Notable Running Backs Showing What We Expected Into Week 4

Running back is one of the positions where you can usually tell pretty quickly if a preseason evaluation was right. Three weeks in, we've had enough football to start seeing which backs are translating the traits we talked about in the offseason into actual Friday night production. Some are putting up big numbers, others are showing versatility, and a few younger guys are starting to make their presence known. Here are some of the backs who have stood out to me heading into Week 4.    Farling is doing exactly what we expected coming into the season. He's been one of the most productive backs in the state at any level and currently sits at the top of the rushing leaderboard with 534 yards through three games. The production is impressive, but I still like the way he runs. He has good vision, runs behind his pads and doesn't need much space to get going. He's showing why he was one of the backs I was excited to watch coming into the year.     When you talk top running backs in the state of Florida, stop here. This kid has been that impactful to start the year for a top offense in the state. He's the engine that could. Carried this team on his back to help take down top ranked Lakeland. He and [player_tooltip player_id='1866450' first='Ira' last='Dale'] are a solid one-two-punch. Had to be a four star.     I've been telling you guys about Jefferson for a while now, and he's starting to show exactly why. He currently sits near the top of the state rushing leaders with 476 yards through three games.  The athletic ability jumps out immediately, but the versatility is what makes him really interesting. He can run it, catch it and make plays in space. For a 2029 prospect, he has plenty of time to develop, but the early production is already getting harder to ignore.     Truedell has continued to look like one of the better backs in Polk County. The Delaware commit opened the season with a five-touchdown performance and has shown the ability to consistently find the end zone. What I liked about him coming into the year was the combination of physical running and playmaking ability, and we're seeing that translate. He's a senior who looks comfortable carrying the workload, and I expect the production to continue.     Battle is another guy showing P4 traits we talked about before the season. He has good burst, runs with purpose and can make a defense pay when he gets into space. He currently has 479 rushing yards with 9 touchdowns through three games, putting him inside the top 10 statewide. With Carrollwood Day rolling early, Battle is getting plenty of opportunities, and he has taken advantage of them.     Hammonds is one of the younger backs I wanted to keep an eye on coming into the season, and the early returns have been encouraging. He has the patience to let his blocks develop, but once he sees the opening, he gets downhill quickly. There's still plenty of development ahead of him, but he has already shown the physical tools and running style that made him an intriguing 2029 prospect during the offseason.     Cooper has started to look more comfortable in his role, and that's something I wanted to see from him this season. He has good burst and a natural feel for finding space, and when he gets into the open field, he can turn a normal play into something much bigger. The next step is consistency, but the talent is there. He's another young Lakeland player who could see his role continue to grow as the season moves along.     Powell was one of the backs who caught my attention at the UA Orlando camp this offseason, and now we're getting to see that ability translate to Friday nights. He runs with some attitude, has quick feet and does a nice job making defenders miss. At 5-9, 190 pounds, he has a good base to work with, and I think there's still another level he can reach as the season continues.     Johnson is a name that deserves more attention. He has a smooth running style and does a good job staying patient behind his blockers. Once he finds the crease, he can get downhill quickly and finish the run. He may not get the same attention as some of the bigger names on this list yet, but he's showing enough to keep watching as we move deeper into the season.     Smith is one of the under-the-radar backs making an impact for one of the top programs in the area. He's a gifted runner with the explosiveness to turn limited opportunities into big plays, as shown by his 125 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries. Smith is already showing he can be an impact player at this level, and his production deserves more attention.     Ammons brings some juice to the position. His lateral quickness and first step allow him to make defenders miss, and he doesn't need a huge hole to create something. I also like the fact that he can be used as a receiver, giving West Orange another way to get him involved. This is the type of back who can become even more dangerous as his role continues to expand.     Cobbs is a physical runner who brings a little attitude to the backfield. He's not looking to dance around defenders every time — he's willing to lower his pads and get what's there. That toughness stood out to me during the preseason, and now he's getting the opportunity to show it consistently on Friday nights. There are still things to clean up, but the running style gives him something to build around.     Scott is one of the more intriguing speed backs on this list. He has legitimate track speed and the acceleration to turn a small crease into a big play. The biggest thing for him this year is showing that he can pair that speed with consistent production and physicality. If he continues doing that, I could see more college programs starting to take a closer look.     Faniel is one of the younger backs who has started to emerge for Winter Haven. There's a lot of football ahead of him, but he has already shown enough to make you want to keep watching. He's becoming a player the program can rely on, and more opportunities should only help him continue developing. For a 2029, that's exactly what you want to see this early.     Jackson has been one of the most productive backs in the state early on and was sitting second in rushing through the opening weeks with 496 yards. He has the size and physicality to handle a big workload, and he's showing that production wasn't just something we saw coming out of the offseason. Cardinal Mooney has a legitimate workhorse, and defenses are going to have to account for him every week.     Butler is a different type of problem because of what he can do with the football in his hands. He has the ability to make defenders miss, use his speed to get outside and create yards when a play breaks down. His physical running style and ability to contribute as a dual-threat athlete were things we talked about before the season, and he's continuing to show them. With Navy already in the picture, now it's about finishing his high school career on a strong note.

Running back is one of the positions where you can usually tell pretty quickly if a preseason evaluation was right. Three weeks in, we've had enough football to start seeing which backs are translating the traits we talked about in the offseason into actual Friday night production. Some are putting up big numbers, others are showing versatility, and a few younger guys are starting to make their presence known. Here are some of the backs who have stood out to me heading into Week 4.