Prospect Profile: RB Jerrick Gibson from IMG Academy
BRADENTON, Fla. - After seeing this young man’s sophomore film, during seven-on-seven action and during multiple showings on the IMG campus, there’s no question that he’s one of the nation’s top prep football players.
Jerrick Gibson
Size: 5’10”, 190-pounds
Position: Running Back
High School: Gainesville (Fla.) / Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Recruitment
Already with an incredibly long list of schools, Gibson plans to hit Georgia, Texas and Ohio State for camps this spring/summer. That list is fluid. As for the offers themselves, Gibson has the aforementioned schools plus Alabama, UCF, Florida, Florida State, Miami, South Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn, Texas A&M, Southern California, Oregon, Penn State and Notre Dame, among others.
Film Does Not Lie
There’s a reason Gibson is holding those coveted offers. Before delving into Gibson’s attributes, allow this young man’s film to do the talking. Even behind an offensive line that often failed him, he still made jaw-dropping plays over and over.
Jerrick Gibson Sophomore Highlights
Frame
Compact and powerful. He’s all muscle and looks the part of an NFL running back. Most notably, Gibson’s upper legs are built to play the grueling running back position.
Athleticism
The film shows it, and here’s the writeup defining a couple of key points about Gibson’s game. First, his stop-and-start ability is fantastic! Next, his first-step explosion, which allows him to run through a small crease in the defense that others simply cannot do. Those plays can change games. Finally, he keeps his balance after contact and then quickly hits the gas again after contact to create chunk-yardage plays. Gibson is a tremendous athlete.
Hands
This is the area of Gibson’s game that’s come a long way. Playing for Prime Truth 7v7, Gibson has played slot and even out wide during the past few months. It’s served him well. Gibson now catches the football away from his body, has already made tremendous strides at once again turning into a running back after the catch, and even started to set up his cuts during routes to gain separation. Adding these skills to Gibson’s electric skills in the backfield makes him one of the top all-around running backs in the class of 2024. The following clip is proof of just how talented he is in the passing game:
Jerrick Gibson’s catch and run from IMG’s scrimmage. Watch Carnell Tate with the block, too. @IMGAFootball @gibson_jerrick @carnelltate_ @JohnGarcia_Jr @Dwight_XOS pic.twitter.com/vdHbEwxEJQ
— Brian Smith (@fbscout_florida) May 20, 2022
Burst
Very, very few prospects have Gibson’s burst. Regardless of whether he’s running an inside power play, toss sweep, or any other way he gets a hold of the football, he’s capable of hitting top-end speed by the end of his second stride. He’s a burner.
Cutting Ability
This is where it’s fun to watch Gibson. Some of the plays that look like they are being blown up in the backfield, he’s able to skate through after he shakes and bakes a defender out of his shoes; sometimes it’s a quick stop so that a linebacker shoots by. Then, Gibson builds speed once again and breaks into the second level. Either way, Gibson’s change of direction is a major asset to his overall game.
Area to Improve
Pass protection. Gibson, like almost every other young running back. Will need to learn the nuances of understanding defensive fronts to tote the football, as well as to protect his quarterback. The latter point is often why an NFL running back gets cut. Those that do not block for their signal caller are those that end up in the free agent market. Gibson’s strength and quickness will aid him. In time, he will learn this trait and its finer points as well.
Final Thoughts
Overall, make no mistake, Gibson is a dynamic runner with evolving receiving skills. He's a possible national top 10 player for the class of 2024.
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