Joshua Gaines Joshua Gaines 5'11" | 210 lbs | RB Basha | 2026 State AZ was the guy Basha leaned on when they needed the dirty work handled. While Roberts got his touches and Lewis handled the gadget stuff, Gaines was the hammer between the tackles – the back they trusted on the short-yard and gotta-have-it downs. He churned out tough yards when Chandler knew exactly what was coming, falling forward, squeezing through small creases, and taking the air out of the game in the second half. In a championship setting, that reliability is gold, and his workload in this one shows exactly how much the staff trusted him.

Explosive and punishing. Gaines was exactly what his film showed, but stronger. The back who shrugs off tacklers and makes defenses pay. At 5’11”, 215 pounds, he’s built to carry the load, and Basha leaned on him to set the tone between the tackles. He has that blend of burst and power that makes him a nightmare to bring down, and Brophy felt it all night. It was surprising to see just how much he was featured, but he rewarded the coaches’ trust by making plays up the middle and proving he belonged in the spotlight.

Joshua Gaines Joshua Gaines 5'11" | 210 lbs | RB Basha | 2026 State AZ is a true downhill runner who doesn’t waste time dancing in the backfield — he sees daylight and goes. At 5’11”, 210 pounds, he’s a load to bring down, but what sets him apart is the mix of physicality and subtle explosiveness. Sure, he’s the type of back who loves to lower the shoulder and initiate contact, but there’s a deceptive burst once he hits the second level. He’s got that rare ability to shift from power to acceleration in just a couple steps, and defenders who don’t come correct usually find themselves on the wrong end of a highlight. He’s also incredibly reliable in short-yardage spots. Need two yards? He’ll get you three. And once he finds a crease, he doesn’t just move the chains — he can break off 20-yard gains just by keeping his legs moving and slipping off glancing blows. With his frame and football sense, Gaines brings a consistent, punishing presence to any backfield.

Gaines is a physical, explosive ball carrier who blends power and speed to be productive. Tough to bring down with a strong 5’11” 210 lb. frame that consistently breaks tackles. He runs hard downhill showing plus vision, balance, and spatial awareness to work to space. Great ability to run through first contact at the LOS and flashes good short area burst at the second level. He’s elusive using sudden cuts and accelerating out of them while also showing good start/stop speed to avoid defenders in tight spaces. Transferred in from Indiana and after sitting his first games, he immediately became a weapon for Basha and showed his dynamic skillset and D1 ability. Most recently offered by UNLV in addition to his offers from San Diego State, NAU, and Montana.

Gaines is pretty much the definition of a power back at around 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, but he’s more than just brute strength. Sure, he loves lowering his shoulder and driving defenders back, but he also has a sneaky burst that lets him slip past tacklers who think he’s just going to bowl them over. Once he gets downhill, it’s almost impossible to stop him without multiple defenders, and he’s money in short-yardage situations. Give him a little daylight, and he’ll rumble for big gains, showing off surprising athleticism for his size. He pairs up with Roberts to form a thunder-and-lightning style backfield, and that balance really forces defenses to stay honest. If Gaines keeps honing his speed and footwork, he could transform into a true game-breaker.

Gaines combines his powerful running style with his speed to be a dynamic ball carrier. Possesses a well-built frame at 5’11” 210 lbs. with good lower body strength. He’s a downhill runner that consistently demonstrates excellent vision, toughness, and ability to gain yards after contact. Shows he can absorb contact while maintaining balance and forward momentum to break tackles both at the LOS and the second level. Flashes good twitch in the short area to make quick explosive cuts and accelerate out with speed. Like his lateral agility and jump cut to make defenders miss in tight spaces. Despite splitting carries with top ranked 2027 RB Noah Roberts Noah Roberts 6'1" | 200 lbs | RB Basha | 2027 State AZ he finished the season with 547 yards and nine touchdowns in six games. Initially offered by San Diego State, he also holds offers from Northern Arizona and Montana with many more on the way.

Josh Gaines is every bit the power runner you want in a backfield. At 5-foot-10 and 192 pounds, he’s a bruising presence who refuses to go down on first contact. His strength allows him to carry defenders with him, grinding out tough yards even when the defense seems to have him bottled up. But don’t let his size fool you — he’s got some nice footwork behind the line of scrimmage, making sharp cuts to create running lanes. Paired with Roberts, the two form an incredible duo that punishes defenses with a perfect mix of power, vision, and explosiveness.