Kruz Cullimore Kruz Cullimore 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Highland | 2027 State AZ is a back who can make a defender look foolish without ever really looking like he’s in a hurry. The first thing you notice is the shiftiness — he can cut on a dime, get his feet back under him instantly, and he doesn’t really lose much speed when he changes direction. That’s what makes him such a headache in space, and honestly, it’s also why he’s got real value in the passing game. He put up more than 360 receiving yards as a sophomore, which tells you Highland already knows he’s way more than just a “hand it off and hope” kind of guy between the tackles. His rushing numbers dipped a bit last season, but that was more about a crowded backfield than anything else, and he still finished as the Hawks’ top rusher. With a few of those older backs gone, there’s a real chance his workload jumps back up this year. I’d still like to see him add a little more strength to his frame — mostly so he can finish runs more consistently and hold up over a full season — but not so much that it takes away what makes him special in the first place. If Highland leans into him more, especially in the passing game, State No. 98 and RB No. 15 might end up looking pretty low.

Kruz Cullimore Kruz Cullimore 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Highland | 2027 State AZ is exactly the type of back people are talking about when they say a kid has some real Madden moves to him. The suddenness jumps off the screen right away. He can change direction so quickly that defenders end up grasping at air, and the best part is he gets right back to speed almost immediately, which is what makes those moves actually hurt teams instead of just looking flashy. That quick reset after the cut is huge. Some backs make a great move but lose all their momentum doing it. Cullimore doesn’t have that problem. He can stick his foot in the ground, make someone miss, and be right back up to speed almost instantly. He’s got great acceleration, really lively feet, and that pinball quality where he can bounce around bodies, redirect, and still stay on track. Highland’s also gotten real value out of him as a receiving option, and that’s really important to see with his running style because his twitch and short-area burst translate naturally when he’s working in space with the ball in his hands. Give him the ball on a swing, screen, or quick out, and he immediately becomes a problem because he can make the first guy miss, and who knows what’s there after that. He’s one of those backs whose movement looks natural and easy, but there’s real precision to it. He’s not just out there freelancing and hoping something works. He understands leverage, he knows how to attack a defender’s hips, and he has a really good feel for when to make that cut that sends someone the wrong direction. That’s what makes his style so fun to watch — it’s creative, but it’s controlled too.

Cullimore is a promising 2027 prospect that holds dynamic ability at RB. One of the better all-around athletes on the field as he can burn you from a variety of ways. He shows an excellent burst after a slight patience once he sees an opening and gets his shoulders squared downfield fast. In space, he shows excellent twitch with lateral mobility, frequently making opponents miss. Cullimore has also shown the ability to run routes out of the backfield and be a legit threat in the pass game. A really good all around player that will be fun to keep an eye on here in 2025.

Cullimore creates explosive plays with the ball in his hands. He’s a speedster that presses the LOS quickly to apply pressure to the defense. In addition to his top end speed, he’s got quick twitch and play lateral agility to make quick cuts and be elusive in the open field. Does a good job maintaining his speed while cutting laterally. His movements are sudden and fast forcing defenders to over pursue and take bad angles to the ball. Flashes excellent field vision and spatial awareness to locate/create running lanes and cut back opportunities. Well-rounded skillset that can also catch the ball out of the backfield. He’ll be a big impact player for Highland over the next few seasons