8 Preseason Names To Watch: 22′ RBs
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As we get closer to the start of the Fall 2021 season these young men are practicing with their respective teams getting ready for their Week 1 matchup. With that being said let’s take a look at 8 preseason names…
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Continue ReadingAs we get closer to the start of the Fall 2021 season these young men are practicing with their respective teams getting ready for their Week 1 matchup. With that being said let’s take a look at 8 preseason names to watch as the days are getting closer and closer to gameday.
Josh Brown Josh Brown 5'8" | 200 lbs | RB Willowbrook | 2022 State IL Willowbrook Twitter Highlights
Mr. Brown is from Willowbrook, to me, he’s one of the most underrated running backs in the state. He rushed for 1,750 yards for 23 touchdowns in the six-game spring season that took place recently, if he’s able to accomplish that in only six games imagine what he could accomplish in a full season. What I like most about this young man is his ability to burst past the 2nd level of defenders once the ball is in his hands as well as how he utilizes his jump cuts to weave in and out of different running lanes at the line of scrimmage. He has good vision to see the cutback lanes when they open up hitting them hard once he sees them and once he does he’s off to the races. He’s a smaller back standing at 5’8 200 but man does he play like he’s 6’2 230 with his aggressiveness and pure determination to get into the endzone. If you’re a school looking for an N/S running back that’s going to give his all to get into the endzone look no further as Mr. Brown is the young man for you.
Corey Phillips Corey Phillips 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Kaneland | 2022 State IL Kaneland Twitter Highlights
Mr. Phillips is from Kaneland, he’s an underrated running back and if you watch his film you’ll see why. His ability to change gears quickly allows him to blow by the 2nd level of defenders with ease and he makes defenders miss showcasing his elusiveness. Not only does he do this, but he also breaks arm tackles by keeping his feet driving and fights for extra yards by playing through contact. In the passing game, he gets upfield after securing the catch and has a good change of direction being able to stop on a dime then accelerate to full speed quickly. Upon going to various summer camps during the circuit and showing out, he only has one offer under his belt. If you’re a school that needs an all-around back that can get it done in the passing game by catching out of the backfield and a hard runner for your run game look no further as you’ll get a steal with this young man.
Kendrick Washington Kendrick Washington 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Shepard | 2022 State IL Shepard Twitter Highlights
Mr. Washington is from Shepard, he was a sight to see this past spring season and put on a show. He breaks arm tackles by keeping his feet driving and this was highlighted extremely well in one of the first clips on his highlight tape. On this clip, right when he gets the ball there’s a defender in his face trying to tackle him but instead of getting tackled for a loss on the play this young man breaks the arm tackle, plants his foot into the ground and changes gears quickly bursting past the 2nd level of defenders. Not only can this young man get it done running the ball, he also can catch out of the backfield where he’s not afraid to make contested catches over the defender. I’m not the only one who sees the talent that Mr. Washington possesses as he was awarded the SSC Player of the Year Award for his conference. He currently holds one offer from Roosevelt University and I expect more to come after this fall season is concluded. If you’re a program that needs a playmaking offensive weapon look no further as this young man can make an immediate impact for your team.
Chance Joseph Chance Joseph 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Crete Monee | 2022 State IL Crete Monee Twitter Highlights
Mr. Joseph is from Crete Monee, the Lincoln-Way East transfer got his first season as a Warrior under his belt and it’s only the beginning of what’s to come. What I like most about this young man is his ability to burst through the line of scrimmage once the ball is in his hands and upon doing so fighting for extra yards by playing through contact. He can also catch out of the backfield where once he secures the catch he plants his back foot into the ground to turn upfield and changes gears quickly to get into the endzone. With there being a full fall season I expect this young man’s production to increase as he’ll get more games under his belt and with the talented team that he’s on make a push for a deep playoff run. He currently holds no offers as of yet, if you’re in need of a running back that can get it done in both the passing game as well as the ground game take a look at his highlights above. This young man stands at 5’11 176 and has the talent/ability to play at the next level, he just needs that first blessing to come his way.
Aaron Vaughn Jr. Brother Rice Twitter Highlights
Mr. Vaughn was previously at Providence Catholic but has since transferred to Brother Rice where he’ll be playing this fall season. What I like the most about this young man his ability to be a patient runner by letting the play develop as he slow plays the snap, once that hole opens up he plants his foot into the ground quickly and bursts through the line of scrimmage. As he does this he fights for extra yards by playing through contact as well as breaking arm tackles by keeping his feet driving. There’s a play at the beginning part of his highlight tape where he breaks a tackle at the line of scrimmage and breaks four to five more as he continues to get up the field increasing his yards after contact. This young man was also used in the return game where his ability to change gears quickly comes to light on the first play of his highlight tape where he took the kickoff back for a touchdown. We have to see how he’s going to produce with his new team, but if this past spring season was any insight as to how he’ll perform it’ll be a sight to see.
Cameron Ajazi Cameron Ajazi 6'1" | 200 lbs | RB Aurora Christian | 2022 State IL Aurora Christian Twitter Highlights
Mr. Ajazi is from Aurora Christian, it’s a smaller school in the 1A class here in Illinois and I had the privilege of seeing him in person this past spring season when they went up against 4A powerhouse St Francis. He caught my eye immediately as he’s a bigger back standing at 6’2 200 and is a downhill runner. What I like most about this young man is his ability to break arm tackles by keeping his feet driving and playing through contact by fighting for extra yards. For the first minute of his highlight tape those are the types of plays that are shown, he gets the ball and runs defenders over as he increases his yards after contact. That being said, I’m not the only one that’s a fan of this young man as he currently holds one offer from Loras College. I look forward to seeing how he produces this fall season and I expect more offers to come his way once the season is concluded.
A.J. Sanders A.J. Sanders 5'9" | 160 lbs | RB Batavia | 2022 State IL Batavia Twitter Highlights
Mr. Sanders is from Batavia, he’s a playmaking machine and the offense is schemed to get the ball into this young man’s hands in multiple ways. These include handoffs, jet sweets, motioning out wide to run a screen pass, lining out as a wideout, etc. What I like most about this young man is his explosiveness and ability to change gears quickly which is shown throughout his highlight tape on the offensive side of the ball as well as in the return game. His first play on the tape is him returning a kickoff 90+ yards for a touchdown. That’s not all that this young man can do, he bursts past the 2nd level of defenders and once he’s in open space there’s no catching him. He’s a smaller back standing at 5’9 160 but don’t let his size deter you away from him as he causes problems for opposing defenses. He and Jalen Buckley Jalen Buckley 6'0" | 200 lbs | ATH Batavia | 2022 State IL are a one-two punch in the backfield, look for them to do big things this fall.
Albert Kunickis Albert Kunickis 6'3" | 210 lbs | RB Lemont | 2022 State IL Lemont Twitter Highlights
Mr. Kunickis is from Lemont, this young man stands at 6’3 210 and is one heck of a placekicker as well sending kickoffs into the endzone for no return and hitting 40+ yard field goals. Specifically for the running back position, he’s a dominant force that can get it done in the passing game as well as the ground game. What I like most about this young man is his ability to not only fight for extra yards by keeping his feet driving, also by being able to catch coming out of the backfield making contested catches over defenders. Once the ball is in his hands he’s a sight to see, he’s able to make the first defender miss with his elusiveness and after securing the catch he gets upfield quickly. He currently holds no offers at this moment but he has the skillset and talent to play at a high level in college, he just needs the opportunity to do so. I expect offers to come his way once the fall season is over and I look forward to not only seeing how he produces this fall, also where he lands for his college career.
Notables
Wade Abrams Wade Abrams 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Cary Grove | 2022 State IL Cary Grove Twitter Highlights
Cade Stevens Cade Stevens 6'1" | 190 lbs | RB Streator | 2022 State IL Streator Twitter
Ty Schultz Ty Schultz 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Lockport | 2022 State IL Lockport Twitter Highlights
Darquel Sanders Darquel Sanders 6'2" | 195 lbs | RB Oswego East | 2022 State IL Oswego East Twitter Highlights
Jacob Friddle Jacob Friddle 6'1" | 180 lbs | RB Wilmington | 2022 State IL Wilmington
These are some of the Preseason Names to Watch at the RB position for the class of 2022. Keep an eye on these young men as they get ready to put the pads on.
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