With the talent that David Knowles III inherently brings to the table, paired with the (assumed) talent of teammate Marshall Manning (son of Peyton), and his local youth team must be absolutely nasty. Knowles is the recipient of solid coaching, as he showcased that ball security is his number one priority. Throughout his reps and after the catch, Knowles instinctively pinned the ball to his chest. The best way I can describe Knowles’ game is that he looks both natural and the part when playing. I am curious to see how he pans out as a high school prospect – my guess: very well.

Making his way from Tennessee, David Knowles III made the trip worth it with a Top Performer effort on Saturday. David is a physical runner who consistently showed quick, choppy footwork paired with a strong lower-body build. Running with a noticeable forward lean, David runs with a relentless effort that you can tell comes in handy when he needs to fight for a few extra yards. What really stood out most was how much effort he put into each and every drill throughout the day, finishing every rep with intensity and the eagerness to compete with the best in the country.

David Knowles III David Knowles III 5'8" | 181 lbs | RB/LB Baylor School | 2030 TN is a young running back prospect with great size, power and movement skills.

At 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, he has the frame to make an immediate impact at the high school level. With the large frame, he runs with violence, whether as a tailback or linebacker.

While he is a violent runner, he combines that with good hips that allow to make a strong first cut to make the initial defender miss and work into the open field.

While he can stand to get more creative to elude tacklers, once he finds a crease, he can explode downhill. This is evident on defense as well, where he played a strong linebacker.

He figures to be a prolific one-cut back in the long-term with the ability to lead the offense at his high school.

EXPECTED ROLE IN 2026: He will sit behind some standout 2027 tailbacks at Baylor before having the opportunity to take over the workload as a sophomore.

One of the best players out of the state of Tennessee in the 2030 class at the running back and linebacker position is David Knowles III David Knowles III 5'8" | 181 lbs | RB/LB Baylor School | 2030 TN . He is an outstanding player who brings IQ, physicality, toughness and just flat-out skill to the gridiron that is initially what got him this awesome honor to compete in New Jersey for the “RIZE”. Look out!

David Knowles David Knowles 5'6" | 160 lbs | RB TN impressed with his combination of size, strength, and agility, making him a tough matchup for defenders. During bag drills, he maintained low pad level and balance, allowing him to power through contact while keeping his feet moving. Knowles showcased soft hands and an ability to adjust to passes in traffic, highlighting his potential as a receiving threat out of the backfield. His lateral quickness and deceptive speed stood out during agility drills, enabling him to evade defenders in tight spaces. Knowles also excelled in blitz pickup, showing great awareness and effort to protect his quarterback. With his size and skill set, he has the tools to become a versatile, every-down back.