The Next Wave: Scouting the 2026 class - Film Review Pt. 5

Check out the latest installment of THE NEXT WAVE featuring prospects in the Maryland/D.C./Delaware 2026 recruiting class. Today, we take a look at five running backs that are currently ranked.    [player_tooltip player_id='1313275' first='Amare' last='Glover'] is a power-oriented, downhill running back with the physical tools to thrive in short-yardage and between-the-tackles situations. He does a great job getting yardage after contact, displaying excellent balance and toughness. While he may not be a home-run threat on every play, he consistently makes explosive runs (15-plus yards) and helps move the chains. Glover repeatedly breaks tackles at both the first and second levels. That's a testament to the strength in his lower body, as he keeps moving forward after contact. Glover stays low and uses his leverage effectively to shed tackles. He rarely goes down on first contact, drags defenders and gains extra yards.   Decisiveness is another key element to Glover's game. He gets downhill quickly after making a single cut. Glover doesn't dance behind the line; he finds the lane and hits it. His vision is good as well; he recognizes gaps and seams quickly. I like Glover's north-south running style because he barely wastes any movement. Trying to tackle him is a chore for defenses; arm tackles rarely bring him down. He should be able to show more of his receiving skills during the camp circuit.     [player_tooltip player_id='401351' first='Makai' last='Walker'] is a power back with explosive acceleration and good lateral agility. He puts in work between the tackles but can also bounce it outside and turn the corner with authority. Size-wise, Walker already has the build of a college-ready power back. I'm impressed with how he gets to top speed quickly for a back of his size. Walker routinely runs through tackles at both the first and second levels. He's a physical runner who absorbs hits and keeps going. Walker shows in his highlights that he can change direction (when he makes cuts) without losing momentum. A couple of plays in his highlights also show his effectiveness as a blocker.   Big plays and runs are also a part of his game. He has multiple runs of 25-plus yards in his highlights, showing he can get yardage in chunks. As with his teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='1313275' first='Amare' last='Glover'], there's not a lot of film of him catching passes. That's no fault of his own. Like Glover, he'll be able to showcase that part of his game in prospect camps in the upcoming months.     [player_tooltip player_id='1313280' first='TK' last='Davis'] is an explosive, shifty back who turns small gains into big plays. His top-end speed and elusiveness make him a constant big-play threat on outside runs, kick returns, and passes. I'm impressed with how Davis reaches top speed quickly, bursting through the line and into the second level with urgency. He also has some elusiveness and agility to his game, with highlights showing him making defenders miss in tight spaces. Davis also makes cuts without losing momentum. Despite his small frame, he runs tough and fights for extra yardage. Though he's not a bigger back, he compensates for it with speed, quick decision-making, and versatility. Davis is also a contributor to the kick-return game. Like the other backs mentioned above, he can show his receiving skills in the upcoming months at prospect camps.     [player_tooltip player_id='402007' first='Jaylen' last='Burke'] is a running back prospect who is slippery, fast, decisive, and has a burst that quickly gets him through the hole. Several plays in his highlights show him running untouched into the end zone, a testament to his speed and quickness when attacking running lanes. Speaking of speed, he has multiple runs over 40-plus yards. Burke consistently gets to the second and third levels quickly.   Despite his small frame, he's a strong runner. He breaks arm and ankle tackles, shows contact balance, and finishes runs with a purpose. Burke can make things happen as both an outside and inside runner. He's not just a speed guy; he can run between the tackles effectively. Multiple touchdowns and significant gains on his highlights come from inside bursts and bounce-outs. Burke's good field awareness enables him to cut inside of blockers and bounce a run outside.   As with a couple of the other backs in this article, he's not particularly big. Burke will also be able to showcase his pass-catching ability on the camp circuit in the upcoming months.     Davon Handy is a quick, elusive back who thrives on making defenders miss in space. Many of the plays in his highlights show him exploding through the hole and reaching the second level untouched. Handy gets up to top speed quickly, allowing him to outrun defenders and create separation. I love the wiggle that he has in his game. He makes cuts in tight spaces, makes people miss, and weaves through traffic. Handy has a good change of direction due to his low center of gravity. It's hard for defenders to square up on him and bring him down cleanly.   Handy is a consistent big-play threat, with multiple 50-yard touchdown runs in his highlights. I also like how he presses defenders at the second level before making his move.   At his size, he's significantly smaller than most backs. That'll hurt him from a recruiting standpoint. There's not enough evidence of him as a pass catcher in his highlights. His fit at the next level will have to be in a spread offense or one that uses outside-zone schemes. He'll get the ball in space and take advantage of his quickness.    PRZ LINKS   Other articles to read   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/marylands-class-of-2027-in-depth-analysis-of-the-top-5/">Maryland's Class of 2027: In-Depth Analysis of the Top 5</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/evaluating-the-ranked-2026-md-linebackers-in-the-top-10/">Evaluating the ranked 2026 MD linebackers in the Top 10</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/wcac-ranked-as-a-top-10-toughest-high-school-football-leagues/">WCAC ranked as a Top 10 toughest high school football league</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/scouting-the-maryland-2027-class-running-backs/"> Scouting the Maryland 2027 class: Running Backs</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/scouting-marylands-2027-class-wide-receivers/">Scouting Maryland's 2027 class: Wide Receivers</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/scouting-marylands-2026-class-defensive-backs/">Scouting Maryland's 2026 Class: Defensive Backs</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/evaluating-the-ranked-prospects-maryland-2028-defensive-players/">Evaluating the ranked prospects: Maryland 2028 defensive players</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/marylands-2028-defensive-backs-top-10-evals/">Maryland's 2028 Defensive Backs: Top 10 Evals</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/the-next-wave-scouting-the-2026-class-film-review-pt-3-2/">The Next Wave: Scouting the 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 3</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/the-next-wave-scouting-the-2026-class-film-review-pt-4/">The Next Wave: Scouting the 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 4</a>

Check out the latest installment of THE NEXT WAVE featuring prospects in the Maryland/D.C./Delaware 2026 recruiting class. Today, we take a look at five running backs that are currently ranked.