One of a deep array of dazzling and exciting RBs who currently reside in our PrepRedzoneMN 2027 rankings, especially in the Top 105, Anoka’s sophomore sensation is doing a great job of bringing some offensive representation to this Minnesota Hardest Hitters feature. Rush has made his impact felt on both Anoka’s program and the state’s 2027 class since he entered the freshman ranks two seasons ago, posting 29 rushes for 162 yards and 2 TDs in his introductory season to high school football. However, an offseason injury during a basketball game resulted in a torn ACL, and the 2024 season served as somewhat of a runway for Rush to get fully back to 100%, leading to the resurgence of UMD-bound linebacker Zach Welch Zach Welch 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB Anoka | 2025 State MN as the Tornadoes RB1. Fortunately, Rushed showed he’s back and fully healthy and explosive at this past December’s PrepRedzoneMN Stock-Up Showcase, going nearly 30″ in the vert, 4.76 and 4.79 in the 40, 4.69 in the shuttle, and 9’1 and 9’5 on the broad jump. We’ve clocked him as high as 31″ on the vert and 7.32 on the L-drill, and he’s taken big strides and bettered his times since he was a freshman while coming in at a legit 190 pounds.

Rush’s sophomore tape has shades of pins trying to tackle the bowling ball, as he has reps of him plowing through tackle attempts and bouncing tackle attempts off him like a combine harvester with the rock in hand. He displays a massive truck stick that can sit down would-be tacklers with authority and great fight when he’s carrying the rock, with visible effort to toss, stiff-arm, and work through defenders like every carry was his last. Rush also shows noticeable burst when he sticks his cleat in the turf and works to get vertical, and effective jump cut and impressive lateral agility, and smooth and sudden COD and cuts. He sees and uses space well, does a good job of bouncing the ball outside and upfield when the opportunity presents itself, soft hands out of the backfield, and an ever-present physical edge as a tailback. Rush is 100% going to be a top contender for breakout RB of 2025 this upcoming fall.

We’re sticking with the rash of RBs that finish out the Top 10 of the introductory 2027 MN Big Board, this time heading back to the 6A Metro ranks and Anoka High School. For anyone wondering, the reason a varsity contributor at RB is ranked below a non-varsity performer is the size/verified measurables, and although 5’10, 180 lber. Brody Rush Brody Rush 5'11" | 205 lbs | RB/LB Anoka | 2027 State MN had a heckuva freshman season and tape with Anoka, I don’t have any testing numbers on Rush right now, and he’s coming off an ACL, meniscus, and ALL surgery in his right knee he sustained during basketball this winter, but he’s more than capable of overtaking his Anoka peer in the upper echelons of the Top 5. Rush posted a respectable 29 rushes for 162 yards and 2 TDs for the Tornadoes, but the tape pops, as Rush displayed some eye-catching burst and top-end speed to open his highlights for a 50+ yard TD scamper against STMA right through the heart of the Knights‘ defense. He follows it by reeling in a tough catch high and away from his body on a wheel route vs. Blaine, which precedes a couple of crushing truck sticks vs. Coon Rapids, demonstrating impressive contact balance and a punishing North-South, get-out-of-my-way running style, especially physical for a freshman. I like his overall power for a freshman tailback, ability to make that free defender miss, good patience, and consistent leg drive post-contact, which allows him to carry dogpiles and would-be tacklers for extra yardage to convert first downs. The big question is going to be how Rush is recovered from surgery come fall. Hopefully, I can get a look at him this summer depending on if he’s cleared and if Anoka has some preseason scrimmages.