Top 5 Class 4A Running Backs in Tennessee: 2026 Scouting Report

Tennessee high school football is loaded with talent heading into the 2026 season, and the Class 4A group is packed with standout offensive playmakers. As summer approaches, several guys are emerging as top prospects to watch in Tennessee high school football recruiting.   In this scouting series breaking down the top football players by position and classification, here's an in-depth look at the top five Class 4A running backs in Tennessee entering the 2026 high school football season.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Photo-Jun-17-2026-12-08-16-PM.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2230321" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Alcoa ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1630025' first='Condis' last='Cherry'] during a game. Photo from his Instagram.</figcaption></figure>   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1630025' first='Condis' last='Cherry'] – Alcoa High School   [player_tooltip player_id='1630025' first='Condis' last='Cherry'] is one of the more underrated offensive players in Class 4A, but is coming off a solid season for the defending state champions. He was their leading rusher, while totaling nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards at an efficient clip. The rising senior recently picked up his first Division I offer from UT Martin, but should see more roll in throughout the summer and into next season.   He's a compact player, standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 165 pounds with a lean frame. Cherry is extremely athletic, quick and elusive, which helps him contribute in several ways. The tailback has good vision and excellent burst that allow him to hit holes with authority and make every play a potential house call. The 2027 prospect must grow physically, but there's nice upside for 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/3/2026/06/Photo-Jun-17-2026-12-07-54-PM.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2230319" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Pearl-Cohn ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2076919' first='Landan' last='Left'] during a game. Photo from his Instagram.</figcaption></figure>   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2076919' first='Landan' last='Left'] – Pearl-Cohn High School   Pearl-Cohn's [player_tooltip player_id='2076919' first='Landan' last='Left'] had a good 2025 campaign, totaling 1,359 all-purpose yards with 12 touchdowns. He's a do-it-all player, but I'm using him as a tailback in this article. The rising senior holds nearly 20 offers and is due for a huge season, especially on the offensive side of the football.   He offers solid size for his position, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 180 pounds, with an athletic frame that helps him be agile and elusive. Left has elite speed, notching a 4.40-second 40-yard dash with tremendous breakaway speed and burst. His vision as a runner is nice, which puts him in a position to take every carry to the house.   Despite being a speedster, the 2027 prospect is physical and is not afraid of contact. Left can play wherever he wants and be successful, which is why I love watching him play. He affects games in every way, including as a running back.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/GSportsZone/status/1961819104500756638?s=20 </div></figure>   2027 Jude Dyer – Greeneville High School   Jude Dyer is an intriguing player for Greeneville High School and is due for a breakout senior year with one of the top programs in Class 4A. He's shown plenty of flash throughout his high school career, but 2026 is where I expect him to have a massive year. The rising senior has some nice tools, making him someone who could be a contributor at the college level.   He's a compact running back, standing 5-foot-8 and weighing 170 pounds with a thick frame that allows him to be physical. Dyer is a stout athlete with the ability to run through defenders, but is relatively quick. The 2027 prospect needs to become explosive, but he possesses some of the key tools that are needed to play this position. His vision and footwork are the final things that stand out to me; they are two tools often overlooked because of physical abilities but are impressive.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/dkwoods.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-2143060" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Crockett County RB DK Woods. Taken by The Jackson Sun.</figcaption></figure>   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1668510' first='D.K.' last='Woods'] – Crockett County High School   DK Woods was one of the most productive rushers in Tennessee this past season, but is due for another big campaign that will help his case on the recruiting trail. In 2025, he carried the ball 165 times for 1,690 yards (10.2 yards per carry) and 30 touchdowns. He often gets overlooked when people talk about the top players in Tennessee, but he certainly deserves the respect of being in the conversation.   He offers nice size for his position, standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 225 pounds with a strong frame that allows him to dominate opponents. Woods is a powerful back who will run through somebody's face, but possesses nice speed as well. He's relatively elusive and will break off for chunk plays, thanks to his burst. I'd like to see him polish up areas of his game, but Woods has a bright future at the college level.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Photo-Jun-17-2026-12-09-50-PM.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2230316" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: White County RB [player_tooltip player_id='2089830' first='Cole' last='Sims'] during a game. Photo from his Instagram.</figcaption></figure>   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2089830' first='Cole' last='Sims'] – White County High School   [player_tooltip player_id='2089830' first='Cole' last='Sims'] had a breakout 2025 campaign with White County High School, rushing for 1,530 yards on 5.3 yards per carry with 15 touchdowns. However, he's just getting started and should see his recruitment pick up throughout the summer. With one final offseason before his senior year, I cannot wait to see what he looks like in 2026.   He offers nice size, standing 6-foot and weighing 175 pounds with a lean, athletic frame that allows him to be a true do-it-all player from his running back position. Sims is speedy with an underrated amount of burst, nice power and excellent vision between and outside the tackles. He dominated everybody last season, looking like the next Division I tailback from White County.

Tennessee high school football is loaded with talent heading into the 2026 season, and the Class 4A group is packed with standout offensive playmakers. As summer approaches, several guys are emerging as top prospects to watch in Tennessee high school football recruiting.