2029 Running Backs Leading the Way Through Two Weeks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2029 class is still in the very early stages of its high school career, but several young running backs across Illinois are already earning varsity opportunities and making the most of them. Through two weeks, these five backs have emerged as early names to know in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2206173' first='Jakobe' last='Baldwin'] – IC Catholic Prep</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baldwin has wasted little time making an impact for one of the state's premier programs. The IC Catholic Prep freshman has shown an impressive combination of burst, vision and the ability to create explosive plays when he gets into space. Through two games, he's turned 29 carries into 270 yards and two touchdowns, averaging more than nine yards per attempt. Baldwin looks comfortable playing against older competition and has quickly established himself as one of the more intriguing young backs in Illinois.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Grant Brazel – Triad</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brazel has stepped into the varsity lineup at Triad and immediately shown that he can handle a significant workload. He's already received 30 carries through the first two weeks and has responded with 254 rushing yards and a touchdown. At 8.5 yards per carry, Brazel has consistently created positive plays while showing the ability to break bigger runs. He's an impressive young athlete who should continue to see his role grow as the season progresses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Jackson Travis – Hersey</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Travis is another 2029 prospect already playing an important role for a quality program. The Hersey freshman has been productive with his opportunities, rushing for 186 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries. Beyond the numbers, Travis has shown the physicality and decisiveness needed to contribute at the varsity level this early in his career. He's a young back worth following closely over the next several seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1956541' first='Kodi' last='Garner'] – Plainfield South</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garner has quickly become a scoring threat for Plainfield South. He's already found the end zone four times through two games while rushing for 164 yards on 31 attempts. Garner runs with confidence and has shown an ability to finish runs and produce in important situations. The fact that he's already receiving this type of varsity workload as a freshman says plenty about the trust Plainfield South has in him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Elijah Purdiman – Marion</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Purdiman hasn't needed many touches to make an impression. The Marion freshman has carried the ball just nine times but has produced 118 yards and a touchdown, averaging more than 13 yards per carry with a long run of 35 yards. His explosiveness immediately stands out, and he's shown the ability to turn limited opportunities into chunk plays. Purdiman could be especially interesting to watch as his varsity role expands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Early Names to Know</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For players who are only a few weeks into their freshman seasons, earning varsity carries is noteworthy on its own. Producing with those opportunities makes this group even more interesting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baldwin, Brazel, Travis, Garner and Purdiman have each taken different paths to early production, but all five are establishing themselves as 2029 prospects worth tracking. With most of their high school careers still ahead of them, this is likely only the beginning for Illinois' next wave of running backs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->