Class of 2027 Michigan Running Back Pre-Season Rankings

Class Context

The 2027 Michigan running back class is deep, physical, and stylistically diverse. It features true feature backs, explosive space players, powerful between-the-tackles runners, and versatile dual-threat athletes. While a handful have already landed Power conference or high-level Group of 5 interest, the majority remain uncommitted or hold offers primarily at the DII and FCS levels. Several pure-talent standouts are still in position to add significant offers with strong senior seasons.

Top 10:

Our top 10 features some of the most complete and explosive backs in the state. Separating them required close film study, as multiple players bring elite traits in different areas.

1 – Bryce Kish, Howell High School, Committed - Clemson

Kish is a massive RB who functions as a cheat code for Howell's offense and currently stands as the clearest top pure-talent back in Michigan's 2027 class. He combines the speed of a much smaller runner with the size and strength of a tight end, allowing him to dominate at every level of the defense. Contact balance is excellent - he regularly lowers his shoulder, keeps his legs churning, and has been seen carrying multiple defenders for extra yards - while his vision is solid and he possesses reliable receiving skills that resemble a solid tight end when leaking out of the backfield. He is not an extremely shifty open-field creator, yet he can still deploy a spin move from time to time or simply run through you when needed. The complete physical and skill-set package gives him a very high ceiling at the next level.

2 – Lundon Hampton, Kenowa Hills High School, Committed – Michigan

Hampton is a fantastic RB and Two Way Athlete. He is fast, naturally elusive, and extremely shifty, he possesses a full arsenal of moves - spins, jukes, and multi-cut sequences, that allow him to create in almost any situation. Contact balance is excellent, enabling him to stay upright and finish runs through traffic. While his current offense doesn't ask him to block or run extensive routes frequently, he makes the most of the limited opportunities given to him in those areas and shows the physical tools necessary to handle them. He is the complete package: size, speed, elusiveness, and toughness and has one of the highest ceilings in the class at the RB position.

3 – TyAnthony Lewis, Davison High School, Uncommitted (3 Offers)

Lewis is the premier pass-catching running back in Michigan's 2027 class, a quick, shifty weapon who creates constant mismatches both in the backfield and flexed into the slot. He possesses good hands, a diverse route tree, and elite relative contact balance that makes him extremely difficult to bring down, while his explosion and quickness allow him to excel on jet sweeps, screens, counters, and both inside and outside zone concepts. Coaches utilize him heavily in the passing game as a true dual-threat back who can also handle traditional run duties. The primary limitation is patience - he can be overly eager at times - yet his toughness, elusiveness, and receiving skill set give him one of the highest ceilings in the class for spread and RPO based offenses.

4 – LJ Gallihugh, Midland High School, Committed - Grand Valley State

Gallihugh is a dynamic, explosive mismatch weapon whose legitimate game-changing speed and elusiveness make him nearly impossible to tackle in space. At 5’8” 178 pounds he lines up effectively at running back, slot receiver, and returner, pairing crisp routes, outstanding body control, and fearless contact balance to create constant problems for defenses. Elite playmaking instincts were on full display when he won a contested 3-on-1 corner route against heavy coverage. He is a high-ceiling prospect who can make plays from anywhere on the field and will be especially valued by programs that run spread or RPO offenses and prioritize speed in space.

5 – Andrew Willemsen, Grand Haven High School, Committed - Grand Valley State

Willemsen is a powerfully built running back who combines blazing speed with impressive patience and natural shiftiness. He consistently waits for blocks to develop before accelerating, a refined instinct that allows him to make defenders miss and turn moderate gains into explosive ones when he hits the open field. Contact balance is on the high end of average - and although he does show toughness and grit while fighting for extra yards with solid body control, he isn't the hardest runner to bring down if you can wrap him up. He wins primarily with elite speed, patience, and field vision rather than pure power. He comes with a high ceiling as a feature or complimentary back at the next level due to the combo of explosiveness, strength, and refined running instincts.

6 – Trenton Foley, Belleville High School, Uncommitted (6 Offers)

Foley is a powerful RB who wins with outstanding contact balance, strength, and a relentless finishing mentality. He is extremely difficult to bring down, rarely gets pushed backward, consistently falls forward, and fights for extra yards and can deploy a spin move, stiff arm, or lowered shoulder as needed. Smart and Patient, he show the ability to lead blockers with his hands and possesses mild shiftiness in open field. He is not a burner from a pure speed standpoint, yet the combo of power, balance, and football IQ make him a high-floor between the tackles and short yardage back. Receiving and Pass Pro traits remain largely unproven based on available film.

7 – Jeremiah Whitley, Groves High School, Uncommitted (4 Offers)

Jeremiah is a physical, one-cut downhill runner with breakaway speed, good contact balance, and a finishing mentality that makes him a nightmare in short-yardage and goal-line situations. He plays tough - lowering his shoulder, powering through arm tackles, and excelling when he can get downhill quickly and turn momentum into explosive long runs. His ability to flex out to slot WR in empty sets adds mismatch value and versatility, giving offenses ways to create space and mismatches. He shines in power/gap/counter concepts that let him hit holes hard and build speed, but limited patience and lateral quickness may cap him in wide-zone or outside-zone systems at the next level. If he shores up his patience and route-running ability we could see Whitley as a force to be reckoned with on Saturdays in the near future. I could see a Power 4 program wanting him as a rotational-to-starter candidate in a year or two but I believe his biggest impact soon would be as a workhorse back at the FCS or D-II program early in his college days, but wouldn't be surprised to see him as a transfer up candidate after a year or two to a major program that loves their tough quick backs.

8 – Jordan Shabazz, Forest Hills Eastern High School, Uncommitted (1 Offer)

Shabazz is a strong and physical back who plays with clear patience, allowing blocks to develop before accelerating. He possess really good (though not elite) contact balance, routinely breaks poor tackling attempts, lowers his shoulder to punish defenders, and churns his legs to power through contact even when defenders get low. He is shifty enough for his size and has enough speed once in the open field to finish most runs without being caught. Pure long speed is only okay though, and both receiving and pass pro ability remain unproven on available film. He profiles as a physical, between the tackles and short yardage back with the strength to contribute almost immediately at the next level.

9 – Masai Ali, Center Line High School, Uncommitted (1 Offer)

Ali is a compact running back whose best traits are quickness and shiftiness in the open field. His low center of gravity and better than average contact balance make him difficult to tackle, as most defenders tend to go high. He has shown reliability and clutch ability with multiple walk off TD runs, will fight for extra yards within the limits of his strength, and can leak out of backfield to contribute in the short passing game. In pass protection he shows good effort and heart for his size - technique is not refined but he does what is required to protect the QB. Size remains a clear limitation. He profiles as a change of pace, space, and third-down type back at the next level.

10 – Colton Burnett, Goodrich High School, Uncommitted

Burnett is a physical one-cut north to south runner who wins with strength, solid field vision, and high football IQ. He regularly runs through defenders, uses powerful stiff arms, and has enough shiftiness to create when needed, though pure speed is a limiting factor. Contact balance is only okay for his size, and while he can hurt defenses between the tackles, he is not an explosive open-field threat. Blocking is functional but not elite. He profiles as a between the tackles, short-yardage, and physical complementary back at the next level.

Rounding Out the Top 25:

After the Top 10, the separation becomes tighter. All of these backs have the ability to play at the next level, with most already holding at least one offer.

11 – Ambrosio Telegadas, Stoney Creek High School, Uncommitted

12 – Prosper Enehiroana, Mt. Pleasant High School, Uncommitted (2 Offers)

13 – Larry Bowes, Bay City Western High School, Uncommitted (1 Offer)

14 – Andre Dawson, Thurston High School, Uncommitted

15 – Anthony Baker, Grand Ledge High School, Uncommitted (1 Offer)

16 – Jack Nash, Spring Lake High School, Committed - Amherst

17 – Jeramiah Aaron, Dakota High School, Uncommitted (2 Offers)

18 – Cameron Payne, Byron Center High School, Uncommitted (2 Offers)

19 – Wyatt VanAssen, Hudsonville High School, Uncommitted (1 Offer)

20 – Ty Duffy, Clarkston High School, Committed - Hillsdale

21 – Ethan King, Belding High School, Uncommitted (1 Offer)

22 – James Bambard, Lake Orion High School, Uncommitted

23 – Jameson Zimmer, H.H. Dow High School, Uncommitted (4 Offers)

24 – Brady Bullock, Warren De La Salle Collegiate, Uncommitted (6 Offers)

25 – De'Mari Hendrix, Cass Technical High School, Uncommitted (1 Offer)

Honorable Mentions:

Maddix Jancasz - Constantine High School, Talon Newell - Owosso High School, Jarell Bowers Jaquez - Lansing Waverly High School, Khari Majors Jr. - Detroit MLK High School, Cole Reinhardt - Monroe St. Mary's High School, Kai Mishler - Lansing Catholic High School, Darrione Hardiman - Grandville High School, Spencer Schoenborn - Cedar Springs High School, Zander Yost - Kenowa Hills High School

Conclusion

The 2027 Michigan running back class is defined by its physicality, explosiveness, and stylistic variety. From true feature backs with size and power to shifty space players and versatile dual-threat athletes, this group offers something for nearly every offensive scheme. The top of the board is particularly strong, with multiple players possessing clear Power conference or high-level Group of 5 upside, while the depth behind them provides a deep pool of productive, scheme-specific contributors.  

Margins throughout the rankings remain tight. Strong senior seasons, continued physical development, or expanded roles in the passing game could easily shuffle the order. With the majority of these backs still uncommitted, this is a class that should see significant recruiting movement once fall film circulates. Overall, it ranks as one of the more complete and talented running back groups Michigan has produced in recent cycles — a must-watch collection of talent for programs at every level.