Class 4A Underclassman Stats and Analysis: RB
The Iowa High School season is underway and a majority of teams are three weeks in, whereas some teams have had to take a week or two off because of COVID-19 concerns. I am taking a look at the statistics…
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Continue ReadingThe Iowa High School season is underway and a majority of teams are three weeks in, whereas some teams have had to take a week or two off because of COVID-19 concerns. I am taking a look at the statistics provided by ia.varsitybound.com and watched film on the highest producing underclassman signal callers, running backs, and receivers and broken them down. Here are the RB’s that have impressed so far this season:
Sophomore RB, Brady Wavrunek Brady Wavrunek 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Sioux City East | 2023 State IA , Sioux City North High School – 5’11, 185 lbs.
Stat line: 67 rushing attempts, 231 rushing yards, 4 rushing TD’s, 3.4 Yards Per Carry
Breakdown: Brady Wavrunek Brady Wavrunek 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Sioux City East | 2023 State IA has had success on the ground for his Sioux City North team so far this season by using a downhill running style. He’s, what I like to call, a bulldog type RB who makes one cut and gets downhill at the defense putting the pressure on them to step in front and take a good hit. Wavrunek is a big body that will deliver some punch when he’s carrying the ball. He also helps his team on special teams in the return game where he has given his offense good field position to start with some good kick-off returns. If Wavrunek can continue to be efficient the Stars will be a competitive team moving forward.
Junior RB, Jon Presswood, Fort Dodge High School – 5’10, 190 lbs.
Stat line: 22 rushing attempts, 144 rushing yards, 6.5 yards per carry
Breakdown: Jon Presswood is the change of pace, second part RB out of the effective Fort Dodge backfield. Though Dayson Clayton gets a lot of attention from opponents, Presswood has shown he too can provide a spark out of the backfield. Presswood is a shifty back who is agile side-to-side in his cuts but also knows when to put his foot in the ground and get north and south to pickup yards. He is fully capable of blocking and being a lead blocker for that matter for his teammates on run plays which becomes a nice piece for the offense to utilize. Presswood will continue to find openings in the run game for the Dodgers and the offense has potential to put up quite the numbers this season.
Junior RB, Colin Kadolph Colin Kadolph 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Ankeny | 2022 State IA , Ankeny High School – 5’10, 185 lbs.
Stat line: 25 rushings attempts, 185 rushing yards, 3 rushing TD’s, 7.4 yards per carry, 4 receptions, 32 receiving yards
Breakdown: In a wide open Class 4A, Ankeny Hawks have made their statement on being the best in the state even when missing one of it’s best offensive weapons. Kadolph has picked up some offensive production for the Hawks by using good vision to see the hole open up, and bursting through with a change of speed. He’s shown he can be a reliable back out of the backfield catching the football and his 7.4 yards per carry, surprisingly isn’t leading the team, but shows that he’s an efficient runner when he gets touches. At the Ankeny game I was at Kadolph gashed the Centennial defense for 3 rushing TD’s. Kadolph and Ankeny will challenge for the 4A championship in the end by using its balanced offensive attack to beat tough defenses.
Junior RB, Jamari Newson, Iowa City High School – 5’11, 168 lbs.
Stat line: 30 rushing attempts, 161 rushing yards, 2 rushing TD’s, 5.4 yards per carry, 2 receptions, 17 receiving yards
Breakdown: A class of 2022 RB with DI interest already in the state is Jamari Newson. Newson is a developing back with good athleticism and vision out of the backfield. When he gets carries he’s good at seeing the hole open and changing speeds to burst through the line and get to the second level quickly. He’s very good with the stiff arm move and uses it often to stave off would-be tacklers. He’s also a threat out of the backfield to catch the football either on a screen play or dump down pass. Though Iowa City Public Schools is not playing football at the time, I will be looking forward to the time they are able to play again and see Newson’s potential.
Junior RB, Titus Christiansen Titus Christiansen 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Southeast Polk | 2022 State IA , Southeast Polk High School – 5’10, 175 lbs.
Stat line: 44 rushing attempts, 351 rushing yards, 4 rushing TD’s, 8.0 yards per carry, 6 receptions, 77 receiving yards, 2 receiving TD’s
Breakdown: The Southeast Polk offense has come alive the past couple weeks as they have no shortage of weapons. Christiansen is one of the leaders of that pack as he is a dynamic, shifty RB. Christiansen is smaller, compact back that is really quick on the cut, and fast through the hole at the line to pickup as many yards as possible by getting North and South with the football. He has good vision and sees where the defense isn’t, and that’s why he’s effective on the catch. In the open field he can make a man miss and fast enough to make them pay. As has been noted, Class 4A is wide open right now, and Southeast Polk could be a team that makes a deep run due to the running game of Christiansen and others.
Junior RB, Jabari Dobbs, Cedar Rapids Washington High School – 6’1, 180 lbs.
Stat line: 68 rushing attempts, 229 rushing yards, 4 rushing TD’s, 3.4 yards per carry, 1 reception, 10 receiving yards
Breakdown: Cedar Rapids Washington pulled off a big upset this season when they beat Cedar Rapids Kennedy who is loaded with high level talent. One of the reasons the Warriors are clicking is RB Jabari Dobbs. Dobbs is a physical RB who has a nice jump cut in the hole and pairs that with his speed. At 6’1, his frame could be added onto very easily and makes him a pretty towering RB when he’s coming downhill at a defender. Being a physical runner is what Dobbs has to continue to do for the offense to continue having success in other aspects, and he has proven he can do so so far this season.
Junior RB, Josh Jenkins, Des Moines Lincoln High School – 6’0, 160 lbs.
Stat line: 24 rushing attempts, 147 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 6.1 yards per carry, 1 reception, 35 receiving yards
Breakdown: Des Moines Lincoln has a few players who are able to handle the football out of the backfield but Josh Jenkins takes on the speed back role. Jenkins is good at using his speed to get to the outside edge and exploit the containment, or lack thereof, of the defense. Though he is able to run the ball between the tackles his attributes fit best while bouncing outside and seeing open space there. Jenkins only has 1 catch on the season so far, but I’d bet he would have more if Des Moines Public Schools were playing at the moment. He’s a good receiver out of the backfield exemplified by his 35 yard average currently. Jenkins is a highlight on the Des Moines Lincoln offense that should be relied upon if/when football is played again by the Railsplitters.
Junior RB, Xavier Nwankpa Xavier Nwankpa 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Southeast Polk | 2022 State IA , Southeast Polk High School – 6’3, 185 lbs.
Stat line: 12 rushing attempts, 195 rushing yards, 3 rushing TD’s, 16.3 yards per carry, 2 reception, 15 receiving yards
Breakdown: Xavier Nwankpa Xavier Nwankpa 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Southeast Polk | 2022 State IA is one of the fastest rising juniors in the country recruitment wise, and although he’s highlighted here as a ball carrier he projects to the defensive backfield at the next level. That being said, he is much more than a defensive back, and can do it just as well offensively and on special teams. In short, Nwankpa is a gifted football player overall, and shows good shiftiness in the open field when touching the football. He’s also a track runner who possesses good top speed and he utilizes that when running the ball and puts defenses at a big disadvantage. Then to round it all out on the offensive side he reads his blocks well and takes what the defense gives him, and the same can be said as a returner on kick-offs. Nwankpa will have the big schools calling, if he doesn’t already, and if you watch him even for a short time you will see the talent he possesses and why they are.
Junior RB, Kael Kolarik, Indianola High School – 6’0, 195 lbs.
Stat line: 61 rushing attempts, 268 rushing yards, 4 rushing TD’s, 4.4 yards per carry, 4 receptions, 6 receiving yards
Breakdown: Kael Kolarik is a do-it-all type RB for Indianola. He will line-up in a formation as a wildcat QB, he carries the football quite often, and brings a form a toughness every football team needs. Kolarik makes things happen and takes on the role of playmaker for the Indians so far this season. He has some wiggle/shiftiness to him in the open field and can make defenders miss when he’s got the ball in his hands. A few clips that stood out to me from Kolarik is the way he adjusts when the play breaks down. So if there’s a bad snap, or blown up play he reacts well and most of the time can make a positive out of it. He’s a strong runner who is hard to bring down with the big bodied frame that he has. Indianola plays a tough schedule, but Kolarik will help keep them competitive throughout the season.
Sophomore RB, Reid Johnson, Ankeny High School – 5’10, 165 lbs.
Stat line: 39 rushing attempts, 198 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 5.1 yards per carry, 1 reception, 8 receiving yards
Breakdown: Though Ankeny has already had one RB highlighted on this list, and it has a QB very capable of running the ball in Jace Bauer, there’s a third weapon in Johnson. Johnson uses good vision to read the blocks and see where the hole is. He’s a downhill RB who sticks his foot in the ground on one cut and gets North and South coming at the defenders. Johnson also comes in on this list as only the second Sophomore RB, so he’s young with potential to become better over the next three seasons. As I’ve stated before, Ankeny could have a chance to make some noise in Class 4A this season in a wide open race to the finish.