November 10, 2009

Barry Every
Rivals.com Football Recruiting

VOTE: Home-run threat | Inside runner | In space | Downhill runner

Pick a category Stongest arm Most accurate Best scrambler Home-run threat Best inside runner Best in space Best downhill runner

The Rivals.com recruiting experts have broken down countless hours of film and racked up plenty of frequent flyer miles to see the top prospects compete at events across the country. In the process of evaluating overall talent, several prospects gained notice for their mastery of specific skills.

We've selected the best of the best in each category for every position and ranked them. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barry Every breaks down the running backs.

RUNNING BACK RANKINGS: Home-run threat | Inside runner | In space | Downhill runner

Grant Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Oregon
PARTICULARS: 5-10/175
BUZZ: Grant was the Florida 300 intermediate hurdles champion and has the ability to outrun almost any defensive back.

Brown Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Florida
PARTICULARS: 5-11/185
BUZZ: Brown was able to run one of the fastest times on the Under Armour camp circuit this past summer.

Clay Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Oklahoma
PARTICULARS: 6-0/190
BUZZ: This 1,000-yard rusher and receiver also returned two kickoffs for scores as a junior.

Morgan Highlights
COMMITTED TO: USC
PARTICULARS: 5-11/175
BUZZ: Morgan uses his nationally ranked 110- and 400-meter hurdles speed to turn short passes into long scores.

Seastrunk Highlights
CONSIDERING: Seastrunk has a long list he has yet to officially narrow down.
PARTICULARS: 5-11/192
BUZZ: This 10.37 100-meter guy has a chance to score every time he touches the ball and is physically bigger than most backs this fast.

Cooper Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Washington
PARTICULARS: 6-0/205
BUZZ: Cooper proved to be the definition of an inside runner, with the bulk of his 275 carries for 2,902 yards and 42 touchdowns coming up the middle.

Redd Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Penn State
PARTICULARS: 5-10/210
BUZZ: This very muscular back is not afraid to lower the shoulder and wear down defenses.

James Highlights
CONSIDERING: Arizona, Cal, UCLA and Notre Dame
PARTICULARS: 5-10/190
BUZZ: James rushed for 1,132 yards in only five games, most coming by sticking it up inside and wearing out would-be tacklers.

Dyer Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Auburn
PARTICULARS: 5-8/201
BUZZ: This speedy ball of muscle had already rushed for 5,595 yards prior to his senior season.

Lattimore Highlights
CONSIDERING: List of potential schools includes Auburn, Florida State, North Carolina, Oregon, Penn State and South Carolina.
PARTICULARS: 6-0/210
BUZZ: This big back gained most of his 300 yards rushing in the state championship game running straight at Sumter (S.C.).

Dyer Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Auburn
PARTICULARS: 5-8/201
BUZZ: Not only can he stick the ball up the gut, but he also can change directions in the blink of an eye, causing defenders to whiff.

Grant Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Alabama
PARTICULARS: 5-10/186
BUZZ: Grant showed off his tremendous athleticism at the National Underclassmen Combine as a sophomore, running a 4.47 40-yard dash, 4.19 shuttle and jumping 37 inches.

Clay Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Oklahoma
PARTICULARS: 6-0/190
BUZZ: Clay was the most impressive back during agility drills at the Los Angeles Nike Camp.

Finch Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Oklahoma
PARTICULARS: 5-8/170
BUZZ: Finch showed off his elusiveness against top-flight competition at the Tallahassee Nike Camp, earning RB MVP honors.

Morgan Highlights
COMMITTED TO: USC
PARTICULARS: 5-11/175
BUZZ: He is not only a track star but also a shifty runner who totaled 2,424 yards and 33 touchdowns last season.

Greene Highlights
CONSIDERING: Green's long list of potential schools includes N.C. State, Maryland, Syracuse and Rutgers
PARTICULARS: 6-0/190
BUZZ: No one on film hits the hole harder and explodes into would-be tacklers like Greene, who won U.S. Army All-American player of the week honors with 42 carries for 278 yards and four touchdowns.

Wilkerson Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Stanford
PARTICULARS: 6-0/210
BUZZ: This huge back ran over most of his opponents on his way to 2,300 yards and 29 touchdowns last season.

Redd Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Penn State
PARTICULARS: 5-10/210
BUZZ: Redd practices every rep at full speed and proved at Top Gun this summer that he may be the hardest runner in the country.

Williams Highlights
CONSIDERING: Oregon leads a long list of schools in the hunt for Williams.
PARTICULARS: 5-11/200
BUZZ: This huge, muscular battering ram ran one of the fastest 40 times at the U.S. Army All-American Combine.

Lattimore Highlights
CONSIDERING: List of potential schools includes Auburn, Florida State, North Carolina, Oregon, Penn State and South Carolina.
PARTICULARS: 6-0/210
BUZZ: Lattimore carried the ball a combined 76 times in the state semifinal championship games. He turned close games into runaways by wearing down the defense.