If you are looking for speed that can take over a game then you have come to the right place. Kevin is an exceptionally gifted track athlete and football player. The 5’10” 180 lbs junior also has a frame that can handle the wear and tear of the position and a workload more than that of the typical speed back. On the track side of things, Kevin has run a 10.86 100M and a 21.98 200M. So if you give this kid a lane there’s no chasing him down. On the field it isn’t just about speed. Kevin is a football player. He will make you miss and he will lower the shoulder on a defender. This camp season is going to be the perfect stage for him to show off his best talents.

Stats: 119 Rushing Yards, 4 TDs

The junior RB is an electric RB out of Wauwatosa West. The Week 3 tape shows an RB who finishes runs with violence. On multiple carries we see Kevin run over defenders or drag them into the endzone. Coming into the season, Kevin was a speedy back. This season he is showing that he is a very well rounded ball carrier. The speed is definitely still there, though. He can shoot through a gap and be loose in the secondary before LBs can close on him. The acceleration he shows after the handoff jumps off the tape too. Athletically, Kevin has talent that stands out from the crowd. Plus he is also showing that he can thrive in the physical side of the position. Check out the tape, and keep this kid on your radars.

Rankings Movement: #84 to #61

Kevin really impressed me when I went back through his tape, proving to me that I was sleeping on him. We have him heading in the right direction now as he jumps nearly 20 spots and right on the verge of being a Top 5 RB. Kevin already has legitimate varsity experience with 730 yards under his belt as a sophomore.

On tape, the first word that comes to mind is patience. Kevin has a plethora of athletic tools in his 5’10” 185 lbs frame including 10.86 100M dash speed. He stands out because he knows how to use it. Kevin doesn’t rush, instead he lets things develop, trusts his OL and his vision, then when he sees that glimpse of daylight he flips the switch. Kevin has the ability to stick his foot in the ground and accelerate quickly to get himself through lanes into open grass where he can hit the jets. Defenses are put under pressure with Kevin on the field because they have to contain him. If they let him into space he has the speed to be gone. I’m excited to see if the rising RB can push for the 1K mark on the ground this fall.

It won’t be easy for Kevin to breakout this year compared to his 2023 season because he put up 730 yards as a sophomore. Bigger things are coming for Kevin’s career though. The 5’10” 180 lbs ’26 RB is an outstanding track athlete in the offseason. He runs a 10.86 100M and a 21.98 200M. The elite speed translates to the field. Every time he gets the chance to flash the speed we see him leave a big gap between him and the defense. A gap that grows until he crosses the goal line. Kevin was the team’s leading rusher in 2023, and they could try to use that elite speed even more and beat his 150 carries from 2023. If that happens he will be pushing for 1,000 yards and put out highlights that catch a lot of attention.

Back to the 2026 class for our next verified speedster! Tosa’ West’s playmaking RB Kevin Johnikin II Kevin Johnikin II 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Wauwatosa West | 2026 State WI has arguably the most accomplished T&F resume of anyone on this list, and he’s not even an upperclassman yet. Johnikin II is coming off a fantastic outdoor season that saw PR in the 100M with with a blazing 10.86, and he also posted a 10.92 and 10.94 in the past couple months for good measure. Johnikin II also went 22.01 and 22.18 in the 200M and has jumped 21’1.5″ as a freshman in 2023. For further bragging rights, he was named an All-American at the 2024 Nike Indoor Nationals, and posted an impressive 425×3 back squat in mid-March, proving any questions as to where that speed comes from.

Earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore, posting 150 carries for 730 yards and I like his vision and patience as a tailback. He does a good job of following his blockers and taking what the defense gives him, is easily able to bounce it out to the edge, and displays solid burst. Johnikin II is also an explosive kick returner and displays a strong lower body that helps him bounce off weaker tackle attempts at his lower body and carry defenders for extra yardage. With the speed he shows on the track, I was hoping to see more explosive plays and overall elusiveness, so I’m thinking this offseason has been a monstrous one and Johnikin II is sitting right in the drivers seat of a breakout, stock-rising junior campaign with the Trojans.