Football Class of 2027 Player Rankings: Running Backs

Over the next few weeks we will be releasing our Player Rankings for the football Class of 2027. Player rankings are compiled by Bound Wisconsin football writer Travis Wilson and are based on a combination of college potential, recruiting interest/offers, in-person evaluations, film evaluations, coach evaluations, stats, post-season awards, and more.

Quarterbacks

1. Kingston Allen, Notre Dame – What a year it was for Kingston Allen, who stepped in for a two-time, 2,000-yard rusher and state Player of the Year Christian Collins, and was somehow even better. Despite missing a game during the regular season, Allen broke the state record with 3,436 rushing yards and 57 rushing scores. He averaged 9.6 yards per carry and 264 yards per game as the Tritons were the Division 2 runners-up. Allen shared the WFCA Large School Player of the Year award and earned a scholarship offer from Wisconsin, giving a commitment to the Badgers earlier this year.

2. Austyn Wittek, New Richmond – Wittek got some valuable reps as a sophomore, rushing for just over 500 yards, and really broke out in his junior campaign, going on to earn Big Rivers Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He ran for 1,853 yards and 31 touchdowns on 183 carries, averaging more than 10 yards per carry. Wittek gave a commitment to North Dakota State this spring.

3. Devon Williams, Jr., Catholic Memorial – Williams, Jr. was a first-time starter as a junior and ran with it, literally. He carried the ball 172 times for 1,096 yards with 13 touchdowns, becoming the first 1000-yard rusher at CMH since Corey Smith in 2022. He also showed the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, catching 14 passes for the Crusaders. In late May, Williams, Jr. gave a commitment to South Dakota State University.

4. Jack Nelson, Grafton – Nelson was the offensive workhorse for a Grafton team that captured the Division 3 state championship last year. He ran for 1,931 yards and 26 touchdowns on 265 carries, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. He also caught 18 passes for 185 yards and a score, and also returned a punt for a touchdown. Nelson received an offer from Air Force this spring.

5. Tysen Teal, Northwestern – Teal saw some action primarily as a reserve in his sophomore season, but became the primary ball-carrier for the Tigers last year. He is among the top returning rushers in the state with 1,887 yards last year, when he accounted for 32 touchdowns on 161 carries. He is one of the most versatile running backs in the state, as he caught 29 passes for 683 yards and five touchdowns as well. He received First Team All-Conference recognition and was a WFCA Small School All-State choice. He recently gave a commitment to Dordt University.

6. Jax Pesch, Waterford – Pesch is part of a strong 2027 class at Waterford, and the main offensive weapon for the Wolverines. As a junior, he rushed for 1,238 yards and 12 touchdowns on 190 carries, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. He’s a big back in the backfield, measuring 6’2” and 192 pounds. He has an offer from St. Thomas along with a number of Division 2 squads.

7. Jack Hoeper, Spencer/Columbus Catholic – Few players were as heavily relied upon by their team as much as Hoeper, who carried the ball 254 times for 1,729 yards and 23 touchdowns. His yardage number is 8th amongst all returning backs in the state. He missed some time in the spring with injury but did post solid numbers in track and in off-season workouts.

8. Reece Joten, Little Chute – Little Chute was one of the surprise stories of the 2025 season, going from out of the playoffs the year before to within minutes of a Division 4 state championship, before falling to Winneconne. Joten is one of the state’s top two-way performers and part of a loaded backfield, leading the Mustangs with 1,793 yards and 22 touchdowns on 225 carries. He was also the team’s leading tackler, and a WFCA All-State pick at linebacker.

9. Braylon Mielke, Marion/Tigerton – Mielke is a prime example of just how good 8-player football players can be in Wisconsin. He dominated last year with 2,068 yards and 26 touchdowns on 222 carries, averaging 9.3 yards per carry. He also played on defense and scored twice on kick returns. Mielke showed out at the WFCA Combine in the spring, measuring 6’0” and 218 pounds, running a 4.69-second 40-yard dash with impressive marks of 36” in the vertical and 10’3” in the broad jump, along with 30 reps of 185 pounds on the bench press. He’s received D2 offers from Southwest Minnesota State and Northern State, along with multiple D3 offers as well.

10. Lateef Love, Whitefish Bay – Love shared the backfield with another talented returning back, Kaden Kelly, but it was Lateef that led the Blue Dukes in all rushing categories, going for 1,402 yards and 12 touchdowns on 223 carries to help the team to the Division 3 state semifinals. He also finished third on the team with 18 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns.

11. Haiden Carlson, Marshfield – Carlson burst onto the scene last year with a performance that earned him not only First Team All-Conference, but Offensive Player of the Year honors in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. He ran for 1,538 yards and 16 touchdowns on 188 carries last year, averaging an impressive 8.2 yards per carry. Carlson also caught 12 passes out of the backfield.

12. Jerrell Anderson, Mukwonago – Anderson has gotten a taste of the spotlight, but is one of the top breakout candidates of 2026. Plenty talented, he was the second option behind All-Conference back Colton Lynch a year ago. Anderson did carry it 126 times for 740 yards and nine touchdowns. He boasts an impressive mix of speed (4.54 reported 40-yard dash) and strength (335 bench, 505 squat).

13. Bohdan Schmidt, Pulaski – Schmidt plays in the backfield in the Red Raiders’ single-wing offense, but does most of his damage on the ground. Last year as a First Team All-Conference selection in the running back position, he carried the ball 174 times for 1,471 yards and 18 touchdowns. He did complete 55-of-87 passes as well for 515 yards and four scores. He added more than 240 return yards with a punt return touchdown.

14. Braydon Schroeder, Hamilton – Schroeder was a First Team All-Conference pick in the Greater Metro Conference after leading the Chargers in rushing. He posted 996 yards and 10 touchdowns on 207 carries.

15. Ayden Nerdahl, Amherst – Nerdahl got some time on varsity as a freshman, saw his role increase in his sophomore campaign, and took over in a big way as a junior. He earned First Team All-Conference, CWC-Large Offensive Player of the Year, and WFCA Small School All-State after rushing for 1,839 yards and 34 touchdowns, averaging 10.7 yards per carry for the Falcons. He was also the leading tackler for Amherst and holds an offer from Augustana.

16. Grayson Arn, Brodhead/Juda – Brodhead/Juda had plenty of struggles last year, but running back Grayson Arn was a bright spot for the Cardinals. He rushed for 906 yards and seven touchdowns in nine games, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. He was one of the top performers at the WFCA Combine, running 4.47-seconds in the 40-yard dash, 38” vertical jump, 10’1” in the broad jump, and 7.02 seconds in the L-Drill. He qualified for the state track and field meet in the 100, 200, and 4x100, and has received several Division 3 offers so far.

17. Carter Moesch, Bonduel – Moesch is a very versatile athlete who played both ways for the football team and was also a starter on the boys basketball team that advanced to the state tournament. A First Team All-Conference pick as a running back and linebacker, Moesch rushed for 1,504 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. He further displayed his versatile athletic talent by leading the team in receiving as well, hauling in 20 passes for 424 yards and six scores.

18. Eli Drangstveit, Waunakee – Waunakee spread the carries around quite a bit last year, but Drangstveit got the highest number and is the top returning rusher for the Warriors. That could portend more of a spotlight role in 2026, coming off a Second Team All-Conference season as a junior. Eli ran for 853 yards and 10 touchdowns on 172 carries. He was offered by UW-Eau Claire this spring.

19. Dillon Herling, Franklin – Herling played a complimentary role behind All-Conference back Rob Beglinger last season, but showed plenty of potential. He averaged better than 10 yards per carry, rushing 75 times for 772 yards and 12 touchdowns. That was good enough for Second Team All-Conference in the Southeast Conference. That potential has earned him Division 2 offers from Jamestown and Bemidji State.

20. Bobby Tracy, Columbus – Columbus had two players rush for more than 1100 yards last season, though Tracy was tops in carries (172), yards (1,189), and touchdowns (21). With Owen Cowell graduating, the opportunity for Tracy to be the featured back and really rack up the stats is there.