2027 Watchlist Check-in: Running Backs

Our rankings are filled with talented college prospects. But there's plenty of talent on our watchlist, too. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/behind-the-scenes-of-the-2027-rankings-january-update/">Last rankings update</a>, we had five players enter the top half of our rankings directly from the watchlist, and a host of others who rose after initially being watchlist players. In this spring series, we're evaluating every player on our 2027 watchlist. Who knows? Maybe some of these guys make their mark in the next rankings update.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 Watchlist Running Backs</h2>   Editor's Note: If you want more information about how a player ends up on our watchlist, check out my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/2027-watchlist-check-in-quarterbacks/">2027 Quarterback Check-In</a>, where I went in-depth on the mechanics behind our watchlist feature.   Editor's Note Part 2: Several of the players listed on our watchlist at running back have either changed positions or have better college potential at a different place on the field. We'll write about them at the position we like best.    Baker was buried on a deep Hough roster, but the well-built junior has excellent potential. He runs will great pad level and can run through arm tackles. He's recently put on some weight and put himself in a position to earn more reps as a senior.     If we don't rank Cash as a running back, it'll be because he makes the rankings as a defensive back after a strong junior season. He's explosive as a back, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry on offense and making 33 tackles on defense. He's the leading returning rusher on West Henderson's roster, so he could be in for a big senior season.     Glover didn't have the volume of touches that a lot of backs get, but he probably deserves to be ranked at some point in the near future. He averaged over eight yards per carry on 76 carries as a junior, showing impressive explosion. He's deceptively fast, causing defenders to take bad angles and whiff in the open field.     Mitchell-Moore was behind some talented players this season, but it was a veteran offense, and several running backs graduated. In his limited reps, Mitchell-Moore showed some breakaway potential, and he looks like a guy who can contribute in 2026.     I whiffed on Jimenez in our last update, and have already set it in motion to add the rising senior to the rankings after he ran for nearly 1,200 yards as a junior. Jimenez has excellent quickness and can change direction in the open field, leading to a bunch of big runs.     Collins was the third back in a two-back rushing attack for East Bladen last season. The Eagles lose one of those two backs to graduation, so Collins could see a huge increase in carries as a senior. He averaged over six yards a carry last season, and the talent is there for a late breakout.    This is the time of year when we have the most time to dive into film, re-evaluate prospects, and change our minds about players. Send your film on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>), so I can evaluate you. Want to share Prep Redzone with a friend? Promo Code Helms30 is good for 30% off your first billing cycle.

Our rankings are filled with talented college prospects. But there's plenty of talent on our watchlist, too. Last rankings update, we had five players enter the top half of our rankings directly from the watchlist, and a host of others who rose after initially being watchlist players. In this spring series, we're evaluating every player on our 2027 watchlist. Who knows? Maybe some of these guys make their mark in the next rankings update.