Riley Collins Riley Collins 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB/ATH East Bladen | 2027 NC is the senior workhorse in East Bladen’s backfield and the perfect fit for the Eagles’ wishbone attack. A decisive one-cut runner, Collins excels between the tackles, quickly finding creases and getting north and south. While his physical running style stands out, don’t overlook his speed. As a track athlete, he’s much faster than many realize and has the ability to break long runs once he reaches the second level. Expect Collins to be the Eagles’ primary dive back and a reliable tone-setter for one of the area’s most productive rushing offenses.

Collins was the third back in a two-back rushing attack for East Bladen last season. The Eagles lose one of those two backs to graduation, so Collins could see a huge increase in carries as a senior. He averaged over six yards a carry last season, and the talent is there for a late breakout.

Riley Collins Riley Collins 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB/ATH East Bladen | 2027 NC is the type of back that changes the energy of an offense the moment he touches the football. The East Bladen standout is a powerful runner with breakaway speed — arguably one of the fastest athletes on this Sharks roster. Once he hits the second level, it’s usually over. He runs with controlled aggression, combining strength and acceleration in a way that makes defenders take poor angles.

What makes Collins even more impressive is his stoic presence. His emotions never waver. Big play, tough loss, long drive — he stays even-keeled and locked in. With the ball in his hands, he’s electric, but between the whistles he carries himself like a quiet professional. He can also make tough catches in traffic, showing that he’s more than just a downhill runner.

At 6’0″ with a strong frame, Collins has the build to comfortably reach 180–190 pounds at the next level without losing his speed. Add in his relentless work ethic, and you’re looking at a high-upside back who embodies the developmental foundation this 11th-season Sharks team is built on.

In a heavy run offense, Riley has a few talented juniors ahead of him in the pecking order, but he showed enough in some limited carries to get onto our watchlist for his class. I like the “feel” Riley shows with the ball in his hands – East Bladen runs a lot from multiple back formations, and Riley shows the patience to allow blocks to form in front of him before showing a nice change of pace when he gets into space with speed and acceleration. Riley has good vision and gets north/south with little wasted motion or effort. I like his potential going forward.