I dug into the 247Sports top 20 RBs to sign with G5 schools. Very few have Devy relevance at the moment, but we got some great late C2C sleepers to stash away.
= The names to know.
Alton McCaskill, Houston: McCaskill is the highest rated back to sign with a G5 school in 2021. Sticking with Houston despite having some major P5 offers. McCaskill comes in as the 22nd overall back in his class. He’s a speedster with a 10.91 100-meter on his resume. He rushed for over 1,100 yards in an eight game season. His track speed translates to the gridiron. If McCaskill gets to the edge he was taking it to the house in high school. Possesses a great frame, listed at 6’1” (looks legit), and has plenty of room to bulk up. Could develop into a great height, weight, and speed combination. Hasn’t been featured in the passing game (in his limited film he looks good though) and is an upright runner.
Outlook: McCaskill has a bright future in Houston. Potential to be an early contributor. Great C2C snag, being a three-year starter isn’t out of the question.
Brandon Epton Jr, SMU: SMU had quite the 2021 recruiting class. They signed the QB1 and RB2 for G5 schools. SMU coaches had great things to say about Epton “Brandon’s just so much raw ability. He can run, he’s not a small guy, he has some good size,” Samples said on a phone call. “He runs really hard, he can break tackles, he can catch. He lined up and played receiver this year at high school. He has so much raw ability that you can do so many different things with it. I’m so excited. He’s going to contribute on special teams.
“He just brings a lot of different things to the table. He’s almost like a clay ball that you just can’t wait to see what he molds into because he has so much talent and ability.”
Epton is another recruit spurning P5 offers to play in the AAC.
Outlook: The SMU backfield has a lot more of a veteran presence than Houston. Epton can develop into a good fantasy producer but you are going to have to wait till his third year on campus before the depth chart really frees up.
Jordan Hornbeak, Fresno State: Hornbeak signed with Fresno State over half a dozen PAC12 offers. Cali recruits didn’t have a senior year due to COVID but Hornbeak had a big 2019. He rushed for nearly 1,700 yards and 18TDs on 7.7 YPC. Hornbeak is a sub 200lbs back but runs with great power. Listed at 6’, Hornbeak has plenty of room to bulk up and over that 200lbs mark. He’s no burner but he possesses good.
Outlook: Ronnie Rivers has this backfield locked down for 2021 but upon his departure that starting gig is up for grabs. It’s not crazy to think that Hornbeak grabs that starting spot in 2022 and gives you three to four years of really good college fantasy production.
Montrell Johnson, Louisiana: Johnson was a one-time Arizona Wildcat commit before decommitting after a coaching change. He then elected to stay home to help continue what Billy Napier is building in Louisiana. Johnson has a personal best 11.59 100-meter from high school. You’d prefer to see that number closer or even sub 11, he’s no blazer but has plenty of speed to produce against Sun Belt competition. Johnson is a solid player but clearly not as talented as the previous three backs on this list.
Outlook: Johnson is one of four backs to sign with ULL this year. They already have some talent on the roster as well. Predicting playing time for Johnson and the other three RB signees this year is near impossible.
Terrence Williams, Louisiana: And boom, we are right back to a Louisiana back again. As a senior, Williams rushed for 1,100 yards and 18 TDs, a step down from his 1,900 and 35 in 2019. Finished his HS career with a hair under 5,000 yards and 90 TDs. Currently listed by ULL at 6’ and 214lbs! A downhill runner who runs with good power. Lacks top-end speed but that’s not really his game.
Outlook: Much like Johnson, it’s really hard to predict when Williams will get on the field. They are both talented but a lot of mouths to feed in that backfield at the moment.
Myles Montgomery, Cincinnati: Montgomery played his senior year of ball but I can’t locate stats from it, but as a junior he was uber-productive. Tallied over 2,100 yards and 20 TDs. Montgomery picked the Bearcats over other AAC offers. He’s a fluid back with above-average speed. Shows the ability to run with power as well.
Outlook: Montgomery looks to be a future starter. He’s a good back going into a veteran backfield. Playing time might be a struggle until his third year on campus.
Kendrell Williams, Louisiana: Guess what? We got another Louisiana Ragin’ Cagin’ back on the list. He stuck with his commit despite a very late offer from the Iowa Hawkeyes. From his junior year of high school, Williams rushed for 1,900 yards and 25 TDs and topped that off by winning the State Title in wrestling at 170lbs. As a senior, he finished state runner-up in the 182lb class. Williams has average speed, he’s really going to struggle to break off big runs in college.
Outlook: It’s getting harder and harder to handicap these ULL RB outlooks. A lot of incoming talent and established talent in the backfield.
Samuel Green, UNLV: Another Cali prospect with no 2020. Green split time in the 2019 season with then SR RB Chris Smith who is currently at Cal. Green is undersized but he can fly. Not sure he can be a feature back but he’ll be involved in the rushing, receiving, and special teams facet of the game.
Outlook: I doubt UNLV currently has a player with as much juice as Green has. His touches might be limited due to his size but he’ll be used in every facet of the game.
Antario Brown, N. Illinois: Brown is a very interesting case study of why the hell did he end up in the MAC? Brown was a GA 1st Teamer in 2019 and was briefly committed to South Carolina before their coaching change. As a junior, he was rushed for over 1,000 yards and caught another 500 yards. Brown has a 10.9 100-meter on his resume. Brown only appeared in five games in 2020 but rushed for 375 yards. Listed at 5’11” and 210lbs, Brown has a college-made body. Brown has size, speed, power, and pass-catching. Why did he slip to the MAC? Seems like we are missing a few pieces to our puzzle.
Outlook: I don’t see a reason why Brown can’t be a future All-MAC performer in his college career. NIU already has a couple of talented backs heading into their second seasons but Brown is just more talented. Brown should be an early contributor. I’m going to be heavily invested in Brown in my C2C leagues. Something still feels off about his situation though…
Montaye Dawson, SMU: Dawson is small (5’7” and 166lbs) but he can fly (10.67 100-meters). SMU signed themselves one hell of a duo in Dawson and Brandon Epton. Going to be giving AAC teams fits for years to come “Montaye is a bottle rocket. He’s your one play touchdown waiting to happen. I’m excited about him, too,” Samples told Pony Stampede on Monday. “He’s going to help us in the return game. You’re going to see us flex him a lot, throwing bubbles, throwing screens. That kid can make you miss. Montaye’s a really good kid. He plays hard. He doesn’t say much, but you watch him play and his play speaks for himself. I’m really excited about Montaye.”
Outlook: Dawson is a big play waiting to happen but due to his size I’m not sure how much of a Devy or CFF option that he’ll develop into.
De’Anthony Lewis, UTSA: UTSA snagged a big-time signature from Lewis. Rushing for over 1,800 yards and 28 TDs in 2019. On only 121 carries, Lewis tallied over 1,200 yards and 11 TDs in 2020. Lewis has some bulking up to do, listed at 180lbs, he looks very skinny on film. Lewis just glides through high school defenses.
Outlook: Sincere McCormick has that backfield locked down in 2021 and possibly 2022 if he sticks around. Lewis has the talent to be the next man up in San Antonio. Lewis is worth a deep C2C stash. Has a lot of upside, plenty of speed to and skill to make CUSA defenses look silly.
Iverson Celestine, Tulane: First off, hell of a name young man. Celestine ran for over 4,100 yards in his high school career only 246 yards came during his senior season though. His 2020 was limited due to various injuries. Celestine runs with good burst but just slightly above-average speed. He’s a good downhill between the tackles runner with good power.
Outlook: Celestine looks like a solid prospect. Don’t see anything too special with him right now.
Marceese Yates, Air Force: In 2019, Yates joined a loaded Mater Dei roster. He managed to rush for 578 yards on 9 YPC. Yates is small, listed at 5’7” and 154lbs. Yates could be a really interesting slotback for the Falcons. He’s small but very fast and quick. His size and quickness make it difficult to get a hand on Yates.
Outlook: Yates could be a big-play threat for the Falcons. He has pass-catching and return capabilities as well. Air Force doesn’t get many recruits ranked this highly, it will be interesting to watch his development.
Johnathan Arceneaux, Fresno State: Another California high schooler with no senior year. Arceneaux rushed for over 1,700 yards and 26 TDs in both his sophomore and junior years. He selected Fresno State over PAC12 offers from Cal, Oregon State, and Utah. Arceneaux has good speed and quickness. He also shows some good power and is difficult to bring down.
Outlook: Arceneaux looks good but he’s the clear second back in this for Fresno State behind Hornbeak. Going to be tough to surpass him on the depth chart.
Willie Shaw, Toledo: Shaw picked Toledo over offers from Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska. No senior year due to COVID but rushed for over 1,400 yards in 2019. Shaw has a personal best 11.55 100-meter time on his resume. Shaw has solid size and still has some room to grow. He displays good speed and quickness. Good lateral fluidness and willingness to dip shoulder and take a defender head-on.
Outlook: Toledo has done a great job of recruiting backs (for a MAC school) over the last three to four years. Early playing time will be tough, but Shaw is a potential All-MAC performer.
Bill Jackson, Tulsa: The Saint Louis native found his way to the AAC over offers from Arizona State, Kansas, Nebraska, and Purdue. In 2019, Jackson rushed for just under 1,000 yards in 7 games. He added 9 TDs and was over 11 yards per rush. Jackson only played in five games in 2020 and stats aren’t to be found for it. Jackson has good speed and burst. He’s got really quick feet. Despite his smaller frame, he’s a willing runner between the tackles. Playing in just 12 games over the last two years is a bit alarming to his durability.
Outlook: Jackson looked really good when he was healthy and on the field. Tulsa may have gotten themselves a steal. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Jackson as a top back in the AAC in two to three years down the line. Worth a deep C2C stash.
Rico Barfield, Ball State: The second straight Saint Louis back on the list. During Barfield’s junior year, he tallied over 1,100 yards and 18 TDs. Once again, senior stats are hard to come by. Barfield already has a college build (6’ and 215lbs). Barfield runs with good power and has average speed. Good between the tackles runner. Isn’t the most agile, his cuts and lateral movements are average.
Outlook: Barfield has the looks of a future starting back for Ball State. Not sure he’s worth any kind of stash at this point.
Katravis Geter Jr., FIU: Geter claimed some lofty offers from Florida, Georgia, and Texas A&M.
“Geter finished his sophomore season with 964 yards rushing, 487 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns.
“I was in the slot and I caught a bubble screen and I cut outside,” Geter said. “The safety came down, I stiff armed him, and he grabbed my arm and his leg wrapped around my leg, and my leg got stuck inside the turf. My body turned out of bounds left and my ankle turned the opposite way.””
Following his ankle injury in 2019, Geter only heard from FIU, South Dakota, and Tennessee State. Prior to his senior year, Geter said he’s still trying to get back to his 4.67 speed. On film, Geter looks to have average speed but has some good cuts. As a senior, he didn’t look to be back to full strength from his ankle injury.
Outlook: Geter was destined to be a big recruit before his ankle injury. Given a few years in a college strength room, he might be able to regain his luster. I don’t think Geter is currently worth any kind of stash.
Marquis Shoulders, Tulsa: Shoulders is currently listed as a wide receiver on Tulsa’s depth chart. In 2020, he tallied 1,100 yards 18 TDs and caught 19 balls for 250 yards. Being listed at 5’10” and 160lbs would lend itself to more of a slot role. Shoulders has a really small frame, not a lot of room left to fill out. Shoulders has good speed and burst. Due to time in the backfield could be a versatile threat for Tulsa.
Outlook: Due to size, not really sure how much he’ll be used in college. Not worth a stash.
Aaron Dumas, New Mexico: New Mexico got a big-time commit in Dumas. He set an El Paso, Texas city record in 2019 with 3,100 yards and 36 TDs. Dumas is a downhill runner who loves to go between the tackles. He’s already listed at 200lbs and shows good quickness. Displays nice, quick cuts. Dumas has above-average speed (4.72 40 from 2019).
Outlook: Dumas should expect to be a multi-year starter for New Mexico. Potential to be a future All-Mountain West performer. Worth a stash in deep C2C leagues.
Joseph McKay, ECU: Bonus RB, McKay is a bit lower ranked than the rest of these backs. But the ECU coaches raved too much about him to ignore. Plus McKay walks into a backfield with only two other scholarship backs (both are true sophomores though). McKay claimed offers from schools like Alabama, Florida State, Memphis, and Ole Miss. ECU’s new RB Coach on McKay “You watch this guy’s film and it’s like, ‘Man, how did we get this guy here?’” Foster said. “He’s a guy that has a very special talent. Another bigger back that can run. He’s physical and can make you miss. He’s got a little bit of everything.”
As a junior, McKay tallied over 1,200 yards and 20 TDs. As far as I can find for his senior year, McKay rushed for over 1,000 yards again. McKay has great size, listed at 6-foot and 216lbs. He’s got a documented 4.97 40-yard dash in March of 2019, not ideal. His speed is what prevented him from going to one of his bigger offers. On film, McKay has trouble running away from high school defenders so that slower 40 is probably pretty accurate. Outside of his below-average speed, McKay has a lot to like. He’s a downhill runner with some wiggle. McKay has good vision to bob and weave through a defense.
Outlook: McKay has the potential for some early reps. The Pirates only have three scholarship backs including McKay. The only issue with that is the two backs in front of McKay are both true sophomores who performed well as tFR in 2020. While he might get some early playing time not sure he can snag a full-time role for a year or two. McKay has intriguing talent but the sheer lack of speed caps his upside.
