5 available 2027 RBs colleges should watch entering senior season

Dozens of Louisiana's top-ranked 2027 prospects have announced college commitments already, but the several legitimate Division-I prospects around the always-talented state remain available on the recruiting market entering senior year.   With August fast approaching, Prep Redzone Louisiana will look at a few of the most notable uncommitted prospects at each position that programs should take a closer look heading into the fall for potential steals in the final month of the cycle.   Here are a half-dozen running backs to keep an eye on.   [player_tooltip player_id='1783095' first='Justin' last='Batiste'] — 6-1, 200 RB/LB — Catholic-Baton Rouge (2027)   Batiste showed flashes as a junior, in his first varsity season for the Bears, of being one of the state's top running backs. He also showed his character and team-first mentality as a member of the program's loaded backfield who was eager to cheer on his teammates and be ready when his opportunities presented themselves. This season, he'll have the benefit of last year's experience upon which to build, as well as a big role at linebacker because the coaching staff recognized the need to get his talent on the field more often than might be possible at running back alone. Batiste has picked up a handful of offers, including Southern Miss, Old Dominion, Northwestern State, Southern and Nicholls State.   [player_tooltip player_id='1606251' first='Zamaurri' last='Brown'] — 6-0, 190 ATH/DB — Mamou (2027)   The versatile and dynamic athlete has gone from being one of the state's most underrated prospects to garnering some notable recruiting traction during the past year in Tulane, Navy, Nicholls State and South Alabama offers. Brown has a chance to be one of the top running backs to come out of the state in this class, while also showing major potential as a wide receiver, defensive back and return man. At this point, his eventual college of choice figures to get a steal and a slew of new fans from Mamou.   [player_tooltip player_id='1610130' first='Devine' last='Duhon'] — 5-11, 180 ATH/RB — Jeanerette (2027)   The explosive and versatile Jeanerette star enjoyed a huge early recruiting splash, including SEC offers, during his sophomore year, but lost the bulk of his junior year to injury and has had to show some perseverance both working his way back health-wise and being forced to be patient through a corresponding lull in his recruitment. But he was starting to show signs this summer of being back to his old self, including 4.5-second laser-timed 40-yard dashes and nearly 10-foot broad jumps at college camps. The Tigers figure to be among the top tier of contenders in their division again this season, and Duhon should be both a major factor in that quest and one of the senior prospects with a chance to most help himself with his performance this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='2214718' first='Syrian' last='Joseph'] — 6-1, 195 RB/WR — Acadiana (2027)   and [player_tooltip player_id='1611386' first='Dashun' last='Lightfoot'] — 5-10, 175 RB — Acadiana (2027)   The Wreckin' Rams graduated a big chunk of production of their 2025 backfield with most of their returning rushing yards coming from a natural wide receiver who took over quarterbacking duties. But the positional move of another versatile athlete and the arrival of a talented transfer give them two of the state's better rising senior running back prospects, both of whom should be intriguing targets for colleges around the region. Lightfoot has been highly ranked on PRZLA lists a couple of years now going back to his time at Franklin and has received a few offers from Arkansas State, McNeese State and Lamar. Joseph, also an all-state track athlete, has spent time at wide receiver and on defense, but appears to have found an ideal fit at running back based on flashes shown in the spring.   [player_tooltip player_id='1356161' first='Jermond' last='Macklin'] — 6-0, 185 RB — Edna Karr (2027)   Macklin is another promising, likely Division-I running back who has simultaneously shown some patience working alongside a senior workhorse this past season, but still managed to convert his opportunities into some of his own recruiting traction already as well. He has a solid build and some good shake and burst to make defenders miss and slice his way through traffic and into big gains. He'll have a slew of young, budding-star teammates to contend with in the backfield, but Macklin has college potential, including an offer list that at one point enjoyed a surge from Florida State, Houston, Auburn, Troy and Grambling State and has most recently seen Middle Tennessee join.

Dozens of Louisiana's top-ranked 2027 prospects have announced college commitments already, but the several legitimate Division-I prospects around the always-talented state remain available on the recruiting market entering senior year.