The school soccer season is lower than two months away and preseason magazines have hit the cabinets breaking down the upcoming yr. Faculty soccer reporter Phil Steele has launched his in-depth preview for the 2023 season, which incorporates the highest 10 draft-eligible operating backs.
Steele has some apparent decisions, comparable to Michigan star Blake Corum. However the listing additionally features a few surprises who some within the nation could not know all that a lot about.
Here’s a have a look at who Phil Steele has as the highest 10 draft-eligible operating backs getting into the 2023 faculty soccer season:
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Steele has a Massive Ten operating again atop his listing but it surely’s not Corum, who’s the main returning rusher within the Massive Ten. As a substitute it’s Allen, who additionally had an extremely spectacular season in 2022. Allen rushed for 1,242 yards and 11 scores final yr, whereas taking part in in 12 video games.
Allen topped the 100-yard mark seven instances in these 12 video games and has rushed for greater than 1,200 yards in every of the previous two seasons. He ought to as soon as once more be a pressure in 2023 and must be operating behind a wonderful Wisconsin offensive line.
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The highest returning operating again within the SEC, Sanders put up spectacular numbers in 2022, ending with 1,443 dashing yards, whereas beginning all 13 video games for the Razorbacks. He has a novel mix of dimension and velocity, which makes him powerful for opposing groups to decelerate.
Sanders averaged 111 yards per recreation and 6.5 yards per carry in 2022. With KJ Jefferson additionally again, Arkansas has an opportunity to be a nice shock within the SEC West. Like Wisconsin, the Razorbacks even have a wonderful offensive line.
3. Blake Corum, Michigan
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Corum received banged up late final season, however when he was wholesome, he was practically unstoppable. The Virginia native rushed for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2022, regardless of lacking the ultimate 2.5 video games of the season. Corum tied a Michigan document with 5 touchdowns in opposition to UConn and every week later put up 243 dashing yards on Maryland.
He’s quick, highly effective and has elite imaginative and prescient. Corum was named the Michigan MVP for the 2022 season after main the Wolverines to the Faculty Soccer Playoff. He and Donovan Edwards, who makes an look later within the listing, are why the Wolverines have arguably the highest operating again group within the nation.
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Florida State had among the best dashing assaults within the nation in 2022, and Benson was a giant a part of the explanation why. The Oregon switch rushed for 990 yards and 9 touchdowns in his first season in Tallahassee, whereas averaging 6.4 yards per carry. He’s a bodily runner who’s greater than able to breaking tackles and may run away from you within the open subject.
With Treshaun Push back to Kansas State, Benson ought to have much more alternatives in 2023. Quite a bit is made about Jordan Travis, Johnny Wilson and the FSU passing recreation — and rightfully so. However don’t sleep on Benson and the Seminoles dashing assault.
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Shipley is without doubt one of the most dynamic gamers within the nation as he has confirmed that he could make performs within the operating recreation, passing recreation and as a kick returner. The North Carolina turned the primary participant in ACC historical past to earn first-team all-conference honors at three totally different positions in 2022, incomes all-league honors as a operating again, all-purpose participant and return specialist.
Shipley began all 14 video games for the Tigers final season. He rushed for 1,182 yards and 15 touchdowns, caught 38 passes for 242 yards and returned 14 kickoffs for 324 yards. Will Shipley ought to excel in new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley‘s system. He and Phil Mafah ought to present a wonderful 1-2 punch.
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Henderson is an absolute load to convey down. The Virginia native battled accidents for many of final yr and performed in solely eight video games, however he’s for sure one of the crucial gifted backs within the nation.
Henderson rushed for under 571 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022, however he did high the 100-yard mark in opposition to Massive Ten opponents Wisconsin and Michigan State. He actually confirmed what he’s able to as a freshman in 2021, dashing for 1,248 yards and totaling 19 touchdowns. If he can keep wholesome in 2023, Henderson ought to look extra like his freshman self this fall.
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Sticking with the Massive Ten, Steele has Hemby up subsequent on his listing. He doesn’t get as a lot consideration as others within the league, however Hemby quietly had a formidable redshirt freshman season. Hemby completed third amongst all FBS freshman in yards from scrimmage with 1,287, together with 989 dashing yards and 10 dashing touchdowns.
Roman Hemby must be one of many high gamers on a Maryland offense that has an opportunity to be actually good in 2023, with quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa additionally again.
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A transformed quarterback, Jackson put up huge numbers whenhe was taking hand offs in 2022. The Texas switch topped the 100-yard mark twice final season, dashing for 117 yards in opposition to Colorado and 105 in opposition to USC. His 13 carries for 105 yards and two scores have been a giant a part of the Utes beating Southern Cal within the Pac-12 title recreation.
Jackson lined up at quarterback, operating again and on particular groups in 2022 and made performs in any respect three spots. Nonetheless, his future seems to be at operating again after what he did when given the chance final season.
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Milton completed third on the Bulldogs group in dashing in 2022 and solely began one of many 13 video games he appeared in. Nonetheless, that doesn’t communicate to his expertise. The Bulldogs very a lot imagine in a operating back-by-committee strategy. It’s laborious to argue with the outcomes as Georgia has received every of the previous two nationwide titles.
With Kenny McIntosh off to the NFL, count on Milton to get extra alternatives this season. He ought to have a giant yr after dashing for 595 yards and averaging 7 yards per carry a season in the past.
10. Donovan Edwards, Michigan
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The second Michigan operating again on Steele’s listing, Edwards made essentially the most of his alternatives in 2022, significantly after Corum went down with an damage. The rising junior rushed for 991 yards, whereas averaging 7.1 yards per carry final season, regardless of solely beginning three video games.
He put up a formidable 216 yards at Ohio State, main the Wolverines to a victory and a spot within the Massive Ten championship recreation. Edwards may have transferred elsewhere for the 2023 season and acquired a much bigger work load, however he opted to remain at Michigan and group up with Corum to type the perfect operating again duo within the nation.
As you’ll be able to see, there are many gifted draft-eligible operating backs for the 2023 season. Phil Steele has Braelon Allen at No. 1, however there are not any scarcity of contenders for the highest spot. Which again in the end goes first within the 2024 NFL Draft might be decided based mostly on how they play this fall.
