The new 2023 Rivals250 is out and today we are releasing our offensive position rankings. Next up are the running backs.
NEW 2023 POSITION RANKINGS: Pro-Style QB | Dual-Threat QB | Running Back | All-Purpose RB
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Sunday: Who should be the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class?
Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Introducing the new five-stars
Tuesday: New Rivals250 released | Gorney's thoughts | Biggest movers in new ranking | Five teams that should be pleased
Wednesday: Offensive position rankings released | QB Rankings Breakdown | Who should be the No. 1 QB?
Thursday: Defensive position rankings released
Friday: State rankings released
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TEAM WITH TOP COMMIT: Notre Dame
There are 13 four-star running backs and four all-purpose backs so far in the 2023 class, and after Treyaun Webb decommitted from Oklahoma in recent days, only one of them is committed.
That would be Miami (Fla.) Gulliver Prep’s Sedrick Irvin, who picked Notre Dame over Michigan State (where his father played), Stanford and many others in late September. The Brian Kelly move from Notre Dame to LSU could make things more interesting in his recruitment.
The only other ranked running backs who are pledged at this point are Frankfort (Ky.) Franklin County three-star Kaden Moorman to Kentucky and Miami Norland’s Javin Simpkins to Georgia Tech.
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PLAYERS ON THE RISE: Kaleb Jackson, Cedric Baxter
Kaleb Jackson had such an incredible junior season that he moved up 98 spots to No. 58 overall, and he might not be finished climbing the running back rankings. The Baton Rouge (La.) Liberty Magnet standout carried the ball 138 times for 2,031 yards and 29 rushing touchdowns while averaging nearly 15 yards per carry.
Jackson was also utilized in the passing game, with 394 yards and four more scores. The four-star is built well, tough to bring down and versatile, so his ranking adjustment was definitely needed.
Cedric Baxter also made a big leap in the rankings by moving up 64 spots. The Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater standout is 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, moves well, is tough to bring down and looks like an outside linebacker coming out of the backfield.
The former Florida State commit who has the Florida schools and other SEC programs involved rushed for 1,576 yards and 21 touchdowns on 185 carries this season. Comparisons to Derrick Henry are inevitable because of his height, but Baxter is much leaner and more dynamic, whereas Henry was just an unstoppable powerful force.
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PLAYERS TO WATCH: Rueben Owens II, Justice Haynes, Richard Young
The top of the running back lists are really intriguing because all of them have five-star potential and all of them had big junior seasons. All three also remain uncommitted after Rueben Owens II backed off an earlier pledge to Texas.
Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State and others are battling it out for No. 1 running back Justice Haynes. Ohio State and Alabama are the top two for Richard Young. Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia and others are in the mix for Owens, who is the No. 1 all-purpose back in the 2023 class.
