2026 Rankings Update 5.0: Running Backs

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"2408","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"2494","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fd85d90c3e8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we head deeper into the month of April, the 2025 high school football off-season is in full swing! With that being said, we have begun another round of rankings updates for the state of Kentucky, starting with the class of 2026. Now that these rankings have been updated, I will be breaking them down by position. After already covering the quarterbacks, here are our top running backs in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401707"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fd85d90dc67"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='401707' first='Evan' last='Hampton'] continued to establish himself as one of the top players in the state in his class with a strong junior year, carrying the ball 169 times for 1,549 yards and 20 touchdowns in 11 games. Hampton has explosive speed, showing the ability to burst through the running lane in a hurry then simply run away from the defense on long runs. He has also shown the contact balance to break tackle with ease without losing stride in the open field. Hampton also played a key role in the Owensboro passing game as a junior, catching 15 passes for 107 yards and four touchdowns. Evan is committed to Louisville where I can see him becoming a key piece of their offense once he gets there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["971533"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fd85d90dcc1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='971533' first='Chayce' last='Burton'] is a player who has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to impress as a junior, running the ball 128 times for 908 yards and 15 touchdowns in eight games. Burton is an elusive ball carrier, showing the ability to bounce off defenders without breaking stride as well as the ability to make cuts in the open field to make them miss. He has also shown the speed to run break away on long runs once he hits the second level. Chayce also caught seven passes for 69 yards as a junior. Burton currently holds multiple Power 4/Division I offers and I expect that list to grow as he is a very talented running back prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["971534"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fd85d90dd0b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='971534' first='Gerian' last='Traynor'] is another running back who has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to stand out as a junior. He finished this past season with 132 carries for 633 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games. Traynor has blazing speed which he uses to outrun defenders with ease once he hits the open field. Once defenders are able to catch up to him, Gerian has shown the ability to make cuts to make them miss. He also has shown the ability to pose as a threat in the passing game, catching 15 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns as a junior. Traynor currently holds multiple Division I offers and I expect more to come his way heading into his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["971535"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fd878f4780a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='971535' first='BJ' last='Evans'] was one of the most productive running backs in the state this past season, carrying the ball 194 times for 1,799 yards and 20 touchdowns in 10 games. Evans is a strong, physical runner, showing the ability to lower his shoulder and run straight through defenders without losing stride. Once he hits the open field, he has also shown the speed to run away from the defense on long runs. Evans also caught 11 passes for 59 yards this past season. BJ currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Miami (OH), and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I caliber running back prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283970"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fd8aa766318"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To wrap up our top five running backs in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='283970' first='JayQuan' last='Crawford']. As a junior at Franklin County, Crawford split carries but was productive when on the field, carrying the ball 68 times for 446 yards and eight touchdowns in 12 games. Crawford is a strong downhill runner, showing the ability to keep his legs churning with multiple defenders wrapped around him to pick up extra yards. In the open field, Crawford has shown the contact balance to bounce off defenders without losing stride along with the elusiveness to make defenders miss. He also caught five passes for 51 yards as a junior. Crawford currently holds multiple Division I offers and I expect a lot of eyes to be on him after transferring to Bullitt East for his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->