A Step Ahead: Jim Stefani's Underclassmen Football Recruiting Blog

Class of 2008: Some Elite Running Backs (Part III)

Josh Haden RB/DB/LB 5'8 190 4.38 Fort Washington Friendly Maryland

Probably the top RB in Maryland and among the better RBs in the nation……..Haden is a versatile, powerful and very athletic football player who could play either RB or DB in college………..The younger brother of Florida signee Joe Haden…….The most impressive combine tester in the Class of 2008, putting up monster numbers as a sophomore (45 bench reps, 37-inch vertical, 4.10 shuttle, 4.38 forty)…….Remarkable strength for his size (Benches over 400 pounds). His father, Joe Sr., is a former bodybuilder who trains both Joe Jr. and Josh……His tam was loaded with D-1 skill talent so he didn’t get the touches to put up huge numbers as a junior…….As of late 2006 he had offers from Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Illinois, Tennesse, Maryland and Boston College.


Alonzo Landry RB 5'11 220 4.50 Lafayette Carencro Louisiana

Landry is one of the top backs in the South and among the best prospects in Louisiana…….He enjoyed an outstanding junior season, rushing for 1,937 yards and 28 TDs in just 12 games in earning First Team Class 5A All-State honors. He also had 621 yards a 3 TDs receiving..…..As a sophomore he ran for over 1,300 yards and 15 scores……Combines nice size with speed, quickness, balance, power (290 bench, 435 squat, 275 clean), some wiggle and a very physical style of running. Is very patient runner when running zone schemes. Truly exceptional hands for a RB……..36-inch vertical…..Runs track…..Mentioned in the same breath as Kevin Faulk, Damien James and Cecil Collins by his coaches, who also coached the aforementioned……Was very impressive at the 2006 LSU summer camp…..Mississippi was the first school to come forward with an offer.


Rashad White RB 5'11 180 4.38 Teaneck New Jersey

White is the top RB in New Jersey and among the better backs in the nation.........As a junior he was named First Team All-State by the Newark Star Ledger and AP among many of his honors after carrying the ball 214 times for 2,386 yards and 26 TDs…….As a sophomore he was named Third Team All-North Jersey and Second Team Bergen County after rushing for 1,177 yards and 11 TDs on 159 carries……….Very impressive on film. A real game-breaker with sub-4.4 forty speed and tremendous acceleration. Runs with surprising power for his size and has nice hips and shiftiness. Effective both running outside and inside, showing great vision and surprising toughness………Looked good at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine, running a 4.38 forty…..Ran a 10.9 100-meters and 21.7 200-meters as a sophomore……By early January he had offers from Rutgers, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Boston College, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.


Ryan Bass RB 5'10 186 4.61 Corona Centennial California

Bass is one of the top running backs in California…..As a junior he was named First Team All-Underclass All-State after earning Sophomore All-State honors in 2005. He was also named First Team All-CIF-Southern Section-Inland Division…….As a junior he rushed for 2,387 yards and 36 TDs…….As a sophomore he rushed for 2,137 yards and 34 TDs on 255 carries…….Has that extra gear or two, runs with great patience and has outstanding vision. Runs with power and is a north-south type of back who gets to the hole quickly. Has a nice build and really punishes defenders…..Combine marks of 4.61 forty, 4.25 shuttle, 21 bench reps, 34-inch vertical....Older brother Ray is a safety at San Diego State…….Has family in Louisiana and Arkansas……San Diego State was the first college to offer, followed by Colorado Statre and Louisville, and as of January he is hearing from many of the nation’s top programs.


Tre' Newton RB 6'0 194 4.60 Southlake Carroll Texas

Newton is one of the nation’s top RB prospects and among the top overall prospects in Texas………As a junior, he earned First Team All-District 5A honors after carrying the ball 274 times for 2010 yards and 20 TDs for the 5A state champions…………Was the District Offensive Sophomore of the Year in 2005 after leading his state championship team in rushing with 171 carries for 1,345 yards and 17 TDs. Also had 19 receptions for 296 yards and 2 TDs……….Great bloodlines, as he is the son of former Dallas Cowboy Nate Newton…..Very well put together and fast, he can really turn the corner and is smooth and shifty lugging the ball…..Will have his choice of schools.

posted by Jim Stefani @ 6:21 PM