Stock Risers: Tidewater Region running backs who are shining

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out the standout high school running backs lighting up the Tidewater Region of Virginia this season—see who's making big plays. Prep Redzone takes a look at five running back prospects who have caught our eye. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1295690"],"_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-68ed1013dc5a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1295690' first='Amari' last='Pryear'] has carried the football 145 times for 1,266 yards and 20 touchdowns so far this season. He is one of the most productive backs in the region and in the state. Pryear can run that ball and is more than an effective pass-catcher out of the backfield. He's a natural playmaker and is what makes Bethel's offense go. Pound-for-pound, he's one of the best players in the state. I'm impressed with the number of big plays in his mid-season highlights. Pryear is a natural at running back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">[player_tooltip player_id='1295690' first='Amari' last='Pryear'] RB1 #20 “Ferrari Mari” 🏎️💨<br>🔥🔥UPDATED MID SEASON HIGHLIGHTS 🔥🔥<br>128 Carries, 1196 yards, 20TDS<br>6 Receptions, 163 yards, 2 TDS <br>Bethel High School (Hampton, Va.)<br>“6 GAMES PLAYED/4 GAMES TO GO”<br>WORK!!!! ( In Pursuit of Greatness)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FerrariMari?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FerrariMari</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOCUSED?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOCUSED</a>… <a href="https://t.co/GNqXJCXIZo">pic.twitter.com/GNqXJCXIZo</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1295690' first='Amari' last='Pryear'] RB 26' (@Amaripryear) <a href="https://twitter.com/Amaripryear/status/1974973058030174365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /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":"Keon Johnson","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"209","_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":"Lake Taylor","_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-68ed1013dc6f1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Keon Johnson is over the 1,000-yard barrier, having carried the football 65 times for 1,028 yards and 20 touchdowns. This is impressive because he's also a more-than-solid linebacker on the defensive side of the football. Johnson has a pick-six on his mid-season highlights that gives a glimpse of his straight-line speed in a game. As a running back, he's more on the power side and is most effective when he's coming downhill. Once he gets going, he's tough to bring down.</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":"Jason Harden","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_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":"Salem","_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-68ed1013dc803"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jason is possibly one carry away from 1,000 yards at this point. So far, he's carried the football 78 times for 929 yards and six touchdowns. His highlight reel starts with a few long runs of at least 60-plus yards for scores. A lot of work is done in between the tackles, and he shows an ability to run through arm-tackle attempts. Jason is more of a strider than a quick-burst type runner, and there's nothing wrong with that. He's a young prospect getting the job done. Would love to verify his height and weight.</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":"Jeremiah Ferebee","_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":"5'8u0022","_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":"Lake Taylor","_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-68ed1013dc90d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jeremiah Ferebee, teammate of Keon Johnson (mentioned in this article), has carried the football 73 times for 755 yards and eight touchdowns. He shares carries with Johnson and is the perfect complementary back. Ferebee is on the smaller side, but he's quick and gets north-south as quickly as possible. Just like Johnson, he plays linebacker for his team and is tough at that position. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1311628"],"_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-68ed1013dc993"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tayshawn Branch is leading Maury's rushing attack with 75 carries for 758 yards. It's worth noting that we have him listed as an athlete. Branch is also a safety for his team. His mid-season highlights show him making big plays with relative ease. Whether it's running the football or catching passes out of the backfield, Branch can make things happen. One of the things I like about his film is his ability to stay balanced when it looks like he's about to fall. He's a smooth operator.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/stock-risers-wide-receivers-making-noise-in-the-tidewater-region/"><strong>Stock Risers: Wide receivers making noise in the Tidewater Region</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/stock-risers-tidewater-regioin-running-backs-who-are-shining/"><strong>Stock Risers: Tidewater Region running backs who are shining</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/past-the-midway-point-a-look-at-5-tidewater-qbs/"><strong>Past the midway point: A look at 5 Tidewater QB's</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->