5-Star RBs

It's a great year for running back prospects and Noel Devine leads this talented bunch. And in this group you have a little of everything – speed, power and elusiveness. Six running backs are ranked as five-star prospects and these six are all ranked among the top 30 prospects in the country. Lets take a closer look.

1)Noel Devine
5-8, 180
North Fort Myers (Fla.)
Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Texas, USC

I have to admit, when it comes to evaluating running backs, I am a little biased towards the big back, for one reason and one reason only, you have to have the ability to break tackles at the next level. It’s that plain and simple. But there are some backs that are exceptions to my rule. One in particular is North Fort Myers (Fla.) standout Noel Devine. Devine, 5-8 and 180 pounds, is perhaps the most exciting back to come down the pike in a very long time (like Reggie Bush).

Devine has it all except for that great size you like to see in a running back. But Barry Sanders and Warrick Dunn were not the biggest backs and they faired pretty well after their high school careers were over. Devine is a special talent, one that comes along rarely. First and foremost Devine has unbelievable instincts and does things on the field you can’t coach. He has unreal vision and balance, two traits most of the great running backs all have in common. Devine has super speed and quickness and will blow you away with his surprising power. In space, he is absolutely deadly but he can shake and bake with the best of them or run right through you.

Devine is a home run hitter that can be a threat to score from anywhere on the field. He is tough enough to run between the tackles and definitely fast enough to get around the edge. He hits the hole hard and once he’s downhill and in the second level, watch out.

As a junior, Devine rushed for 1,933 yards and 24 touchdowns on 173 carries.



2)Marc Tyler
6-0, 215
Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian
Committed to USC

Tyler is the son of former UCLA and NFL running back Wendell Tyler. The first thing I noticed when watching Tyler is his lower body. He’s got a thick build and when Tyler gets downhill he is very dangerous. Tyler hits the hole exceptionally hard, runs with a forward lean and moves a pile. Tyler is a north-south runner that has a nice blend of speed and power and he will run right through would be tacklers. He also has good feet and balance. Tyler has quickness and is a versatile back that can catch.

As a junior (13-0), he was an all-state underclass selection, rushing for 2,196 yards and 39 touchdowns on 182 attempts. Tyler also had 40 receptions for six more scores. He helped lead the Lions to their third straight CIF Division X title.



3)Caleb King
5-11, 196
Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview
Auburn, Florida, FSU, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami, USC

When it comes to great running backs they usually have a defining attribute, whether it’s speed, quickness, power, or all of the above. But one thing all great backs do have in common is balance. You have to have great balance to be a great back for obvious reasons. When watching running back Caleb King you notice many super qualities like his power and speed. But King has uncanny balance, with the ability to run right through people, run through arm tacklers and more times than not, he always maintains his balance to finish off yet another big run.

King also has the ability to accelerate at full speed out of a cut. He shows excellent vision and the ability to make people miss. King is also a dangerous receiver out of the backfield and once he has the reception in the open field he becomes very dangerous.



4)John Clay
6-2, 220
Racine (Wi.) Park
Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Tennessee, Wisconsin

For a big back Clay certainly has deceptive speed and can run away from anyone. Clay is a patient runner with excellent balance and vision. He runs with power and is very fluid and looks effortless while working his way through the hole and into the secondary. Clay runs low enough to demontrate very good power but also has the hips to be elusive and an extra gear to run right by you. Overall, as a running back, he has all the tools to excel at the next level.

Clay rushed for 2,032 yards (12.5 ypc) and 31 touchdowns as a junior.



5)Broderick Green
6-1, 230
Little Rock (Ark.) Puluski Academy
Committed to USC

Broderick Green has great size and speed for a big back. This kid is unreal. He's built like a tank, a powerful lower and upper body. Green has terrific leg drive and an even better stiff arm. He’s a bull running between the tackles and can take on anything in his way. On the outside, he has the speed to get in space. In the open field, he’s so tough to bring down because he can run through you or right by you. Green does have deceptive quickness and possesses the ability to make a cut or move and get by a defender. He shows good balance and vision and has a nose for the endzone. In the passing game he is a threat as well because he has soft hands and is a mis-match for the defense. He runs a tad high but he can get away with that at the high school level. Overall, he looks like one of the most complete and top backs in the Class of 2007.

Green rushed for 1,664 yards with 21 touchdowns during his junior season. He recorded 48 receptions for 568 yards and five touchdowns as well.



6)Joe McKnight
5-11, 185
River Ridge (La.) John Curtis
LSU, USC, Florida, FSU, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Tennessee

McKnight may not be one of “big” backs among this group but he can certainly surprise you with his power. McKnight certainly shows the ability to break tackles. Even more impressive is his combination of speed, quickness, vision and balance. Some of the runs he makes will just dazzle you. Speed is one of his top attributes and he can get by the defender in so many ways. McKnight is versatile in the respect that he can run between the tackles or around the edge. He puts so much pressure on the defense, especially when he gets to the second level of the defense. McKnight is also an excellent return man, defensive back and receiver out of the backfield.

McKnight rushed for 502 yards and nine touchdowns on 36 attempts. As a receiver, he hauled in 20 passes for 497 yards and five scores. On special teams he averaged over 38 yards a kickoff return with one touchdown and averaged 29 yards a punt return with four touchdowns. For his efforts, he was selected 1st Team All-State.