HBCU Carolinas Showcase – Top 5 Running Backs Analysis
The HBCU Carolinas Showcase brought over 350 players to Mallard Creek High School on May 7th. The purpose was to give a platform for some of the top athletes in the Carolinas directly to multiple historically black colleges and universities.…
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Continue ReadingThe HBCU Carolinas Showcase brought over 350 players to Mallard Creek High School on May 7th. The purpose was to give a platform for some of the top athletes in the Carolinas directly to multiple historically black colleges and universities. Over 30 colleges and universities were in attendance with a total of 87 coaches including 8 HBCU Head Coaches. The event was a landmark success for putting players in the Carolinas on a pedestal, led by Charlotte Football Insiders.
Turbo Richard, Class of 2024, Northwestern High School – Turbo has really seen his recruiting start to explode after a great sophomore year of over 1500 total yards of offense for a perennial power in the Northwestern Trojans in Rock Hill, SC. Turbo displayed many of the great traits that have colleges highly interested – incredibly quick feet, an ability to catch out of the backfield, good top-end speed, and elite change of direction ability. Richard since his Top 5 performance at the showcase has picked up offers from Old Dominion and James Madison, and we expect this to just be the beginning for an elite prospect going into his junior year.
Jawarn Howell, Class of 2023, Mooresville High School – Another player who really benefitted from the exposure of the HBCU Carolinas Showcase is Howell, who has picked up 4 offers since his impressive camp performance – Navy, Mississippi Valley State, Fayetteville State, and Allen University. Howell has Division 1 size at 6’1 and 205 pounds, and though Howell is a physical back by nature, he got a chance to display his agility and speed in space – something that doesn’t always get displayed in his film. I think in this case – Howell showed that he can be much more than just a power-based running back – he showed some really good ability to win in space versus linebackers in 1 on 1 pass receiving drills. The other thing that really flashed well for Jawarn was just the sheer fact he moved so well with fluidity for a back his size. His recruitment should really explode as he hits the summer camp circuit.
The other three running backs in the Top 5 each have some special traits about them. Latrell Goodwin is a Class of 2023 prospect out of Myers Park High School who has worked extremely hard this offseason and has an opportunity to get on the recruiting map this upcoming season. He has quick feet and displayed an ability to be a true 3-down back with his catching prowess out of the backfield.
The other two backs are Class of 2025 standouts who have extremely bright futures ahead of them. Jeremy ’JD’ Williams of Metrolina Christian School had an impressive season as a freshman and has improved his body to a 5’9 175-pound stature. Expect him to play a big role in the Warriors’ offense with his strengths being a big-play threat every time he touches the ball, especially off-tackle and outside on running plays, and winning matchups against linebackers in a variety of pass routes from the backfield. Curtis Clark of Mallard Creek High School is at a place where running backs have some strong traditions – most notably Jaylen Samuels who has played several years in the NFL. Clark has some extreme speed in space – he was routinely beating linebackers by several yards in pass receiving 1-on-1’s, which projects him to possibly play some slot receiver in his future. He also has some excellent quick feet and a great one cut and go trait that really impressed me. As he works on his body and matures, I’m excited for his recruitment ahead.