Five 2023 Running Backs to Watch

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Just a couple of weeks ago, I started a new series focusing on some of the top upcoming seniors at each position in the state of Kentucky. I started off with quarterbacks so now it’s time to move on to a new position. This week, I am focusing on running backs. In the process of writing this article, I watched several very talented ball carriers but these are the five that stood out the most to me that I believe should be on the radars of college coaches this season.</span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="145762" first="TJ" last="Horton"] </strong>| 5’10", 185 lbs. | Frederick Douglass High School | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11798771/61b0e2626e8bc5083cc59e5e">Junior Year Film</a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Horton is one of many high-caliber play makers on a very talented Douglass team. He is the type of player that you put the ball in his hands and let him go to work. Horton is a very shifty ball carrier that makes defenders miss very frequently in the open field. He also has the speed to simply run away from a defense and will run over any defender in his way. Horton also is a dangerous returner on special teams and has some experience playing corner. TJ currently already holds offers for Kentucky, Memphis, Austin Peay, Indiana State, and Eastern Kentucky but I fully expect that list to continue to grow this summer and during his senior season.</span> <strong>Kye Boyd </strong>| 5’10", 197 lbs. | North Hardin High School | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9891911/62033327b3c86e0564a8c210">Junior Year Film</a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Kye Boyd had an outstanding junior season for North Hardin, running the ball 226 times for 921 yards and seven touchdowns. He is a strong runner that shows great contact balance, simply seeming to bounce off defenders without breaking stride. He shows great vision and bursts downhill through the hold once he sees an opening. Boyd also shows solid cutting ability with the ability to make defenders miss in the open field and has a mean stiff arm. I fully expect him to pick up some offers starting this summer as he can definitely play somewhere. </span> <strong>Malachi Wheeler </strong>| 6’0", 185 lbs. | Boyd County High School |<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LnmRjCA2O0"> Junior Year Film</a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">The first thing that stands out to me when watching Wheeler is his speed. Once he sees an opening, he gets downhill in a hurry and can run away from a defense. His speed also makes him a very dangerous kickoff returner. Wheeler also gets snaps on defense at safety and linebacker. He has great vision in the open field with the ability to make cuts to make defenders miss. Wheeler also shows some strength to his game with the ability to break tackles. Wheeler will look to improve on a strong junior season in which he rushed for 971 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games. This will be a huge summer for Wheeler as he hasn’t picked up any official offers but is very deserving.</span> <strong>Daniel Swinney </strong>| 5’11" , 219 lbs. | Louisville Male High School | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14369447/6146631223474c0bf81f0cfb">Junior Year Film</a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Swinney was among the leading rushers in 6A last season, carrying the ball 226 times for 1,659 yards and 29 touchdowns. He is a big, powerful ball carrier that takes an army to bring down. Swinney also has the speed and long strides to run away from defenders, especially when he gets to the outside. He also shows a nice jump cut in the open field to make defenders miss. Swinney is also very reliable in the passing game. He currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky but I expect those offers to come in very rapidly starting this summer.</span> <strong>Jeremiah Riffle</strong> | 6’0", 208 lbs. | Lexington Christian Academy | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16128890/620e367af31e3f059843da34">Junior Year Film</a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Riffle played a key role in LCA’s run to the 2A State Championship Game last season. He picked up an impressive 9.5 yards per carry and scored ten touchdowns on the season. Last year, he split carries with Virginia commit, [player_tooltip player_id="144957" first="Xavier" last="Brown"], but this year he should get even more opportunities to showcase his skill. He is a strong runner that makes defenders bounce off of him without breaking stride. Riffle also has tremendous speed once he hits the open field and great vision which he uses to make jump cuts to make defenders miss. He is a player that I believe will be able to take full advantage of the summer camp circuit and begin picking up offers as I believe he can play at the FCS level at the very least.</span>