Riverside -> South Charleston

South Charleston addressed one of its biggest offseason needs with the addition of 2028 RB Malakhi Hope Malakhi Hope 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB South Charleston | 2028 State WV from Riverside. Originally expected to join Herbert Hoover, Hope instead gives the Black Eagles another major addition to an already impressive offseason haul. After two productive seasons at Riverside, he arrives ready to fill an important role in the backfield while bringing proven experience and playmaking ability to the offense. Hope should also benefit from running behind one of the top offensive line units in the state, creating an ideal situation for him to put together a big junior campaign. His addition not only solidifies the running back position but also raises the overall ceiling for a South Charleston team with high expectations entering the season.

Malakhi Hope Malakhi Hope 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB South Charleston | 2028 State WV got a late start to his sophomore season as he recovered from an injury, but he finished strong, especially defensively. His future at the next level is still at running back in our eyes, but Hope’s defensive play in his sophomore season should be noted. Hope can be special as a return man as well and made a big impact on kickoffs and punts. He’s a dynamic player and should garner D1 attention soon.

Rounding out our 2028 Top 15 as the #3 running back in the class is Riverside’s Malakhi Hope Malakhi Hope 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB South Charleston | 2028 State WV . He broke out as a freshman for the Warriors, rushing for just under 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns last season. We’re expecting him to take a step forward as a sophomore after a year of becoming bigger and stronger, which could allow him to be a stock riser in the rankings after the season. Hope was the Rookie of the Year in the Kanawha Valley in a very talented area and is another name that D1 programs are going to want to know.

The leading freshman rusher in the state last season was Riverside’s Malakhi Hope Malakhi Hope 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB South Charleston | 2028 State WV who’s put himself in the conversation for the early top running back in the 2028 class. Hope totaled just under 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns during his freshman campaign as the Warriors have a promising talent to build around for four years. He’s a balanced runner with homerun speed that he can continue to add to as his body matures and develops over time. Hope does a great job finding space and has a natural feel for the running back position.

An early 2028 running back name to know through the first three weeks of his freshman season is Riverside’s Malakhi Hope Malakhi Hope 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB South Charleston | 2028 State WV . He’s been one of the top rushers in the state in three games with 419 yards and 3 touchdowns with two very strong performances against Greenbrier East and Capital running for 190 and 180 yards respectively.

The future is bright for the young ball carrier, and once his body catches up to his athleticism, the ceiling could be very high for his potential as a prospect. Hope has the frame to add significant size over the next three years and is still running hard for a slighter build. Athletically, he’s ahead of the game with the speed to turn the corner and outrace defenders down the sidelines and the feet to sidestep them. Keep close tabs on Hope over the years as he’s likely to emerge as one of the better athletes in the 2028 class.

16 carries 176 yards 2 touchdowns

Our first 2028 prospect to impress on varsity this season was Riverside RB Malakhi Hope Malakhi Hope 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB South Charleston | 2028 State WV who performed very well in the Warriors’ narrow loss to Greenbrier East. Hope rushed for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns in his high school debut while showing flashes of some very good things to come in his future. He showed great big play ability with two long runs including a 73-yard touchdown which saw him outrace defenders down the right sideline. Hope showed a great burst on his clips available to us with the speed to turn the corner and separate in the open field. Once hos body catches up to his athleticism, he could end up being one of the better running backs in this class.

From what I can tell, Running Back Malakhi Hope Malakhi Hope 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB South Charleston | 2028 State WV is only starting to scratch the surface of what kind of football player he could become, over the next four years. At 5-foot-10 and 165-pounds he was a one-man highlight reel for Valley PK-8 this past season. Whether taking direct snaps at Quarterback, lining up as a Slot Wide Receiver, or at his natural Running Back position–Hope was a big play waiting to happen at any time. For example, in Valley’s Homecoming game victory over Western Greenbrier in late September, Hope did it all with five total touchdowns – two rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown, a punt return for a score and he even threw a touchdown pass. He’s a bit lean right now and is starting to get into the weight room, once he puts it all together, Hope will be a fun one to watch.