The Next Wave: 2028 Running Backs on the Rise

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2028 class is still early in its high school career, but several sophomore running backs across Illinois are already producing like established varsity players. Through four weeks, these young backs have piled up yards, found the end zone and carved out significant roles in their offenses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some sophomore running backs who have caught my attention early this season.</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 been one of the most productive sophomore backs in the state through four games. He has rushed for <strong>547 yards and seven touchdowns on just 54 carries</strong>, averaging an impressive <strong>10.1 yards per carry</strong>. Baldwin has shown the ability to create explosive plays, including a 65-yard run, while producing consistently for ICCP. Averaging nearly 137 rushing yards per game this early in his varsity career makes him a 2028 prospect worth tracking closely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Jackson Travis | Hersey</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Travis has quickly become a major piece of the Hersey offense. Through four games, he has carried the ball 58 times for <strong>493 yards and seven touchdowns</strong>, good for <strong>8.5 yards per carry</strong>. He has already shown he can handle a solid workload without sacrificing explosiveness. With nearly 500 rushing yards through the first month of the season, Travis has established himself as one of the more productive sophomore backs in Illinois.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Judd Taylor | Seneca</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor has made the most of his opportunities for Seneca. The sophomore has <strong>405 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 43 attempts</strong>, averaging <strong>9.4 yards per carry</strong>. His 74-yard long shows the home-run ability he brings to the offense. Taylor is averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game and has been an explosive option out of the backfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Jayden Rodgers | Triad</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rodgers is listed as a wide receiver and defensive back, but his production on the ground deserves attention. He has rushed for <strong>401 yards on 49 carries</strong>, averaging <strong>8.2 yards per attempt</strong>, while scoring three rushing touchdowns. That's more than 100 yards per game on the ground for a sophomore who can contribute in multiple roles. His versatility makes him an intriguing athlete to continue watching in the 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Reece Pearson | Princeton</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pearson has provided Princeton with steady production through the opening four weeks. He has rushed for <strong>320 yards and four touchdowns on 49 carries</strong>, averaging <strong>6.5 yards per carry</strong>. While some of the other backs on this list have produced huge explosive numbers, Pearson's early production shows a sophomore already capable of taking meaningful varsity carries and consistently moving the football.</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>The touchdown production immediately jumps off the page with Garner. He has rushed for <strong>299 yards on 57 carries</strong>, but more importantly, he has already found the end zone <strong>eight times</strong>. Garner is averaging better than a touchdown every eight carries through four games. His ability to finish drives and produce around the goal line has made him a valuable young piece of the Plainfield South offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Vance Burford | Marion</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burford hasn't needed a huge workload to make an impact. On only <strong>25 rushing attempts</strong>, the Marion sophomore has produced <strong>237 yards and eight touchdowns</strong>. That's <strong>9.5 yards per carry</strong> with a touchdown roughly once every three carries. His combination of efficiency and scoring production makes him one of the more interesting sophomore backs to monitor as his role continues to develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">A 2028 Group Worth Following</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What stands out about this group isn't simply that they're playing varsity football as sophomores — they're producing. Baldwin and Travis are already approaching or exceeding 500 rushing yards, Taylor and Rodgers are averaging more than 100 yards per game, and Garner and Burford have each reached the end zone eight times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is plenty of football left this season, but these 2028 prospects have given us several reasons to keep watching as their sophomore campaigns continue.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I kept it <strong>scouting-oriented without pretending we've evaluated film we haven't watched</strong>, and used the numbers you provided as the backbone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Meet Codex in the desktop app</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Codex helps you turn process work into tools that keep things moving. 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