DE Season Preview: Top Uncommitted 2026 Running Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No matter what kind of offense a team runs, they all need a good run game. So not only does the in-state class have a collection of them, they come if different shapes and sizes. Here are the top running backs in 2026:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Judah Barber","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"190","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Red Lion","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68b47b7b172d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Overview: Barber is a compact runner and a featured back. Lined up deep in the backfield out of pistol or i-formation, he likes to get north-and-south. As soon as Barber touches the ball, he looks for daylight and accelerates through defenders as opposed to evading them. It doesn't take long for Barber to get to his top speed. On outside runs, he uses subtle moves to break contain, then hits the gas to turn the corner. And as soon as defenders try to bring him down, he consistently falls forward for extra yards. His skillset would fit well in a man blocking scheme at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>GPA: 3.3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Elijah Burke","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"205","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"St. Mark's ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68b47b7b17418"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Overview: Burke is a physical back with sprinter speed. All he needs is one cut, then he's plowing over defenders or looking for space to open up his stride. Tosses allow him to pick up steam before he even has the ball and already have the angle on the outside. So there's no catching him once he gets past the second level. Similarly on kick returns, he sets up his blocks then explodes through whatever crease he can find. Burke is reliable in pass protection too. He can stonewall blitzers or take on linemen. Burke projects as a productive runner in a man scheme where he can be the featured back if need be. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1313275"],"_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-68b47b7b174b0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Overview: Wherever and whenever Glover touches the ball, he's a homerun play waiting to happen. Getting most of his snaps out of the shotgun, he shows good vision on outside and inside zone. He makes his read, puts his foot in the ground, then explodes up the field. Even as a receiver out of the backfield, he has the hands to catch the ball in stride and turn swing passes into big plays. Glover returns kicks and punts too. His compact build and varied skillset translates to him being a running back who can contribute immediately on special teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: Akron, Arizona, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Delaware St, Duke, East Carolina, Maryland, Old Dominion, Pitt, Robert Morris, Syracuse, Toledo, &amp; Virginia Tech</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>GPA: 3.0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401350"],"_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-68b47b7b17539"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Overview: Roy is an undersized running back and he uses that to his advantage. He's lightning in a bottle, but he's patient too. With his short, choppy steps, Roy can put his foot in the ground and change direction instantly. This allows him to gash defenses with jump cuts or cutbacks. He can also slip behind his blockers and reappear elsewhere. And once he has a lane, he runs like he was shot out of a cannon. One-on-one in the hole, Roy will convert speed to power and truck bigger defenders. His game is an ideal fit for zone schemes, as part of a committee. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offer: Clarion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jamar Smith","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"180","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Glasgow","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68b47b7b1763c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Overview: Smith is as elusive as they come at the running back position. He has the vision to find holes between the tackles, the short-area-quickness to make you miss in a phone booth, and the speed to exploit the slightest of gaps. Smith doesn't have to bounce everything outside, but he can. Even when defenders are near him, they struggle to get a hand on him because he changes directions without slowing down. Smith is especially dangerous as a kick returner. He profiles as a change-of-pace back in a zone scheme and a return specialist - kicks and punts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401351"],"_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-68b47b7b176ce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Overview: Walker is a big tailback who can scoot. With a lineman pulling in front of him, he sets up his blocks and bursts through the hole. And once he gets a crease, his straight line speed at that size makes him hard to bring down. With that forward momentum, Walker is effective in short yardage or goal line situations and he can break off long runs. His blocking is a valuable part of his game because he can be the lead blocker in two-back sets and pick up blitzes in pass protection. Walker projects as a bell-cow back in a man and/or gap blocking scheme. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Offers: Akron, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Duke, Morgan St, Old Dominion, Pitt, Robert Morris, Temple, &amp; West Virginia </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->