2023 ESPN 300: Top 10 RB Prospects

[BabaYaga]

The final ESPN 300 list has been leaked and we are now taking a look at the Top 10 players by position in the 2023 recruiting class. Currently, there is very little information on the top prospects and how to differentiate them - however, we provide a little glimpse into which prospects might stand out above their peers in the future. Following the quarterbacks, we take a look at the Top 10 running backs by positional ranking and national ranking.

 

#1 RB - #38 ESPN 300

Marcus Hammond - 5’10 197 - C overall - C potential -⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hammond is the top-ranked running back in the 2023 recruiting class and for good reason. This guy just wins wherever he goes. He led his Raytown High School team to the state title game last year as he had 2,228 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns. Hammond also returned punts and had 11 return touchdowns on the season. His ability to hit another gear was very evident in his play. He is looking to stay close to home so that his family can come and watch him play. You know you will be getting a gym rat the moment Hammond hits campus. The Missouri product should be highly sought after.

 

#2 RB - #44 ESPN 300

Jeffrey Swanson - 5’10 194 - C overall - C potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Swanson is from a small West Virginia high school but soon people across the country will know his name as he leaps all the way to the second-ranked running back in the country. Swanson has been timed at a 4.34 40-yard dash and has scouts fawning over his speed. Swanson does not run up the middle at all but looks to bounce the ball to the outside on almost every single run. Swanson averaged 11.3 yards per carrying this past season and scored 35 touchdowns. The Martinsburg High School product led them to the Class A state title this past year and will look to do it again in his senior campaign. Swanson is a guy who is going to come in and work hard and is open to going anywhere in the country.

 

#3 RB - #46 ESPN 300

Steven Gooley - 5’10 193 - C overall - B- potential -⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gooley is the son of an Army general and has been the top dog everywhere he has been. He has led West Springfield High School to three straight state titles and will look to win his fourth this fall. Gooley has played all over the field for his high school team as he has needed to be a swiss-army type for his team. Gooley wants to go to a service academy or stay close to home. He is not certain in which direction he prefers at the moment but is open to a lot of things. The main thing that Gooley wants is the opportunity to start right away.

#4 RB - #61 ESPN 300

Charles Bellamy - 5’11 191 - C overall - C+ potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bellamy’s name resonates through Georgia high school football. He was once a Top 25 recruit in the country but he broke his leg midway through his sophomore season and was still dealing with the effects during his junior campaign. Now healthy, Ballamy will look to shut down the doubters and regain his top form. He has a huge motor and ran for over 2,000 yards last year even as he was not 100%. He looks to win his second state title at Banneker High School after winning the title his freshman season. Ballamy wants to stay close to home and wants to attend a large school in the Southeast. Look for SEC schools to flock for him, especially as he proves he’s back to 100%.

#5 RB - #72 ESPN 300

Brad Davis - 5’10 2024 - C overall - C+ potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Davis is a firecracker with the ball in his hands. He is a quick back who wants the ball in his hands every single play. Davis has led Chaminade High School to the state championship game each of his three years in high school but just has never gotten over the hump. Davis has been in the gym this summer, as evidenced by his multiple social media posts a day, and always lets people know that he is getting work in. He is very focused and wants to play close to home and at a very good academic school. Sources have said that Stanford could be his dream school.

#6 RB - #156 ESPN 300

Kevin Hong - 5’11 211 - C overall - C potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hong has had a bit of a long road to American football. He grew up in Taiwan and played soccer prior to moving to Texas when he was seven years old. After figuring out that fútbol wasn’t the most popular football, especially in Texas, he threw on some pads. Hong had quick feet and good vision after being a standout on the Taiwan U7 National team so he became accustomed to the game fairly quickly. Hong ran for 1,760 yards for Nolan Catholic last year in one of the biggest classes in Texas. Hong loves Texas so look for him to pick a school that has rigorous academics and a great educational system.

#7 RB - #183 ESPN 300

Louis Fink - 5’11 202 - C overall - C potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fink’s name has been bounced around in recruiting circles for a while now. He was up in the Top 50 as a freshman but finally settles at #183 in the country. Fink is a back who can really do it all as he has the ability to run between the tackles or bounce it outside. He led St. Rita to a 5-5 record last year which was their first time .500 or better in 22 years. This season, Fink will look to carry the load again and vault St. Rita to its first winning season in 27 years. Fink wants to stay close to home and sources expect some Big Ten schools to be after him heavily. One big knock on Fink is that he is lazy so schools are doing their due diligence on him.

 

#8 RB - #198 ESPN 300

George Lemmons - B overall - B potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lemmons could very well be the best back in the class but we have very limited data on him. Lemmons was a standout wide receiver for Apex Friendship High School for two years but after the top three running backs on the depth chart were kicked off the team for academics, Lemmons opted to move to running back where he has blossomed. Last season he caught 67 passes for 1,309 yards and ran the ball 109 times for 793 yards. Lemmons is a very high ceiling and high floor running back that can be built around. With just one year at running back, he slid into the Top 200 of all prospects in the country. Lemmons wants to stay close to home so his ailing grandmother can watch him play and he wants to play at a smaller school so his grandmother can be safe when coming to watch him.

#9 RB - #232 ESPN 300

Billy Lott - 5’11 213 - C overall - C potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lott is one of the most powerful running backs in the 2023 class as he broke an astonishing 143 tackles last season while playing for Van High School in Texas. Lott, the son of former Dolphins standout Jonnie Lott, is as hard-nosed as they come. He ran the ball 301 times last year for 1,934 yards and 37 touchdowns. Van High School is a little different than most Texas high schools as they still run the Wing-T - which may explain their 2-8 record last year. However, team success does not dictate the ability of Lott who is going to be one of the most sought-after running backs in the country this season. Lott wants to explore the country so he is open to any school at any level.

#10 RB - #240 ESPN 300

Edward Pardo - 6’0 234 - C overall - C+ potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pardo is another powerful running back from Texas who brings a lot to the table. He played for Plano High School last season after transferring from St. Xavier the year prior. Pardo is a Top 100 basketball prospect in the country, however, he is set on playing football at the next level. He ran for 974 yards last year but is a big rumbling back who is a menace at the goal line as he scored 17 touchdowns from two yards or less last season. While Pardo has decided that he wants to pursue football, he is a little indecisive on what type of school he wants to attend. He has told some people that he wants to go to a small school while others have said that he loves large crowds. He may be a little indecisive on this but college coaches should not have any hesitancy in going after him as the last running back inside the Top 250 in the country

[SyndaKyt]

Gooley has played all over the field for his high school team as he has needed to be a swiss-army type for his team. Gooley wants to go to a service academy or stay close to home.

 

Man I'm loving the Service Academy love and appreciation, maybe this generation can be saved!