By Mike Lilly
Running backs are utilized in different ways as in years past, and depth has become paramount in winning championships. Teams like Georgia, Michigan, and Alabama have used their whole stable of running backs to limit injury and keep fresh legs on the field. Here are some names to keep an eye on as we go down the stretch in the 2025 cycle and where they’re trending on the recruiting trail:
Ousmane Kromah
Leesburg, GA (Lee County)
#57 NAT, #3 RB, #9 GA
Kromah, an all-state player from the state of Georgia in 2023, stands at 6’1″, 215 pounds and has a knack for showing off his versatility. Whether it’s catching balls on a wheel route, lowering his shoulder to pick up a few extra yards, or completely running away from a defense, Kromah will be an asset to any program. Kromah holds 28 offers, including offers from Georgia, Alabama, Florida State, and most recently USC.
Things have been relatively quiet in Kromah’s recruitment as schools have been stopping by Leesburg to visit Kromah, most recently being coach Kirby Smart in late January. I would expect activity to ramp up in Kromah’s recruitment when the dead period ends in March. It’s a little too early to tell where Kromah will end up, but I would give the home team, Georgia, a slight advantage.
Early Prediction: Georgia
https://t.co/L3cGxz4UTJ new video go tap in👀 pic.twitter.com/votoI2USGI
— Ousmane Kromah (@OusmaneKromah05) September 3, 2023
Jordon Davison
Santa Ana, CA (Mater Dei)
#45 NAT, #2 RB, #4 CA
The 6′ 200-pound running back is what many would call a “home run hitter.” Davidson is a threat to score from anywhere on the field with great top-end speed. The explosive running back currently holds 50 offers, most notably from Texas, Oregon, Ohio State, and Alabama.
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Davison was recently on campus with Oregon, and coach Dan Lanning also visited with high school teammate Nasir Wyatt. We are very early in Davison’s recruitment, but the teams that seem to be gaining the most traction with him as of late are Ohio State, Texas, and the aforementioned Oregon. Although very early, Davison liked what he saw and heard in Eugene, making Oregon my early favorite in this one.
Early Prediction: Oregon
back in Austin, Texas July 25th🤘🏾 pic.twitter.com/tJV3jV7Tp0
— Jordon Davison (@Jord0n2) July 15, 2023
Dierre Hill
Belleville, IL (Althoff Catholic)
#81 NAT, #6 RB, #3 IL
An athlete on the basketball court and the gridiron, Hill shows off his explosiveness playing both safety and running back. Hill was announced as the 2023-2024 Gatorade Illinois Football Player of The Year as he racked up 1,788 yards and 23 touchdowns. He currently holds 22 offers, including offers from Oregon, Penn State, Georgia, and most recently Kansas State.
The talented running back has been busy since 2024 started, taking a visit to Penn State for Junior Day on January 20th, as well as a visit to Oregon on January 27th. I will be interested to see how Hill’s recruitment ramps up as we come down the stretch and he picks up new offers. Albeit an early prediction, I would give coach James Franklin an early edge, but we have a long way to go before things become more clear.
Early Prediction: Penn State
Deandre Desinor
Fort Lauderdale, FL (American Heritage)
#104 NAT, #9 RB, #16 FL
Coming in at 5’10″and 180 pounds, Desinor shows explosiveness that translates anywhere on the field, from kick returns and running the ball outside the tackles to receiving the ball out of the backfield. Desinor holds 21 offers, including offers from West Virginia, Florida State, Penn State, and Texas.
Desinor was on campus with West Virginia on February 3rd, but I would anticipate more activity in his recruitment when we enter the spring contact period. While we are a ways out from a decision date for Desinor, I would keep an eye on coach Mike Norvell and Florida State as we come down the stretch. The Seminoles being in Desinor’s backyard, combined with recruiting him early, give them an early advantage.