid frame standing at 5'8" 185-Pounds. He is on the smaller side of both height and weight charts. As he keeps growing he should look to fill out his frame equally, as minimum he should reach 200-Pounds.    Evaluation: Bruno is a workhorse, who always keeps pushing forward on his runs. He can make sharp cuts with footwork, and showcases good balance when making jump cuts behind the LOS. His speed at the second level is elite, and he can reach his top speed in a flash with a quick burst. On display we see good footwork, but he does have trouble finding gaps, and sometimes runs into the Lions Den forcing him to make sharp cuts across the field. Bruno is a solid back who should receive the call up from JV this season, and is a guy I would watch to make a big contribution as a RB for the Lions this season.     Background: Next up is [player_tooltip player_id='1939503' first='Leo' last='Burg']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/leo-burg/"></a><a></a> . The Williamsville North Prospect, is a newer name to the rankings, but one that continues to make a name for himself. He has the ability to play on both sides of the field, with snaps at RB, and LB.    Measurables: Burg measured in at 5'8" 185-Pounds, showcasing a solid frame for a RB. I do want to see him add more weight and muscle, as he is on the slimmer side of the chart.    Evaluation: Burg is an exceptional athlete, who displays elite speed. He can run through a hole with ease, and in a flash, making it hard for the first level to wrap him up. He has a good IQ, and understands how to use his footwork to reach the second level. He does tend to run into crowds, but showcases good elusiveness, and can shake off tackles and keep running. He can make cuts, and his burst out of cuts is exceptional. Burg is a solid prospect who continues to impress on the football field.     Background: The PSAL prospect, flies under the radar playing for James Madison, but with a strong offense this past season, he finds himself ranked amongst the top 20 RB's in the 2028 class.    Measurables: Standing at 5'8" 170-Pounds, Leahy has a solid frame for a RB. He has good height standing at 5'8", and his weight at 170-Pounds, is more on the slimmer side, but for his height is solid. As he grows he should look to add more good weight.    Evaluation: Speed and Space is what I see on tape while evaluating Leahy. In space he is excellent and extremely difficult to tackle. He has solid vision, which can be improved as he navigates through the line, which will allow him to hit the ground running on each play. He is a balanced runner, who showcases excellent footwork, and I like his ability to utilize leverage, in order to make players miss. Leahy is a player I want to see this season, as I feel he can easily breakout, and have an excellent season, which will definitely see his ranking rise.     Background: Banks is one of two RB's stepping into the spotlight for the top team as they lose UNC Commit Crew Davis. Reeves and Banks have big shoes to fill as they look to replicate the production Davis accumulated.    Measurables: Banks has a smaller frame, but shows promise and has time and room to grow into his ideal body. He has solid weight, and should add more strength and muscle as he continues growing.    Evaluation: Banks shows good versatility, playing as both a RB, and a LB for the Gaels. He is a balanced runner, who utilizes leverage to avoid tackles. He is exceptional in space, and showcases an exceptional burst which allows him to reach his top speed quickly and can be a major speed threat for any team. I want to see him work on his footwork, to improve with cuts, and moving through gaps behind the LOS.     Background: Jean Jacques not only has the coolest name in the 2028 RB class, but he also has versatility, and can play on both sides of the ball, taking snaps at RB. He is a playmaker to watch on the Section One White Plains squad heading into the fall.    Measurables: Jean Jacques has a good frame, and his height at 5'11", is a big plus for me in this 2028 RB room. He is on the slimmer side, which can allow him to play as a pass catcher, but if RB/LB is the main focus, he should look to reach 190-200-Pound mark to fill out his frame.    Evaluation: Film is limited for the White Plains RB, but from what I saw, he excels at finding holes across the line. Behind the LOS, he is slowing the play down to 25% and reading each player on the defense. He can even make changes to his plan after a gap closes when he commits. After reaching the hole, he has an excellent burst, and can take off reaching his top speed with ease on the field. He can make an impact in the passing game, and shows the ability to make catches. He is a name to watch moving forward, and more film, can easily help his cause.     Background: Welch hails all the way from the West, in Niagara Falls. The 2028 Prospect is a name I have been watching improve consistently. He can play on both sides of the ball, and shows some versatility at LB.    Measurables: Welch is a bit undersized for a RB/LB at the moment standing at 5'7" 175-Pounds. He should reach the 185-Pound mark minimum to add more muscle, and fill out his frame.    Evaluation: Welch is a strong runner, who can find the holes in the A or B gap, regardless of which side he lines up. He can run right into his line, which is something he should work on along with footwork, and slowing the play down behind the LOS. He has good strength, and can carry defenders for extra yards, always falling forward on his carries. He has a quick burst and solid speed, which sees him break through big gaps and take off on occasion. I want to see more from him from a footwork perspective moving forward, as he is a solid back ready to break free.     Background: Nazarian is the first player from Section 2 in this list. Hailing from Ballston Spa, the 2028 RB/DB has put together an impressive campaign as of late and was also a top performer at the PRZNY Exposure Series Showcase in May.    Measurables: Nazarian has a solid frame, and measured in at 6'0" 185-Pounds. His height at 6'0" is good for a RB, and measuring at 185-Pounds is also solid. He could add more muscle to help fill out his frame.   Evaluation: Nazarian has a solid frame for a RB, and at the moment it gives him versatility and shows the ability to play WR, and DB if needed. He could add some more muscle to make him a more physical back, but had excellent footwork, and showed a quick burst. In 1v1 Reps, he made some nice catches in space, but should look to improve his route running. He showcased good vision, as well, and was excellent at moving through the line. I like his ability to stay balanced through contact, and attacking the ground, allows him to fall forward on his reps.     Background: Ercolano is a player who is not talked about much in the 2028 RB Class. The Sachem North Long Island Playmaker is fresh off a solid season, where he did miss two games due to Injury.   Measurables: Standing at 5'5" 160-Pounds, the Long Island Prospect, finds himself undersized for the RB Position. His weight is solid for his height, and as he grows, he should continue filling out his frame.    Evaluation: Ercolano is a professional evader, and feasts off missed tackles. He is a quick RB, who stays balanced on his runs, while displaying good leverage and the ability to dip with his hips, and control his body through contact. He has excellent vision, and his footwork with cuts is impressive, and allows him to carve through gaps across the line. He should work on fine tweaking all his skills as he progresses through High School, as he can easily be a competitive back and one of the top ball carries on Long Island this year.     Background: Pfeiffer is an intriguing prospect who can play on both sides of the field. The Section Six prospect, can play DB as well as RB, and his versatility makes him a name to watch moving forward.    Measurables: Pfeiffer has an intriguing build for a prospect, but it is one he should look to improve. Standing at 6'0" his height is good for a RB/DB prospect. He needs to improve his weight, as he is on the slimmer side. For both positions, he should look to reach a minimum of 175-180-Pounds.    Evaluation: Pfeiffer is known as an evader on the football field, and he is incredibly hard to tackle. He is extremely fast, and I like his ability to take off with the ball in his hands. He should look to slow plays down on occasion behind the LOS, to ensure he runs through the correct gap on the line. He has solid footwork, and is a down hill runner, who makes a big impact downfield. I do like his ability to evade tackles, and this makes him an elite threat, which adding more muscle and weight should help with.     Background: Johnson is a young athlete who has showed promise and versatility at showcases throughout High School. As he goes through Junior Year, he will be stepping into a big role as a veteran back for the Long Island squad.    Measurables: Johnson has a slim frame, which allows him to play at WR, and DB if needed. Standing at 5'10" 165-Pounds, he should look to add more weight, to fill out his frame and add more physicality and strength to his game.    Evaluation: Johnson is another player who has limited film, and can benefit from more reps moving froward. He was excellent at the NE Showcase, where he showed good footwork, along with a quick burst. He was a strong ball carrier, and got in and out of cuts smoothly. I like him in the passing game, and he showcased the ability to be a threat as a receiving back for Brentwood.     Background: Pagan makes his first appearance on the Prep Redzone NY rankings this cycle, and the Fort Hamilton prospect finds himself alongside multiple teammates.    Measurables: At 5'8" 165-Pounds, the Fort Hamilton prospect is just under the chart for his height, but is still growing, and will reach the chart. His weight is solid, and he has filled in his frame for his current height. As he keeps growing, he should continue to fill out his frame.    Evaluation: In space, Pagan can take off, and he is excellent at reaching his top speed. I like his ability to reach his top speed, and take off as when he attacks the ground they combine and become deadly parts of his game. He has good vision, but he should continue to slow plays down behind the line, to maximize his runs moving forward. He doesn't take a ton of hits, but he can stay on his feet, and fight through contact. I want to see improved footwork through runs, which will allow him to make sharp cuts and avoid hits. Pagan is a solid back who easily can make noise this season for Fort Hamilton.     Background: Heading up to Section Three, we tale a look at "Tank" [player_tooltip player_id='1607289' first='Caleb' last='Cunningham']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/caleb-cunningham-3/"></a><a></a> attends Cicero-North Syracuse, and has been a long standing name to watch, given his versatility across the football field.   Measurables: Frame is one thing to note here for Cunningham, as he is on the smaller side of the both height and weight charts. At 5'8" he is a smaller back, which can be a challenge at the next level. He should look to add more weight, as 145-Pounds, is undersized for the position.    Evaluation: Cunningham is another player who has limited film, and could benefit from more reps. I like his speed, and burst, which despite the frame, easily make him a threat for any squad. He is a tough to tackle playmaker, and has exceptional footwork allowing him to be a challenging name to stop. I want to see improved vision from him, as he can struggle to find the gap, which can lead to plays being blown up for short gains or losses behind the LOS. Overall Cunningham is a solid playmaker who should make noise this season.     Background: Moore is a Section Nine playmaker who has some elite versatility and can play numerous positions on both sides of the ball for Our Lady Of Lourdes. He slots In as the 29th ranked 2028 Back in the state.    Measurables: Moore has an impressive frame for a 2028 Prospect and a RB, standing at 6'0" 216-Pounds. He shows good strength and height and falls perfectly in the middle of the RB chart.    Evaluation: Moore has very limited film, making an evaluation tricky for the young playmaker. He definitely should look to attend camps and showcases, and put together a good highlight tape. From his limited tape, he is more of a FB, who has good strength and a physical frame allowing him to push through holes and contact. He is not the fastest, but shows a good burst and speed in space. The TE/FB/LB spot might be better for Moore moving forward.     Background: Hailing from a young West Seneca West Team, we have [player_tooltip player_id='1855420' first='Carter' last='Sparacio']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/carter-sparacio/"></a><a></a> . He is a player who can play on both sides of the field, and shows versatility with reps as a DB, he can likely play as a LB, if his frame improves as well.    Measurables: Sparacio has a solid frame, and even though he is under both height and weight charts, he finds himself on the cusp. His weight at 155-Pounds, should look to be improved in the form of filling out his frame, as he continues to grow.    Evaluation: Sparacio, is another player who has limited film, and can benefit from showcases and camps to get his name out there. From his limited film, he has sharp footwork, and is excellent at slowing down plays and navigating through the line in order to reach the second level. He has solid speed, and can reach his top speed fast. I do think he should work more in space, and more tape will really help a full evaluation, and his improvement as a player.

The new 2028 rankings are officially released. And with over 100 new players, and multiple players positions changing, and new additions to the top five at each position. In this article, we take a look at every RB Ranked in the 2028 Class, including their grades and evaluations.