Rivals Miami Combine: Top Middle School Running Backs
The Rivals Combine Series rolled on to Miami on March 12 . The combine, largely geared towards high school athletes, saw a total of 989 kids go through combine testing drills such as the 40-yard dash, 3-cone drill, vertical jump,…
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Continue ReadingThe Rivals Combine Series rolled on to Miami on March 12 . The combine, largely geared towards high school athletes, saw a total of 989 kids go through combine testing drills such as the 40-yard dash, 3-cone drill, vertical jump, broad jump and shuttle run. The top performing athletes from the combine on Saturday, were then invited back on Sunday to compete with the upperclassmen.
Here’s a look at the top middle school running backs that took part in the combine testing on Saturday.
Elija Mason Elija Mason 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Gaither | 2026 FL | Running Back | Florida | 2026
Everywhere Mason has gone this off-season, he has turned in memorable performances and the Rivals combine was absolutely no different. The 5-foot-7, 148-pound scat back had an impressive day including a middle school running back-best, 4.946 in the forty-yard dash and jaw-dropping 6.97 in the shuttle. Also turned in the top vertical with a 28.9. He was hands down the combine king on the day.
John Holcy | Running Back | Florida | 2026
A pop warner standout during his youth career, Holcy showed off some considerable power in how lower body. The 5-foot-7 and a half back weighed in at 153 pounds. He’s a stockier ball carrier that was tough to bring down with the strength in his lower body and the low center of gravity he keeps while running. He finished with a middle school running back-best 108.5 and the second best vertical with a 27.7.
Deshon Jenkins Deshon Jenkins 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Bishop Verot | 2026 FL Jr. | Running Back | Florida | 2026
Loved the power out of Jenkins during the regular season and his combine testing numbers backed it up. The thunderous back tipped the scales 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds–numbers that most linebackers on this level don’t want to see coming at them one-on-one in the hole. Finished with a pretty good broad jump of 104.5 and a 22.3 inch vertical–both were top-three among middle school backs.
Other performances of note
- Samuel Rodriguez, who will be at Doral Academy next year, showed some bunnies with a 25.9 vertical
- Under windy conditions at camp, Trevon Moate turned in a 5.2 in the 40-yard dash. I feel he could be faster with better conditions
- 2027 (seventh grade) running back Justin Compere Justin Compere 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Immokalee Middle | 2026 FL scratched his times, but the 5-foot-7 and 160-pound back is a baller. Will be interested to see him develop with another year of youth ball